📷: Water for the People Network | FB
The Water for the People Network (WPN) has denounced the drastic reduction of the Local Water Utilities Administration’s (LWUA) budget, warning that the move exposes the government’s worsening neglect of its duty to guarantee water as a basic human right.
From ₱800 million in 2024, LWUA’s allocation has been slashed to just ₱29 million in the 2026 national budget, a cut that WPN described as “totally uncalled for” amid mounting evidence of water service failures nationwide.
“This budget cut is a betrayal of the people. Local water districts are already grappling with waterlessness, system breakdowns, and rising costs. Instead of strengthening public utilities, the government is starving them,” WPN said in a statement.
The group criticized the administration’s reliance on joint venture agreements (JVAs) with private firms, arguing that privatization has worsened affordability, governance, and service delivery.
“Problematic JVAs have only lined the pockets of economic oligarchs while communities suffer. If the government insists LWUA has ₱9 billion in reserves, then where is the water? Where are the functioning systems?” WPN asked.
The network also linked the cuts to broader governance issues, citing corruption scandals that have rocked the Marcos administration. It accused the government of pursuing privatization schemes instead of accountability.
“Rather than act with transparency, the state has doubled down on concessions that treat water as a profit-making venture. This is unacceptable,” the group stressed.
Calls for Public Reclaiming
Communities and consumers, WPN noted, have been calling for the reclaiming of water services under public control. The group outlined key demands:
– End harmful JVAs and concessions** that undermine public oversight.
– Ensure fair billing**, charging only for water actually consumed, with refunds in waterless areas.
– Remove minimum charges and excessive fees**, including the abolition of the 12% value-added tax on water.
– Guarantee genuine people’s representation** in water district boards to strengthen transparency and accountability.
“Water is a public good and a basic right—not a commodity. It must be returned to public hands,” WPN declared.
The statement underscores growing public pressure for decisive state action to restore efficient, accessible, and affordable water services through closer coordination between national and local governments. (JCNE)
