Table of Contents

Introduction
Land Classification 6
Economy 6
Labor and Employment 6
Family Income and Expenditure 9
Demography 9
Climate 10
Disaster Risk 10
Climate Change and Hydrological Hazards 10
WSS Sector Status
Access to Safe Water 15
Drinking Water 15
Access to Sanitation 17
Water Resources
Surface Water 19
Agusan River Basin 19
Groundwater 21
Water Use 21
Water Availability, Water Stress and Water Scarcity 21
Demand
Population Projection 22
Water Supply and Demand 22
Water Demand vs. Water Resources Potential 22
WSS Infrastructure
Water Service Providers 25
Water Districts 25
LGU-Led Water Utilities 25
BWSA 25
RWSA 25
Bulk Water Services 25
Sanitation
Open Defecation 26
Wastewater and Domestic Biological Oxygen Demand 26
Water Quality 31
Waterborne diseases 31
WSS Sector Gaps
Issues, Constraints and Challenges 32
Regional Vision 34
Strategic Framework 34
Access Targets for Water and Sanitation 36
Strategic Interventions 38
Physical Interventions 39
Nonphysical interventions 39
Addressing the Gaps
Water Supply Investment Requirements 41
Physical Investments 41
Nonphysical Investments 41
Sanitation Investment Requirement 43
Physical Investments 43
Basic Sanitation Program 43
Septage Management Program 43
Sewerage Program 43
Non-physical Investments 43
Proposed Projects and Programs 44
Identified Priority Projects (2019 - 2020) 47
Appendix
Appendix A: Provincial and HUC Profiles 48
 List of Tables Page

Table 1 Population per Province, 2015 9

Table 2 Urban and Rural Population per Province, 20155 9
Table 3 Geological and Climatological Hazards 10
Table 4 Seasonal Projections Under a Medium-Range Emission Scenario 10
Table 5 Frequency of Extreme Events in 2020 and 2050 Under a Medium-Range Emission Scenario 10
Table 6 National and Regional Access to Water Supply 15
Table 7 Access to Water Supply per Province/HUC 15
Table 8 National and Regional Access to Sanitation 17
Table 9 Access to Sanitation Facilities per Province/HUC 17
Table 10 Aquifer Classes Based on MGB Aquifer Types 21
Table 11 Water Availability per Province 21
Table 12 Water Service Providers per Province 25
Table 13 Classification of the Tributaries of Agusan River 31
Table 14 Main Industries and Their Impacts on Water Quality of Agusan River 31
Table 15 Hindering and Facilitating Factors 33
Table 16 Strategies in Achieving Increased Access to Potable Water 34
Table 17 Proposed Strategic Interventions for Water Supply 38
Table 18 Proposed Strategic Interventions for Sanitation 38
Table 19 Capital Investments Required to Meet Water Supply Targets 39
Table 20 Institutional and Regulatory Reforms Required to Achieve Water Supply and Sanitation Goals 39
Table 21 Indirect Costs Employed 41
Table 22 Total Investment Costs for Water Supply Sector 41
Table 23 Total Investment Costs for Sanitation Sector 43

List of Figures Page

Figure 1 GRDP Contributions per Sector, 2016 6

Figure 2 Labor Force Participation and Employment Rates per Province, 2017 and 2018 6
Figure 3 Distribution of Family Expenditure, 2015 9
Figure 4 Main Sources of Water Supply, 2015 15
Figure 5 Provincial Access to Safe Water 15
Figure 6 Percentage of Households with Access to Sanitation Facilities 17
Figure 7 Water Resources Potential and Annual Rainfall 19
Figure 8 Water Use, 2017 21
Figure 9 Water Availability Map, 2015 21
Figure 10 Projected Population per Province 22
Figure 11 Projected Water Demand 22
Figure 12 Biological Oxygen Demand, 2015 26
Figure 13 Categories of Wastewater 26
Figure 14 Wastewater Produced, 2015 26
Figure 15 Waterless Municipalities 31
Figure 16 Caraga WSS Strategic Framework 35
Figure 17 Targeted Households with Access to Safe Water 36
Figure 18 Targeted Households with Access to Sanitation 36
Figure 19 Distribution of Investment Requirement per Province 39
Acronyms
AIP Annual Investment Plan
AM Assistance to Municipalities
AMWS Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
ARMM Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
BCWD Butuan City Water District
BOD Biological Oxygen Demand
BWSA Barangay Water and Sanitation Association
CBO Community-Based Organization
CDP Comprehensive Development Plan
CENRO City Environment and Natural Resources Office
CHO City Health Office
CLTS Community-Led Total Sanitation
DENR Department of Environment and Natural Resources
DILG Department of the Interior and Local Government
DJF December, January and February
DPWH Department of Public Works and Highways
DOH Department of Health
DTI Department of Trade and Industry
FA Financial Assistance
FHSIS Field Health Service Information System
FIES Family Income and Expenditure Survey
GRDP Gross Regional Domestic Product
HH Household
HUC Highly Urbanized City
IP Indigenous People
JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency
JJA June, July and August
JMP Joint Monitoring Program
LCE Local Chief Executive
LFPR Labor Force Participation Rate
LWUA Local Water Utilities Administration
LGU Local Government Unit
MAM March, April and May
MDG Millennium Development Goals
MSME Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
NCR National Capital Region
NDHS National Demographic and Health Survey
NEDA National Economic and Development Authority
NGO Nongovernment Organization
NRW Nonrevenue Water
NSSMP National Sewerage and Septage Management System
NWRB National Water Resources Board
PAGASA Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
PDP Philippine Development Plan
PNSDW Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water
PPP Public-Private Partnership
PSA Philippine Statistics Authority
PWSSMP Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan
RBCO River Basin Control Office
RDC Regional Development Council
RPME Regional Project Monitoring Evaluation System
RWSA Rural Waterworks and Sanitation Association
SDG Sustainable Development Goals
SMERA Small and Medium Enterprise Roving Academy
SON September, October and November
SSF Shared Service Facilities
STP Septage Treatment Plant
TC Tropical Cyclone
 UN United Nations
UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund
WD Water District
WFR Watershed Forest Reserve
WHO World Health Organization
WRR Water Resources Region
WSP Water Service Provider
WSS Water Supply and Sanitation
ZOD Zero Open Defecation

Units
% percent
C degree Celsius
ha hectare
m meter
2
m square meter
m3 cubic meter
mm millimeter
2
km square kilometer
lpcd liters per capita per day
MCM million cubic meters
PhP Philippine peso
 Region XIII - Caraga
Caraga Region
Introduction
The Caraga Region, situated
in the northeast section of
Mindanao.
It is bounded on the north by the Bohol Sea, on the south
by Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, and Davao
Oriental, on the west by Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental,
and on the east by the Philippine Sea and the Pacific
Ocean.
Designated as Region XIII, the Caraga Region (or
Caraga Administrative Region) comprises five provinces:
Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands,
Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur. The region’s
name derives from the “Kalagan” people who are native Figure 1: GRDP Contributions per Sector, 20162
to the Davao provinces.
Butuan City, a highly urbanized city (HUC) in Agusan del Agusan del Sur posted the most significant contribution
Norte, is the region’s commercial, industrial, and to the region’s output at 30%, while Dinagat Islands
administrative center. registered the lowest output at 4%.
Caraga is endowed with rich natural resources and large Agusan del Norte led the provinces with a 37.98% growth
tracts of land available for agricultural and real estate increase in 2015. Surigao del Sur followed at 22.85%.
development. Thanks to government aid (i.e., Department of Trade and
Industry's [DTI] Small and Medium Enterprise Roving
The region is noted for its wood-based economy, its
Academy [SMERA] and Shared Service Facilities [SSF]),
extensive water resources and its rich mineral deposits,
the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises
such as iron, gold, silver, nickel, chromite, manganese
(MSMEs) has contributed to the rise in domestic sales.1
and copper. Rice, bananas, coconuts, calamansi, and
rubber are among its major crops.
It has excellent tourism potential because of its unspoiled
and beautiful beaches, abundant marine resources,
Labor and Employment
ancient and historical landmarks, hot and cold springs, The current total labor force participation rate (LFPR) in
evergreen forests, and balmy weather. the region was estimated at 67.1% of the total regional
population — equivalent to a population of nearly 1.9
million, as of January 2018. This meant an increase of
Land Classification 4.8% from the October 2017 LFPR. Agusan del Sur had
the highest LFPR (69.4%) among the five provinces.3
The region has a total land area of 19,138 square
The employment rate was considerably high at 96%
kilometers (km2) representing around 6% of the country's (from 96.3% in 2017). Among the provinces, Agusan del
total land area and 18% of that of Mindanao. Sur registered the highest employment rate at 96.6%.
Approximately 70% of the land area is forestland, and
30% is alienable and disposable land. The quality of employment, however, has not been given
the attention it deserves: the underemployment rate is
Agricultural land covers around 30%, timberland 52%, estimated at 24.7% (from 22.7% in 2016) primarily
and land used for mineral production 9%. Approximately because of seasonal job opportunities and a mismatch of
71% of its forestland is used for timber production. occupations and skills.

Economy
The service sector made up the lion’s share of the
region’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP),
followed by the industry sector, and the agriculture,
fishery, and forestry sector, as of 2016.
The region’s domestic sales were estimated at PhP708
million in 2015.
1
National Economic and Development
Authority, Region XIII, Caraga Regional
Economic Situationer, 2015 Figure 2: Labor Force Participation and Employment Rates
2
Philippine Statistics Authority, Coun- per Province
tryStat Philippines, 2016
3
Philippine Statistics Authority, Labor
Force Survey, 2017 and 2018

6
7
Population Density
PSA, 2015 Census

8
 Figure 3: Distribution of Family Expenditure, 20154

Family Income and Expenditure Demography

Caraga Region has approximately 579,000 households The region had a population of 2,596,709, accounting for
(HHs), with an estimated annual average income of 2.6% of the Philippine population in 2015. Agusan del
PhP198,000 and an annual average expenditure of Sur had the largest population among the five provinces,
PhP159,000. and Dinagat Islands had the smallest population. The
region’s population growth from 2000 to 2015 was
Regarding income class, the total average expenditure
recorded at 1.42%, which was lower than the national
for the PhP40,000-59,999 category is greater than its
average of 1.84%.
average income, while households in other categories
earn incomes greater than expenditures. With family size The population density of the region averaged 116
as an indicator, a family of five has the largest income- persons per square kilometer in 2015. A large
expenditure difference, while a single-person household percentage of its population is concentrated in the cities
has the least income-expenditure difference — indicating as well as along the coastal areas (as shown on the map
that a family of five has more savings as compared to on the left).
other family sizes.
The region is predominantly (73%) rural. Household size
With respect to the disbursement patterns of the families in the region averages 4.5 persons. (see Table 2)
in the region and across income levels, the Family
Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) conducted in
2015 revealed that food expenditures were the highest
among the major expenditure groups at 45.3%. Housing
expenses followed at 9.6%, and expenses for water,
electricity, gas and other fuels at 7.3%. Figure 3 graphs
the expenditure distribution showing that most families
spend more for their basic needs.

