TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
 
 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H. No. ______
Introduced by Representative Binky April M. Tupas 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR WATER RESOURCE 
MANAGEMENT AND CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER 
RESOURCES AND THE WATER REGULATORY COMMISSION, DEFINING 
THEIR MANDATES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Water is a basic human need and access to safe water is a universal human right as 
declared by the United Nations. 
With global warming, water security is a growing problem worldwide, and it calls for long 
term planning and responses. In the case of the Philippines, although an archipelagic country 
blessed with an abundant source of water, severe water shortage is being experienced 
due to the impact of rapid population growth, urbanization, pollution, excessive and 
inefficient use of water, and climate change. This is further aggravated by the lack of a holistic 
program for water resources management. 
One of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all United Nations Member 
States in 2015 is to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for 
all by 2030.1 Despite progress, billions of people still lack safe water, sanitation and 
handwashing facilities. Data suggests that achieving universal access to even basic 
sanitation service by 2030 would require doubling the current annual rate of progress. 
At present, management of water resources in the country is lodged with different units or 
agencies of the government such as National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Local Water 
Utilities Administration (LWUA), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), 
and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) thereby resulting to duplication of functions, 
lack of coordination or even conflicts in the implementation of the national policies and plans on 
water, sewage, sanitation, and irrigation thereby resulting to backlog in the provision of water 
supply and sanitation services to the public. 
This bill seeks to ensure and accelerate universal access to water supply and 
sanitation services and to encourage responsible private sector participation, 
fostering and prioritizing infrastructure and public works that adopt innovative 
solutions and international best practices to address the challenges of climate 
change.  
1 https://sustalnabledevelopment.un.org/sdg6 
August 5, 2025
10:56 am
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The key provisions include the following: 
●
Creates, establishes, and mandates the Department of Water
Resources to be the primary 
agency responsible 
for the
comprehensive and integrated identification and mapping of all water
resources, planning, policy formulation, and management of the
ownership, appropriation, utilization, exploitation, development,
sustainability and protection of water resources in the Philippines
except fisheries or aquaculture;
●
Declares all water and water treatment infrastructure projects as
projects imbued with national interest;
●
Adopts the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) as the
strategic framework for national water management, policymaking and
planning;
●
Empowers the Department on policy making, planning, management
and regulation of water resources; and to develop institutional
arrangements with public water organizations and ensure coordination
with all stakeholders for all water resource development, integration
and management activities, including sanitation, flood control, flood
risk management and drought risk management;
●
Empowers the Department to create when necessary, water resource
subsidiaries, instrumentalities and entities to engage in water
transmission, 
water 
distribution, 
waste 
water 
treatment 
and
management, and sanitation in accordance with existing relevant laws;
●
Allows the Department to enter into contracts, joint venture agreements
or understanding, public-private partnerships, and memorandum of
agreements or understanding, either domestic or foreign relating to
investment and financing water-related projects, under such terms and
conditions as the Department may deem proper and reasonable
subject to existing laws;
●
Authorizes the Secretary of the Department to act as the Chairperson
of the governing board of the agencies that are attached to the
Department;
●
Attaches agencies to the Department as follows: 1. The Local Water
Utilities Administration (LWUA); 2. The Metropolitan Waterworks and
Sewerage System (MWSS); 3. The National Irrigation Administration
(NIA); 4. The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), whose
mandate, powers and functions are defined under Republic Act No.
4850;
●
Subsumes the offices, functions and personnel of the following
agencies to the Department, namely:  1. The National Water
Resources Board (NWRB); 2. The River Basin Control Office (RBCO)
of the DENR; 3. The Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO) of the


DENR;  4. The Water Resources Management Division of the Bureau 
of Soils and Water Management of the Department of Agriculture (DA); 
5. The Water Supply and Sanitation Unit of the DILG; 5. The Water 
Quality Management Section of the EMB of the DENR; and 6. The 
Water Quality Management Section of the Environmental Management 
Bureau (EMB) of the DENR; 
  
● Transfers to the Department the functions of the following agencies, 
bureaus, and units:   
 
(1) The conduct of hydrological surveys and groundwater mapping 
of the    Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR.   
(2) The conduct of hydrological surveys monitoring of stream flow 
and other water data collection function of the Bureau of Design 
and Bureau of Research and Standards of the DPWH.   
(3) The protection and conservation of natural wetlands such as 
lakes, marshes, swamps of the Biodiversity Management 
Bureau of the DENR.   
(4) The Planning, programming, administration, monitoring, 
management of the National Sewerage and Septage 
Management Program (NSSMP) by the DPWH.   
(5). The flood management planning and sediment management 
function of the Flood Control Management Cluster of the 
DPWH.  
(6) The Water Resource Management Division and the water 
research functions of the Soils and Water Research Division of 
the Bureau of Soils and Water Management under the DA.    
  
● Creates the Water Pollution Adjudication Board to assume the powers 
and functions of the National Pollution Control Commission with 
respect to the adjudication of water pollution cases; 
  
● Establishes interface and institutional arrangements with other 
agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of 
Energy (DOE), the National Power Corporation (NPC), the Department 
shall coordinate with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the 
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the National 
Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), the Climate 
Change Commission (CCC), PAGASA, NAMRIA, the Department of 
Tourism (DOT), the Philippine Reclamation Authority and economic 
zone authorities and other relevant government agencies, including 
Local Government Units (LGUs); 
  
