Legarda asserts women’s central role in water governance, calls for strict enforcement of environmental laws

Senator Loren Legarda urged stronger enforcement of environmental and water laws, stressing that women’s leadership and grassroots innovation are central to securing water, climate resilience, and inclusive development.

Speaking at the Water and Women Forum PH 2026 held on March 23 in Quezon City, in celebration of World Water Day and National Women’s Month, Legarda emphasized that water security, solid waste management, and gender equality are deeply interconnected.

“Water shapes the rhythm of every home, every community, every future. But when water is scarce, when it is unsafe or distant, the burden does not fall evenly,” Legarda said.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Legarda noted that only 53.1 percent of Filipino families have access to safely managed drinking water, while 44 percent still depend on sources outside their homes.

“In four out of five cases, it is women and girls who carry this responsibility. We all know this, especially in the provinces, but even in Metro Manila, waking up very early, walking long distances, and even not long, but in a long queue, carrying heavy containers, making difficult choices on how to stretch every drop for cooking, cleaning, and hygiene. And time spent securing water is time taken away from education, from livelihood and jobs, recreation even, and rest,” Legarda said.

Legarda also drew attention to the lack of women’s representation in water-related institutions.

“Women have little influence in designing the systems that govern it,” Legarda said. “They remain underrepresented in the institutions where water policies are shaped, and resources are allocated.”

As principal author of the Climate Change Act of 2009 and author of the Clean Water Act, Legarda reaffirmed her commitment to advancing policies that protect the health, livelihoods, and dignity of Filipino families.

“They’re meant to protect the health, the livelihood, the dignity of Filipino families, especially those who carry the daily responsibility of securing water at home. The same principle behind these laws must guide water governance today,” Legarda said.

She also stressed the connection between waste and water.

“Solid waste has everything to do with water,” Legarda said, citing the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. “It institutionalizes the segregation of waste at source, recycling, and composting. If this is followed, our waste need not go to our water bodies and the tragedies of Cebu and Rizal would not, should not, could not have happened.”

Legarda lamented the weak enforcement of laws. “It seems like laws are just recommendations or suggestions. Hindi sinusunod e. Matigas ang ulo nating lahat,” Legarda said.

She further called attention to the Rainwater Collection Act and the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Act (PENCAS), noting their relevance to water governance and sustainability.

Across the Philippines, Legarda acknowledged the leadership of grassroots and indigenous women.

“They are the primary managers of household water. They know how it is stored, how it is used, conserved, and shared. And in many local communities, our indigenous women have protected our watersheds, our rivers, our springs for generations,” Legarda said.

Legarda concluded with a call for stronger representation of women in decision-making bodies and stricter implementation of existing laws.

“By placing women at the center of water governance, we move closer to a future where every community has safe, reliable, and sustainable access to water, and where development is inclusive,” Legarda stressed.

The Water and Women Forum PH 2026 was organized by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the River Basin Control Office (RBCO), and other government agencies, alongside private sector and civil society partners. (30)

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Legarda iginiit ang mahalagang papel ng kababaihan sa pamamahala ng tubig, nanawagan ng mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng mga batas pangkalikasan

Nanawagan si Senadora Loren Legarda ng mas mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng mga batas sa kalikasan at tubig, at binigyang-diin na mahalaga ang pamumuno ng kababaihan at mga inobasyon sa komunidad upang matiyak ang seguridad sa tubig, katatagan sa harap ng climate change, at inklusibong kaunlaran.

Sa kanyang talumpati sa Water and Women Forum PH 2026 na ginanap noong Marso 23 sa Quezon City bilang pagdiriwang ng World Water Day at National Women’s Month, ipinaliwanag ni Legarda na magkakaugnay ang water security, solid waste management, at gender equality.

“Water shapes the rhythm of every home, every community, every future. But when water is scarce, when it is unsafe or distant, the burden does not fall evenly,” ani Legarda.

Batay sa datos ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), tinukoy ni Legarda na 53.1 porsiyento lamang ng mga pamilyang Pilipino ang may access sa ligtas na inuming tubig, habang 44 porsiyento ang umaasa pa rin sa mga pinagkukunan sa labas ng kanilang tahanan.

“In four out of five cases, it is women and girls who carry this responsibility. We all know this, especially in the provinces, but even in Metro Manila, waking up very early, walking long distances, and even not long, but in a long queue, carrying heavy containers, making difficult choices on how to stretch every drop for cooking, cleaning, and hygiene. And time spent securing water is time taken away from education, from livelihood and jobs, recreation even, and rest,” dagdag niya.

Binigyang-pansin din ni Legarda ang kakulangan ng representasyon ng kababaihan sa mga institusyong may kinalaman sa tubig.

“Women have little influence in designing the systems that govern it. They remain underrepresented in the institutions where water policies are shaped, and resources are allocated,” aniya.

Bilang principal author ng Climate Change Act of 2009 at may-akda ng Clean Water Act, muling pinagtibay ni Legarda ang kanyang paninindigan na isulong ang mga polisiyang magpoprotekta sa kalusugan, kabuhayan, at dignidad ng mga pamilyang Pilipino.

“They’re meant to protect the health, the livelihood, the dignity of Filipino families, especially those who carry the daily responsibility of securing water at home. The same principle behind these laws must guide water governance today,” sabi ni Legarda.

Binigyang-diin din niya ang ugnayan ng basura at tubig.

“Solid waste has everything to do with water,” ani Legarda patungkol sa Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. “It institutionalizes the segregation of waste at source, recycling, and composting. If this is followed, our waste need not go to our water bodies and the tragedies of Cebu and Rizal would not, should not, could not have happened.” paliwanag niya.

Ikinadismaya ni Legarda ang mahinang pagpapatupad ng mga batas. “It seems like laws are just recommendations or suggestions. Hindi sinusunod e. Matigas ang ulo nating lahat,” sabi ng senadora.

Binanggit din niya ang kahalagahan ng Rainwater Collection Act at ng Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act sa pagsusulong ng sustenableng pamamahala ng tubig.
Sa buong bansa, kinilala ni Legarda ang mahalagang papel ng mga kababaihan sa mga komunidad at katutubong grupo.

“They are the primary managers of household water. They know how it is stored, how it is used, conserved, and shared. And in many local communities, our indigenous women have protected our watersheds, our rivers, our springs for generations.”

Sa pagtatapos, nanawagan si Legarda ng mas malakas na representasyon ng kababaihan sa mga lupon ng pagpapasya at mas mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng mga umiiral na batas.

“By placing women at the center of water governance, we move closer to a future where every community has safe, reliable, and sustainable access to water, and where development is inclusive,” diin ni Legarda.

Ang Water and Women Forum PH 2026 ay inorganisa ng National Water Resources Board (NWRB) katuwang ang Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), River Basin Control Office (RBCO), at iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan, kasama ang mga partner mula sa pribadong sektor at civil society. (30)