Table 1: Population per Province/HUC, 2015 Table 2: Urban and Rural Population per Province, 20155
Population Region/Province Urban Population Rural Population
Region/Province/ Land Area Density
Population Caraga Region 27% 73%
City (km2) (person/
km2) Agusan Del Norte
(excluding Butuan 15% 85%
Caraga Region 2,596,709 22,296 116 City)
Agusan Del Norte 354,503 3,547 100 Agusan Del Sur 28% 72%
(excluding Butuan
City) Surigao Del Norte 22% 78%

Agusan Del Sur 700,653 9,990 70 Surigao Del Sur 25% 75%

Surigao Del Norte 485,088 1,973 246 Dinagat Islands 6% 94%

Surigao Del Sur 592,250 4,933 120 Butuan City 58% 42%

Dinagat Islands 127,152 1,036 123

Butuan City 337,063 817 412

4
Philippine Statistics Authority, Family
Income and Expenditure Survey, 2015
5
Philippine Statistics Authority, Philippine
Standard Geographic Code, 2015

9
 Climate Climate Change and
Caraga has two types of climate — Type II and IV. There Hydrological Hazards
are no definite dry and wet seasons and rainfall is evenly
distributed throughout the year. The Philippines is at great risk of climate-related hazards,
such as TCs, floods, droughts and sea level rise. The
The region recorded an average annual temperature of effects of observed changes in extreme events and severe
27.24°C from 1971 to 2000 based on the PAGASA’s climate anomalies include increased occurrence of
observed seasonal temperature data. The highest extreme rains causing: (a) floods and landslides; (b)
average temperature was registered in June, July, and longer and more intense droughts which cause massive
August with 27.28°C. The lowest average temperature crop failures, water shortages and forest fires; and (c)
was recorded in December, January, and February. increased occurrence of TCs.
Global climate models, which were used to run two
possible scenarios (A1B and A2), were downscaled to
Disaster Risk calculate projected Philippine rainfall. Studies show a
general increase in rainfall for 2020, 2050 and beyond.
The region is prone to geological and climatological The models, however, show higher variability in rainfall
hazards. It is one of the areas in the country most with increased peak rainfall during the wet season and
vulnerable to climate-related hazards. Four of its five longer dry conditions during the dry season. (Rainfall
provinces are included in the country’s top 20 provinces variability means changes in water supply dynamics
most vulnerable to climate change. These provinces are spatially and year-to-year.)
Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and
Water supply is highly vulnerable to changes in river flows
Dinagat Islands. Although not included in the top 20,
and the rate of replenishment of groundwater resources.
Agusan Del Norte is comparatively “less vulnerable” to
Lower river flows will result in water shortages. More
these hazards. intense rainfall events may not necessarily mean more
Table 3: Geological and Climatological Hazards groundwater recharge compared to rain that is more
evenly spread throughout the year. Lower than average
Category Specific Hazards rainfall or longer pronounced dry days may affect soil
Geological earthquake, liquefaction, earthquake- porosity and vegetation, which could lead to reduced soil
induced landslide and tsunami infiltration rates. This means less groundwater recharge.
Climatological tropical cyclones (TCs), flooding, drought, Given this scenario, more water stress will likely be
rain-induced landslide, sea level rise, experienced by 2020 and 2050.
storm surges
The projected seasonal temperature increase, seasonal
rainfall change and frequency of extreme events
The main earthquake generators in the region are the (temperatures higher than 35°C, days when rainfall is
Philippine Fault Zone, which traverses Luzon, Visayas, more than 300 mm, and rainy days that outnumber dry
and Mindanao, and the Philippine Trench situated days) in Region XIII based on the Philippine Atmospheric,
approximately 100 kilometers from the mainland of the Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
eastern seaboard towards the Pacific Ocean.6 (PAGASA) downscaled climate projections are shown in
Tables 4 and 5. Four seasons are provided: December,
January and February (DJF); March, April and May
(MAM); June, July and August (JJA); and September,
October and November (SON). The projections were
added to the observed values in the past 30-year baseline
(1971-2000).

Table 4: Seasonal Projections Under a Medium-Range Emission Scenario

Observed Baseline Change in 2020 Change in 2050

Seasonal Temperature Increase (1971-2000) (2006-2035) (2036-2065)
(in °C)
DJF MAM JJA SON DJF MAM JJA SON DJF MAM JJA SON
Agusan Del Norte 26.2 27.6 27.8 27.4 1.0 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.9 2.3 2.5 2.2
Agusan Del Sur 25.9 27.1 27.2 26.9 0.9 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.9 2.2 2.4 2.1
Surigao Del Norte 26.3 27.6 28.2 27.7 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.1 1.7 2.2 2.6 2.0
Surigao Del Sur 26.4 27.4 27.9 27.4 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.7 2.0 2.3 2.0

Observed Baseline Change in 2020 Change in 2050

Seasonal Rainfall Change (1971-2000) (2006-2035) (2036-2065)
(in %)
DJF MAM JJA SON DJF MAM JJA SON DJF MAM JJA SON
Agusan Del Norte 875.7 441.9 460.0 628.9 -0.8 -24.4 -7.9 5.0 13.8 -36.5 -8.3 0.6
Agusan Del Sur 963.3 586.4 593.4 694.8 4.0 -13.1 0.0 -6.0 -2.9 -26.1 -3.4 -5.9
Surigao Del Norte 1412.0 639.0 448.0 837.3 2.1 -11.7 -3.3 4.2 3.2 -33.2 -8.7 9.6
Surigao Del Sur 1394.0 746.9 534.6 842.5 5.8 -11.7 -2.2 -4.8 4.0 -29.1 -7.9 -3.7

Table 5: Frequency of Extreme Events in 2020 and 2050 Under a Medium-Range Emission Scenario
No. of Days w/
No. of Days w/ Tmax > 35C No. of Dry Days
Province Station Rainfall > 300 mm
OBS 2020 2050 OBS 2020 2050 OBS 2020 2050
Agusan Del Norte Butuan 324 2855 4767 4997 6300 6804 0 10 10
Agusan Del Sur Surigao 86 225 1333 5286 6054 5975 1 2 14

Surigao Del Sur Hinatuan 157 1635 1635 5667 2715 3080 1 1 6
6
National Economic and Development
Authority, Caraga, Regional Development
Plan, 2017-2022

10
Climate Map
PAGASA

11
Contour Map
NAMRIA

12
Average Rainfall
PAGASA, 2015 Data

13
Access to Safe Drinking Water
PSA, 2015 Census

14
 WSS Sector Status
Access to Safe Water Table 7 shows safe water access in 2015 at the
provincial level.
Approximately 85% of Caraga’s population Table 7: Access to Water Supply per Province/HUC9
had access to safe water sources in 2015.7 Region/Province/City Access to Safe Water Supply
This figure translates to approximately 490,000 HHs. Caraga Region 91.7%
About 43.1% of the population has Level III service
connection at home while 16.8% has Level II service Agusan Del Norte 100.0%
which the households share with the community. More Agusan Del Sur 78.0%
than 25% of the population has access to Level I service.
Surigao Del Norte 100.0%
Safe sources of water under this category include tubed Surigao Del Sur 90.0%
and/or piped deep/shallow wells (which users themselves
own or share with the community), and protected springs, Dinagat Islands 99.0%
rivers, streams, etc. Butuan City 100.0%
The region’s access to safe water is on a par with the
national average of about 88%, with a discrepancy of
only about 3%. In terms of access per level of service,
Caraga’s figures do not differ significantly from the
national percentages with variances not greater than
10%. Level III access, in particular, is higher at 43.1% as
compared to the national percentage of 4.1%.

Table 6: National and Regional Access to Water Supply8

Level of Service National Caraga

Level III 44.1% 43.1%

Level II 11.2% 16.8%

Level I (Safe Sources) 32.4% 25.1%

Subtotal (Safe Sources) 87.7% 85.0%

Level I (Unsafe Sources) 12.3% 15.0%

Total 100.0% 100.0%

Figure 4 shows the percentage distribution of the region’s

various water sources.

Figure 5: Provincial Access to Safe Water

Drinking Water
In terms of access to safe drinking water, the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA) has released data up to the
municipal level based on the latest 2015 Census. The
classification of sources for drinking water is the same as
that for sources of safe water with the addition of bottled
water.
As of 2015, 88% of the region’s population drank water
from sources considered “improved” and “safe”.
Approximately 21% of the regional population drinks
bottled water.
Comparatively, Agusan del Sur has lower access to safe
drinking water — 41%-61%. This can be attributed to its
low population density (i.e., 70 persons/km2).
Figure 4: Main Sources of Water Supply, 2015
The map on the left shows the extent of access to safe
drinking water at the municipal level.
7
Philippine Statistics Authority, Family
Income and Expenditure Survey, 2015
8
Ibid.
9
Based on Caraga provinces’ firsthand
data on access to safe water, as gathered
during the regional planning and consul-
tation workshop

15
Access to Sanitation
Caraga Regional Planning and Consultation Workshop, 2017 Data

16
Access to Sanitation
The continued growth of the region has, as a matter of
course, contributed to the increase in demand for
sanitation services.

Approximately 77% of the region’s

population has access to improved
sanitation.
The 2015 FIES has reported that Region XIII was slightly
above the national average with regard to improved
sanitation coverage. The region slightly trails behind in
basic sanitation and is almost on a par in regard to open
defecation. (The open defecation rate is a proxy indicator
for the lack of access to toilet facilities.)

