WHY NOT ORGANIZE WATER COOPERATIVES?

WHY NOT ORGANIZE WATER COOPERATIVES?

Perhaps it’s nothing new to many people, but yes—there is already a legal basis to organize water cooperatives in the Philippines, just like electric cooperatives. The difference, however, is that while electric coops are under the wing of the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), water coops stand on their own, supervised only by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). And to be precise, CDA’s role is not supervisory but regulatory.

In other words, a water cooperative is more independent than a transport cooperative, which falls under the Office of Transport Cooperatives (OTC) of the Department of Transportation. This independence could be both an opportunity and a challenge. Without an agency looking over their shoulders, water coops enjoy more autonomy. But without technical and financial backing, sustainability could be harder to achieve.

Now here’s the interesting part: a water cooperative does not even have to produce its own water. It could simply be in the distribution business—buying in bulk from existing water concessionaires like Manila Water or Maynilad, then selling to its members and communities. In the provinces, they could strike distribution deals with local water districts. On a larger scale, they might even supply water to those very districts if they develop their own production capacity.

The beauty of the cooperative model is that members are also the customers. That means the same people who run the coop are the ones paying the bills—creating a built-in accountability mechanism. You can imagine how this changes the dynamic: instead of waiting for private concessionaires or local utilities to expand service (often slowly, if at all), the community takes matters into its own hands.

With technology today, water coops don’t even have to depend solely on concessionaires. They could generate water from multiple sources: lakes, rivers, rainwater catchment systems, and yes—even desalination. The latter used to sound like science fiction, but small-scale desalination units are already being deployed in coastal areas worldwide. Profitability will depend on production costs, of course, but it is no longer impossible.

There’s just one caveat: in many places, drawing water from underground aquifers is now illegal or heavily restricted because of over-extraction. This is a wise move considering climate change and water scarcity, but it does limit the options for communities that have traditionally relied on deep wells.

So, is it technically easier to put up a water service business? Probably yes. The pipes, pumps, meters, and billing systems are all modular and readily available. But sustaining it—ensuring consistent quality, fair pricing, and timely maintenance—is the hard part. And this is where the cooperative model could make the difference. A business owned by a few might neglect customers once profits dip. A cooperative owned by many, however, has a built-in incentive to serve everyone well.

Let’s not forget: the legal framework is already in place. Republic Act 9520, the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008, explicitly recognizes service cooperatives—including water service cooperatives. With as few as 15 members of legal age, a group can register with the CDA, provided they have the basic requirements: articles of cooperation, bylaws, a feasibility study, and paid-up capital. Compared to setting up a corporation or concessionaire, this is accessible even to small barangays.

The question then is not whether we can set up water cooperatives, but why we aren’t doing more of it. How many underserved communities are still queuing at public faucets or relying on expensive private water delivery, when they could pool resources and organize their own coop?

If electric cooperatives brought power to the countryside in the 1970s, why can’t water cooperatives be the 21st-century equivalent—delivering safe, affordable, and community-owned water services?

To me, the challenge is not legal but organizational. Communities need to see water not just as a commodity but as a shared right and responsibility. Local governments could help by mapping underserved areas and guiding residents on forming coops. NGOs and development partners could chip in with training and seed capital. Technology providers could step in with modular solutions—rainwater harvesting systems, filtration units, even small desalination plants.

At the end of the day, water cooperatives may not replace big concessionaires or water districts. But they can fill the gaps—especially in rural barangays, peri-urban fringes, or coastal towns where infrastructure doesn’t reach. And in a time when climate change threatens both supply and distribution, local ownership might just be the key to resilience.

So, I ask again: why not organize water cooperatives? The law allows it, the need is urgent, and the community stands to benefit directly. All it really takes is the will to work together—for water, and for one another.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

11-13-2025