Section VI.

Terms of Reference
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES BOARD
8/F NIA Building, EDSA, Diliman, Quezon City

TERMS OF REFERENCE

I. PROJECT TITLE : CONDUCT OF COMPREHENSIVE WATER RESOURCES

ASSESSMENT FOR BICOL RIVER BASIN
II. PROJECT PROPONENT: NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES BOARD
Address: 8TH Floor NIA Building, EDSA, Quezon City
Contact Person : SEVILLO D. DAVID, JR.
Designation: Executive Director
Tel No: 9202641/ 9283265 Fax No: 9202641
III. RATIONALE/BACKGROUND

The Philippines is an archipelago covering an area of about 300,000 sq. km. It

consists of more than 7,000 islands divided into three (3) main groups, Luzon,
Visayas, and Mindanao. The climate is tropical with temperature ranging from 18-
28oC and abundant rainfall ranging from 1,000-4,000 mm annually on the average.

As of June 30, 2018, the Philippines is divided into 16 administrative regions

and 1 autonomous region, including the Metropolitan Manila and Cordillera
Administrative Region, 144 cities, 1490 municipalities and about some 42,044
barangays, which is the smallest administrative unit.

The development and management of water resources in the Philippines involves

different agencies and government departments. Each agency is responsible for different
aspects of water resources development. The National Water Resources Board (NWRB)
is mandated with regulatory powers in the regulation, exploitation, development,
conservation and protection of the country’s water resources. One of the major functions
of NWRB is to conduct water assessment of basin resources as basis for systematic
allocation, management and development of available water resources for various
functional uses.
With the increasing demand of water for the provision of safe and potable
water to the urban and rural population, irrigation and other uses, a detailed
knowledge of surface and groundwater resources potential is essential.

The 1970’s, assessment of the nations land and water resources was carried out
based on the available data on geology, hydrogeology and hydrology. The framework
plans formulated in the 1980’s provided background for a more detailed evaluation and
assessment of available water resources. In 1998, the Master Plan Study on Water
Resources Management done by JICA made a water balance study by water resources

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region nationwide. The future water demand was estimated for high and low economic
growth scenario. Based on the JICA Study, in case of the high growth scenario, projected
water deficit would take place in WRR II, IV and VII while in the case of the low growth
scenario water deficit would take place in WRR III.
In the 1980’s, a groundwater resources investigation study was conducted by the
National Water Resources Council and the National Hydraulic Research Center. One of
the specific objectives of this study was to quantify the amount of groundwater available
for certain subsurface reservoir. It was envisioned to allow planning/management
agencies to properly allocate groundwater resource to users and determine the densities of
wells advisable in a particular area. One of the outputs of the project was the groundwater
availability map for the different provinces nationwide. These provinces were divided
into sub-areas wherein corresponding area, safe yield, groundwater mining yield and
withdrawal discharge density were calculated. The computed safe yield in each sub-area
are used as a basis for groundwater allocation in each province.
With the threat of climate change and anthropogenic activities such as rapid
urbanization and economic development, there is a need to assess and update water
availability situation that could sustain the projected population. Aside from the quantity,
there is a need to determine the quality of water that is also an important factor for water
supply. Thus, it is crucial to conduct a water resources assessment study using the river
basin or appropriate planning area.
Further, the conduct of Water Resources Assessment study is an important factor
in the effective management of water resources which is essential in attaining the target to
provide water for all with special emphasis on water supply in waterless areas. The water
resource assessment should use scientific basis for effective planning and decision
making.
Recently, a comprehensive water resources assessment is done for the Agno River
Basin, Panay River Basin, Davao River Basin. The assessment for Jalaur River Basin will
be completed this 2018. Similar water resources assessment will be replicated in the other
river basins nationwide.

IV. OBJECTIVES

The study will address the limited knowledge on the current and future water
resources situation in Bicol River Basin. Its over-all goal is to have a scientific report
of the available water considering the current changes and trends in the use of water
resources such as climate change and increasing developments that will be the basis
for policy, planning, programming and project implementation.

V. SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

The project staff is expected to undertake the following tasks:

(i) Conduct review of related projects undertaken and existing methodologies

used in water resources assessments and shall perform revisions and
improvement if necessary

