RIVER BASIN
ORGANIZATIONS AND
MANAGEMENT IN
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Dao Trong Tu, Ph.D and Do Hong Phan
Global Water Partnership-Southeast Asia (GWP-SEA)
Objectives of Paper
Not a deep study but an overview of existing
situation and as well as lessons learned regarding
the tendency in IWRM approach of river basin
management, focusing on river basin organization
(RBO) aspects in GWP SEA countries.
Disclaimer
This paper expresses the view of the authors and
does not necessary reflect the vision of the GWP
SEA, VNWP and the Others.
SOUTH EAST ASIA (SEA)
Brunei
Cambodia
East Timor
Indonesia
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Singapore
<Cambodia>: GWP SEA countries
RIVERS & RBOs IN SEA
• Main river basins:
• RBOs:
169
85
• International basins:
1 (MRC)
Mekong River Commission (Lao PDR, Thailand,
Cambodia and Vietnam. China and Myanmar as
Dialogue Partners)
• Local basins:
84
(Cambodia: 4 Lao PDR: not yet Indonesia: 41
Myanmar: not yet Philippines: 1 Thailand: 25
Singapore: no Malaysia: 3 Vietnam:10)
OBSERVATIONS
• 85 RBOs (include MRC) established in 7 of 9 GWP
SEA countries
• RBOs accepted and adapting by GWP SEA countries
as good/appropriate management tool for IWRM
• Good RBO models in practicing
(Laguna Lake
Development Authority (LLD) - Philippines, Perum
Jasa Tirta-Indonesia, Bang Pakong-Thailand, MRC –
shared river of Thailand, Lao PDR Thailand and
Vietnam).
• Diversification of models, no unique model applied
regionally
• In process of learning by doing and improvement with
challenges (enforcement, stakeholders participation,
mandating institutions for adapting with existing WRM
systems..)
• Three main factors dominated an effective
RBO:
– Legal framework (strongly recognized and
supported by state administrative system)
– Participations (multiple stakeholders)
– Financial status (autonomous status)
LESSONS LEARNED
 The SEA directions of water resources management is to
move towards some form of river basin organization
responsible for different functions and mandates including
investigating, planning, developing and management of water
resources within a hydrological unit
 The development of river basin management requires a
number of important elements to be developed to a point
where the river basin can be managed successfully, including:
relevant laws, public and non-government institutions,
technical capabilities of the people, understanding and
motivation of people, and technical capacity and systems.
 RBO arrangements would be very diversified and should be
adjusted in order to adapt with the changes in socio-economic
development of each country.
LESSONS LEARNED (Cont.)
 RBO should be suited with water resources management system
in the country so that it can avoid overlapping in functions and can
get supports from the system;
 RBOs should be assigned with clear mandates and functions for
its operation and management;
 RBOs structures can be adjusted to adapt with the changes of
new socio-economic development of the countries;
 Establishment of RBOs would contribute to reform and
improvement of administrative system of water sector in country.
 no single RBO model would be suitable for all basins, but
depends very much on the specific conditions of hydrological,
social economic development and cultural aspects in each basin,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTETION