WHEREAS, water is a basic necessity essential to human survival and to sustainable economic development.

WHEREAS, water has scarcity value and as a precious commodity should be conserved and rationally and optimally utilized.

WHEREAS, the country ™s water resources continue to deteriorate in quality and abate in quantity thereby raising the probability of critical water shortfalls in the immediate future.

WHEREAS, the pollution of our water bodies and the impending shortfall in water supply may be attributed to our disregard of the importance of water to human survival.

WHEREAS, there is now an urgent need to properly manage the utilization of the nation ™s water resources to ensure that human and economic needs are provided for in a sustainable way.

WHEREAS, a water conservation program must now be set in place and implemented through coordinative, consultative and mutually-supportive mechanisms where the private sector plays an active role.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Creation and Composition. A Committee on Water Conservation and Demand Management, herein referred to as the Committee, is hereby created. The Committee shall be composed of the following:

SEC. 2. Powers and Functions. The Committee shall undertake the following:

a. Prepare a nationwide Water Conservation Plan to cover conservation measures focusing on both the quality and quantity of water; and the implementing mechanism for the Plan, including the setting up of a œWater Patrol  similar to the power patrol of the Department of Energy.

b. Undertake a nationwide information dissemination campaign to create greater awareness of water conservation measures.

c. Encourage and promote active private sector participation and initiatives in water conservation activities, particularly in ensuring the responsive and efficient use of water.

d. Provide research, monitoring and feedback with respect to water consumption in both the public and private sectors for purposes of issuing, from time to time, guidelines to achieve water savings.

e. Mobilize funds for the execution of the Committee ™s objectives.

f. Perform such other tasks that may be necessary and incidental to the implementation of this Executive Order.

SEC. 3. Sub-committees and Task Forces. The Committee may form such sub-committees and task forces as may be necessary for the effective performance of its functions.

SEC. 4. Implementing Guidelines and Programs. The Committee shall develop the implementing programs and promulgate the necessary implementing guidelines for the accomplishment of the objective of this Executive Order.

SEC. 5. Coordination with Other Government Agencies, NGOs and Other Private Entities. The Committee is hereby authorized to call on and mobilize any government agency and instrumentality (including local government units, government-owned or controlled corporations, schools, and institutions of learning), as well as non-governmental organizations and other private entities, for support and assistance in the implementation of this Executive Order.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. All presidential acts, letters of instructions, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 24th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety-five.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) TEOFISTO T. GUINGONA, JR.
Executive Secretary