The SWAMP project aims to study the potentials, technologies, social dynamics and politics of water resources and utilization in coastal communities as a step toward developing community-based water resources management plans in selected pilot areas in the Philippines.
Components
- Sustainable Water Improvement Measures (SWIM)
- Proper Alternative Technologies On The Land And Sea (PATROLS)
- Politics Of Water Extraction (POWER)
The SWIM and PATROLS component center on the assessment of the water resources in selected coastal communities where the Sustainable Coastal Area Development Program is also being implemented. At the national level, PATROLS advocates the adoption of a comprehensive land-use policy. POWER, on the other hand, is concerned with the conflicts and politics of water utilization involving all users and stakeholders.
The research phase of the project was implemented from 1998 to 1999 and has resulted in the preliminary assessment of the water resources of the SCAD areas and a framework for the co-management and development of water resources among the various users and stakeholders.
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The research phase of the Sustainable Water Area Management Project (SWAMP) has resulted in the preliminary assessment of the water resources of the four coastal areas in the Philippines and a framework for the co-management and development of water resources among the various users and stakeholders. The research was undertaken in the provinces of Sorsogon, Palawan, Cebu and Sarangani, where community-based coastal resource management programs called Sustainable Coastal Area Development (SCAD) Programs were also being implemented.
Rural coastal communities generally have limited access to good-quality water for consumption. Although most rural coastal communities have access to at least Level I (point source) and II (communal faucets) water systems, the facilities are often non-functional or vandalized. Access to traditional sources like river boxes (locally called paligi) has also become restricted. As a result, communities access water sources that are located further inland. This increase the time and labor spent in water-collection activities which in turn increases the burden of women and children as the primary actors in water-collection activities. Under these conditions, rural communities could hardly satisfy their domestic water needs. They have to survive with what they can physically transport, even from questionable sources. The limited access and availability of water suggests lack of water security in rural communities which can be attributed to the following causes:
- degradation of land and water sources
- limited availability of water sources
- limited access to water supply systems
The degradation of land and water resources limits the availability of water; without a reliable source, projects on the water-supply system are bound to fail. The degradation of land resources also reduces the water carrying capacity of the soil. As a result, less quantity of water becomes available for use. On the other hand, the heavy reliance of coastal communities on the groundwater provided by coastal alluvial plain aquifers results in aquifer degradation caused by the lowering of the water table and saltwater intrusion. This only decreases the means by which water can be put to use. Another factor in water availability is seasonality; rainy months provide increases in water yield. However, water security does not necessarily increase during the rainy season. The excess run-off water is neither harvested nor stored for future use. Rainwater collectors are not feasible in areas where the houses in the communities have thatched roofs. The uneven distribution of rainfall would also require an elaborate technology to combine a number of households and to provide sanitary communal reservoir for long-term use. Unfortunately, water supply projects that would greatly increase the water security of coastal communities are not a priority of local governments. Local governments usually do not prioritize domestic water supply projects because of its costly nature and their limited budget.
The lack of water security imposes a heavy burden on women and children who are the primary collectors of water. It contributes to the reproductive work burden of women and consumes a large portion of the playtime of children. It also limits the alternative livelihood options of the communities, thus contributing to the causes of poverty. Most importantly, however, low water security affects the country’s objective of attaining food security and food self-sufficiency because it is impossible to attain food security without water security. An increase in water security will normally improve the prospects for food security. However, increasing food security by expansion of the irrigated area will reduce the security of other water-using sectors and aggravate water stress unless accompanied by improved supply or resource management.
The essence of water security is that societies should have sufficient access to water, or that they should have the means to limit the damage caused by shortages. Given the three main causes of lack of water security, it is even more important to manage the water resources of not just the coastal communities but also of the watershed in general. Increasing the water security of coastal communities, not just for domestic use but for livelihood as well, requires the protection and rehabilitation of the water sources in the watershed and the installation of water systems or storage facilities to bring the water to the communities and make it available for use.
The concept of water security is analogous to food security. Like food security, water security would try to increase water supplies, improve water availability, and increase access to water supplies. Heijnen (1998) also defines water security as the ability to ensure that the household has access to water of adequate quality and quantity for human consumption, hygiene and household economic activities. Hence, the need for water security expresses itself in:
- Access to (natural) water sources nearby the house
- Assured access to such sources at any time of need (time of the day/season of the year)
- Access against a reasonable effort in time and energy spent in collection
Water security at the domestic level can be broadly defined as having adequate domestic water supply so that the livelihood of rural people will not be unnecessarily burdened. Subsequently, Thomas, in his chapter for the book titled "Economic Health and Technological Aspects of Drinking Water and Sanitation," defines water security into three broad themes:
- Chronic water shortage
- Acute water shortage
- Lack of entitlement for water
The SCAD coastal communities would fall under the third category. Whether endowed with water resources or not , coastal communities that do not have the benefit of good-quality water at adequate levels are deprived of access to whatever water is available. The lack of entitlement to water is actually a result of the unclear allocation policy of the government. Although it is stated in the appropriation provision of the Water Code that domestic and municipal appropriation ranks first in the order of preference, priorities may be altered on grounds of beneficial use and multi-purpose use. Unfortunately, the bias of the government in providing water supply system is with the upper class municipalities and the agricultural and commercial sector. The lacks of distribution entitlement of rural coastal communities result in their marginalization in water allocation. This can be answered by a clear property rights arrangement where communities are given entitlement to their water resources. Clear property rights assigned to the community would give the community the rights in the management and development of their water resources.
Why water security? Lack of water security results in community losses in terms of (1) productive time because of time and effort spent in water-collection activities alone, (2) increased burden in women and children as the primary collectors of water, (3) limited options for alternative livelihood, and (4) imposed threat to community health. Therefore, increasing the water security of coastal communities would result not just in access to safe water but also in freed time for other activities. Available water would also expand the options for alternative livelihood and would improve the sanitation conditions in the communities.
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