CCC to water utilities: Climate-proof Mindanao’s water systems now

CAGAYAN DE ORO (January 21) — With droughts, floods, and extreme weather increasingly disrupting water supply across Mindanao, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) is urging water utilities and essential service providers to align their operations with the country’s national climate goals—warning that climate risks are no longer distant threats.

CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said climate impacts are already being felt in regions like Mindanao, where prolonged dry spells, typhoons, and watershed degradation directly affect water availability for households, farms, and industries.

“Climate action does not succeed on policy alone. Nor does it succeed on infrastructure alone,” Borje said during the 1st Manila Water Sustainability Leadership Talk in Quezon City. “It succeeds when institutions, communities, and individual Filipinos move together.”

Why this matters in Mindanao

Across Mindanao, water utilities face mounting challenges—from El Niño-driven shortages to flooding that damages pipes, pumping stations, and treatment facilities. Rural and upland communities are especially vulnerable, as deforestation and land conversion weaken watersheds that supply major towns and cities.

Borje stressed that water utilities play a frontline role in protecting communities.

“We must ensure water security despite a changing climate by climate-proofing infrastructure, diversifying water sources, and integrating nature-based solutions for watershed management,” he said.

For Mindanao residents, this means fewer service interruptions during droughts, better protection against contamination during floods, and stronger safeguards for rivers and aquifers that sustain both cities and farms.

Aligning with national climate plans

The CCC urged utilities operating in Mindanao to align investments with the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP)—the country’s main frameworks for cutting emissions and adapting to climate impacts.

Borje said water companies can contribute by:

• shifting to energy-efficient and low-carbon operations,
• improving wastewater treatment to protect rivers and coastal areas, and
• building resilient, risk-informed infrastructure designed for stronger storms and longer droughts.

Private sector’s role

Water firms, including large concessionaires and local water districts, were encouraged to treat sustainability as part of daily operations—not just long-term planning.

Manila Water President and CEO Roberto Locsin said water service providers have direct opportunities to act on climate change through how they run and upgrade their systems.

The Sustainability Leadership Talk serves as a platform for dialogue among government, industry, and academe on how essential services can remain reliable amid climate uncertainty.

Communities at the center

The CCC reaffirmed its commitment under the Paris Agreement to work closely with the private sector and local stakeholders—particularly in climate-vulnerable regions like Mindanao.

For many Mindanaoans who have experienced dry taps during droughts or muddy water after floods, the message hits close to home: climate resilience is not an abstract goal.

It is about keeping water flowing to homes, farms, schools, and hospitals—especially as climate extremes become the new normal.