● Creates the National Water Sector Policy Board to approve the 
National Water Resources Management Framework Plan, provide 
overall policy direction and recommend policies on water resources 
requiring Presidential decision, advise the President on the status of 
water management and supply, recommend to the President the 
declaration of a state calamity in areas affected by water supply, and 


submit proposals to restore normalcy in the affected areas and ensure 
a multi-stakeholder participation in the development, updating, and 
sharing of information system as policy, planning and decision-making 
tools consistent with the IWRM; 
●
Subrogates all rights and assumes all obligations of the government
agencies and units whose powers and functions have been subsumed,
absorbed, transferred or attached to the Department;
●
Creates the Water Regulatory Commission which will assume the
economic regulatory units and functions of the MWSS, NWRB, LWUA,
SBMA, PEZA, and TIEZA, specifically, empowering the Regulatory
Units of the WRC to:
(1) Issue licenses authorizing the operation of water supply and/or
sanitation services
(2) Impose fines, charges and other penalties
(3) Review, determine, fix, and approve, proposed water and
sewerage tariffs, rates and charges that licensees may impose
upon their customers/consumers
(4) Enforce technical, financial and other performance standards
set by the Commission for licensees/utilities
(5) Respond to consumer complaints and investigate motu propio
price manipulation and anti-competitive behavior; Require the
review and/or approval of contracts or agreements that may
impact on the tariff and rates of service provision entered into
by Service Providers
(6) Require the submission of reports, plans and other documents
that define the performance targets of the licensees or utilities,
and regular accomplishment reports
(7) Amend, modify, suspend or revoke any License issued by
them, after due notice and hearing
(8) Appoint an interim management committee to ensure
continuity of service in case a licensee fails to meet the
conditions of the license
●
Provides quasi-judicial functions to the Commission for the purpose of
any investigation, inquiry or proceeding;
●
Requires the registration and licensing of all water supply and/or
sanitation services;
●
Creates the Water Trust Fund in the Bureau of Treasury to be utilized
for water development, water sanitation and waste water treatment and
management, and water sustainability programs and projects
authorized under this Act




TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H. No. ______
Introduced by Representative Binky April M. Tupas 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR WATER RESOURCE 
MANAGEMENT AND CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER 
RESOURCES AND THE WATER REGULATORY COMMISSION, DEFINING 
THEIR MANDATES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER 1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “National Water Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – Access to water is a basic human right. All 
water belongs to the State which shall govern its development and utilization 
for the people. 
It is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure the provision of 
safe, adequate, affordable, and sustainable water supply and improved 
sanitation services, while maintaining the protection, preservation, and revival 
of the quality of the country’s water resources and ecological balance. 
In pursuit of this policy, this Act shall have the principal objective of 
ensuring and accelerating universal access to water supply and sanitation 
services, in a regulatory regime that encourages responsible private sector 
participation, and shall foster and prioritize the establishment of infrastructure 
and public works that adopt innovative solutions and international best 
practices to address the challenges of climate change. Further, all water and 
water treatment infrastructure projects are hereby declared as projects imbued 
with national interest. 
SEC. 3 Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
(a)
Bulk water supplier refers to any entity, natural or juridical, whether
public or private, supplying or intending to supply large quantities of raw
or treated water to buyers who will use these for their own consumption,
such as industrial companies, or for retail distribution to consumers such
3022


as water service providers or real estate developers managing their own 
distribution network. 
 
(b) Environmental services refer to qualitative functions of natural non-
produced assets of land, water, and air, including related ecosystems, 
and their biota, and which may be categorized into three basic types: 
(a) disposal services which reflect the functions of the natural 
environment as an absorptive sink for residuals; (b) productive services 
which reflect the economic functions of providing natural resource 
inputs and space for production and consumption, and (c) consumer or 
consumption services which provide for physiological as well as 
recreational and related needs of human beings. 
 
(c) Flood Control refers to methods, acts, and protocols to be observed in 
order to prevent and reduce the detrimental and catastrophic effects of 
flood waters which include sediment-laden or turbid flows, and hyper-
concentrated flows or debris flows. 
 
(d) Flood Risk Management (FRM) refers to such acts of defining and 
determining the appropriate methods, acts, and protocols aimed at 
preventing and reducing the risk of incurring loss of both life and 
property due to flood waters. Flood risk management consists of a cycle 
of prevention, mitigation, adaptation, preparedness and early warning, 
and response and recovery. The elements of FRM include: integrating 
land-use planning and coastal zone management into water 
management; adopting a holistic approach so that FRM is part of wider 
risk or multi-hazard management of earthquakes, landslides, and storm 
surges; managing risk and uncertainty as a whole so it not only mitigates 
hydrological uncertainties but also social, economic and political 
uncertainties on account of human behavior and the cultural dimensions 
of FRM. 
 
(e) Gender Equality refers to the principle asserting the equality of men and 
women and their right to enjoy equal conditions realizing their full 
human-potentials to contribute to and benefit from the results of 
development, and with the State recognizing that all human beings are 
free and equal in dignity and rights. 
 
(f) 
Infrastructure and public works refer only to wholly or primarily water-
related projects and does not include projects that do not fall within the 
purview of the objectives, power and duties of the Department of Water 
Resources created under this Act. 
 
(g) Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) refers to a 
systematic, collaborative, and multi-stakeholder process which 
promotes the coordinated development and management of water, 
land, and related resources within geophysical boundaries in order to 
maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable 
manner, and without compromising the sustainability of vital 
ecosystems. 
 


(h) Levels of water supply refer to communal sources of water described 
according to location and size of the recipient human settlement as 
follows: 
 
(1) Level I or the point source is a protected well or a developed spring 
with an outlet but without any distribution system, generally 
adaptable to rural and upland areas where -houses are thinly 
scattered, and is a facility which usually serves an average of 15 
households. 
 
(2) Level II or the communal faucet system or stand posts is a system 
composed of a water source, a reservoir, a piped distribution 
network, and communal faucets where one faucet serves 4 to 6 
households and is generally suitable for rural and urban fringe 
areas where houses are clustered densely to justify a simple piped 
system. 
 
