Clearing of MWSS Waterways and Informal Settlers' Rights-of-Way to Ensure Clean Water Supply to Metro Manila Residents

April 1, 2008

MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 283

DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE METROPOLITAN MANILA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND CONCERNED LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO CLEAR THE MWSS WATERWAYS (INCLUDING SEWERAGE) AND RIGHT-OF-WAYS OF INFORMAL SETTLERS IN ORDER TO ENSURE EFFICIENT AND UNINTERRUPTED SUPPLY OF CLEAN WATER TO RESIDENTS OF METRO MANILA

WHEREAS, the Government has laid out a Ten-Point Agenda to decongest Metro Manila and improve the water supply and distribution system for the Local Government Units (LGUs) experiencing extreme water shortage;

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to strengthen the implementation of urban development projects by the local government units by abating the influx of informal settlers and formation of informal settlements particularly in the waterways and MWSS right-of-ways to prevent continuous degradation of the water environment; HICSTa

WHEREAS, it is necessary not only to clear the MWSS waterways/right-of-way of obstruction but also to relocate Informal Settler Families (ISF) to final relocation sites, which may be funded from existing ODA housing projects executed by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and existing project funds of the MWSS.

SECTION 1. The MWSS, as the main water supply planning and regulatory agency of the government, shall oversee the implementation, development and upgrading of water supply projects. The MWSS shall identify alternative sources of funds and defray the cost of housing development including the possible transfer of its properties intended as relocation sites to recipient local government units or NHA pursuant to Article 5, Section 21 of the Urban Development Act of 1992 (R.A. No. 7279). The MWSS is also hereby directed to work closely with the HUDCC and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the utilization of proclaimed areas (particularly the Lungsod Silangan New Town Reservation and Freedom Valley Resettlement site) as relocation sites for the affected ISF of water projects. TAEDcS

SECTION 2. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in coordination with concerned LGUs and the National Housing Authority (NHA) are hereby directed to clear the MWSS waterways and right-of-ways of informal settlers and relocate them. Furthermore, the aforementioned agencies including MWSS are hereby directed to call for "Waterways Protection and Preservation Summit" to formulate an action plan on how these agencies should collaborate and share its resources to clear and protect these waterways of obstructions including informal dwellers occupying watershed areas in Rizal, Quezon, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and other neighboring towns. Part of the action plan to be prepared is a comprehensive resettlement and containment plan detailing the time table of implementation of the clearing and relocation activities to be undertaken by concerned government agencies/LGUs which should be presented to the Office of the President for approval.

SECTION 3. The HUDCC shall give priority to LGUs who have squatting problems on the MWSS waterways/right-of-ways and are eligible for enrolment under the ODA funded housing projects and other funds.

SECTION 4. All government agencies, instrumentalities, subdivisions or government-owned or controlled corporations, which MWSS may call upon to participate in the implementation of these water and relocation projects, are hereby directed to give full cooperation and support to MWSS.

SECTION 5. An Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee (IACC) is hereby created to be chaired by MWSS and co-chaired by DILG with the following as members: HUDCC, MMDA, National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and concerned LGUs of Metro Manila including the two concessionaires. The IACC shall directly oversee and monitor the implementation of the approved waterways protection action plan.

SECTION 6. The MWSS, DILG, MMDA, NHA and concerned LGUs shall submit to the DBM a work program and its corresponding budget that shall defray the cost of activities to be implemented by these agencies pursuant to this Order.

SECTION 7. The MWSS shall, in consultation with the DILG and the MMDA and concerned LGUs, formulate and adopt the necessary rules and policy guideline to implement the provisions of this Order. The MWSS shall submit periodic reports to the Office of the President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, on the status of implementation of the commitments made by participating government agencies/LGUs. HSDaTC

SECTION 8. All orders, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Memorandum Order are hereby amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 1st day of April, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Eight.