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Asean Countries to Establish Regional Water Partnership

Countries in Southeast Asia have agreed to work together to address their worsening water problems, promote sustainable water resources management in the region, and establish a regional water partnership.

Top international water experts recently met with representatives of governments, the donor community, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector at the Asian Development Bank headquarters in Manila and emphasized the need to develop the region's water resources and improve water services in the face of rapid population growth.

The decision to establish a Regional Water Partnership was contained in "The Manila Statement for Promoting Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Southeast Asian Countries," which resulted from the meeting. The meeting was jointly organized by the ADB and the Global Water Partnership (GWP) Technical Advisory Committee, composed of twelve top water experts in the world. The GWP was established in 1996 to build a worldwide network for sustainable water management.

As an initial step, a Southeast Asia Technical Advisory Committee will be formed with representatives of governments, NGOs, the private sector and the academe. It will closely cooperate with existing regional networks and contact groups for water resources management.

Water is becoming the most critical resource in the Asian and Pacific Region. The population of the Region is expected to increase from 2.9 billion in 1990 to 4.2 billion in 2025, with over half of the people living in urban areas. Water shortages will increase, competition for water will intensify, flood losses will escalate, water pollution will worsen, together with health risks and environmental damages, the "Manila Statement" warned.

The statement stressed the need to raise awareness of water problems, particularly at the national level; collect and disseminate data and information within the region; develop knowledge, methodologies and guidelines based on country and regional experiences; and facilitate capacity building for water resources management. Existing water policies, legislations, institutional capabilities, financial resources, and implementation capacities were inadequate for sustainable water resources management, the statement said.

Participants noted the establishment in the Philippines of a Presidential Task Force on Water Resources Development and Management as an example of the approach needed to form effective water sector apex bodies at national levels with the full backing of the top government leadership.

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