Project Activities

The Project will support the EMB in accomplishing forty (40) project activities to generate said four (4) outputs in five years. A total of 17 priority activities were completed during the Phase 1. Phase 2 of the Project is, therefore, implemented to perform the twenty three (23) remaining activities.

The twenty three activities for Phase 2 fall under the following six (6) thematic groups: 1) Water Quality Management Area Action Planning; 2) Water Quality Management Implementation; 3) Command and Control Tools; 4) Market Based Instruments; 5) Information dissemination; and 6) Ensuring Sustainability.

Water Quality Management Area Action Planning

The activities under Water Quality Management Area Action Planning are intended to assist EMB in preparing a 10-year Water Quality Management Area Action Plan for each of the water quality management area designated during Phase 1 in the three pilot regions. The action plans will identify priority water quality problems and areas for intervention. The action plans will also design and propose feasible measures to address water quality problems and identify implementing agencies for each of the measures. EMB Regional Offices in the pilot regions will play a vital role as technical secretariat of each WQMA Governing Board in designing the action plan in consultation with the members of the Governing Boards and various stakeholders.

Activities

• Water Quality Management Area Planning
• Identification of Attainment and Non-attainment Areas
• Pollution Source Inventory
• Water Quality Modeling
• Regional Cross-Visits
• Preparation of Guidelines for Cooperation in Water Quality Monitoring
• Area Cooperation Arrangement

Responsible Entities

• EMB Regional Offices
• WQMA Governing Boards

Water Quality Management Implementation

The activities under the Water Quality Management Implementation are aimed to support water quality management instruments which include, among others, the discharge permitting system, wastewater charge system, water quality management database, and water quality management fund. The project will support EMB in installing and operating such innovative mechanisms for improved water quality management in line with key provisions set forth in the Clean Water Act. Relevant procedural guidelines were major deliverables of the project during Phase 1 which paved the way for its operation in Phase 2.

Activities

• Pollution Source Prioritization and Compliance Inspection
• Classification of Fresh and Marine Water Bodies
• Database Management
• Collection and Accounting System
• Discharge Permitting and Wastewater Charge System
• Fund Management and Monitoring Activities
• WQMA Fund Management and Monitoring Activities

Responsible Entities

• EMB Regional Offices
• WQMA Governing Boards

Command and Control Tools

The activities under Command and Control Tools are aimed to assist EMB in developing Industry-Specific Effluent Standards for priority industries. Under the CWA, the command and control regulation will be used in tandem with Market Based Instruments. However, effluent standards remain the major regulatory instrument in controlling discharge from industries. EMB revised DENR Administrative Order No. 35, series of 1990 (Effluent Regulations of 1990) and came up with the General Effluent Standards applicable uniformly over all the industries during Phase 1. However, the Industry-Specific Effluent Standards will prevail over the General Effluent Standards once they are approved.

Activities

• Review of Water Quality Criteria and Effluent Standards
• Regulatory Flexibility Guidelines

Responsible Entity

• EMB Central Office

Market Based Instruments (MBIs)

Market-based Instruments are aimed to enhance voluntary commitment to proactive environmental management to pursue simultaneous objectives of enhancing private sector competitiveness, social responsibility and environmental compliance. The activities are aimed to develop procedural guidelines for effluent quota allocation and effluent trading.

Activities

• Policy on Market Based Instruments

Responsible Entity

• EMB Central Office

Information Dissemination

Rapid evolution of various approaches to WQ management requires social acceptability keeping pace with reformation of the WQ pollution management policy structure. Accordingly, adequate and timely information needs to be provided to the general public as well as to various stakeholders. The activities intend to assist EMB in launching various information campaigns to enhance awareness on the nation's water quality.

Activities

• Public Information

Responsible Entity

• EMB Central and Regional Offices

Ensuring Sustainability

Sustainability is of utmost importance in realizing improved water quality over the country. The activities are aimed to ensure that EMB will be able to perform the mandates assigned to the Central Office and the Regional Offices by the enactment of CWA. Various trainings would be provided to the staff of EMB CO and all ROs so that all EMB technical personnel will be capacitated to implement the various instruments for water quality management. Coordination between EMB CO and ROs is kept enhanced throughout the project period. Additional support from funding agencies will be identified.

Activities

• Training on Guidelines and Procedures
• Training on Information Systems and Training on Fund Management
• Coordination with Regional Offices
• Generation of Additional Support from other Funding Agencies Integration of Policies

Responsible Entity

• EMB Central and Regional Offices

Policies, Guidelines and Manuals developed in the course of the Project, specifically during Phase 1, are shown in the following table. Some of them are still subject to finalization during the Phase 2. Upon approval by DENR, these will be applied to water quality management.