FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

1655

House Bill No.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The basic requisite in the pursuit of national development is a prudent use
of land resource. Only through a comprehensive land use plan can we efficiently
use our resources to propel the country towards economic and social
development.

However, efforts are being hampered by the lack of available information
related to land resources which are necessary for efficient land use. The data
available are either inadequate or grossly outdated.

In order to respond to the challenges of development, there is an urgent
need to modernize the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority
(NAMRIA). The NAMRIA, in fulfilling its mandate of supplying all necessary
information on land resource matters, must be at the forefront of national planning
and development.

This bill seeks to establish a modernization program for the NAMRIA in
order to effectively fulfill its mandate. This modernization program shall undertake
the following programs:

a National Mapping Program which aims to accelerate the production of
digital base maps and information for environmental planning and development within
‘@ geographic information system environment,

Information Technology Strategic Plan, which seeks to develop and define
an over-all medium-term information technology structure for NAMRIA to include
Proposed technology, data application and service models in order to address the
agency's information needs at both management and operational levels;

c. Data acquisition from satellite missions through the establishment of a
‘multi-satellite, multi-purpose ground receiving station, the development of
Hydrographic, Oceanographics Surveys and Nautical Charting of the Exclusive
Economic Zone and the development of innovative techniques in generating
geographic information

The modernization program shall benefit not only our local government
units and the various national planning agencies but also the private sector as.
well. The following benefits and assistance are foreseen to be derived upon the
completion of the "NAMRIA Modernization Program”:


1. Local Government Sector. Regional, provincial, municipal, and integrated area
development planning; zoning and control of land use; establishment of boundaries of local
government units (LGUs), barangay roads, and water systems; classification of LGUs according to
levels of development, effective implementation of the Local Government Code; provision of a
stable base of information for tax mapping operations and efficient real estate tax collection
system; litigation of land cases and processing of applications for certificates of land titles;
assessment of taxes and other revenue generating programs.

2 Economic Sector. Physical framework planning; monitoring and evaluation of
geographic locations; planning of urban, regional, and economic growth centers and countryside
development.

3. Agriculture Sector. Planning geographic locations of agricultural support services;
identification of areas suitable for agriculture; formulation of food security measures and prediction
of food yields; Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Monitoring; integrated forestry programs.

‘4, Environment and Natural Resources Sector. Regulation and disposition of
public/forest lands; monitoring the exploitation and depletion of natural resources; resources
development and conservation planning; environmental and forest protection; watershed
management, and resource policy formulation; support to legislation such as “Irrigation Crisis Act,
Forestry Code, Mining Law, National Land Use Code, Land Code, National Integrated Protected
Areas System Law, among others.

5. Public Works Sector. Infrastructure planning, design and development; facilities
planning and management; location of facilities including but not limited to water pipes, electrical,
and telephone lines for proper repair, maintenance, building, and evacuation scheduling;
formulation and utilization of long term programs of disaster prevention through preventive
infrastructure.

6 National Defense Sector. Planning strategic and intelligence operations; mapping
ut territorial limits of the country for security purposes.
7. Transportation, Communications, and Tourism. Development of effective traffic

management system; efficient road planning, alternative route management, and other areas of
concer for public transport needs; road condition monitoring; railroad planning; navigable river and
coastal shipping reference for the development of a feasible alternative passenger system.

8 Health and Social Welfare Sector. Physical planning of health support services
and surveys; relief operations planning; disaster management guide; hazard and risk evaluation;
formulation of disaster preventive programs.

9. Education Sector. Update reference materials.

10. Private Sector. Thematic mapping, selection and development of sites for real
estate and other development; efficient delivery of services; and to furnish, at minimal cost,
integrated and comprehensive land database.

In view of the foregoing considerations, immediate passage of this bill is

earnestly sought.

RUFUS B. ROR IGUEZ

vaame loner JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No__1655

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE NATIONAL MAPPING AND
RESOURCE INFORMATION AUTHORITY (NAMRIA)

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “NAMRIA
Modernization Act’.