Table 8: National and Regional Access to Sanitation10

Sanitation Coverage National Caraga Figure 6: Percentage of Households with Access

to Sanitation Facilities
Improved Sanitation 73.77% 77%
Basic Sanitation 19.96% 16.69% Figure 6 shows the percentage of households per type of
Unimproved Sanitation 2.04% 1.68% sanitation facilities. It represents the initial stages of the
sanitation ladder in the region.
Open Defecation 4.23% 4.63%
Total 100.0% 100.0% While one of the main objectives of the Philippine
Development Plan (PDP) is to achieve universal access to
sustainable sanitation by 2030, SDG 6.2 highlights the need
Butuan City, the only HUC in the region, registers the to broaden the definition of sanitation access, that is, to
highest access to basic sanitation at 90.53% and include safely managed and improved sanitation through the
represents 12.98% of the region’s total population. The treatment of wastewater or fecal sludge on-site or off-site.
provinces with the highest population base in the region,
Data on access to sanitation at the provincial level in Caraga
Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur, have the second
were gathered during the regional consultation and planning
highest access to basic sanitation at 84.99% and
workshop. The map on the left shows the extent of access to
82.23%, respectively.
sanitation of the provinces in the region.
Table 9: Access to Sanitation Facilities per Province/HUC11 On the other hand, there are no septage treatment plants
(STPs) in the region.
HHs with HHs with Complete
Region/Province/
Sanitary Toilets Basic Sanitation
City
(2015) Facilities (2015)
Caraga Region 85.55% 58.76%
Agusan del Norte 88.31% 78.22%
Agusan del Sur 84.99% 48.79%
Surigao del Norte 83.70% 58.07%
Surigao del Sur 82.23% 31.38%
Dinagat Islands 84.64% 55.93%
Butuan City 90.53% 89.72%

The minor discrepancy between Tables 8 and 9

regarding totals and averages highlights the difficulty of
reconciling the definition of sanitation coverage under the
Millenium Development Goals (MDG) with a more
stratified and specific definition under the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG). Table 8 reflects the specifics
per the SDG’s definition. Table 9, on the other hand,
reflects the rates of access as defined under the MDG,
wherein the percentage of households with complete
basic sanitation facilities is a subset of those with sanitary
toilets.
Categorization of the facilities as per SDG definitions is
as follows:

Improved Sanitation Water-sealed sewer septic tank (exclusive use)

Basic Sanitation Water-sealed sewer septic tank (shared)
Water-sealed other depository (exclusive use)
Water-sealed other depository (shared)
Closed Pit

Unimproved Sanitation Open Pit

Open Defecation Other Means
None

10
Philippine Statistics Authority, Family
Income and Expenditure Survey, 2015
11
Department of Health, FHSIS Annual
Report CY 2015 ([Link])

17
Caraga Rivers and Tributaries
DENR, NWRB, NAMRIA

18
 Water Resources
Caraga has the most water The Agusan River is fed by 15 major tributaries: Adgaon,
Bugabos, Gibong, Haoan/Ihaoan, Kasilan, Kayonan/
resource potential among all Umayam, Libang, Logom-Baobo, Manat, Maosam, Ojot,
Simulao, Solibao, Taguibo and Wawa- Andanon.
administrative regions. There are five protected areas in the ARB: (1) the
Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, (2) Taguibo River
The region’s water resources potential is estimated at
Watershed Forest Reserve, (3) Andanan Watershed
18,214 million cubic meters (MCM)/year, accounting for
Forest Reserve, (4) Mainit Hot Spring Protected
12.5% of the country’s total.
Landscape, Mainit Hot Spring Buffer Zone (National
The water resources potential of an area is divided into Park), and (5) Cabadbaran Watershed Reserve.
groundwater and surface water. Groundwater is
The Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS) is one of
estimated at 1,509 MCM/year while surface water is
the country’s ecologically significant wetland ecosystems
estimated at 16,705 MCM/year. Annual rainfall averages
covering about 40,940 hectares. The AMWS areas
2,846 mm/year.
consist of an extensive floodplain dissected by numerous
These figures are based on the estimation of the watercourses, with 59 small shallow lakes and ponds. It
potential of the country’s water resources regions (WRR) acts as the catch basin of Agusan-Davao plain of eastern
(see National Databook). The WRRs do not necessarily Mindanao.
coincide with the boundaries of the administrative
regions. These hydrological boundaries are defined by The sanctuary is a very important source of freshwater as
their physiographic features and homogeneity in climate. it stores about 15% of the country’s freshwater resource
in the form of a swamp forest.
Caraga straddles two WRRs. Agusan del Norte, Agusan
del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands are part
of WRR 10. Surigao del Sur is part of WRR 11 which it
shares with the provinces of Region XI (Davao Region).

Surface Water
Caraga is endowed with abundant water resources,
among them, bodies of freshwater. The region is home to
the Agusan River Basin, one of the 18 major river basins
in the country .

Agusan River Basin

The Agusan River Basin (ARB) is the third largest river
basin in the Philippines with a drainage area of 11,936
km². It is located in the northeastern part of Mindanao. It
flows mainly through three provinces and one city:
Compostela Valley in Region XI, and Agusan del Sur,
Agusan del Norte, and Butuan City in Region XIII.
The 350-km Agusan River is reported to originate from
the confluence area of Lanipao Creek of Barangay
Araibo and Tabon Creek from Barangay Las Arenas,
both in Pantukan, Compostela Valley. It traverses
northward through five municipalities in Compostela
Valley, nine municipalities in Agusan del Sur (including
the Agusan Marsh), two municipalities in Agusan del
Norte, and Butuan City, before draining into the Butuan
Bay.

Figure 7: Water Resources Potential and Annual Rainfall12

12
JICA Master Plan on Water Resources
Management in the Philippines, 1998;
NWRB; PAGASA Rainfall Data; FAO

19
Groundwater Availability
MGB

20
Table 10: Aquifer Classes Based on MGB Aquifer Types

Aquifer Class MGB Aquifer Type Estimated Yields (boreholes unless stated)
Major Aquifer Intergranular: extensive and highly Mostly 50-100 lps
(Highly permeable) productive
Fractured: fairly extensive and productive (aquifers 3-50 lps, spring yields up to 1000 lps
with high potential recharge)
Minor Aquifer Intergranular: fairly extensive and productive About 20 lps
(Variably permeable) Intergranular: local and less productive Mostly 2-20 lps
Fractured: less extensive and productive Well yields up to 3 lps
Non-aquifer Rocks with limited groundwater potential Yields mostly less than 1 lps
(Negligibly permeable) Rocks without any significant known groundwater Yields mostly less than 1 lps

Groundwater Water Availability, Water Stress,

Groundwater conditions are controlled by geology, and Water Scarcity
topography, and the structure of the groundwater basin.
The structure of the groundwater basin consists of Hydrologists typically assess scarcity by looking at the
distribution and hydrogeological conditions such as the population-water equation. An area is experiencing water
aquifer structure and aquicludes, the physical stress when annual water supplies drop below 1,700 m3 per
characteristics of the formations as per transmissibility person. When annual water supplies drop below 1,000 m3
and storage coefficient and chemical characteristics of per person, the population faces water scarcity, and below
groundwater. These factors need to be defined in relation 500 m3 ‘absolute scarcity.’” (UN Water, n.d.)14
to the possible development depth and overall Water availability per capita was computed by comparing the
development potential. region and provinces’ potential against the 2015 population
(as shown in Table 11).
The extent of groundwater availability in any given area
also depends on its surface area and the amount of
Table 11: Water Availability per Province
precipitation it receives. Furthermore, it is tied to
groundwater storage based on the type and class of Region/Province Water Availability (m3/capita/year)
aquifer present in a study area (see Table 10).
Agusan del Norte 4,853
Apart from some parts of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Agusan del Sur 13,492
Sur that are underlain by the major aquifer class,
Surigao del Norte 3,849
mainland Caraga is predominantly underlain by the minor
aquifer class (specifically the local and less productive Surigao del Sur 4,317
kind). Its northern part (along with the region’s island Dinagat Islands 7,715
provinces) is underlain by non-aquifer areas that have Caraga Region 7,014
limited groundwater potential.

Caraga’s per capita water availability was above the

Water Use threshold — around 7,000 m3/year.

Water use in the region was estimated at 6,476 MCM

annually based on awarded water permits as of 2017.
Approximately 40% (2,617 MCM) is allocated for power
generation and categorized under nonconsumptive use.
The remaining volume (3,859 MCM) is allocated for
consumptive use (see Figure 8).
The irrigation sector consumes the largest volume of
water among all sectors with an 84% allocation. The
industrial sector consumes 14% while the domestic
sector consumes only 3%.

Figure 8: Water Use, 201713

Figure 9: Water Availability Map, 2015

13
National Water Resources Board. List
of Water Permit Grantees, 2017
14
Managing Water Report under Uncer-
tainty and Risk, UN World Water Devel-
opment Report 4 (Volume 1)

21
 Demand
Population Projection Water Demand vs. Water
Population projection is important in estimating the future Resources Potential
water and sanitation demand of a study area. It is a study The water demand of the industrial, business and
of a recorded pattern of past population growth to domestic sectors in Caraga is expected to significantly
establish future trends. increase in the near future. The efficient use and
Employing PSA’s 2010-based population projections management of available water resources, therefore,
which were adjusted to conform with the actual 2015 must be ensured to promote universal access to stable
population, the region’s population is projected to reach and steady water supply.
3,680,471 by 2045. Comparing the projected water demand (161.8 MCM/
year) to the water resources potential of the region
(18,214 MCM/year), it is observed that the availability of
Water Supply and Demand water far exceeds the projected water demand of the
region up to 2045.
Water demand projection is fundamental to water supply
It must be noted, however, that the projected water
feasibility studies and preliminary engineering design. It
demand of the region does not include that of its
is also an important tool in the preparation of master
agricultural sector, which consumes the largest volume of
plans, considering the future needs of a growing
water among all industry sectors. What appears to be
population. Water demand projections are developed
abundant may be less once the agriculture sector uses
based on the estimated projected population.
its “share”. It is estimated that agriculture takes up about
In general, the total water demand is equal to the sum of 75% to 80% of the total consumptive use of water in the
the domestic, commercial, industrial, institutional, and country.
unaccounted-for water. Computation for water demand at
Though there is no foreseeable water shortage in the
the household level, in particular, is primarily based on
region in the coming years, it is necessary to efficiently
the degree of urbanization of a barangay.
manage and use its water resources to control possible
In projecting water demand, the units of consumption demand shifts.
used are 120 liters per capita per day (lpcd) for urban
To fully make use of its groundwater and surface water
populations, and 60 lpcd for rural populations. In the NCR
potential, however, the issue regarding mining activities
and other HUCs, 150 lpcd and 80 lpcd are used for urban
in the region has to be immediately addressed.
and rural populations, respectively.
By 2022, 2030, and 2040, the total water demand of the
region would have reached 123.4 MCM/year, 140.5
MCM/year, and 161.8 MCM/year, respectively.

