Senator Loren Legarda highlighted the role of women in  water security, climate resilience, and gender equality.

In her recent address at the Water and Women Forum PH 2026 in Quezon City in observance of World Water Day and National Women’s Month, the senator  said, “Water shapes the rhythm of every home, every community, every future. But when water is scarce, when it is unsafe or distant, the burden does not fall evenly,” Legarda said.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), she noted that only 53.1 percent of Filipino households have access to safely managed drinking water, while 44 percent still rely on sources outside their homes.

“In four out of five cases, it is women and girls who carry this responsibility. We all know this, especially in the provinces, but even in Metro Manila, waking up very early, walking long distances, and even not long, but in a long queue, carrying heavy containers, making difficult choices on how to stretch every drop for cooking, cleaning, and hygiene. And time spent securing water is time taken away from education, from livelihood and jobs, recreation even, and rest,” Legarda said.

Senator Legarda called for stricter enforcement of environmental laws, noting that while legislation like the Clean Water Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act exists, compliance remains a challenge. 

She highlighted that water scarcity disproportionately affects women and girls, who often bear the primary responsibility for securing water for their households. 

This labor frequently comes at the expense of education, livelihood, and rest.

Furthermore, the Senator pointed out the underrepresentation of women in water policy and resource allocation. 

“Women have little influence in designing the systems that govern it,” Legarda said. “They remain underrepresented in the institutions where water policies are shaped, and resources are allocated.”

As principal author of the Climate Change Act of 2009 and author of the Clean Water Act, Legarda reiterated her commitment to policies that safeguard public health, livelihoods, and dignity.

She advocated for placing women—particularly those from grassroots and indigenous communities—at the center of water governance to ensure more inclusive and sustainable development.

Legarda also underscored the importance of the Rainwater Collection Act and the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Act (PENCAS) in strengthening the nation's water management framework.

-Paraluman News