The Philippines faces the risk of a water crisis by 2040 as the gap between the demand for and supply of water and sanitation services continues to widen. While the government has made notable progress in recent years, challenges linked to regulatory and market fragmentation and insufficient data systems persist. Recurrent floods, typhoons and droughts, combined with rapid population growth are placing increasing pressure on water resources, particularly in fast-growing urban areas.
This report presents key recommendations to strengthen economic regulation in the Philippine water supply and sanitation sector, improve utility performance and enhance water security. It shows how more consistent and predictable tariff-setting can improve investment, how aggregating a sector made up of many small and uneven providers can deliver services more efficiently, and how a centralised national water information system can underpin sound regulation and planning.
The National Dialogue on Water in the Philippines is part of a regional initiative with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, the Asia Water Council and the OECD.