Figure 10: Projected Population

Figure 11: Projected Water Demand

22
2015 Population 2040 Population
Projection

2015 Water Demand 2040 Water

Demand Projection

23
Water Districts and Areas Covered with Level III Service
LWUA, PAWD, NWRB Listahang Tubig, 2017 Data

24
 WSS Infrastructure
Water service providers Furthermore, it cannot be ascertained that all WSPs in
the region have already registered under Listahang Tubig
(WSPs) of various or are continually updating their operations data.
Nevertheless, these data help economic experts and
management types serve engineers gain insights into the region’s situation in

around 55% of Caraga.15 relation to its existing water utilities.

These management types depend on the service areas Water Districts

(urban and rural), the number of potential water As of 2015, of the 32 WDs serving Caraga, 23 were
connections, and the level of service given. operational and 9 non-functional. These covered about
1.3 million or roughly 51% of the total population. Of the
For small urban towns and rural areas, community-based
number, only 749,184 users (or 57%) receive water
organizations (CBOs) – which include rural waterworks
service.
and sanitation associations (RWSA), barangay water and
sanitation associations (BWSA), and water cooperatives
– operate supply systems offering services at Level II LGU-Led Water Utilities
(and in some cases, Level I). As the area grows and The region has 278 LGU-run water utilities covering 36
becomes more urbanized or more densely populated, areas and 342,148 users or 13% of the total population of
water service providers mostly comprise water districts Caraga.
(WDs) and LGU-run utilities providing Level III service.
Areas that do not have access to any formal level of BWSA
service rely on point sources, such as shallow and deep The region has 234 BWSA utilities in 32 areas covering
wells. about 7% of its total population.

RWSA
Water Service Providers The region has 48 RWSA utilities covering14 areas and
supplying water service to 40,882 users.
The percentage of the population having access to or
The map on the left shows the location of operational and
being served by these WSPs is not in accord with the
nonoperational WDs in the region as well as barangays
figures in PSA’s 2015 FIES mainly because the former
provided with Level III water service by various WSPs
came from various sources16, with the bulk of the data
(except WDs).
coming from the National Water Resources Board’s
(NWRB) Listahang Tubig.

Table 12: Water Service Providers per Province

Population Served
Region/Province No. of LGUs Type & No. of WSPs Service Area
Total %
WDs 3 440,634 334,844 75.99%
LGU-led 35 56,727 8.20%
Agusan del Norte 12 BWSA 38 45,755 6.62%
RWSA 11 6,270 0.91%
Private/Others 143 52,935 7.65%
Subtotal 230 691,566 496,531 71.80%
WDs 5 335,968 88,522 26.35%
LGU-led 4 11,345 1.62%
Agusan del Sur 14 BWSA 1 2,325 0.33%
RWSA 0 1 0.00%
Private/Others 8 5,030 0.72%
Subtotal 18 700,653 107,223 15.30%
WDs 1 0 0 0.00%
LGU-led 18 24,160 19.00%
Province of Dinagat
7 BWSA 70 46,389 36.48%
Islands
RWSA 2 1,230 0.97%
Private/Others 2 475 0.37%
Subtotal 93 127,152 72,254 56.82%
WDs 6 236,423 165,484 69.99%
LGU-led 180 198,415 40.90%
Surigao del Norte 22 BWSA 40 37,779 7.79%
RWSA 13 10,756 2.22%
Private/Others 27 22,017 4.54%
Subtotal 266 485,088 434,451 89.56%
WDs 8 305,782 160,334 52.4%
LGU-led 41 51,501 8.70%
Surigao del Sur 19 BWSA 85 57,935 9.78%
RWSA 22 22,625 3.82%
Private/Others 48 30,161 5.09%
Subtotal 204 592,250 322,556 54.46%
WDs 23 1,318,807 749,184 56.81%
LGU-led 278 342,148 13.18%
Caraga Region 74 BWSA 234 190,183 7.32%
RWSA 48 40,882 1.57%
15
Private/Others 228 110,618 4.26% Based on registered WSPs in Lista-
Grand Total 811 2,596,709 1,433,015 55.19% hang Tubig (as of 2017)
16
Local Water Utilities Administration
(LWUA), PAWD, NWRB Listahang Tubig

25
 Sanitation
Sanitation is the provision of facilities and services for the Industrial and agricultural wastewater generation may be
safe management and disposal of human waste. Without estimated using guidelines provided by the WHO Rapid
sanitation, water quality degrades, health is compromised Assessment of Sources of Air, Water, and Land Pollution.
and the environment is adversely affected. Estimations, however, heavily depend on sectoral data
not currently available to the Consulting Team.
This section discusses the link between growing water
demand and its detrimental effects on water quality and Industrial wastewater generated is computed by industry
public health. type and depends on the present and future annual
volume of production output per type. Agricultural
wastewater generation and BOD estimation, on the other
Open Defecation hand, are based on the present and future annual
number of heads of livestock and poultry produced.
As defined by the Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) for
Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene of the World
Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF), open defecation is the
practice whereby people go out into the fields, bushes,
forests, open bodies of water, or other open spaces
rather than use the toilet to defecate. This can pollute the
environment and cause various health-related problems.
Among all regions, Caraga has the 7th highest open
defecation rate at 4.6%. Approximately 12,022 people
were reported practicing open defecation in 2015. This
has been attributed to the many informal settlers along
the coastlines and waterless areas which do not have
access to sanitation facilities.
The map on the right shows the areas in the region
where open defecation is most prevalent.

Figure 13: Categories of Wastewater

Wastewater and Domestic
Biological Oxygen Demand In the absence of other data, only domestic BOD can be
estimated. A BOD factor of 37 grams per person per day
A measure of the organic strength of wastes in water is (unit pollution load) is assumed; for highly urbanized
biological oxygen demand (BOD), which is the rate at areas, 53 grams17 per person per day is used.
which organisms use the oxygen in water or wastewater The wastewater18 produced by each province is directly
while stabilizing decomposable organic matter under proportional to its water demand as well as its population.
aerobic conditions. The greater the BOD, the greater the It is assumed that wastewater generated is 80% of the
degree of organic pollution. total water demand. The current wastewater in the region
The map below shows the current BOD in Caraga. is shown in Figure 14.
BOD and wastewater projections until 2040 are shown in
the succeeding pages

Figure 12: Biological Oxygen Demand, 2015 Figure 14: Wastewater Produced, 2015
17
Philippine Environment Monitor (PEM),
2003
18
Ibid.

26
Open Defecation
PSA, 2015 Data

27
 BOD Projection, 2020 BOD Projection, 2025

BOD Projection, 2030 BOD Projection, 2040

28
Wastewater Wastewater
Projection, 2020 Projection, 2025

Wastewater Wastewater
Projection, 2030 Projection, 2040

29
Areas with Water Quality Problems
Water Districts’ Water Quality Monitoring Data, LWUA, 2015

30
Water Quality Waterborne Diseases
Water quality measures how good water is in terms of its Waterborne diseases are generally transmitted through water
beneficial use and environmental value. It is water in which pathogenic microorganisms live. These diseases
relative to its use and measured in terms of its physical, can be spread while bathing, washing, or drinking water, or
chemical, biological and radiological characteristics. It is by eating food exposed to contaminated water.19
most frequently used in reference to a set of standards
Approximately 6,579 cases of acute watery diarrhea, 1,144
against which compliance can be assessed.
cases of schistosomiasis, and 84 cases of typhoid and
As discussed earlier in “Water Resources”, Caraga draws paratyphoid were reported in Caraga in 2015, according to a
much of its water supply from the tributary rivers of 2015 Field Health Service Information System (FHSIS)
Agusan River. Table 13 lists these rivers with their report.
corresponding classifications.
These numbers indicate that many people in the region still
According to the Environmental Management Bureau have no access to safe drinking water and sanitation
(EMB), Agusan River is classified under Class C. This facilities.
type of river is used in fishery, noncontact activities such
As of 2017, Department of the Interior and Local Government
as boating, and industries.
(DILG) reported 11 waterless20 municipalities in Caraga (see
Figure 15).
Table 13: Classification of the Tributaries of Agusan River
Residents in these areas have limited access to safe
River Classification (drinking) water, and thus, are forced to resort to unsafe
Bugabos C sources of water. Doing so increases their exposure to a host
Magallanes/Baug C/D of waterborne diseases.
Agusan del Norte
Taguibo A/C/D
Ojot A
Gibong A
Agdaon A
Simulao A
Umayam D
Inaoan D
Agusan del Sur
Wawa/Andaon A/C
Solibao A
Libang D
Maasam D
Kasilan D

Wastewater projection maps (as shown in the preceding

pages) indicate that most cities and growing
municipalities have higher water demand compared to
the other areas in the region. These areas are more
exposed to problems related to water quality and health,
among them waterborne diseases.
The map on the left shows the areas whose water
sources have exhibited signs of poor water quality. The
data are based on the water quality reports submitted by
WDs to the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).
Data on water supply sources that are not covered or
owned by WDs are not reflected on this map. Figure 15: Waterless Municipalities

Table 14: Main Industries and their Impacts on Water Quality of Agusan River

Source/Cause of Decline in Water Quality Impact/Potential Waste Generated

Industrial
Gold rush area in Diwalwal mine sites in the eastern hills of Ma- Processing of gold by small-scale and artisanal miners that increase
co, Pantukan, and New Bataan COSTMA mercury and cyanide levels
Filtrates and other by-products of oil refining resulting in increased
Vegetable oil mills in Trento and Rosario and near Butuan
BOD, and oils and grease
Sawmills in the upstream part of Butuan Generation of organic wastes and chemical effluents
Wood processing plants in Talacogon plywood and match facto-
Burning of wastes causing ash to disperse and polluting the river
ries in Magallanes
Agricultural
Fertilizer runoff Increased nitrate and phosphate levels from non-point sources
Pesticide runoff Increased pesticide levels from non-point sources
Aquaculture
Chemicals that kill predator species by deoxygenating Decreased dissolved oxygen (DO)
Nitrate-based feed and fish waste causing algal bloom Increased nitrate
Domestic Wastewater
Absence of a domestic wastewater collection system Increased BOD
Absence of septic tanks Increased total coliform and fecal coliform
Open defecation Increased incidence of waterborne diseases
Solid waste pollution
Limited capacity and improper management of controlled 19
World Health Organization
Open and controlled dumpsites dumpsite forcing households and industries to dump wastes into 20
Municipalities with less than 50% ser-
rivers vice coverage, National Anti-Poverty
Sedimentation Commission, 2010
Riverbank erosion/siltation with high velocity rainfall runoff Increased total suspended solids (TSS)