(3) Level III or the waterworks system or individual house connections 
is a system with a water source, a reservoir, a piped distribution 
network and household taps, suitable for densely populated urban 
areas. 
 
(i) 
License refers to the Water Supply and/or Sanitation Services 
Operating License that the Water Regulatory Commission is authorized 
to grant and issue to service providers. 
 
(j) 
Licensee refers to a service provider to whom a license is granted or 
issued by the Water Regulatory Commission. 
 
(k) Missionary Water Services refer to water supply or services to areas 
that have no existing safe water supply and services due to geographic 
limitation or absence of economic and market viability. 
 
(l) 
National Water Resources Management Plan (NWRMP) refers to a 
policy document that contains a framework to guide the development 
and management of all the water resources in the Philippines, the 
general strategies and work to be pursued to ensure the sustainability 
of the resource towards water security, and top-level direction on the 
utilization of existing water resources in line with national development 
plans, policies, and programs in accordance with the IWRM framework. 
The NWRMP shall also include a water infrastructure development 
program for all waters of the country as well as provide general 
guidance on how this shall be supported within an integrated financing 
framework that can draw from public, private, and international 
development funding sources. 
 
(m) Net Waste Load refers to the difference of the initial waste load of the 
abstracted water and the waste load of the final effluent discharge of an 
industry. 
 
 


(n) Regulatory Units refer to the offices established under Section 20 of this 
Act which issue licenses authorizing the operation of Water Supply and 
Sanitation Services, and provide, review, determine, fix, and approve 
water and sewerage tariffs, rates, and charges that licensees may 
impose. 
 
(o) River basin refers to an area of land drained by a stream or body of fixed 
water and its tributaries which have a common outlet for surface run-off. 
 
(p) River 
Basin 
Organization 
(RBO) 
refers 
to 
multi-stakeholder 
organizations which plan, coordinate, and monitor activities within a 
river basin cluster. 
 
(q) Sanitation refers to the provision of facilities and services for the safe 
management of human etcetera, from toilet to containment, and storage 
and treatment onsite or conveyance, treatment and eventual safe end 
use or disposal, and includes the safe management of solid waste and 
animal waste. 
 
(r) 
Sediment management refers to control of sediment erosion and 
deposition in rivers, reservoirs, and coastal zones through non-
structural and structural measures and control works. 
 
(s) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also known as the 17 Global 
Goals refer to the universal call to action to end poverty, protect the 
planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030 
adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. 
 
(t) 
Septage is the liquid and solid material pumped from a septic tank, 
cesspool, or other primary treatment source. 
 
(u) Septage management refers to the provision of proper collection, 
treatment, and disposal of septage. 
 
(v) Service Area refers to the area covered by the water distribution system, 
sewerage, and/or septage management services. 
 
(w) Service Provider refers to any entity, natural or juridical, whether private 
or public, providing or intending to provide levels II & III water supply, 
including bulk water suppliers, sewerage, septage treatment, and 
disposal services for domestic, residential, industrial, or commercial 
use. 
 
(x) Sewage refers to water borne human or animal wastes, excluding oil or 
oil waste, removed from residences, buildings, institutions, and 
industrial and commercial establishments together with such 
groundwater, surface water and storm waters as may be present 
including such waste from vessels, offshore structures, other 
receptacles intended to receive waste or other places or the 
combination thereof. 
 


(y) Sewerage refers to any system or network of pipelines, ditches, 
channels or conduits including pumping stations, lift stations and force 
mains, service connections including other infrastructure, devices, or 
appliances appurtenant thereto, which include the collection, transport, 
pumping, and treatment of sewage to a point of disposal. 
 
(z) Sewers refer to pipes or such other works or structures which are built 
and constructed to carry, transport, and dispose of sewage. 
 
(aa) Social inclusion refers to the process of improving the terms for 
disadvantaged individuals and groups to take part in society. 
 
(bb) Tariffs refer to such amounts which may be charged by licenses for their 
water supply and sanitation services based on principles, standards, 
and guidelines established by the Department of Water Resources. 
 
(cc) Water Demand Management (WDM) refers to any method whether 
technical, economic, administrative, financial, or social that will 
accomplish one or more of the following: 
 
(1) Reduce the quantity or quality of water required to accomplish a 
specific task; 
 
(2) Adjust the nature of the task of the way it is undertaken so that it can 
be accomplished with less water or with lower quality water; 
 
(3) Reduce the loss in quantity or quality of water as it flows from source, 
through use, to disposal; 
 
(4) Shift the timing of use from peak to off-peak periods; and 
 
(5) Increase the ability of the water system to continue to serve society 
during times when water is in short supply. 
 
(dd) Water Districts refer to government-owned and controlled corporations 
organized under Presidential Decree No. 198, as amended, created 
primarily to acquire, install, operate, maintain, and improve water supply 
and distribution systems for domestic, industrial and municipal uses of 
residents and to provide, maintain and operate waste water collection, 
treatment and disposal facilities within the boundaries of the district. 
 
(ee) Water pollution refers to any alteration of the physical, chemical, 
biological, or radiological properties of a body of water resulting in the 
impairment of its purity or quality. 
 
(ff) Water Resource refers to water under the ground or groundwater, water 
above the ground such as surface water, run-offs, floods, stormwater 
and urban drainage, treated wastewater, water in the atmosphere or 
rain water, and the waters of the sea within the territorial jurisdiction of 
the Philippines. 
 


(gg) Water Resources Regions refer to the contiguous clusters of river 
basins which are grouped together according to the hydrological 
boundaries, physiographic features, and homogeneity in climate, 
whether or not they straddle different local government units, for 
administrative purposes under the Department of Water Resources. 
 
(hh) Water Service Provider (WSP) refers to the water district, any Local 
Government Unit (LGU)-run water utility, Barangay Waterworks and 
Sanitation 
Association 
(BWSA), 
Rural 
Waterworks 
Sanitation 
Association (RWSA), cooperative, and private sector entity that 
provides water supply services to any given area. 
 
