Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5164

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Akbayan Representatives Walden F. Bello
and Ibarra M. Gutierrez III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Irrigation is a vital input to agricultural production, It is essential to maximizing
land productivity and improving farmers’ incomes. Data from the Bureau of
Agricultural Statistics indicate that palay yield per hectare in irrigated lands is at
4.21 metric tons per hectare. This is 43 % higher than the yield per hectare in non-
irrigated which is at 2.93 metric tons per hectare. Similarly the average net income
of a rice farmer planting in irrigated lands is at PHP 14,063 per hectare, per
season. On the other hand, a rice farmer tilling non-irrigated lands only earns an
average net income of Php 8,447 per hectare, per season.

Unfortunately, despite the proven significance of appropriate irrigation systems
increasing farm output and farmers’ income, government has yet to decisively act
towards ensuring that every agricultural producer has ready access to irrigation
facilities and services. At present, only 45.89 per cent of total agricultural lands
have irrigation facilities.

In 1991, Congress passed Republic Act 6978 providing for the accelerated program
for the construction of irrigation projects. However, government has yet to
implement the said law. This bill seeks to amend and build on RA 6978 by
ensuring that there is a definite mechanism, process, as well as resources to
ensure the establishment of irrigation facilities in all agricultural lands under a Ten
Year Full Irrigation Master plan. The bill also emphasizes the role of farmers’
groups and organization in developing and monitoring the said master plan.

The urgency of improving the country's irrigation facilities is at no time more
urgent than today. Extreme weather conditions, such as prolonged droughts, are
expected to be more prevalent because of climate change. Improving the country's
irrigation systems, facilities and services is an important strategy in building
farmers’ resilience to climate change, while helping them improve productivity and
incomes


In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

WALDEN F. BELLO

P<
IBARRA M, GU’ REZ II


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 5164

Introduced by Akbayan Representatives Walden F. Bello
and Ibarra M. Gutierrez III

AN ACT
‘TO PROMOTE RURAL DEVELOPMENT BY PROVIDING FOR AN
ACCELERATED PROGRAM WITHIN A SIX-YEAR PERIOD FOR
‘THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRRIGATION PROJECTS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled.

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to help
maximize the potential of the country's limited land resource, help farmers cope
with extreme weather changes brought about by dlmate change and improve
farmers’ productivity and incomes by ensuring that all of the country's
agricultural lands are covered and serviced by appropriate and fully operational
irrigation systems and faclIlues.

SECTION 2. Mandate. - The National Irrigation Administration shall
undertake a six year program for the construction of irrigation projects in the
remaining 1,5 million hectares of un Irrigated but Irngable lands, whether in the
lowlands or in the uplands including other related project components
nationwide. The program shall give priority to areas with social and economic
problems, taking into consideration population, area served, project cost and
other economic and environmental factors as may be deemed necessary in
undertaking the program within the context of the national development plans.
‘The National Irrigation Administration, in consultation with the provincial and
municipal development councils, shall determine the areas which shall be given
priority.

SECTION 3.-Regular updating of inventory of irrigation facilities
and creation of 0 Notional Irrigation Database - The National Irrigation
Authority shall regularly update its inventory of all irrigation systems and


facilities and maintain a publicly accessible National Irrigation Database. The
database shall include municipal, provincial, regional and national information
on the following:

+ Status irrigation systems, including the area covered as well as the
type of existing irrigation facilities:

+ Irrigation balances;

* Listing of irrigation facilities for rehabilitation,

The Inventory shall include an accomplishment report on the implementation of the
accelerated ten-year irrigation program mandated under Republic Act No. 6978
otherwise known as the "AN ACT TO PROMOTE RURAL DEVELOPMENT BY
PROVIDING FOR AN ACCELERATED PROGRM. WITHIN A TEN-YEAR PERIOD FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRRIGATION PROJECTS +

SECTION 4. Third part y validation. - The results of the inventory shall be
validated by at least two local farmers’ organization operating within each province.

SECTION 5. Establishment of a Fu/I Irrigation Task Force. - A special
task ( force, from hereon referred to as the Task Force, shall be created to
formulate a Six-Year Full Irrigation Master Plan, based on the results of the
inventory of irrigation facilities as well as results of the assessment of the status
implementation of the accelerated ten years irrigation plan provided in Republic
Act No.6978.

The Task Force shall be headed by the National Irrigation Administration, and
shall be composed of the following:

Secretary of the Department of Agriculture

Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management

Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform

Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology

Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government

A representative of the Irrigators’ Association

A representative cach from three (3) national farmers’ organization

exgasene

The Secretaries of the above-mentioned agencies may appoint their duly
authorized representative to sit in the Task Force,

‘The President of the Philippines, in consultation with the Department of
Agriculture shall appoint the representatives of the national farmers’
organizations in the Task Force. The Department of Agriculture shall consult
farmers’ organization who are members of the National Agricultural Fisheries
Council in identifying representatives of the national farmers’ organizations that
should sit in the Task Force.


SECTION 6. Functions and mandate of the Task Force. - The Task
Force shall undertake the following functions:

1. Review and recommend poheles on the maintenance and rehabilitation
of irrigation fadittles as well as the financial and transfer
arrangements of ‘irrigation facilities to the irrigators’ association!
Association and other qualified farmers’ organizations. The review process
shall include local and national consultations with farmers groups and
other affected stakeholders.

2. Create a Ten Year Full Irrigation Master plan, hereon referred to as the
irrigation Master Plan, which shall establish government's annual
irrigation target and the corresponding budget requirement, consistent
with the provision of RA 6978, with the end In view of irrigating all
agricultural lands and building farmers' resilience to droughts and rising
atmospheric temperatures as a result of climate change, within a period
of ten years upon the passage and implementation of this Act.

‘The Master Plan, which will be implemented by NIA, shall include targets
for rehabilitation of existing irrigation facilities and the installation of new
irrigation systems per region, including in upland areas. It shall also
identify the types of irrigation facilities appropriate for each provincial
consultation with farmers’ organizations in the locality.

3, Exercise of oversight function over the implementation of the Ten Year Full
Irrigation Master plan.

SECTION 7. Appropriations.- Such sums as may be necessary for the
implementation on of this Act, including the conduct of the inventory of the and
the operations of the Task Force, shall be taken from any available
appropriations of the National Irrigation Administration under the current
General Appropriations Act
‘Thereafter, the succeeding appropriations for its continued implementation shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act until the program shall
have been completed.

SECTION 8. Separability Clouse. - If, for any reason, any section or
provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or
provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby and shall continue to be in full
force and effect

SECTION 9. Repealing clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity . - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspapers


of general circulation.

Approved,