31
 WSS Sector Gaps
In assessing the current state of the WSS sector in wanting, a problem compounded by a shortage of
Caraga, areas that require upgraded facilities, improved laboratory facilities for water quality testing. Water
WSS systems as well as regular and extensive distribution facilities are outmoded, need constant repair
monitoring protocols were brainstormed and identified at and are overdue for rehabilitation. The encroachment of
the regional consultation and planning workshop. small-scale miners in the watersheds raises concern
about water contamination and pollution. Open
defecation persists, especially in poor communities,
Issues, Constraints and exacerbating the twin problems of disease exposure and
high expenditure on medical treatment.
Challenges In addition, sanitation facilities remain on the drawing
board because of budget insufficiency. Capitalists are
The workshop on WSS in Region XIII produced a clear hesitant to invest in waste water treatment and septage
picture of realities on the ground, based on personal facilities because of high tariffs imposed on sanitation
experiences, local knowledge and insights shared by key projects.
stakeholders and resource persons from the academe,
nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and other Further complications come in the form of the region’s
concerned institutions unattractiveness to private sector investors due to high
development cost of water distribution and sanitation
The planning workshop attended by provincial officials in facilities, prevailing low water rates and consumers’
Region XIII and representatives of regional line agencies unwillingness to pay water tariffs.
identified certain “hindering and facilitating factors” and
classified specific issues, constraints, and challenges Recommended remedial measures include: serious
confronting the WSS sector in three areas of concern: (a) pursuit of options for financial and technical assistance
Planning and Development, (b) Service Provision, and (c) from concerned line government agencies like LWUA,
Regulation. DOH, DENR-NWRB and especially DPWH for funding
support for septage, sewerage and sanitary landfill
projects; pursuit of partnership with NGOs, water service
Planning and Development
providers, donor agencies and academic institutions; and
The non-existence of a master plan for the development
sustained efforts by LGUs and their NGO partners in
of the water supply and sanitation sector in Region XIII
conducting on-site Information, Education and
lays bare everything that is wrong in the management
Communication (IEC) activities in sanitation-challenged
and regulation of a major and critical public health
communities with special focus on IP settlements.
challenge in that part of the country. It reveals poor
governance, budgetary deficiency and limited financing
options, dysfunctional institutions, faulty priority setting as Regulation
well as manpower shortage made worse by technical Many of the problems that ail the WSS sector in Region
incompetence at various levels of governance. XIII can be ascribed to failure of governance, especially
in the sphere of regulation. This can be traced to the
As revealed in the course of the regional workshop, the absence of a single national government agency to
following facts on the ground persist because there is no regulate the various components of water supply and
authoritative document to guide the development of the sanitation service delivery, resulting in a number of
WSS sector: water and land use zoning ordinances are maladies. These include: non-enforcement of laws
not properly implemented; extraction of groundwater is governing the appropriation, utilization, exploitation,
unregulated causing groundwater depletion and creating development, conservation and protection of water
bitter water rights conflict; unabated encroachment of resources; inability to implement the various provisions of
small-scale miners in the watersheds; lack of focus in the country’s Code on Sanitation; failure to regulate and
fund sourcing and budget enhancement; inadequate penalize violations of existing rules and regulations,
incentives to attract private sector investments; lack of especially excessive extraction of groundwater;
interest to address human resources issues; failure to weakness in the mitigation of water rights conflict;
strengthen and institutionalize local monitoring and absence of wastewater treatment facilities; failure to
regulatory offices; and inability to tap the support of implement septage/sewerage projects; and various
concerned national government line agencies, donor complications arising from institutional ineptitude to
organizations, academic institutions and nongovernment discourage mining companies from laying claim over
organizations. water sources.
Overcoming the sector’s various challenges is difficult but The corrective measures could be interpreted as a
doable. The success of the Province of Surigao to collective call for immediate government action. These
produce an Ecological Watershed Forest Reserve Master include: the establishment in Caraga of a nationally
Plan and Forest Land Use Plan should convince other mandated regulator with a regional and provincial
provinces that they too can do it. Apart from being presence; the strict enforcement of water and sanitation
inspirational, Surigao’s effort to protect and preserve rules and regulations; improvement of capacity to arrest
potential sources of water in declared watershed areas and penalize violators of the country’s water and
should be considered as an initial building block towards sanitation codes; establishment of more water treatment
the generation of a more comprehensive WSS sector facilities, activation of water quality testing laboratories
development plan for Region XIII. and monitoring units, and construction of waste
management facilities.
Service Provision
Table 15 summarizes the hindering and facilitating
The serious gaps and deficiencies in the delivery of water
factors impacting the WSS sector in Caraga.
supply and sanitation services in Region XIII inflict long-
term damage on the health and general well-being of the
residents. Less than 1/3 of the region’s 67 municipalities
and four cities are being served by WDs which means a
great majority of Caraga’s households are not connected
to a piped distribution network. Sadly, even those being
serviced by concessionaires are not assured of access to
safe drinking water because water treatment facilities are

32
Table 15: Hindering and Facilitating Factors

Areas Hindering Factors Facilitating Factors

Water Supply
Manipulation by vested interest groups Strong political will/LGU support
Political interference Efficient water source management Check and balance mechanism to
make policy and decision makers accountable for their actions”?]

Financial constraints Strong participation and support of the community

Lack of interest/awareness Setting up of water districts
Water rights conflicts Capacity building
Conversion of forestland into agricultural land Technical support from LWUA
Service Consumers’ unwillingness to pay water tariffs
Provision
Sanitation
High cost of development Provincial LGU support of the PHO/DOH Program
Tariff imposed on septage projects Municipal LGU support of Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS)
program
Lack of technical capacity among LGUs DOH’s support of the PHO Capacity building
Absence of a comprehensive water and sanitation master plan Intensified toilet bowl program of LGUs

Lack of funds for sanitation facilities

Stakeholders’ lack of awareness of the importance of good sanitation

Water Supply
Water sources located beneath mining tenements Creation of a functional governing board
Lack of financial resources and personnel to intensify efforts in water Implementation of LCU projects
quality monitoring
Overlapping of regulatory functions Establishment of functional TRWQMA-GB
Improper implementation of Land Use Zoning Ordinance Water quality monitoring of classified water bodies
Political interference (LGU level)
Lack of human resources
Regulation
Lack of personnel from NWRB
Long processing time re: approval of water rights/permit applications

Unregulated extraction of groundwater

Sanitation
Absence of wastewater treatment facilities
Absence of a single national government agency to regulate/oversee
the WSS sector
General
Monitoring not included in the master plan Formulation of development agenda of LCEs
Project delays resulting from different agenda from the executive/ Establishing linkages with foreign/national financing institutions/donor
legislative department agencies re: funding support
Absence of harmonized templates/indicators Intensive IEC campaigns to be conducted by the City Health Office (CHO)
or the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)

Data inconsistencies at the local, regional, and national level

Political interference re: funding

Absence of a master plan for each province
Presence of insurgents in affected areas
Absence of a centralized system
Water
Lack of water treatment facilities in urban areas Protection of water sources
Very limited water sources in barangays Building strong partnerships with water service providers
Planning and
Development
Lack of a budget re: upgrade of existing facilities (Level II - Level III) Formulation of an Ecological Surigao Watershed Forest Reserve Master
Plan
Presence of coliform in water sources Crafting of a forest land use plan Put an end to open defecation

Small-scale mining operations encroaching watersheds Mining ban in watersheds

Illegal small-scale mining Development of existing and potential water sources
Limited number of laboratories for water testing
Nonregulation of existing water sources
Mining companies laying claim over water sources
Water rights in conflict areas
Sanitation
Lack of sanitary inspectors Funding support from DPWH re: septage and sewerage

No septage/sewerage project implemented Construction of sanitary facilities and landfills

Congested areas with no sanitation facilities Continued IEC program on proper sanitation in IP areas

33
 Regional Vision Strategic Framework
The creation of the strategic framework begins with the
“Safe and Sustainable Water for Empowered determination of the issues, constraints and challenges of
the WSS sector. The diagram on the right shows specific
Caraganons.” highlights and contrasts, pertaining to areas displaying
best practices and those needing improvement.
The Caraga WSS vision was crafted by the visioning
The figure shows strategic priorities for Caraga
group with the goal of achieving universal access to safe highlighting the provinces’ individual plans. Priority areas
and sustainable water all throughout the region by 2030. include health and research, water exploration, septage
In essence, safe water encompasses sanitation, management, alliance building, capacity building, project
rationalizing the necessity of improved water and development and politics. These priorities have been
sanitation projects that will sustain adequate water observed to be the major areas of concern in relation to
supply, ensure its good quality and affordability, and the provincial plans (as discussed in “Issues, Constraints
upgrade sanitation infrastructure. and Challenges”).

In keeping with this vision, key strategies and Corresponding strategies were formulated to translate the
corresponding success indicators contributing towards regional vision into specific approaches to get the best
the achievement of the overall sector vision were results and achieve the region’s WSS targets. These are
adopted, and key projects and programs were identified, the region’s general approaches applicable to urban and
including WSS targets which will adhere to the national rural contexts of ensuring access to safe water and
WSS targets that are in accord with the PDP and SDGs. sanitation.
A more detailed discussion with respect to achieving
increased access to potable water considering the various
segments comprising the water utilities (categorized as
undeveloped/underdeveloped, developing and developed)
is shown in Table 16.
Table 16: Strategies in Achieving Increased Access to Potable Water

Segment Target Strategic Statement

Undeveloped/Underdeveloped
Level I Zero waterless barangays Government investment in the development of water supply
systems (WSS) to upgrade unsafe sources to safe sources
Reduction to 5% of unsafe sources of
water supply (2022) and universal Promoting water harvesting in far-flung areas
access to safe water (2030)

Level II Upgrade of Level II systems to Level Establishing WDs or LGU-led water utilities that can oper-
III ate commercially

Upgrading Level II systems to Level III

Creation of a body that provides technical and financial

assistance to barangay water associations and rural water-
works to upgrade their level of service

Developing
Water Districts Zero nonoperational WDs Prioritizing conversion of nonoperational to operational
(Categories C and D) WDs

Assisting low performing WDs in rehabilitation and expan-

sion works

Providing a window for low cost funds that can be accessed

by low performing WDs to expand coverage

Non-WDs (financially Organizing water utilities and allow- Allowing the commercialization of water utility operations;
struggling water utilities) ing them to operate commercially encouraging LGUs to establish WDs or similar local gov-
ernment corporations or economic enterprises
100% recovery of O&M cost

Developed

Level III 100% coverage of franchise area Increasing private sector participation
Ensuring the sustainability of opera- Ensuring a robust regulatory framework to balance the in-
tions of Level III systems terest of consumers and operators/WSPs
Continuing expansion programs to Encouraging business establishments and residential com-
ensure 100% coverage munities to embark on rainwater harvesting programs

34
Figure 16: Caraga WSS Strategic Framework

35
 Access Targets for Water Caraga strives to achieve 96.5% access to safe water by
2022 and 100% access by 2030. Universal access by
Supply and Sanitation 2030 means more than 700,000 households will benefit.
Improved access to sanitation is set at 74% by 2022.
As experts knowledgeable in and thoroughly familiar with
the social and environmental conditions in their Figures 17 and 18 graph the WSS targets in terms of
respective provinces, the workshop participants were households for 2022 and 2030.
given free rein in setting targets concerning water supply
and sanitation access (even as they were guided by the
prescribed goals).
Their targets were based on current and baseline data
(i.e., population growth rates, water resources availability,
topographical and geographical setting, etc.), the status
quo (funding constraints, political and cultural challenges,
etc.), and the realistic attainability of set targets.

