NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1244
4
of til? :; dfiQ)
*22 AUG 31 A 9 51
RliCEtViiD BV.
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
#
There are around thirty (30) government agencies existing to regulate the water 
resources of the country, including the Manila Bay Coordinating Office of the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the water quality 
management section of the Environmental Management Bureau of the DENR, the 
water supply sanitation unit of the Department of the Interior and Local Government 
(DILG), the flood management planning and sediment functions of the Department 
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Lagima Lake Development 
Authority (LLDA), the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), the National 
Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the Metro Manila Waterworks and Sewerage 
System (MWSS), among others.
The overwhelming competition for jurisdiction over funding and water 
management makes water resources vulnerable to gross mismanagement and 
exploitation. As a result, the budget allocated for water management multiplies 
uimecessarily, and jobs are created superfluously or redundantly. These issues 
needlessly contribute to the growing water crisis in the country and add to the


challenge of achieving our UN sustainable development goal of providing universal 
access to safe and sustainable water and sanitation to Filipinos by 2030.
There is a need to streamline water resources management to strengthen the 
government's role in regulating water supply and sanitation, reduce costs, and 
improve the regulation of privatized water infrastructure.
This bill seeks to establish the Department of Water Resources which shall be 
responsible for the comprehensive and systematic management and development of 
the country's water resources. Under the proposed measure, the Department shall 
integrate the different government agencies with water-related functions into the 
Department of Water Resources. National poHcies, plans, and programs focusing on 
water sewerage and sanitation shall be formulated, recommended, and implemented 
to ensure water availability for specific uses.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
EN LEGARDA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1244
©cnau'
of tl)? & : rtfirj)
•22 AUG 31 A9 51 
\
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Title, - This Act shall be known as the "Department of Water
2 
Resources."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to recognize, protect,
4 
realize, and enhance the right of all FiHpinos to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible
5 
drinking water, sanitation, and irrigation as essential to the full enjoyment of hfe and
6 
all human rights and the protection and sustainability of the environment.
7 
Sec. 3. Creation of the Department of Water Resources - There is hereby created and
8 
established the Department of Water Resources, referred to as the "Department,"
9 
which shall be organized within one hundred twenty (120) days after the effectivity
10 
of this Act.
11 
Sec. 4. Duties and Powers. - The Department shall exercise the following duties
12 
and powers:
13 
a. Formulate, recommend, and implement national policies, plans, and
14 
programs that will establish systematic and efficient water management and
15 
ensure the availabiLity of water for specific purposes in the country;
16 
b. Integrate the different agencies of the government that have water-related
17 
functions into the Department of Water Resources;


1 
c. Create and update a road map of rivers and water sources;
2 
d. Conduct continuing surveys and studies of the country's renewable water
3 
supply to formulate long-term policies to balance the sustainability and
4 
optimal use of water resources, define the hydrologic boundaries of basins of
5 
the existing water supply sources, and create and implement countrywide
6 
master plans for water resources management and development;
7 
e. Regulate and control the utilization, exploitation, abstraction, diversion, and
8 
development of water resources, taking into account its equitable distribution,
9 
and determine the standards of beneficial and priority uses of water in times of
10 
crisis and national emergencies;
11 
f. Assist and provide the National Economic and Development Authority
12 
(NEDA) with required data and inputs from and for the water sector in the
13 
formulation of the coimtry's short-term and long-term strategic development
14 
plans and actions;
15 
g. Require all private individuals, corporations, and government agencies
16 
affecting water resources and the construction of hydraulic facilities in
17 
watershed or basin areas of water supply sources to obtain a permit to construct
18 
such fadhties from the Department;
19 
h. Conduct and continue studies pertaining to water use, exploitation,
20 
development, conservation, or protection of waters, water resources, and
21 
watershed or basin areas;
22 
i. Enter any property of public dominion or any private land or building for the
23 
purpose of conducting hydrologic surveys and investigations and to determine
24 
compliance with water laws and standards;
25 
j. Issue and promulgate rules, regulations, and guidehnes as may be necessary
26 
to implement and enforce its powers and functions under this Act;
27 
k. Ensure and protect the rights and welfare of consumers;
28 
1. Exercise such other acts as are incident to or are appropriate and necessary in
29 
connection with the creation of the Department
30 
Sec. 5. Secretary of the Department of Water Resources. - The authority and
31 
responsibihty for the exercise of the mandate of the Department and the discharge of