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. \t is hereby declared policy of the state to
promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and
independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that
provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of
living and an improved quality of life for all. However, national development and
policies must be based on current information on land resources. The National
Mapping and Resources Information Agency (NAMRIA), as sole custodian of all
land-resource-related information, shall therefore be a prime mover of national
development planning. Towards this end, the State shall promote and pursue the
Modernization of National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA)
toa level where it can effectively and fully perform its mandate to act as the central
surveying and mapping agency of the Republic of the Philippines.

SEC 3, Objectives of the NAMRIA Modernization Program.

(a) To promote the conservation and management of the country's
natural resources by assisting the various agencies of
government in their efforts toward the proper determination of the
country’s land boundaries and land use patterns, forest lands,


ancestral domains, maritime boundaries and other related
physical, geographic, demographic and socio-economic
characteristics.

(b) To develop its present capabilities as the central surveying and
mapping agency of the government by implementing equipment
acquisition program consonant with technological advances to
hasten the conduct of needed nationwide geodetic, topographic,
hydrographic and oceanographic survey.

(0) To establish a one-stop shop of geographically referred database
and related information.

SEC 4. General Mandate and Responsibilities. The NAMRIA shall have
the following general mandate and responsibilities:

(a) To act as the Government's central surveying and mapping agency
providing map making and related services to government
instrumentalities;

(b) To be the official depository and distribution agency of land and natural
resources database;

(c) To conduct land and natural resources classification surveys, inclusive
of all marine resources within the maritime zones;

(d) To undertake continuing ocean and land research and natural
resources database development activities; and

(e) To upgrade, modernize and acquire appropriate surveying and map
making technology and equipment.

SEC 5. Components of the NAMRIA Modernization Program. The
NAMRIA Modernization Program shall consist of the following components:

(a) RESTRUCTURING AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Aims to
effectively and efficiently carryout the nationwide coordination of
geographic information development activities and to strengthen
research and development program.

(b) TECHNOLOGY AND STRATEGIES SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT. Aims
to provide a mechanism for the acquisition and installation of
appropriate systems and technology to improve the delivery of its
products and services;

(c) HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOMENT. Aims to upgrade the skills of its
personnel; develop, implement and institutionalize a program designed
to optimize personnel capabilities through a sustainable training and
development strategies in improving the quality of work as well as the
standard of living of its personnel.

SEC 6. Development of NAMRIA Capabilities. The modernization of
NAMRIA shall be geared towards the development of the following capabilities:


(a) ENHANCEMENT OF MAPPING CAPABILITIES - The NAMRIA, being
the central mapping agency of the government, shall develop and
upgrade its map production capability to digital technology. To this end,
it shall

(1) Provide updated water and land-based information in the form of
digital basemaps and charts within geographic information
environment;

(2) Provide nationwide coverage of updated large scale maps in
graphic and digital format of urban areas, centers of population
and development areas;

(3) Conduct periodic integrated resource and environment survey for
the generation of updated, standardized and reliable geographic
and resource information, and;

(4) Serve the various mapping needs of government agencies and
the private sector.

(b) DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITY —
The NAMRIA, shall develop its technology structure by establishing one-
stop source of geographically referenced ocean, land and resource
database information. To this end, it shall:

(1) Eliminate data duplication and provide a mechanism for data
sharing with other government agencies and instrumentalities;

(2) Provide a rapid response system to generate maps and charts to
disaster management in coordination with concerned agencies
and for high priority planning in development areas;

(3) Keep up with the demand for complete and updated land, water
and natural resources data bases, land use classification maps,
inclusive of microfilm and microfiche processes;

(4) Provide better access to its products and services; and

(5) Speed up its base mapping, revision and technological programs.

(c) IMPROVEMENT OF DATA ACQUISITION CAPABILITY — The following

programs shall be implemented to enhance the data acquisition
capability of NAMRIA:

(1) Establishment of Ground Receiving Station - The NAMRIA shall
develop its data acquisition capability by operating a multi-
satellite, multi-purpose ground station in order to:

1.a. establish and develop its capabilities for real or near data
acquisition;

1.b. conduct disaster monitoring and damage assessment,
detect potential environmental hazard and near real time
inventory of resources in coordination with other government
agencies;


1.c. serve as user service unit.