Figure 17: Targeted Households with Access to Safe Water

Figure 18: Targeted Households with Access to Sanitation

36
 Water Supply Targets Sanitation Targets
AGUSAN DEL NORTE AGUSAN DEL NORTE
Category 2022 2030 2040 Category 2022 2030 2040
Level III 80.0% 95.0% 100.0% Improved 97.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Level II 15.0% 5.0% 0.0% Basic 2.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Level I 5.0% 0.0% 0.0% Shared/Communal/

1.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Limited
Safe Access 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
No Access 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Open Defecation 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

AGUSAN DEL SUR AGUSAN DEL SUR

Category 2022 2030 2040 Category 2022 2030 2040
Level III 20.0% 25.0% 70.0% Improved 97.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Level II 35.0% 40.0% 30.0% Basic 3.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Level I 40.0% 35.0% 0.0% Shared/Communal/
0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Safe Access Limited
95.0% 100.0% 100.0%
No Access 5.0% 0.0% 0.0% Open Defecation 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

SURIGAO DEL NORTE SURIGAO DEL NORTE

Category 2022 2030 2040 Category 2022 2030 2040
Level III 80.0% 95.0% 100.0% Improved 97.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Level II 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Basic 1.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Level I 5.0% 0.0% 0.0% Shared/Communal/
1.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Safe Access Limited
95.0% 100.0% 100.0%
No Access 5.0% 0.0% 0.0% Open Defecation 1.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

SURIGAO DEL SUR SURIGAO DEL SUR

Category 2022 2030 2040 Category 2022 2030 2040
Level III 75.0% 85.0% 100.0% Improved 97.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Level II 10.0% 15.0% 0.0% Basic 3.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Level I 10.0% 0.0% 0.0% Shared/Communal/
0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Limited
Safe Access 95.0% 100.0% 100.0%
No Access 5.0% 0.0% 0.0% Open Defecation 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

PROVINCE OF DINAGAT ISLANDS PROVINCE OF DINAGAT ISLANDS

Category 2022 2030 2040 Category 2022 2030 2040
Level III 43.0% 55.0% 80.0% Improved 97.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Level II 50.0% 42.0% 20.0% Basic 3.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Level I 6.0% 3.0% 0.0% Shared/Communal/
0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Safe Access Limited
99.0% 100.0% 100.0%
No Access 1.0% 0.0% 0.0% Open Defecation 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

BUTUAN CITY BUTUAN CITY

Category 2022 2030 2040 Category 2022 2030 2040
Level III 64.0% 70.0% 90.0% Improved 97.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Level II 36.0% 30.0% 10.0% Basic 3.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Level I 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Shared/Communal/
0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Limited
Safe Access 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
No Access 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Open Defecation 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

CARAGA REGION CARAGA REGION

Category 2022 2030 2040 Category 2022 2030 2040
Level III 59.0% 69.1% 89.8% Improved 73.8% 100.0% 100.0%
Level II 22.6% 21.4% 10.2% Basic 11.1% 0.0% 0.0%
Level I 14.9% 9.5% 0.0% Shared/Communal/
15.1% 0.0% 0.0%
Safe Access 96.5% 100.0% 100.0% Limited
No Access 3.5% 0.0% 0.0% Open Defecation 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

37
 Strategic Interventions them adaptable to actual local conditions. (These are
discussed more thoroughly in the National Master Plan
After the regional planning and consultation workshop, a and may be adopted accordingly at the local level.)
working document detailing specific strategic Tables 17 and 18 show the specific strategic
interventions to improve water supply and sanitation interventions for water supply and sanitation,
access in Region XIII was formulated. The participants respectively.
deliberated on these proposed interventions to make

Table 17: Proposed Strategic Interventions for Water Supply

Access to Safe Planning and Service

Regulation Promotion
Water Development Provision
95% Access to Planning, program or M&E expansion Water resources Willingness to connect
Safe Water in project design Rehabilitation/Non- protection and pay
2022 Establishing labs and revenue water (NRW) Arbitration Demand creation
water quality testing reduction maintained Environmental and
Universal Access
centers at 20% of total social safeguards
in 2030
Lobbying for the production Compliance with
Regional WSS Integration/ PNSDW 2017
Masterplan Amalgamation Close monitoring of
Automation Joint Agreement
Residuals Compliance training
management from DOH
Mitigation Resource studies
Water potability
maintained at all times
Providing 24/7 water
supply service
Achieving 100%
coverage
Residuals
management

Table 18: Proposed Strategic Interventions for Sanitation

Planning & Development Service Provision Regulation Promotions
Planning Operations Tariff/Pricing Social Preparation
Program or Project Design M&E Resource Advocacy
Access to Institution Building Expansion Arbitration Demand Creation
Improved Training Amalgamation Registration, Permits, Behavior Change
Sanitation Financing Automation Rights
Climate/Disaster Resiliency
Policy

High Access Local Sustainable Sanitation programs Tariff should be Promotions should
Sanitation Plan (LSSP) should focus on computed using full focus on enjoining the
Areas with 60%
should be incorporated into implementing cost recovery with public to connect to
to 100%
the WSS Sector Plan, local sewerage systems infusion of capex the sewerage system
Improved development plan (LDP), and completing subsidy for sewerage when made available
Sanitation annual investment program septage management projects. stressing the
Coverage (AIP), and local health plan. programs. importance of
LGU implementers
A sewerage system Expansion of have undergone compliance and the
program should be urbanized and compliance training benefits therefrom.
developed to provide urbanizing barangays given by DOH and Promotional efforts
service in the urban core should be pursued. DENR (particularly in regarding water
coordinating with those in M&E system should sewerage systems), demand management
charge of the septage conform to PSA/ and the Dept. of should be supported
management program; Census (covered by Agriculture (DA) with to minimize wastage
project urban sprawl sewerage system, respect to and unnecessary use
A National Sewerage and households regulations/guidelines of water.
Septage Management desludged, and on- governing disposal of Building buy-in for
Program (NSSMP) subsidy site systems). by-products. paying for sanitation
grant for sewerage and Penalties should be services should be
septage management strictly imposed on promoted.
programs (SMP) should be those not complying
in place. with certain
Capacity development in requirements,
regard to sewerage including LGUs/WDs
systems should be planned by filing cases with
and integrated with other the environmental
infrastructure. ombudsman.
A sanitation ordinance
covering sewerage system
and septage management
services should be passed,
possibly integrating it into
the environment code and
Water Quality Management
Areas (WQMA) action plan.

38
Physical Interventions
To meet the targets for access and coverage as well as
the normative content of water (service standards),
capital investments are necessary. The details of these
investments in 2022 and 2030 are listed in Table 19.

Table 19: Capital Investments Required to Meet Water Supply Targets

Service Level 2022 2030

Level III Water source assessment and development Water source assessment and development
Construction of water treatment facilities Construction of water treatment facilities
Distribution network expansion Distribution network expansion
Provision of service connections Provision of service connections
NRW reduction program NRW reduction program
Watershed and water resources protection, Watershed and water resources protection,
management and development management and development
Development of a Water Safety Program Development of a Water Safety Program
Adoption of a rainwater harvesting program Adoption of a rain water harvesting program
Establishment of adequately equipped laboratory Automation of operations and major services
testing centers in strategic areas to serve all
service levels clientele

Level II Rehabilitation of existing water supply system to Rehabilitation of water supply system to upgrade it
upgrade it to Level III to Level III
Level I Upgrading to “safe level” those water sources found Adoption of a rain water harvesting program in
“unsafe” areas not reached by Levels II and III services

Capital investments for the sanitation targets will include

basic sanitation programs, septage management
programs, and sewerage management programs.
Targets for 2022 will mainly focus on basic sanitation.
The septage and sewerage management programs are
to be undertaken to achieve 2030 targets, although these
programs may be implemented as early as 2022.

Nonphysical Interventions
To support the CapEx programs and ensure the efficient
operation of the newly constructed facilities, institutional
and regulatory reforms are to be undertaken (as shown in
Table 20).

Table 20: Institutional and Regulatory Reforms Required to Achieve Water Supply and Sanitation Goals

Items Undeveloped/Underdeveloped Developing Developed

LGUs will organize/establish WDs and LGU-run utilities will A system for independent
water utilities as commercial be motivated to improve their evaluation and due diligence
enterprises in their jurisdictions performance by offering them regarding public-private
Water Service or form a WD. incentives/rewards. partnership projects will be set
Provision up.
LGUs will create offices to
handle Level II and Level I
services.
An agency will be created to spearhead efforts to improve the WSS sector at the provincial level. The
Planning and provincial office shall coordinate development plans for water and sanitation of all municipalities in each
Development province, pursue efforts (in coordination with the DENR) in watershed rehabilitation, and provide training
programs to LGUs in water supply development and management.
Service standards for water supply and sanitation will be defined.
An independent group will be formed to monitor the performance of water and sanitation service providers,
Regulation other than the WDs, within each province. WDs will continue to be regulated by the LWUA. The monitoring
group could later be made part of a regulatory body.

39
LWUA Priority Projects
LWUA, 2018 Data

40
 Addressing the Gaps
Water Supply Investment Total expenses for establishing water quality testing
laboratories have also been taken into account. It is
Requirements assumed that one laboratory per province will be
constructed.

