Completed Projects in the past five years

• Master Plan Study for Agusan River Basin (2006)

The project is an ADB assisted project that aimed to prepare a Master Plan Study for Agusan River System in Mindanao through Integrated river basin management approach with the participation of civil society and business community

The Final Report of the Master Plan has been completed

• Expansion of Benchmarking of Small Towns' Water Utilities in the Philippines (2006)

The project is an expansion of the previous study of Water and Sanitation Program of the World Bank. Its objective is to improve performance of small towns' water utilities, sector transparency and accountability and improve capacity of participating utilities and institutional partners (DILG, NWRB, LWUA and PAWD). Under the expansion project, participating utilities were expanded from 20 to 50 including larger utilities

Results will be hooked with International Benchmarking Water Utilities Network (IBWUN) and the International Benchmarking Network (IBNET).

• Performance Improvement and Benchmarking of Small Towns' Water Utitlities Project (2005)

The project aimed to improve performance of small towns' water utilities, sector transparency and accounatability and improve capacity of participating utilities and institutional partners (DILG, NWRB, LWUA and PAWD)

The Study introduced performance benchmarking as an entry point for improving utility performance through a pilot study of 20 small water utilities.

• Enhancement of Processing Water Permit Application, Billing and Other Related Information Systems and Creation/Establishment of Water Resources Regional Council (WRRC) in Region 7 (2005)

The project aimed to institutionally strengthen NWRB through the design and development of an integrated system applicable to the operation of the agency and conduct of the study on the creation of Water Resources Regional Council to be piloted in Region 7.

• Study on Rationalization of Water Tariffs for private Utilities (2004-2005)

Involves the study. review and improvement of the NWRB rate-setting methodology and prepared guidelines/primers on tariff setting and performance monitoring.

The NWRB Board issued Resolution No. 008-0505 adopting the 5-year Tariff Methodology and approving the Guidelines for the 5-year Tariff Setting methodology.

• Formulation of Revised NWRB Organizational Structure (2004-2005)

It is an advisory service on the revised NWRB organizational structure. The NWRB Revised Organizational Structure was submitted to NWRB for consideration.

• Case Study on the Application of Strategic Planning and Management (SPM) for Integrated Water Resources Management (2004)

The case study formed part of the compilation of relevant experiences and achievements on application of SPM for IWRM in the region and aimed to develop a strategic plan for the Philippines for IWRM to support socio-economic development and sustainable utilization of the country's water and relaed resources as well as to enhance NWRB's capability to contribute to the development of policies and implementation of IWRM in the country.

As part of the case study, the NWRB Strategic Plan on IWRM was developed and an inter-agency workshop on SPM was conducted.

• Water Resources Assessment for Prioritized Critical Areas (2004)

The project involves the conduct of an assessment of water resources in critical areas such as Metro Manila including nearby areas of Laguna, Cavite and Metro Cebu as a tool for water use regulation. Policy recommendation for Metro Manila Critical Areas to effect efficient water allocation and conservation was formualted based on the report.

• National Water Information Network (NWIN) Phase I and 2 (2000-2004)

The project electronically links the databases of water-related collection agencies such as NWRB, MWSS, LWUA, DPWH-BRS etc., and provides access to user agencies.

• Study of the Water Rights System (2002-2003)

The project recommended strategies and formulated an action plan to improve water permit processing, compliance and monitoring of water users/appropriators.

• The Study on Water Resources Development for Metro Manila (2001-2003)

The study formulated a master plan and a feasibility study on water resources development in the Agos River Basin to supply water to Metro Manila.

• Strengthening Management of Groundwater Resources with Local Government units (LGUs) (2001-2002)

The project objective is to improve groundwater resources management and regulation by strengthening the institutional linkages between NWRB and LGUs.

• Improvement of National Water Data Collection Netowrk (NWDCN) for Streamflow, Groundwater and Water Quality (2000-2001)

The project involves the improvement of the three (3) national primary monitoring networks for streamflow, groundwater and water quality. Specific action plans include the establishment/rehabilitation of the three networks and equipment, as well as institutional capacity building programs for relevant agencies in charge of the networks.

Output of the study included policy guidelines and technical criteria for data collection; network improvement plans (short, medium and long-term) and database.

• Case Study on the Formulation of National Water Vision (2000)

The case study was undertaken in connection with the programme of cooperation between the Food and Agriculture organization FAO and ESCAP to promote the process of developing national water vision where the Philippines was selected as one of the pilot countries for the case studies.

To validate the national water vision and framework for action formulated in the case study, a workshop on the Water Resources Management in the Philippines: Vision to Action was held and framework for action and priority actions were agreed to be undertaken to achieve the vision.