(2) Upgrading of Surveys and Charting Capabilities - The NAMRIA

shall increase its capabilities for hydrographic, oceanographic
and geographic surveys and nautical charting capabilities. To
this end, it shall:

2.a. produce up-to-date nautical charts of the Exclusive
Economic Zones to ensure safety of navigation and provide
basic reference in planning and executing all marine activities
in the country;

2.b. delineate the different maritime zones of the country in
coordination with other government agencies;

2.c. provide technical data needed in the judicious delimitation
of overlapping international boundaries;

2.d. generate marine scientific information for assessment and
efficient management of living and non-living ocean resources
for both government and non-government units;

2.. intensify existing geographic network, integrate existing
cadastral and control data into Philippine Resources System,
establishment of a network maintenance system and
modernization of survey practices;

2.f. initiate the delineation of administrative boundaries
throughout the country in coordination with the Land
Management Bureau and other government agencies.

(d) IMPROVEMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CAPABILITY —
NAMRIA shall undertake researches in order to develop new techniques
in generating geographic information. To this end, it shall:

ts
2.

3.

engage in exploratory projects which can improve capabilities in
information science;

acquire expertise in servicing the geographic information
requirements of all sectors in the country;

establish standards and procedures in geographic information
‘system (GIS), remote sensing, mapping and surveying;

SEC 7. Period of Implementation — The modernization program under this
Act shall be implemented over a period of ten (10) years; Provided, however, that
payments for amortization of outstanding multi-year contract obligations incurred
under this Act, may extend beyond this period.

SEC 8. Appropriation for the NAMRIA Modernization Program — The
annual appropriation for the NAMRIA Modernization Program shall include the

amounts necessary to support the funding requirements for all modernization
projects approved by Congress.


SEC 9. Multi-Year Contracts and Other Contractual Arrangements.

(a) The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, pursuant to the
NAMRIA Modernization Program projects and appropriations approved by
Congress, may, subject to the approval of the President, and consistent
with the provisions of existing laws and regulations including those of the
Commission on Audit and under such terms and conditions most favorable
to the government, enter into multi-year contracts and other contractual
arrangements.

(b) For multi-year contracts, Congress shall upon certification by the
President, make the corresponding appropriation for the ensuing fiscal year:
Provided, that Congress shall appropriate only such funds as may be
necessary to pay an unpaid amount where the funds appropriated, for the
current fiscal year is not sufficient or available to meet such payment in full
or in part.

(c) The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall submit to
the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Environment and Finance and
the Chairmen of the House Committee on Environment and Appropriations
copies of this multi-year contracts and other agreements to enable
Congress to appropriate funds.

SEC 10. Procurement System. |n addition to the provisions of existing
laws, rules and regulations regarding procurement acquisition of equipment, the
DENR and NAMRIA shall strengthen said system and procedures taking into
account new requirement under the NAMRIA modernization program. The
NAMRIA is hereby given the authority to strengthen its system and procedures for
equipment acquisition, taking into account new requirements under the NAMRIA.
modernization program.

SEC 11. Tax Exemption. The importation by NAMRIA of mapping and
surveying materials such as photogrammetic, eartographic, survey, data
processing, remote sensing equipment and material supplies, and spare parts
which will be used actually, directly and exclusively, in its operations shall be
exempted from all forms of taxes, duties and other fees.

SEC 12. Annual Reports. The Administrator of the NAMRIA through the
Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), shall
submit to the President and Congress, not later than the end of the first quarter of
the succeeding year, an annual report containing the progress of the
implementation of the modernization program under this Act.

SEC 13. Austerity and Use of Savings. Upon approval of this act, the
Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and
the NAMRIA Administrator, shall submit to Congress, within the first quarter of the
succeeding year and every year thereafter a report on:


(a) The amount of all unused and undisbursed funds remaining from
previous DENR and NAMRIA appropriations; and

(b) The amount of savings from austerity measures generated in the
previous fiscal year.

The savings generated under this section are hereby authorized to be used
to augment funds for the NAMRIA Modernization Program.

SEC 14. Separability Clause. \f any provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain
in full force and effect.

SEC 15. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, rules and
regulations inconsistent with or contrary to this Act, are hereby deemed repealed
‘or amended accordingly.

SEC 16. Effectivity Clause. This act shall take effect after fifteen days
(15) from its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.