Physical Investments Table 22 shows a summary of the total investment

requirements of the region. (The detailed methodology of
To address WSS infrastructure gaps and fulfill specific
how the regional costs for Caraga were derived is
targets and commitments for 2022 and 2030, the cost of
referenced in Annex D of the main volume of the
infrastructure investments was derived based on
Philippine WSS Master Plan.)
anticipated demand. Such demand was based on
projected population, economic growth, as well as
factored-in investments to ensure the continuous delivery Nonphysical Investments
of WSS services provided by existing systems. The Institutional and regulatory reforms have to be pursued to
computation included the anticipated need to upgrade complement infrastructure development and ensure that
existing service levels (i.e., from Level II to Level III, Level water supply systems constructed will operate efficiently.
I to Level II or Level III). Costs of reform implementation have not been estimated
at the regional level and are projected to be not
Caraga requires capital investments for infrastructure
substantial compared to the infrastructure investments.
development of about PhP8.3 billion and PhP6.0 billion to
achieve 2022 and 2030 targets, respectively. Unit LGUs, WDs, and other stakeholders are obligated to
development costs employed to arrive at these sums are influence decision makers to pursue relevant reforms in
estimated at PhP37,500 per HH for Level III, PhP18,700 the water sector. These reforms serve as non-
for Level II, and PhP9,900 for Level I. infrastructure investments and typically include
These rates are direct costs and cover water source organization/institutional development, regulatory
development, water treatment facilities, storage strengthening, capacity building, and project
requirements, transmission and distribution lines, and management.
pumping requirements, and provision of service Proposed interventions include the following:
connections.
 The model of existing water utilities should be
Furthermore, these unit costs (determined to suit local
identified in areas where there are no water
conditions in Caraga) were derived by applying regional
districts. The establishment of WDs should be
cost factors (with respect to labor, material, and
proposed in municipalities with a population of at
equipment costs) to the computed development base
least 20,000, subject to an agreement with the
costs for NCR. NCR values are pegged at PhP31,800
local chief executives. If LGUs are not amenable to
per HH for Level III, PhP18,700 for Level II, and
forming a WD, water utilities that can operate
PhP8,400 for Level I.
commercially (e.g., a similar local government
The cost deviations (from the NCR base rates) were water corporation or economic enterprise) should
taken into account considering the region’s distinct be set up.
geographical, economical, and accessibility
characteristics, and labor, material, and equipment costs,  Priority should be given to operationalizing
which are bound to affect the implementation costs of nonfunctional WDs, particularly those in
any project. The regionalization of costs ensures that municipalities categorized as 3rd class and higher.
computed regional investment requirements for the
 The target expansion of service coverage shall be
Master Plan and the Regional Roadmaps are as realistic
conducted at the municipal level. Municipalities
as possible befitting each locale.
with lower than 50% coverage will be given priority
Aside from the direct costs, indirect costs were in the investment program.
considered in estimating the total investment
The map on the left shows four Caraga municipalities
requirements. These items include project preparation
where priority WD projects have been approved and
activities (which may affect budget considerations) before
those pending approval for LWUA's financial assistance
actual construction work begins. Items considered and
(FA). The WD in Prosperidad has secured LWUA's FA.
percentage values used in relation to the total direct
The requests for FA of the three other WDs — i.e., in
costs computed are shown in Table 21.
Carmen, San Francisco, and Bislig City — are pending
approval, as of this writing.
Table 21: Indirect Costs Employed21
Water Supply
Contingency 10.0% Percentage of Total Direct Cost
Feasibility Study 3.0% Percentage of Total Direct Cost
Detailed Engineering Design 6.0% Percentage of Total Direct Cost
Construction Supervision 5.0% Percentage of Total Direct Cost
ROW/Land Acquisition 3.0% Percentage of Total Direct Cost
Organizational Cost/Permits 2.0% Percentage of Total Direct Cost
Capacity Development* 33,350 1 Staff Employee per 100 HH (LWUA)

Table 22: Total Investment Costs for Water Supply Sector

Total Investment Cost Total Investment Cost
Province/City (in PhP Million) (in PhP Million)
2022 2030
Agusan del Norte 2,205 1,277
Butuan City 703 623
Agusan del Sur 1,085 1,049
Dinagat Islands 85 171
21
Based on Industry Standards
Surigao del Norte 2,003 1,489
Surigao del Sur 2,210 1,376
Total 8,291 5,985 41
Septage Treatment Plant Clustering

42
Sanitation Investment Nonphysical Investments
Caraga, like other regions in the country, will require
Requirements substantial assistance from the national government, or
where technical and financial assistance can be funneled.
This will include an inventory or survey and assessment of
Physical Investments existing sanitation facilities, capacity development for
Basic Sanitation Program. The DOH plans to prescribe a implementing local agencies (local health office, environment
national basic sanitation program for the entire country – and natural resources office, office of the building official, and
looking into a combination of microfinance and behavior general services office), institutional, policy and regulatory
change communication. A Department Administrative environment development (which would require the
Order on standard septic tank use and design will also be involvement of capacitance support offices like the budget
released by the DOH soon after planned consultation and treasurer’s office, bids and awards committee,
activities have been rolled out in the country’s three commission on audit office, engineering office, office of legal
major island groups (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao). services/affairs, barangay affairs office, office of the local
Caraga will need about PhP9.7 billion for basic sanitation chief executive, and the local legislative council).
from 2016 to 2022 to reach a target of 97%. Other nonstructural interventions that may require a budget
This was derived by multiplying the unserved population include developing a monitoring and evaluation (M&E)
by the unit development costs with regard to establishing system to monitor progress, support planning, and guide
specific on-site sanitation facilities. (An annex to this development training programs, promotional campaigns and
report and the National Master Plan explains the unit other legislative advocacies, and initiate hygiene promotion
costs and derived costs for specific sanitation programs.
interventions.)
Septage Management Program. A clustering approach
will be recommended to reduce capital costs and attain
economies of scale. The proposed clustering per
province is shown on the map on the left.
The region will need about PhP1,533 billion and
PhP157.87 million for 2022 and 2030, respectively, for its
septage management program.
Sewerage System Program. Only Butuan City will be
required to plan and implement a sewerage system for its
urban core. However, rapidly urbanizing cities (i.e.,
candidate HUCs) should also consider planning for
sewerage services in the interim.
The indicative cost for sewerage was computed based on
the 50% coverage of the HUCs’ urban population only.
The unit cost was derived per the procedure applied to
septage management, wherein the unit cost was based
on the National Septage and Sewerage Master Plan
(NSSMP) estimations and later adjusted considering
other factors.
For sewerage services, Butuan City will require PhP1.46
billion by 2022 and an additional PhP187 million by 2030.
The computational template provided for a 25% coverage
of sewerage services by 2022 and an additional 25%
coverage by 2030. This includes the city’s incremental
population from 2015 to 2022 and from 2023 to 2030.
Candidate HUCs (e.g., Bayugan in Agusan del Sur and
Surigao City in Surigao del Norte) may be closely
examined initially as urbanization may set in more rapidly
in these places than in other capital cities or towns like
Bislig City in Surigao del Sur.

Table 23: Total Investment Costs for Sanitation Sector

Total Investment Cost Total Investment Cost

Province/City (in PhP Million) (in PhP Million)
2022 2030

Agusan del Norte 955 518

Butuan City 2,274 595

Agusan del Sur 2,974 650

Dinagat Islands 705 5

Surigao del Norte 3,977 483

Surigao del Sur 3,534 418

Total 14,418 2,668

43
 Proposed Projects and Programs
A list of projects and investment programs has been developed during the regional planning
workshop to assess the current state of the WSS sector and propose projects to increase access
to and upgrade water supply and sanitation facilities at the provincial or regional level.
The DILG, DENR River Basin Control Office (RBCO) and LWUA have proposed projects in the
WSS sector in addition to those discussed and agreed on at the regional workshop.
This list of projects does not cover only infrastructure projects, but also nonphysical investment
requirements, such as capacity development programs, information dissemination campaigns,
and watershed management plans. These projects run the gamut from conception, proposal, pre-
feasibility and feasibility study stages, detailed engineering design, to pre-procurement and
procurement. Figure 19 shows the distribution of the investment requirement per province and
HUC. Based on the proposed projects and programs, the region needs PhP12,369 billion to boost
its WSS sector. Figure 19: Distribution of Investment Requirement per Province

Agusan del Norte (including Butuan City)

Budget Budget Total Budget HH

Water Supply Period Requirement Sanitation Period Requirement (PhP Requirement Beneficiari
(PhP Million) Million) (PhP Million) es (2022)
Construction of water supply systems in various Medium
1 43.00 1 Butuan City Septage Management Program Long Term 120.00
barangays in Butuan City Term
2 Cabadbaran City centralized water supply system Long Term 2,099.41 2 Butuan City sewerage system Long Term 2,500.00
Seminars/training/ workshops/consultation/IEC involving Conducting a study to determine if decline in
3 Short Term - 3 Short Term -
potential partners water quality is linked to cancer-related illnesses
Formulation of a Sustainable Water Resource
4 Short Term - 4 Hiring of more sanitary inspectors Short Term -
Management Plan for Agusan del Norte
Training, workshops and seminars on research and Capacity development of treatment facility
5 Short Term - 5 Short Term -
development operators
Upgrade of existing facilities of WSPs; expansion of
6 Short Term - 6 Monitoring the performance of desludgers Short Term - 4,762 89,258
coverage areas and improvement of water quality
Feasibility study on the establishment of
7 Installation of RAM pumps Short Term - 7 Short Term -
treatment facilities for every cluster
Reforestation projects and watershed protection Establishment of a septage treatment facility (3
8 Short Term - 8 Long Term -
initiatives clusters)
Identification and development of alternative sources of
9 Long Term - 9 Provision of water treatment reagents Short Term -
water
Provision of toilet bowls and construction
10 Short Term -
materials
Total 2,142.41 Total 2,620.00