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(ii) Conduct secondary data collection from LGUs and different government and
private institutions. Data to be collected are socio economic profile,
topography, geology, meteorological data, water quality, streamflow data and
other water related data
(iii) Conduct inventory of different water users both for surface water and
groundwater, carry out water withdrawal, water level, and water quality
measurements in the river basin and collect at least 10 groundwater and
surface water samples to be submitted to PNRI for isotope analysis charge to
the project cost
(iv) Develop water resources information system for all water related information
(surface water, groundwater, etc.) and produce maps collected
(v) Prepare a groundwater resistivity survey program and conduct at least ten (10)
georesistivity survey and interpretations in appropriate locations where no
prior survey has been undertaken. Georesistivity analysis including cross
section profiling should be included.
(vi) Conduct quantitative assessment of interrelated groundwater and surface water
to update previous assessment for the use of water resources evaluation in the
issuance of water permits
(vii) Preparation of Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment (e.g. DRASTIC
Method)
(viii) Perform analysis based on the existing data and information gathered and
using the available groundwater modeling software to include:
 Aquifer characterization
- Determine the different thickness of the aquifer and its extent
- Determine the transmissivity and storativity of the aquifer
- Determine the porosity and permeability of the aquifer
- Determine the specific capacity of the aquifer
- Determine the rate of recharge in the area
- Determine the groundwater flow path
- Determine the recharge zone
 Model Area Definition (delineate the extent of model areas or sub-
areas) and determination of the boundary conditions to be used in the
model
 Determination of current state of groundwater resource considering the
current demand (estimation of groundwater safe yield and mining
yield, if possible)
 Determination of the future scenarios taking into consideration the
impacts of climate change
 Groundwater Quality Analysis using appropriate methodology (e.g.
groundwater piper diagram)
(ix) Estimate streamflow statistics in ungauged basin using appropriate methods
(x) Perform flow duration analysis and develop flow duration curve for the rivers
(xi) Evaluate and simulate surface water storage under different scenarios of
weather and climate taking into consideration the different water users in the
river system
(xii) Interpret streamflow and precipitation data to refine understanding and
forecasting capabilities for floods and droughts
(xiii) Design of groundwater and surface water monitoring network to include
statistically justified location based from criteria for selection of sites and
estimated cost including Bill of Materials for the Infrastructure components.

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 Recommended sites for groundwater monitoring wells are government
schools and LGU premises as long as the location will satisfy the criteria and
other consideration
(xiv) Generate GIS thematic maps from NAMRIA base maps (piezometric
maps/water level maps, EC maps, TDS map, pH map, recharge map, etc.)
(xv) Develop water resource management plan/strategy
(xvi) Recommend responsive and flexible policies on water resources management
particularly in addressing current water issues due to impact of climate change
based on scientific results
(xvii) Recommend short, medium and long term strategies/action plan for the river
basin
(xviii) Provide one (1) Geologist to work at NWRB during the duration of the project
(xix) Conduct at least three (3) stakeholders consultation and at least four (4) Focus
Group Discussions as needed
(xx) Conduct one (1) week Training/Capacity Building Program on GIS
application, groundwater modeling, surface water analysis, georesistivity
analysis, vulnerability assessment, information system, etc. to be provided to
the participating agencies in the study area. A maximum of 20 participants
will be capacitated. The consultant will prepare training modules for the
participants. As part of the transfer of technology to the NWRB staff, there
will be a separate training composed of hands on exercises and lectures to be
conducted at NWRB. Mentoring and coaching will also be provided during the
project implementation. The consultants will be staying at NWRB 2x a week
for the coaching and mentoring for the whole duration of the project
(xxi) Create one page project infographics
(xxii) Prepare and submit reports to NWRB
(xxiii) Present the reports to Stakeholders members, to the NWRB Management
Committee and NWRB Board for approval before finalization

VI. OUTPUTS

The expected outputs of the study area:

 Water resources information system for Bicol River Basin that contains:
i. Databases of primary and secondary data collected relative to the
groundwater and surface water resources (i.e quantity and quality),
master list of different water users including water service providers-
Level I, II, and III systems, data on socio economy, geology,
meteorology, and other related data.
ii. GIS base maps and thematic maps for all water related information
including shape files (transmissivity map, water level map, EC map,
groundwater cross section map, etc.).
iii. List of related projects, relevant laws, and policies of different concern
government agencies.
 Georesistivity data and interpretation including profiling and descriptions of
the different sections of the aquifer
 Water Balance and Modeling and quantitative availability of groundwater
including water quality analysis
 Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment and Isotope analysis (determine mean
residence time/age of water and rate of recharge)

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  Streamflow simulation and analysis
 Water Resources Management Plan/Strategy
 Surface Water and Groundwater Monitoring Stations Design, Identification of
the Location of Monitoring Stations and Cost estimates of the monitoring
stations
 Report on all Stakeholder’s Consultation and Focus Group Discussion
including hard copy and e-copy of all presentations during the stakeholders
meeting.
 Draft Policies formulated based from the analysis (e.g. Groundwater, surface
water, water resources management, etc)
 Capacitated NWRB staff and staff of other water related agencies
 Operations Manual on modeling, etc.
 Training Handouts and Report of Trainings conducted
 Monthly project implementation status report (using NWRB template)
 Reports
- Inception Report
- Georesistivity Report,
- Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment;
Water Quality Report and Isotope Analysis Report
- Modeling Report
- Monitoring Network Design Report
- Water Resources Management Plan/Strategy Report
- Draft Final Report
- Final Report (all reports submitted including Executive
Summary, minutes of stakeholders consultation meeting,
training handout, report of trainings, database of all data
collected, groundwater modeling operations manual,
powerpoint presentations, project completion report, generated
maps (A3)
 Reports will be submitted in four (4) hard copies and three (3) electronic
copies
 Printed one page Project Infographics (e-copy and 20 hard copies)
 Final reports will be submitted in six (6) copies and six (6) electronic copies
 All maps generated by the project shall be turned over to NWRB in shapefile
format

VII PROJECT LOGISTICS AND TIMING

The operational base for the project is the National Water Resources
Board (NWRB) Office at 8th Floor NIA Building, EDSA, Quezon City.

The period of implementation is twelve (12) months.

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