Climate Change Commission Calls for Water Sector Alignment with National Climate Commitments
During the inaugural Manila Water Sustainability Leadership Talk held in Quezon City, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) delivered a powerful message about the critical intersection of water management and climate action. As vice chairman and executive director of the CCC, I addressed leaders from various sectors, highlighting the systemic nature of climate risk for our water-stressed and disaster-prone archipelago.
Systemic Climate Risks Demand Unified Response
I emphasized that managing climate risk requires unprecedented coherence between sectoral agencies, private operators, and the communities themselves. Our message was clear: climate action cannot succeed through policy or infrastructure alone. True success emerges when our institutions, communities, and every individual Filipino move together in coordinated effort.
The systemic nature of climate threats means that water utilities face direct operational challenges from changing weather patterns, extreme events, and environmental degradation. Climate impacts directly threaten water availability, the integrity of our infrastructure, and the continuity of essential services that millions depend upon daily.
Climate Action as Governance and Operational Priority
For water utilities, climate action transcends mere policy compliance—it represents a fundamental governance and operational priority. To ensure water security in this changing climate, we outlined three essential strategies that must be implemented:
- Climate-proof existing infrastructure against extreme weather events and changing environmental conditions
- Diversify water sources to reduce vulnerability to specific climate impacts on traditional water supplies
- Integrate nature-based solutions into watershed management to enhance natural water retention and filtration
National Frameworks Guide Sectoral Action
Guided by the policies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., I pointed to the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) as our core frameworks for addressing climate risk while advancing sustainable development. These documents provide the strategic direction for all sectors, including water management.
Water companies contribute to these national targets through two primary pathways:
- Mitigation efforts including improving wastewater treatment, increasing energy efficiency, and adopting low-carbon operations
- Adaptation measures such as implementing risk-informed planning and building resilient infrastructure designed to withstand climate impacts
Translating Policy into Daily Reality
I explained to attendees that when sustainability strategies align with the NDC and NAP, water utilities do more than comply with policy—they translate national climate commitments into daily realities for millions of Filipinos. This alignment ensures that climate resilience becomes embedded in operational decisions and long-term planning.
Manila Water president and chief executive officer Roberto Locsin affirmed this perspective, noting that every operational task and decision can be transformed into direct climate action that shapes resilience for future generations. His endorsement underscores the growing recognition within the private sector of their crucial role in climate adaptation.
Building Partnerships for Climate Resilience
The inaugural talk, themed “Bridging Sustainability and Resilience for a Climate-Smart Future,” served as a vital platform for the CCC to engage with leaders across government, academe and industry. We recognize the private sector as a crucial partner in our national climate efforts.
The CCC is actively leveraging bilateral partnerships and our system of contact groups to ensure that collaboration remains a continuous loop of action and ambition. In line with the national climate agenda and the Paris Agreement, we reaffirm our commitment to working with all stakeholders to safeguard essential services and advance a climate-resilient future for the Philippines.
This dialogue represents just the beginning of what must become sustained engagement between climate policymakers and essential service providers. As our archipelago faces increasing climate pressures, such partnerships will determine our collective ability to maintain water security and build true resilience across all sectors of Philippine society.
