FOR the country to meet its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) commitments, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) will craft a Water Supply, Sanitation and Sewerage Master Plan.
Neda documents obtained by BusinessMirror showed the plan will cost P100 million and will be undertaken next year for a period of 12 months.
The master plan will be spearheaded by the Neda and the Infrastructure Committee (Infracom) subcommittee on water resources.
“It aims to develop an updated master plan for the water-supply sectors that will set the direction in helping the country meet the sector challenges and attain the targets as identified under the existing 2009 Philippine Water Supply Sector Roadmap [PWSSR],” Neda documents stated.
“The updating needs to take into account what has been accomplished thus far, and what needs to be accomplished moving forward, taking into consideration recent policy developments in the sector,” it added.
The Neda said the master plan will review and asses the implementation of priority programs and activities under the PWSSR, including the identification of gaps and challenges faced by concerned agencies.
The master plan, the Neda said, will pick up from the targets identified under the PWSSR and update these targets, if necessary.
The PWSSR was developed to serve as road maps to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets by 2015 and long- term targets of universal access by 2025 for water supply and 2028 for sanitation. The new master plan will also incorporate the targets set under SDG Goal 6, which includes, among others, universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water, as well as access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030.
The SDGs are composed of around 169 targets and over 300 global indicators. The goals were adopted in September last year.
These Global Goals aim to end poverty and hunger, promote universal health, education for all and lifelong learning, achieve gender equality, sustainable water management, ensure sustainable energy for all, decent work for all, resilient infrastructure, and reduce income inequality between and among countries.
The goals also include create sustainable cities, ensure sustainable consumption and production, take action against climate change, conserve and sustainably use oceans and marine resources, reduce biodiversity loss, achieve peaceful and inclusive societies, and revitalize global partnership for development.