(ii) 
Water supply service refers to any activity compromising Levels I, II, 
and III water supply including bulk suppliers, supplies to subdivisions, 
and other water service providers. 
 
CHAPTER II 
THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES 
 
SEC. 4. The Department of Water Resources. – There is hereby created and 
established the Department of Water Resources, hereinafter referred to as the 
Department. 
 
SEC. 5. Mandate of the Department. – The Department shall be the primary 
agency responsible for the comprehensive and integrated identification and 
mapping of all water resources, planning, policy formulation, and management 
of the ownership, appropriation, utilization, exploitation, development, and 
protection of water resources in the Philippines to ensure the optimal use 
thereof for domestic and municipal water supply, sanitation, irrigation, 
hydropower, industry, navigation, flood management, and recreation except 
fisheries or aquaculture. 
 
The Department shall also be the primary agency responsible for the 
planning and policy formulation towards the attainment of universal access to 
safe, adequate, affordable, and sustainable water supply, and improved 
sanitation services for all Filipinos. 
 
 
The Department shall be the primary national agency to enforce 
Presidential Decree No. 1067 otherwise known as The Water Code of the 
Philippines and Republic Act No. 9275, otherwise known as the Philippine 
Clean Water Act of 2004. 
 
The Department shall exercise the powers and functions of the defunct 
Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission created under Executive Order No. 54 
Series of 1999 and abolished under Executive Order No. 93 Series of 2019, 
specifically the following roles that were transferred to the Manila Bay Task 
Force and DENR through the latter EO: 
 
(a) 
Update and take the lead in the overall implementation of the Pasig River 
Rehabilitation Master Plan, which shall harness the Pasig River's 
potential for transportation, recreation and tourism purposes while 
undertaking the rehabilitation and restoration of its maritime life; and 


 
(b) 
Ensure that the easements provided for in the Civil Code and other 
relevant laws are enforced, especially in all the esteros and waterways 
that drain into the Pasig River as well as abate the dumping of untreated 
industrial wastewater and sewerage into the river, including all acts and 
omissions in violation of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 984, s. 1976, as 
amended entitled, Providing For The Revision Of Republic .Act No. 3931, 
Commonly Known As The Pollution Control Law, And For Other 
Purposes, PD No. 274, s. 1973 entitled, Pertaining To The Preservation, 
Beautification, Improvement And Gainful Utilization Of The Pasig River, 
Providing For The Regulation And Control Of Pollution Of The River And 
Its Banks In Order To Enhance Its Development, Thereby Maximizing Its 
Utilization For Socio-Economic Purposes, and other related laws. 
 
SEC. 6. Guiding Principles. – In the pursuit of its mandate, the Department 
shall be guided by the following key principles: 
 
(a) 
The concept of good water governance for water security and sufficiency 
shall be adopted across all levels of governance by stakeholders such as 
the 
national 
government, 
local 
government, 
nongovernment 
organizations, private organizations, individuals, even global societal 
actors, and in various sectors such as water supply, irrigation, fisheries, 
hydropower, navigation, ecosystem services, flood management, climate 
change, and recreation. It shall entail publicly transparent, socially 
accountable, and multi-stakeholder participatory water policy planning, 
management, and decision-making processes. 
 
(b) 
Access to safe water supply and improved sanitation is a human right 
that needs to be fulfilled and protected. 
 
(c) 
Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) shall be adopted as 
the basic framework which is the coordinated development and 
management of water, land, and related resources within hydrological 
boundaries to optimize economic and social welfare without 
compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. The IWRM 
Framework shall include an enabling environment that utilizes proper 
policies, legal instruments, and institutional frameworks for effective 
implementation, participatory and collaborative water policy and 
management decisions, and management instruments for efficient use of 
updated and accurate data, science-based decision support systems, 
proper 
information, 
education, 
communication 
(IEC) 
programs, 
assessment and allocation tools, or regulatory functions. It shall observe 
the mutual accountability mechanism among stakeholders at the 
national, regional, and global levels reinforcing multi-stakeholder 
decision-making following a framework with specific, measurable, 
attainable, relevant, and timely actions. 
 
(d) 
Each river basin has its unique characteristics relating to the physical, 
socio-cultural and other aspects, and water management shall be 
performed at river-basin level, involving all the stakeholders at that 
particular river basin. 
 


(e) 
Integrated and accurate data collection and analysis and the use of 
scientific decision support systems shall be undertaken in water 
resources management including flood modeling and warning systems 
that are essential for an effective, efficient, and sustainable water 
resources management system. 
 
(f) 
The development of water resources shall include strategies for the 
mitigation of water-related hazards and climate change adaptation. 
 
(g) 
Water resources and services should be provided where they are 
intended and most needed so that water is fairly and sustainably 
managed. 
 
(h) 
The proper operation and maintenance of waterworks systems resulting 
in the uninterrupted and adequate supply of distribution of potable water 
for domestic and other purposes, and the proper operation and 
maintenance of sewerage systems which are essential services to public 
health and safety, are to be ensured at all times. The State shall therefore 
supervise and control the establishment, operation and maintenance of 
such systems. 
 
