Regulatory systems and networking of water utilities and regulatory bodies : proceedings of the Regional Forum, Manila 26-28 March 2001

Part I contains the summary of findings based on the forum discussions, and reports that were prepared as background materials for the forum. Part II contains the overview of regulatory systems with case studies on regulation in 10 countries around the world and summaries of country reports on stakeholders' views on regulation in 8 developing-member countries. The Regional Forum noted that the main issues in the sector were low tariffs, a shortage of development funds, ineffective management, and weak regulatory systems. Policy approaches advocated included the separation of policy, regulatory, and operating functions; undertaking economic regulation as a first priority; granting operators incentives to provide good service; and promoting private sector participation. The forum agreed that regulators should ensure good governance, promote benchmarking of performance, protect consumers against monopoly power, implement tariff policy, and enforce policy on coverage and service levels, especially for the poor. Useful for government agencies embarking on establishing independent regulatory bodies to improve the delivery of water and sanitation services whether in the public or private sector.