Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____________ 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AUDREY KAY T. ZUBIRI 
AN ACT 
TO PROMOTE RURAL HEALTH BY PROVIDING FOR AN ACCELERATED 
PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A POTABLE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM 
IN EVERY BARANGAY IN THE COUNTRY WITHIN THREE (3) YEARS AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Access to safe and clean water is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of good 
health and dignified living.1 Yet, millions of Filipinos—particularly in rural and underserved 
barangays—continue to suffer from limited access to potable water, exposing communities to 
water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid. 
Under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework with the 
Philippines, the government and the UN aim the availability and sustainable management of 
water and sanitation for all by 2028.2  
While there has been a significant improvement in the accessibility of safely managed 
drinking water in the country at 53.1%, the 2024 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS) by 
the Philippine Statistics Authority still showed low access to safely managed drinking water 
in the majority of regions in the country such as: Region II (Cagayan Valley) with 27.6%, 
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with 14.8%, Region V 
(Bicol Region) with 25.8%, and  Region X (Northern Mindanao) with 44%. On the other hand, 
only 44.4% of families in the country had access to basic drinking water service from an 
1 United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 64/292 adopted on 28 July 2010. 
2https://philippines.un.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/UN-SDCF-PHL-FINAL%2823-Oct-
2023%29_CLEAN.pdf 
July 29, 2025
4:40 pm
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improved source with NCR (14.1%), followed by Region IV-A (25.5%), and Region III 
(32.4%) having least access to basic drinking water services.3  
With this proposed measure, we seek to address the pressing issue to provide potable 
drinking water across the country by establishing a three (3) year nationwide program for the 
construction of potable water supply systems in every barangay, to be jointly undertaken by 
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health 
(DOH), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). 
The program will give priority to areas with high incidence of water-borne illnesses 
and inadequate water infrastructure, guided by social, economic, and environmental 
considerations. The involvement of local government units (LGUs) is emphasized throughout 
the stages of planning, implementation, and maintenance to ensure ownership, sustainability, 
and relevance to the actual needs of the communities. 
This measure will not only address the existing water infrastructure gap in the country 
but will also address a critical public health and social development concern by providing 
potable water supply to all Filipinos nationwide. 
In view of the foregoing and to uphold the right of every Filipino to equitable access to 
clean and safe water, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
AUDREY KAY T. ZUBIRI 
Representative, 3rd District of Bukidnon 
3 https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/income-expenditure/apis/node/1684076742 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____________ 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AUDREY KAY T. ZUBIRI 
AN ACT 
TO PROMOTE RURAL HEALTH BY PROVIDING FOR AN ACCELERATED 
PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A POTABLE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM 
IN EVERY BARANGAY IN THE COUNTRY WITHIN THREE (3) YEARS AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION. 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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promote the quality of health of every Filipino though the provision of adequate social services 
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including, but not limited to, the provision of an adequate potable water supply system to 
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minimize their exposure to water borne diseases. 
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SEC. 2. Lead Agency. - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 
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in cooperation with the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Public Works and 
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Highways (DPWH) shall undertake a three-year program for the construction of potable water 
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supply system in every barangay throughout the country. The program shall give priority to 
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areas with social and health problems brought about by the water-borne diseases taking into 
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consideration population, area served, project cost and other economic, social and 
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environmental factors as may be deemed necessary in undertaking the program within the 
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context of the national development plans. The lead agencies concerned, in consultation with 
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the provincial and municipal development councils, shall determine the areas that shall be 
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given priority.  
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SEC. 3. Program Guidelines. - The lead agencies concerned shall observe the 
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following priorities and guidelines in the planning, construction and management of potable 
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water supply project: 
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(a) Funds provided for in this Act shall be used only for the construction of the new 
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potable water supply system. 
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(b) Priority shall be given to the construction of communal water supply; 
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(c) The potable water supply projects must be equitably distributed among the 
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provinces and municipalities, giving priority to those provinces and municipalities having 
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inadequate supply of potable water.  
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(d) The local government unit concerned shall participate in the project in the project 
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planning, identification, design, management of all project funds, construction and 
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monitoring; 
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(e) The potable water supply system shall be managed and maintained by the local 
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government unit concerned; 
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(f) The provincial officers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
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Department of Health, and Department of Public Works and Highways, shall be responsible 
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in the preparation of feasibility studies and design of communal water supply project. 
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SEC. 4. Appropriations. - The sum of Fifty Million Pesos (50,000,000.00) is hereby 
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appropriated for the initial implementation of the provision of this Act. Thereafter, the 
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succeeding appropriation for its continued implementation shall be included in the Annual 
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General Appropriations Act until the program shall have been completed. 
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SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of Act is held unconstitutional, other 
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parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in force and 
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effect. 
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SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, issuances, orders, rule and 
1 
regulation and inconsistent with the provision of this Act are here amended, repealed or 
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modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) newspaper or general circulation.  
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Approved,