14'" CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
) 
7 JUL -3 rill :34 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 739 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
"Water can be without the company of humans but 
we as humans can only be without water for a few days." 
This quotation shows the whole truth about the importance and meaning of water 
as the main source of nourishment. Its value cannot be overestimated. It is essential for 
all life on this planet 
People in the whole world are drawing attention the global water crisis and 
promoting solutions that ensure water is a public good, not a commodity to he bought and 
sold. 
Water is a fundamental part of our lives. It is easy to forget how completely we 
depend on it. Human survival is dependent on water -- water has been ranked by experts 
as second only to oxygen as essential for life. Consumers are taking matters into their 
own hands and are now determining the quality of the water they and their families will 
drink by installing a drinking water system that will give them clean, refreshing, and 
healthier water. 
One of the greatest threats to people's access to water today is that corporate use 
of water is often prioritized over people's daily use. 
As natural rights, water rights are usufructuary rights - water can he used but not 
owned. People have a right to life and the resources that sustain it, such as water. The 
necessity of water to life is why, under the customary laws, the right to water has been 
accepted as a natural, social fact. 
That is why governments and corporations cannot alienate people from their 
water rights come from nature and creation. They flow from the laws of nature, not from 
the rules of the market. 
This bill seeks to provide reduction in the water rates and charges applicable to 
the consumers. 
The passage of this bill is earnestly sought 


14'" CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHEll'PINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 739 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
- 
AN ACT 
REDUCING THE WATER RATES AND CHARGES FOR WATER USERS IN 
THE BARANGAYS HOSTING THE WATER SOURCE WITHIN A WATER 
DISTRICT THEREBY AMENDING SECTION 37, CHAPTER IX, TITLE I1 OF 
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 198 AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Section 37, Chapter IX, Title I1 of Presidential Decree No. 198 as 
amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
"Section 37. Rates and Charges. - Water - A district may sell water under 
its control, under schedules of rates and charges as may he determined by the 
Board, to any and all water users within the district: PROVIDED, THAT SUCH 
RATES AND CHARGES APPLICABLE TO THE WATER USERS IN THE 
BARANGAYB HOSTING THE WATER SOURCE SHALL BE 20% 
OTHER WATER USERS WITHIN THE DISTRICT. Said schedule may 
provide for differential rates fro different categories of use and different quantity 
bocks. The district, as far as practicable, shall fix such rates and charges for water 
as will result in revenues which will: 
LOWER TBAN THE RATES AND CHARGES APPLICABLE TO THE 
x x x  
SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval 
Approved,