- ARTA met with government agencies, private companies, and the Israeli Ambassador to discuss streamlining water industry processes in the Philippines.
- The goal is to mirror Israel's sustainable water practices and reduce bureaucratic burdens for water projects.
- The meeting covered permit validity extensions, reducing redundant agency functions, and creating a Water Regulatory Commission.
Here are details from ARTA Media Release:
9 April 2024 - In a continued effort to advance the water industry in the Philippines under the banner of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Bagong Pilipinas, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) conferred with concerned government agencies and private companies during the 3rd water industry stakeholders coordination meeting on 03 April 2024 at the ARTA Central Office.
This series of meetings aims to develop and implement a program that will streamline current processes and documentation requirements in the establishment of pipe-laying for water and wastewater projects and leak repair works in the country.
The water industry meeting was personally attended by Israel Ambassador Ilan Fluss, who relayed his support for the said plans.
"What we bring to the table is our experience, our approach, and our regulations and legislation. We share it in the Philippine context," the Israeli Ambassador said.
"At the end of the day, it is an internal Philippine process that we are happy to contribute with our best practices," he added.
In the midst of the scarcity of water in their geographical location, Israel was declared a world water house because of its sustainable water technologies.
"By the culmination of our session, we aspire to achieve several key outcomes, particularly in mirroring Israel’s sustainable water industry practices and ensuring that the permitting process does not unduly burden stakeholders and citizens alike," ARTA Deputy Director General for Operations Gerald Divinagracia said.
"Your [Israel Embassy] contributions will guide us in formulating strategies to enhance efficiency and minimize bureaucratic obstacles," he added.
During the meeting, representatives from the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) also shared the current regulatory environment of the water industry and the ongoing establishment of the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Water Regulatory Commission (WRC).
Furthermore, Israeli Water and Sewage Authority Senior Deputy Legal Adviser Ms. Tahel Brandes shared the Israel government's strategies for successfully implementing a sustainable water system.
During her talk, Ms. Brandes presented Israel's Water Law, the Water Council, and the regulatory reforms that their country has made throughout the years.
The Israeli expert also emphasized the importance of smart regulation, which includes the participation of consumers/public to achieve the end goal of the meetings.
At the later part, a plan to lengthen the validity of permits required by Local Government Units (LGU) for the water concession project was discussed.
The attendees also talked about proposed research on the redundancies of agency functions related to processes and documentation requirements in granting permission for establishing or repairing water systems. They indicated that it could be used as an additional justification for the creation of the WRC.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Project Development Management Undersecretary Odilon L. Pasaraba and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Integrated Environmental Science Undersecretary Carlos Primo C. David were also present at the meeting.
ARTA executives Deputy Director General for Legal Geneses R. Abot, Deputy Director General for Administration and Finance Ricojudge Janvier M. Echiverri, and Better Regulation Office (BRO) Director Marbida L. Marbida also joined.
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