SEC. 7. Objectives of the Department. – The Department shall: 
 
(a) 
Promote and adopt water demand management as a national policy to 
ensure that water is optimized, that water efficiency and conservation 
become a way of life, that the recycling and reuse of water and treated 
wastewater are widely practiced, that water is properly priced to 
encourage efficient use and conservation and that rainwater, flood 
waters, and run-offs are captured or harvested, stored and treated for 
future use; 
 
(b) 
Prioritize and seek the immediate attainment of universal access to safe, 
adequate, affordable and sustainable water supply and improved 
sanitation services for all Filipinos in a manner consistent with the 
protection, preservation, and revival of the quality of the country's water 
resources, and to adopt all needed measures to advance the right of the 
people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and 
harmony of nature; 
 
(c) 
Strengthen and coordinate integrated water resources management 
planning and policy making to ensure sustainable and fair allocation and 
efficient use of water resources among competing uses and users; 
 
(d) 
Ensure that integrated water resources management is strongly 
coordinated with land use and coastal and multi-hazard planning and 
management; 
 
(e) 
Develop sustainably, and manage water sources and water resources 
toward water security, taking into consideration water, land, and related 
resources aimed at increasing water dependability for different uses, 
optimizing economic benefits and social welfare without compromising 
the sustainability of vital environmental systems; 


 
(f) 
Strengthen and coordinate policy making and planning towards ensuring 
the availability of water for food security and energy security, as well as 
towards the protection of communities and environments against flood 
and other water induced hazards including sediment hazards; 
 
(g) 
Ensure that the strategy for water resources development and 
conservation is participatory, and that planners, policymakers and users 
including community members are involved at all levels; 
 
(h) 
Develop a standardized pricing framework for water use that accounts 
for environmental externalities; and 
 
(i) 
Ensure that all sources of water, including surface water, groundwater, 
rainwater and floodwater are identified, mapped, monitored, conserved 
and managed for productive use and the resulting wastewater is 
managed properly, reused, and responsibly disposed of following 
approved environmental standards. 
 
SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the Department. – The Department shall 
have the following powers and functions: 
 
I. 
Policymaking and Planning 
 
(a) Ensure that Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is 
adopted as the strategic framework for water management 
policymaking and planning in the country and coordinate the 
implementation, promotion, revision and enhancement of IWRM 
plans; 
 
(b) Formulate policies, strategies, and targets in coordination with other 
relevant entities to meet the goals and objectives for water supply 
and sanitation, water quality, irrigation, hydropower, flood control, 
stormwater utilization, and urban drainage. Such policies shall, 
among other guidelines, integrate the issues of water and sanitation, 
food security, energy, environment and flood control, and climate 
change; 
 
(c) Formulate and develop policies to promote universal access to safe, 
adequate, affordable, and sustainable water supply, and improved 
sanitation services for all Filipinos; 
 
(d) Regularly update, every five years or as deemed necessary by the 
Department, and in consultation with other agencies and 
stakeholders, the NWRMP following the IWRM framework and 
integrate therein a national land use plan; 
 
(e) Undertake river basin survey, inventory and appraisal of water and 
related resources, and develop comprehensive basin-wide plans of 
storage, retardation, and control to maximize conservation and 
multipurpose use of water in the basin; 


 
(f) 
Conduct continuing hydrological and hydrometeorological surveys 
and studies of the country's renewable water supply, and establish, 
operate, and maintain observation station networks with a view 
towards formulating long-term policies to balance the sustainability 
and optimal multiple use of water resources, defining the hydrologic 
boundaries of basins of the existing water supply sources and 
developing 
or 
updating 
and 
implementing 
countrywide 
comprehensive basin wide master plans; 
 
(g) Strengthen and coordinate policy making and planning for flood 
management, integrated with stormwater or urban drainage and 
appropriate retention or retarding basins in order to harvest and reuse 
water, and to plan against, prevent, and minimize the detrimental and 
catastrophic effects of flooding; 
 
(h) Assist and provide the National Economic and Development 
Authority (NEDA) with the required data and input from the water 
sector in the formulation of the country's short-term and long-term 
strategic development plans and actions, and recommend to the 
NEDA Board the adoption of general policies and guidelines for water 
resources development; 
 
(i) 
Review, approve, and provide oversight over all water-related 
development plans and programs of any agency within the context of 
the NWRMP, and overall national plans and programs; 
 
(j) 
Develop and implement, in coordination with other relevant agencies, 
effective codes, standards, benchmarks, and reasonable guidelines 
to ensure the safety of all public and private water structures in the 
country, and assure efficiency and proper quality in the construction 
of water, sanitation, irrigation, hydropower, flood control and drainage 
infrastructure; 
 
(k) Ensure that gender equality, social inclusion, environmental 
protection, climate resiliency, and disaster risk reduction are 
integrated into any water resource management planning, policy 
making, and the design and construction of water infrastructure; 
 
(l) 
Ensure that the planning and design of water infrastructure considers 
the highest efficiency and most appropriate technology and quality, 
in accordance with national development objectives; 
 
(m) Review existing guidelines appropriate for private sector participation 
in the water sector and submit recommendations to the Public-Private 
Partnership (PPP) Center of NEDA and other concerned agencies to 
promote and enable more PPPs in the sector; 
 
(n) Build a central of water data and effect inter-sectoral, inter-agency, 
and inter- repository departmental coordination on all aspects of data 
gathering and management for water resources development 


planning and compel the submission of statistics and data on water 
utilization with the aim of operationalizing the integrated approach to 
water resources management; 
 
(o) Ensure the effective implementation of all the provisions of Republic 
Act No. 9275, Presidential Decree No. 1067, and Sections 9, 10, 11, 
12 & 13, Chapter II of Presidential Decree No. 856, otherwise known 
as the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines; 
 
(p) Promote Philippine participation in information sharing and education 
on best practices in support of international efforts to achieve 
universal access to safe water and improved sanitation; and the 
integration of water, energy, environment and food security; and 
 
(q) Issue and promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines as may be 
necessary to implement and enforce its powers and functions under 
this Act. 
 
