Governance of Urban Water Services: A Multi-Level Institutional Analysis of Zamboanga City, Philippines

Atilano, Lesley Ann and Lee, Armand and Zabala, Cedrick and Moreno, Frede (2026): Governance of Urban Water Services: A Multi-Level Institutional Analysis of Zamboanga City, Philippines.

Abstract

Urban water governance in secondary cities in Southeast Asia faces persistent institutional fragmentation, regulatory overlap, and capacity constraints. This study examines the governance of urban water services in Zamboanga City, Philippines, through a multi-level institutional analysis. The research applies multi-level governance theory and the Institutional Analysis and Development framework to assess the interaction among national agencies, local government units, regulatory bodies, and the Zamboanga City Water District. The study uses documentary analysis, administrative data from 2018–2023, service performance indicators, and policy review. Results show that water service coverage reaches 48% of households, non-revenue water exceeds 39%, and tariff recovery remains insufficient for capital investment. National policy mandates conflict with local political authority, while regulatory enforcement lacks operational leverage. Institutional coordination remains weak across governance levels. The study contributes empirical evidence on urban water governance in Philippine cities and identifies institutional reforms that support accountability, financial sustainability, and service expansion. The findings inform water governance reform in decentralized contexts.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: urban water governance; multi-level governance; institutional analysis; water utilities; Philippines
• Subjects: G - Financial Economics > G0 - General; G - Financial Economics > G0 - General > G00 - General; H - Public Economics > H0 - General; H - Public Economics > H3 - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents; H - Public Economics > H3 - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents > H30 - General; H - Public Economics > H4 - Publicly Provided Goods > H40 - General; H - Public Economics > H4 - Publicly Provided Goods > H41 - Public Goods; H - Public Economics > H7 - State and Local Government ; Intergovernmental Relations; H - Public Economics > H7 - State and Local Government ; Intergovernmental Relations > H70 - General; H - Public Economics > H7 - State and Local Government ; Intergovernmental Relations > H79 - Other; H - Public Economics > H8 - Miscellaneous Issues > H83 - Public Administration ; Public Sector Accounting and Audits; L - Industrial Organization > L0 - General; L - Industrial Organization > L0 - General > L00 - General; L - Industrial Organization > L5 - Regulation and Industrial Policy; L - Industrial Organization > L5 - Regulation and Industrial Policy > L52 - Industrial Policy ; Sectoral Planning Methods; L - Industrial Organization > L8 - Industry Studies: Services; L - Industrial Organization > L8 - Industry Studies: Services > L80 - General; L - Industrial Organization > L8 - Industry Studies: Services > L88 - Government Policy; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M0 - General; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M1 - Business Administration; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M1 - Business Administration > M10 - General; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M1 - Business Administration > M11 - Production Management; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O10 - General; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O13 - Agriculture ; Natural Resources ; Energy ; Environment ; Other Primary Products; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights > O38 - Government Policy; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q0 - General; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q0 - General > Q00 - General; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q0 - General > Q01 - Sustainable Development; Z - Other Special Topics > Z0 - General; Z - Other Special Topics > Z0 - General > Z00 - General

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