Agusan del Sur

Budget Budget Total Budget HH
Water Supply Period Requirement Sanitation Period Requirement Requirement Beneficiari
(PhP Million) (PhP Million) (PhP Million) es (2022)
Feasibility study re: proposed septage treatment
1 Upgrade of provincial water laboratory Long Term 1.00 1 Long Term 3.00
plants
Construction of septage treatment plants in 5
2 Exploration/Assessment of new water sources Long Term 2.00 2 Long Term 230.00
Clusters
3 Development of springs as water sources Long Term 0.03 Esperanza, San Luis and Talacogon
4 Installation of rain collectors or harvesters Long Term 22.50 Bayugan and Sibagat
Construction/rehabilitation/upgrade of biosand filter
5 Long Term 100.00 San Francisco and Prosperidad
facilities (Level 2)
Expansion of coverage and upgrade of WDs/BWSA
6 Long Term 720.00 Loreto, La Paz, Sta. Josefa and Veruela
facilities
7 Patin-ay Water System Project Long Term 7.35 Rosario, Bunawan, and Trento
Medium
8 Feasibility studies on proposed infra facilities Short Term 0.75 3 Installation of improved sanitary toilets 570.00
Term
Creation of a Local Drinking Water Monitoring
9 Short Term - Total 803.00 1,698 168,605
Committee
Total 853.63
Budget
Water Supply and Sanitation Period Requirement
(PhP Million)
Formulation of a Provincial Water Supply and Sanitation
1 Short Term 2.00
Master Plan
Formulation of a City/Municipal Water Supply and
2 Short Term 21.00
Sanitation Master Plan
Review and amendment (if necessary) of the Water and
3 Short Term 0.50
Sanitation Code
Organizing and strengthening the capability of water Medium
4 18.00
and sanitation units Term
Total 41.50

Surigao del Sur

Budget Budget Total Budget HH
Water Supply Period Requirement Sanitation Period Requirement (PhP Requirement Beneficiari
(PhP Million) Million) (PhP Million) es (2022)

1 Installation of rainwater collectors Long Term 13.00 1 Septage management project Long Term 149.00
2 Construction of water laboratories for Districts 1 and 2 Long Term 50.00 2 Provision of toilets and installation of septic tanks Short Term 902.22
Construction of water supply network/system at
3 Enchanted River covering San Juan, Tiwi, Dugmanon, Long Term 79.70 3 Seminars, training and workshops - CEPA Short Term 8.00
Talisay, and Cambatong
Construction of water supply facilities (infiltration
4 Long Term 530.00 Total 1,059.22
galleries and treatment facilities)
5 Proposal Lake 77 for the Bislig City Water System Long Term 750.87 5,232 139,843

6 Reforestation near watersheds Long Term 200.00

7 Spring Development Project Level II Long Term 302.44
8 Spring Development Project Level III Long Term 2,183.17
9 Spring Development Project Level I Short Term 63.77
Total 4,172.95

44
 Province of Dinagat Islands
Budget Budget Total Budget HH
Water Supply Period Requirement Sanitation Period Requirement Requirement Beneficiaries
(Php Million) (PhP Million) (PhP Million) (2022)
Creation of a task force to oversee watershed inventory, Construction of sanitary facilities in identified
1 Short Term 2.00 1 Long Term 5.00
assessment, and survey tourism sites
2 IEC program Medium term 0.10 2 Construction of STPs (2 clusters) Long Term 150.00
Research study on water utilization of Del Pilar Dam and
3 Short Term 0.15 3 Procurement of desludging equipment Short Term 15.00
other major water sources
Crafting and implementation of an ordinance on
4 A study on the development of springs as water sources Short Term 0.15 4 Short Term -
water-sealed septic tanks
Medium
5 Determination of volume and capacity Short Term - 5 Organizational management re: STP operation 0.25
Term
Research on and exploration of potential sources of
Medium
6 water supply (surface water and groundwater) in every Long Term 1.00 6 IEC campaign on the importance of sanitation -
Term
province
Installation of rainwater collection facilities in island and Medium
7 Long Term 15.00 7 Community-LED Total Sanitation program 0.10 200 28,743
coastal barangays Term
Expansion and improvement of existing water system Medium
8 Long Term 1.00 8 Assistance in the construction of toilet facilities 0.01
facilities in 7 municipalities Term
9 Enforcement of watershed management policies Medium Term 5.00 9 Conduct of training re: toilet bowl fabrication Short Term 0.15
Monitoring compliance with regulatory requirements re:
10 Medium Term 0.15
water system management
Capacity development training programs on proposal
11 Short Term 5.00
preparation, management of water system
Enhancing the capability of LGUs in managing water
12 Short Term 0.15
systems
13 Sourcing of funds from private and public institutions Medium Term -
Total 29.70 Total 170.51

Surigao del Norte

Budget Budget Total Budget HH
Water Supply Period Requirement Sanitation Period Requirement Requirement Beneficiaries
(PhP Million) (PhP Million) (PhP Million) (2022)

Feasibility study re: Surigao City septage Medium

1 Construction of satellite reservoirs Long Term 30.00 1 0.30
treatment facility Term
Site development and construction of septage
2 Deep well projects in Surigao City: 10 units Long Term 60.00 2 Long Term 80.00
treatment facilities
Strict enforcement of sanitation laws and
3 Installation of rainwater harvesting facilities Long Term 5.00 3 Short Term -
regulations
Feasibility study re: bulk water supply [target volume:
4 Short Term 0.30 4 Formulation of contingency plans (re: sanitation) Short Term -
10,000 cubic meters per day]
Installation of water treatment facilities, chlorination
5 Long Term 2.00 5 Provision of Portalets during disasters Short Term 6.00
systems in Bacuag, Claver, Gigaquit
New source intake with pipeline in Brgy. Jubgan, San Training/ Benchmarking of technical personnel
6 Long Term 100.00 6 Short Term -
Francisco including sanitary inspectors

7 New source intake with pipeline in Siargao Island Long Term 15.00 7 Provision of sanitary toilets to 13,440 HHs Short Term 24.00

New source intake with pipeline in Brgy. Mabini, Surigao

8 Long Term 6.20 Total 110.30
City
Pipe laying and deep well development source for
9 Long Term 10.00
Arellano District

10 Purchase of laboratory equipment for water monitoring Short Term 1.00

Rehabilitation of water systems in Bacuag, Alegria,

11 Long Term 15.00
Gigaquit, Claver
Site development and construction of 20 MLD
12 CLARIFIER systems with online analyzer at Don Julio Long Term 35.00
Ouano Ceniza Reservoir, Surigao City 476 122,195
Site development and construction of water treatment
13 Long Term 50.00
plant for iron and manganese removal
General checkup, inspection and maintenance of all
generator sets and pumps; calibration of all equipment,
14 Annually 0.30
flow meters, laboratory equipment, etc.; inventory of all
assets of the district
Skills training on the use of EPANET, GIS and SCADA
15 Annually 0.35
for water systems
Acquisition of water trucks, water drums and containers,
16 Short Term 11.50
and disaster response equipment
Site development and construction of a building for
17 Short Term 5.00
disaster response
Establishment of TESDA-accredited testing centers for
18 Short Term 0.25
plumbing
Orientation/seminars on PD1067(Water Code of the
19 Short Term 0.95
Philippines) for municipalities
Information and education campaigns involving IPs and
20 Short Term 0.50
socio-civic organizations

21 Reforestation/slope protection in watershed areas Annually 2.00

Upgrading of water systems from Level II to Level III in Medium

22 15.00
rural areas (Arellano districts and island barangays) Term

Total 365.35

45
AM, Salintubig
Pipeline WSS Projects
DILG-WSSPMO, 2019 List of DILG Projects

46
Identified Priority Projects (2019-2020)
The table below show the priority projects identified by LWUA and DILG for 2019-
2020. The map on the left shows the various barangays and municipalities to be
covered by DILG’s Assistance to Municipalities (AM) and Salintubig Projects in 2019.

Assistance To Municipalities (2019)

Province Municipality Project Type Project Title Amount (PhP)
Potable water supply
Agusan Del Sur Sta. Josefa Expansion Of Level III Water System 10,337,000
system
Potable water supply
Surigao Del Norte Alegria Expansion Of Level III Water System 6,098,000
system
Potable water supply
Surigao Del Norte Mainit Rehabilitation/Improvement Of Level III Water System 3,100,000
system
Potable water supply
Surigao Del Norte San Isidro Expansion Of Water System 9,858,000
system
Potable water supply
Surigao Del Norte Sta. Monica Expansion Of Level III Water System 2,918,000
system
Potable water supply
Surigao Del Sur San Agustin Rehabilitation/Improvement Of Level III Water System 9,760,000
system
Total 42,071,000
SALINTUBIG (2019)
Province Municipality Project Title Barangay Amount (PhP)
San Isidro, Jagupit,
Agusan Del Norte Santiago Construction Of Santiago Water System, Santiago ADN Curva And Poblacion 20,000,000
2
Construction Of Potable Water System (Municipality-
Agusan Del Sur Loreto Johnson 2,000,000
Wide)
Construction Of Rainwater Catchment System In Pan-
Agusan Del Sur Loreto Sabud 2,000,000
labuhan Village
Installation Of Water Purification System In Panlabuhan
Agusan Del Sur Loreto San Isidro 2,000,000
Village
Installation Of Water Purification System In Panlabuhan
Agusan Del Sur Loreto San Mariano 2,000,000
Village
Upper Laguna, La-
Dinagat Islands Cagdianao Construction Of Upper Laguna Water System 1,500,000
guna
Dinagat Islands Cagdianao Construction Of Barangay Tigbao Water System Tigbao 5,000,000
Surigao Del Norte Dapa Potable Water System Level II Buenavista 1,000,000
Surigao Del Norte Dapa Potable Water System Level II Corregidor 1,000,000
Surigao Del Norte Dapa Potable Water System Level II Dagohoy 1,000,000
Surigao Del Norte Dapa Potable Water System Level II San Carlos 1,000,000
Surigao Del Norte Dapa Potable Water System Level II Sta. Felomena 1,000,000
Surigao Del Norte Dapa Potable Water System Level II Union 1,000,000
Surigao Del Norte Malimono Improvement/Rehabilitation Of Level II WWS Can-Aga 2,000,000
Surigao Del Norte Malimono Improvement/Rehabilitation Of Level II WWS Villariza 2,000,000
Surigao Del Norte Malimono Improvement/Rehabilitation Of Level II WWS Karihatag 2,000,000
Surigao Del Norte Malimono Improvement/Rehabilitation Of Level II WWS Cansayong 2,000,000
Surigao Del Norte Malimono Improvement/Rehabilitation Of Level II WWS Cantapoy 3,000,000
Surigao Del Norte Malimono Improvement/Rehabilitation Of Level II WWS Masgad 3,000,000
Total 54,500,000
LWUA (2017-2018)
Province Municipality/WD Project Type Status Amount (PhP)
Agusan Del Sur San Francisco Septage treatment Pending approval 60,000,000
Agusan Del Sur Prosperidad Water system improvement Approved 5,000,000
Surigao Del Sur Bislig City Construction/Rehabilitation Pending approval 210,000,000
Surigao Del Sur Carmen Expansion/Improvement Pending approval 50,000,000
Total 325,000,000

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 Appendix A: Provincial and HUC Profiles

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