Legarda: Cheap water for poor, regulated business use for El Niño

MANILA, Philippines — To offset the effects of El Niño, the government should ensure more affordable water rates for low-income families and stronger measures to curb excessive commercial water consumption, Sen. Loren Legarda urged in a statement issued on Friday.

She stressed that this is the second priority under a 10-Point Policy Action Plan that she had earlier enumerated to combat the worsening effects of El Niño.

This particular proposal calls on local water districts, water service providers, and concerned regulators to explore imposing penalties or higher charges for excessive, non-essential commercial water use, particularly in activities such as golf course irrigation, commercial swimming pools, and industrial washing.

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READ: Loren Legarda launches 10-point action plan vs Super El Niño

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The resulting additional revenues could then help subsidize water bills for low-income households, subject to existing laws and regulatory approval.

“Water is one of the top needs of every family. We can’t let the situation reach a point where a parent will have to choose between paying for water or buying food,” she said in Filipino.

“Now that we know that we will have a water crisis, if there’s a business that uses so much water for things that are not essential, there should be a way to lessen this so that water can be used by those who need it more. If not, impose fines, which can be used to subsidize those who are badly hit by a drought brought by Super El Niño,” she added.

El Niño may last till first half of 2027

Legarda pointed out that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagas) warned last September 2026 that a strong El Niño in the tropical Pacific could become very strong and persist through the first half of 2027.

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She said the prediction raises concerns over prolonged dry spells, reduced rainfall, and possible water shortages in vulnerable communities.

READ: ‘Very strong’ El Niño now active in tropical Pacific, says Pagasa

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Her proposal draws on water conservation and affordability principles supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), emphasizing the need to manage demand while protecting access to essential water services.

She also noted that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced on Oct. 5 its plan to revive similar measures encouraging golf courses to use recycled water and urged the public to avoid unnecessary water consumption, including excessive car washing and cleaning of driveways.

Existing Philippine laws already provide room for different water rates based on consumption.

Under Presidential Decree No. 198, as amended, local water districts may set different rates depending on how water is used and how much is consumed, subject to applicable regulations. This provides a basis for examining measures that encourage conservation while protecting affordable access for low-income families.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in its 2026 assessment of the Philippine water sector, recommended targeted subsidies and lifeline rates to help keep water services affordable for low-income households while ensuring that water providers remain financially sustainable.

Needs of people should come first

“We’re not saying that we punish businesses. What we’re saying is, when there’s a water shortage, the needs of the people should come first. There should be discipline in using water, especially for those who consume a lot, and there should be assistance for families who find it hard to make ends meet. The system should be fair,” she added.

She urged water districts, local government units, and concerned agencies to review existing water rates, identify high-volume non-essential consumption, and explore practical ways to provide financial relief to qualified low-income households.

Any additional charges and proposed subsidies, she said, must be carefully designed, transparently administered, and implemented in accordance with existing regulations to ensure that water services remain accessible and sustainable.

She said her proposed measures are consistent with her longstanding work on climate adaptation and water resource protection.

She was the principal author and the principal sponsor of the Climate Change Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 9729) and co-author and the principal sponsor of Republic Act No. 10174, which established the People’s Survival Fund to support local climate adaptation projects, including those involving water resource management.

READ: Super El Niño demands urgent, science-based governance

She was also an author and co-sponsor of the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275), which provides for the protection and management of the country’s water resources.

The proposal is the second of 10 practical measures Legarda introduced on October 19 to help communities prepare for El Niño. It also follows her filing of Senate Resolution No. 733, seeking an inquiry into government preparedness, the needs of vulnerable communities, and the adequacy of available resources to respond to the phenomenon.

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“We know what can happen if the dry season lasts long. So while there’s still time, let’s fix the system. Let’s see where we can save, how we can sustain the supply, and how we can help affected families. We should not wait for communities to run out of water before we act,” she said. /atm