II. 
Resource Regulation 
 
(a) Manage and conserve the country's water resources to ensure the 
optimal use thereof for domestic water supply, sanitation, irrigation, 
hydropower, navigation, flood control, and recreation purposes, and 
enhance and maintain water quality, conserve watersheds, control 
water pollution, and restore the environment, without compromising 
the natural ecosystem functions and services; 
 
(b) Regulate and control the utilization, abstraction, diversion and 
development of water resources, taking in consideration their 
equitable distribution among competing demands and determining 
the standards of beneficial and priority uses of water in times of crisis 
and national emergencies; 
 
(c) Formulate, promulgate, and enforce rules and regulations for the 
development and optimum use of water resources and its 
administration and management, including coherent water protocols, 
operating rules of all existing and future water infrastructure; general 
criteria, methods and standards for basic data collection and project 
identification, formulation and planning, and appropriate sanctions to 
be imposed for non-compliance; 
 
(d) Regularly review regulations prescribed by any government agency 
pertaining to water use, exploitation, development, and conservation 
or protection of waters, water resources, and watershed or basin 
areas with respect to this Act; 
 
(e) Impose fees or charges, as may be deemed necessary for water 
resources conservation and protection, such as: 
 
(1) Polluter’s Fee, which shall be based on the net waste load 
depending on the wastewater charge and formula pursuant to 
Republic Act No. 9275; 


(2) Raw water price, which shall take into account, among others, 
the scarcity of water, and 
 
(3) Appropriate payment structures for environmental services; 
 
(f) 
Deputize LGUs to collect the national fees or charges for resource 
regulation within their respective jurisdictions; 
 
(g) Collect, regularly update, monitor, and analyze water resources data 
including climatology, hydrological and other water-related data and 
ensure that such data is easily accessible by relevant and authorized 
users; 
 
(h) Establish, operate, and maintain observation station networks and a 
centralized water resources data center for the scientific survey and 
appraisal of surface and groundwater potentials of the country, and 
determine the annual renewable water available per water resources 
region; 
 
(i) 
Maintain a database that will contain updated relevant information on 
water data which will be accessible by relevant and authorized users; 
 
(j) 
Develop and continuously update a computerized decision support 
system that incorporates data management systems relating to 
acquisition and database, model base in terms of physical design, 
planning and decision models, and user-friendly interface concerning 
graphical and visualization tools; 
 
(k) Conduct and promote special studies and research on water 
economics 
and 
other 
water 
resources 
development 
and 
management issues and concerns such as climate change, weather 
modification, flood monitoring and modeling, environmental quality, 
and desalination; and 
 
(l) 
Raise public awareness through information, education and 
communications programs, and build capacities for informed 
participation in water resources management at the national and 
river-basin level. 
 
III. 
Institutional Arrangement with Public Water Organizations 
 
(a) Develop guidelines including rules of partnership between and 
among the Department, field offices of national government 
agencies, LGUs and other stakeholders in water resource 
management, and facilitate the establishment of multi-stakeholder 
river basin organizations (RBOs) per river basin, and strengthen and 
support existing RBOs and monitor their activities; 
 
(b) Develop materials for capacity building and training of prospective 
RBOs; 
 


(c) Authorize its representatives or any deputized agent to enter any 
property of public dominion with or without prior notice and consent, 
any private land, building or enclave, whether inhabited or not, for the 
purpose of conducting hydrologic surveys and investigations, 
including assessing and evaluating the conditions of water facilities 
installed, and determining compliance with water laws and standards; 
 
(d) Provide technical assistance to water users including farmers, 
communities, and LGUs and other water service providers (WSP) 
whether directly or in coordination with other agencies on all aspects 
of integrated water resources management; 
 
(e) Respond to consumer complaints, and ensure the adequate 
promotion of consumer interests; 
 
(f) 
Deputize agents, whether from the public or private sector, to assist 
in the performance of any of the powers and functions of the 
Department; 
 
(g) Appoint, hire, and maintain adequate staff and personnel, advisers or 
consultants with suitable qualifications and experience, as 
necessary, subject to existing rules and regulations. 
 
IV. Coordination 
 
(a) Coordinate and integrate water resources development activities of 
the country within the context of national plans and policies for social 
and economic development; 
 
(b) Coordinate with other government agencies, universities, academe 
and private professional groups in all aspects of data gathering, the 
conduct of special studies and research on all related aspects of 
water resources management and development such as climate 
change, environmental quality, desalination, and the development of 
operating strategies, procedures, and protocols and accompanying 
computerized decision tools for major water facilities; 
 
(c) Coordinate with the concerned and relevant agencies engaged in 
flood control, flood risk management, and drought risk management; 
and 
 
(d) Coordinate proactively with LGUs to ensure the integration of water 
resources development plans into their comprehensive land use 
plans (CLUPs), Comprehensive Development Plans (CDPs) or 
Provincial Physical Framework and Development Plan (PPFDP). 
 
V. 
Other Functions 
 
(a) Create 
when 
necessary, 
water 
resource 
subsidiaries, 
instrumentalities, and entities to engage in water transmission, water 
distribution, waste water treatment and management, and sanitation 
in accordance with existing relevant laws. 


 
(b) Enter into contracts, joint venture agreements or understanding, 
public-private partnerships, and memorandum of agreements or 
understanding, either domestic or foreign, relating to investment and 
financing water-related projects, under such terms and conditions as 
the Department may deem proper and reasonable subject to existing 
laws. 
 
(c) Exercise such other powers and functions necessary or incidental to 
the effective administration and management of the country's water 
resources. 
 