1 
its powers and functions shall be vested in the Secretary of the Department of Water
2 
Resources.
3 
Sec. 6. Office of the Secretary. - The Office of the Secretary shall be composed of
4 
the Secretary and his or her immediate staff.
5 
Sec. 7. Undersecretaries. - The Secretary shall be assisted by not more than five
6 
(5) Undersecretaries, who shall be appointed by the President upon the
7 
recommendation of the Secretary, as follows:
8 
a. One for the Finance Service;
9 
b. One for the Administrative Service;
10 
c. One for the Planning and Engineering Services;
11 
d. One for the Regulatory and Financial Assistance Services; and
12 
e. One for the Operations.
13 
Within her/his functional area of responsibility, an Undersecretary shall have the
14 
following functions:
15 
(a) Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and implementation of
16 
Department policies, plans, programs, and projects; and
17 
(b) Supervise aU the operational activities of the units assigned to him or her,
18 
for which he or she is responsible to the Secretary.
19 
Sec. 8. Regional Director. - Each Regional Office shall be headed by a Regional
20 
Director who shall be responsible for efficiently and effectively carrying out the duties
21 
and responsibilities of the Regional Office. He or she shall also perform other related
22 
duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may
23 
be required by law.
24 
The Regional Director shcdl be assisted by two (2) Assistant Regional Directors
25 
who shall exercise supervision respectively over (1) the planning, project design,
26 
evaluation, and technical assistance functions of the Regional Office and (2) the
27 
construction, maintenance, and works supervision functions in the region.
28 
Sec. 9. Interface with Other Sector Regulators. - The Department is mandated
29 
to coordinate with the different sector regulators as follows:
30 
a. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall continue
31 
to have the primary authority and responsibility for protecting the
32 
environment and for the conservation of water and related natural resources.


1 
including protecting water bodies from waste and pollution, and shall
2 
promulgate rules, regulations, and standards in this regard. The Department
3 
shall coordinate with the DENR concerning the conservation of water
4 
resources, protection from sewage and septage waste, and restoration from
5 
environmental damage;
6 
b. The Department of Health (DOH) shall determine and enforce drinking water
7 
quahty and sanitation standards. The Department shall coordinate with the
8 
DOH to achieve an integrated approach for sanitation, including toilets,
9 
collection, treatment, and evaluation of wastewater;
10 
c. The Department shall subsume responsibihty from the Department of PubHc
11 
Works and Highways (DPWH) for wholly or primarily water-related public
12 
works projects, including flood control, water resources development,
13 
sewerage, sanitation, and the harnessing and impoimding of water. TTie
14 
Secretaries of each department shall coordinate the development of evaluation
15 
criteria as necessary to determine the proper allocation of pubHc works projects
16 
between the two departments; and
17 
d. The Department shall absorb the responsibility from the Department of Interior
18 
and Local Government (DILG) on the management and operation of water
19 
supply systems of local government units.
20 
Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred eighty (180) days
21 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Department, in consultation with the concerned
22 
government agencies, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and
23 
regulations for the implementation of this Act: Provided, That such revised
24 
implementing rules and regulations shall only take effect fifteen (15) days following
25 
its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
26 
Sec. 11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the initial
27 
implementation of this Act shall be sourced from any available funds of the National
28 
Treasiuy and is hereby appropriated and authorized to be released for the
29 
organization of the Department and its initial operations.
30 
Thereafter, funds sufficient to fully carry out the objectives, powers, and functions
31 
of the Department shall be appropriated every fiscal year iii the General
32 
Appropriations Act.


1 
The Department shall submit its annual budget, including detailed information on
2 
the compensation and benefits received by its employees, to the Office of the President
3 
for approval.
4 
Sec. 12. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or
5 
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected shall remain in force and effect.
6 
Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. - The provisions of any law, whether general or special,
7 
rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof that are inconsistent with
8 
the Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
9 
Sec. 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
10 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of
11 
general circulation.
Approved,