NARBO

Capacity Building for the IWRM Process
of the 5th NARBO General Meeting

Ms. Bayhon Margret Delos Trinos
National Water Resources Board

Philippines

17th, May 2013: Capacity Building for the IWRM Process

The NARBO Thematic Workshop on Capacity Building for IWRM Implementation was held on May 17, 2013 during the third day of the 2nd Asia Pacific Water Summit at Chiang Mai, Thailand. It was presented by TjoekWalujo Subijanto, NARBO Vice Chairperson and former President Director of Jasa Tirta 1 Public Corporation.
By way of an introduction, Mr, Subijanto underscores the importance of water and the challenges facing the water sector, such as the increasing demand for clean and potable water due to increase economic activity and population growth, the effects of extreme weather phenomenon causing water related disasters, ineffective water governance and the rise of conflicts relating to different water uses.
Considering that water issues are multi-sectoral, the involvement and cooperation of stakeholder is necessary to achieve water sustainability, which is one of the basic principles of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). It is said that the effective implementation of IWRM process will promote transparent and efficient water resources management, facilitate effective conflict resolution, encourage better water conservation and demand management, develop ownership; and help to maintain the sustainability of water resources to sustain the human being and ecosystems in future.
Mr. Subijanto described an effective participatory approach as one where the interests of the stakeholders are reflected in the decisions at all levels. Their participation must be real and not for mere compliance to legitimize the decisions already made. There must be a proper and credible forum for coordination and consultation where participation may be conducted. This will promote transparency and trust between all parties. However, for effective participatory process, there must be a law institutionalizing the same which will pave way to political and financial support for its implementation.
Being the key institution in the implementation of IWRM, the RBO should be the focal point in the capacity development of its stakeholders to perform effective participation in all levels of the decision making process.
The success of a river basin is dependent on broad stakeholder involvement. To achieve this end, there must be both organizational and individual capacity building, which is not limited to education and trainings, but should be a continuous transformative process.
Stakeholders should have the proper motivation, with the help of strong leadership, for effective utilization of their competencies. An enabling environment is likewise necessary in successful capacity building program based on internal driven initiatives and long term goals.