SEC. 9. Secretary of the Department of Water Resources. – The authority 
and responsibility for the exercise of the mandate of the Department and for the 
discharge of its powers and functions shall be vested in the Secretary of the 
Department, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, who shall: 
 
(a) 
Advise the President on the promulgation of executive or administrative 
orders, regulations, proclamations and other issuances relative to 
matters under the jurisdiction of the Department; 
 
(b) 
Establish the policies and standards for the operation of the Department 
pursuant to the President's guidelines; 
 
(c) 
Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the objectives, 
policies, and functions of the Department; 
 
(d) 
Exercise supervision and control over all bureaus and offices under the 
Department; 
 
(e) 
Supervise all attached agencies and corporations in accordance with law; 
 
(f) 
Represent the Department in contracts, awards, and other similar 
agreements; 
 
(g) 
Delegate authority for the performance of any power or function, as 
defined herein to officials and employees under his direction as deemed 
appropriate; 
 
(h) 
Act as the Chairperson of the governing board of the attached agencies 
of the Department; 
 
(i) 
Designate and appoint officers and employees of the Department, 
excluding the Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and Regional and 
Assistant Regional Directors, in accordance with the civil service laws, 
rules and regulations; and 
 
(j) 
Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be provided by 
law. 
 


SEC. 10. Office of the Secretary. – The Office of the Secretary shall be 
composed of the Secretary, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary and the 
Secretary’s immediate staff. 
 
SEC. 11. Undersecretaries. – The Secretary shall be assisted by not more 
than five (5) Undersecretaries, who shall be appointed by the President upon 
the recommendation of the Secretary namely: Undersecretary for Resource 
Regulation and Governance, Undersecretary for Inland Waters and Water for 
Agriculture, Undersecretary for Resource Development, Undersecretary for 
Planning and Policy, and Undersecretary for Missionary Water, Indigenous 
People, and Special Concerns. 
 
 
The Secretary is hereby authorized to delineate and assign the 
respective functional areas or responsibility of the Undersecretaries in 
accordance with the mandate and objectives of the Department: Provided, That 
no Undersecretary shall be assigned purely to administrative responsibilities. 
Within their respective functional areas of responsibility, the Undersecretaries 
shall: 
 
(a) 
Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and implementation of 
the policies, plans, programs and projects of the Department; 
 
(b) 
Supervise all the operational activities of the assigned units for which the 
Undersecretary is responsible to the Secretary; and 
 
(c) 
Perform such other functions deemed necessary as may be assigned or 
delegated by the Secretary to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the 
delivery of public services or as may be required by law: Provided, That 
the Undersecretary for Planning and Policy shall, in coordination with the 
Planning and Policy Service, be primarily responsible for advancing 
current efforts in attaining the ultimate goal of universal access to water 
supply and sanitation systems, and sustainable management of water 
resources under the SDGs, and the integration of water, energy, 
environment and food security. 
 
SEC. 12. Assistant Secretaries. – The Secretary shall be assisted by six (6) 
Assistant Secretaries to be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon 
the recommendation of the Secretary: one each for Planning and Policy 
Service, Decision Support System Service, Resource Regulatory Servicе, 
Comptrollership and Financial Management Service, Legal and Legislative 
Service, and Administrative and Human Resources Management Service. 
 
No person shall be appointed Secretary, Undersecretary and Assistant 
Secretary of the Department unless the person is a citizen and resident of the 
Philippines, of good moral character, of proven integrity, competence and 
expertise in water resource management: Provided, That at least one (1) of the 
Undersecretaries and at least two (2) of the Assistant Secretaries shall be 
career officers. 
 
SEC. 13. Organizational Structure. – The Department shall be composed of 
the following organizational units: 


(a) Department Proper. - The Department shall consist of the Office of the 
Secretary, the Offices of the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, 
the Internal Audit Office, the Public Affairs Office, the Water Pollution 
Adjudication Board, the Planning and Policy Service, Decision Support 
System Service, Administrative and Human Resources Service, Legal and 
Legislative Service, Comptrollership and Financial Management Service, 
Resource Regulation Service, and the Water Resources Regional Offices. 
 
(b) Attached Agencies. - The Department shall exercise administrative 
supervision over the following agencies for purposes of policy and 
program coordination, monitoring, and evaluation: 
 
(1) The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), whose mandate, 
powers, and functions are defined in Presidential Decree No. 198, 
otherwise known as the Public Water Utilities Act of 1973, as 
amended, shall be transferred from the Department of Public Works 
and Highways and attached to the Department. It shall continue to 
primarily function as a specialized lending institution for the 
promotion, development, and financing of local water utilities. In the 
implementation of its functions, the LWUA shall: 
 
(i) 
prescribe minimum standards and regulations in order to assure 
acceptable standards of construction materials and supplies, 
maintenance, operation, personnel training, accounting and 
fiscal practices for local water utilities; 
 
(ii) 
Furnish technical assistance and personnel training programs 
for local water utilities; 
 
(iii) 
Monitor and evaluate local water standards; and 
 
(iv) 
Effect system integration, joint investment and operation, district 
annexation 
and 
de-annexation 
whenever 
economically 
warranted as amended by Sec. 22, Presidential Decree No. 768. 
 
(2) The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), 
whose mandate, powers, and functions are defined under Republic 
Act No. 6234, as amended entitled, An Act Creating The Metropolitan 
Waterworks And Sewerage System And Dissolving The National 
Waterworks And Sewerage Authority; And For And For Other 
Purposes, shall be transferred from the DPWH and attached to the 
Department: Provided, That the MWSS shall continue to facilitate the 
exercise by the concessionaires of their responsibility; carry out 
accounting and notification functions; monitor, report, and administer 
loans; perform related functions in connection with existing projects; 
manage and dispose its retained assets; and manage and operate 
the Umiray-Angat Transbasin Project. 
 
(3) The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), whose mandate, 
powers, and functions are defined under Republic Act No. 3601 as 
amended by Presidential Decree No. 552 and Presidential Decree 
No. 1702; 


(4) The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), whose mandate, 
powers and functions are defined under Republic Act No. 4850, as 
amended entitled, An Act Creating The Laguna Lake Development 
Authority, Prescribing Its Powers, Functions And Duties, Providing 
Funds Therefor, And For Other Purposes shall be transferred from 
the DENR and attached to the Department. The LLDA shall continue 
to serve as the lake management and development authority similar 
to a multi-stakeholder river basin organization and shall ensure the 
implementation of the Laguna Lake Master Plan which shall be 
updated by the Department to ensure alignment with the NWRMP. 
 
Any other agency performing water resource management, conservation 
and protection functions may be transferred to the Department as the 
President deems necessary. 
 
(c) 
Offices, Functions and Personnel to be Completely Subsumed under the 
Department. – The following offices with their powers, functions, 
personnel, applicable funds and appropriations, records, equipment and 
property shall be subsumed under the Department: 
 
(1) 
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) with all its divisions 
and sections, whose mandate, powers and functions are provided 
in Presidential Decree No. 424, as amended; 
 
(2) 
The River Basin Control Office (RBCO) of the DENR whose 
mandate, powers and functions are provided in Executive Order 
No. 510 and Executive Order No. 816, as amended; 
 
(3) 
The Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO) of the DENR which 
was strengthened by virtue of DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 
2011-01 to coordinate the efforts of the fourteen (14) national 
agencies covered by the Mandamus Order of the Supreme Court 
to rehabilitate Manila Bay; 
 
(4) 
The Water Resources Management Division of the Bureau of Soils 
and Water Management of the Department of Agriculture (DA); 
 
(5) 
The Water Supply and Sanitation Unit of the Department of the 
Interior and Local Government (DILG); and 
 
(6) 
The Water Quality Management Section of the Environmental 
Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR. 
 
(d) Functions to be Transferred to the Department. – The following functions 
of the respective agencies, bureaus, and units shall be transferred to the 
Department: 
 
(1) 
The hydrological surveys and groundwater mapping function of the 
Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR; 
 


(2) 
The hydrological surveys monitoring of stream flow and water data 
collection function of the Bureau of Design and Bureau of 
Research and Standards of the DPWH; 
 
(3) 
The protection and conservation of natural wetlands such as lakes, 
marshes, swamps of the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the 
DENR;  
 
(4) 
The 
planning, 
programming, 
administration, 
monitoring, 
management of the National Sewerage and Septage Management 
Program (NSSMP) by the DPWH; 
 
(5) 
The flood management planning and sediment management 
function of the Flood Control Management Cluster of the DPWH; 
and 
 
(6) 
The Water Resource Management Division and the water 
research functions of the Soils and Water Research Division of the 
Bureau of Soils and Water Management under the DA. All soil-
related functions shall be retained under the Bureau which shall be 
renamed as the Bureau of Soils. 
 
(e) Support Services. – The Department shall create the following support 
services: 
 
(1) 
The Planning and Policy Service shall provide the Department with 
the capability to undertake water infrastructure development planning 
and programming, and shall exercise the following functions: 
 
(i) 
Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to water resources 
planning; 
 
(ii) 
Assist the Undersecretary for Planning and Policy on all matters 
related to the specific functions of the position; 
 
(iii) 
Formulate 
strategies 
and 
priorities 
for 
water 
resources 
management 
and 
development 
consistent 
with 
national 
development objectives, and initiate or undertake relevant surveys 
for development planning; 
 
(iv) 
Develop and regularly update a comprehensive and integrated 
National Water Resources Management Plan and ensure its 
integration into existing land use plans; 
 
(v) 
Coordinate river-basin planning following the integrated water 
resources management framework and the river-basin approach; 
 
(vi) 
Formulate 
or 
update 
existing 
River 
Basin 
Master 
or 
Comprehensive Plans which includes all aspects of water 
management and development such as water supply and 
sanitation, irrigation, flood control and stormwater or urban 


drainage, drought risk management, water resource development 
systems and other public water works projects, including phasing 
of implementation; 
 
(vii) 
Identify, based on the river basin master plan, priority packages for 
water infrastructure development per river basin, including water 
supply, sanitation, irrigation, flood control and stormwater or urban 
drainage, drought risk management, water resource development 
systems and other public works projects, package project 
proposals for funding and prioritize project implementation and the 
allocation of funds and other resources and undertake or supervise 
and evaluate the conduct of feasibility studies and project 
preparation thereof; 
 
(viii) 
Evaluate and appraise all regional and inter-regional infrastructure 
water development plans and programs as to their feasibility and 
consistency with approved strategies and medium and long -term 
plans; 
 
(ix) 
Gather, analyze. and organize needed statistical data and 
information; 
 
(x) 
Provide technical assistance related to its functions to the other 
services, bureaus and the regional offices as needed; 
 
(xi) 
Conduct hydrological and hydraulic surveys and assessments of 
surface waters; 
 
(xii) 
Develop general criteria and standards on project investigation, 
formulation, planning; 
 
(xiii) 
Develop guidelines and standards on social inclusion in water 
resources management and ensure policies, programs and plans 
are compliant with the gender and development framework of the 
government; 
 
(xiv) 
Coordinate closely with PAGASA for rainfall and other climate data 
which shall be considered in the planning for water resources 
development 
and 
management 
and 
for 
various 
water 
infrastructure; and 
 
(xv) 
Perform such functions and activities, as may be mandated by law, 
which are necessary for the effective attainment of the 
abovementioned objectives. 
 
(2) 
The Decision Support System Service shall provide the 
Department with water resource management tools and computerized 
decision support system that incorporates a data management system 
relating to acquisition and database and model base in terms of physical 
design, planning and decision models including services related to 
networking, data management, and information and knowledge or 


learning management systems for administrative and non-technical 
support It shall provide the Secretary timely reports on the status of 
various Department projects and activities. For this purpose, it shall 
exercise the following functions: 
 
(i) 
Provide the Secretary the necessary data and processed 
information to aid in policy and management decisions under the 
mandate of the Department; 
 
(ii) 
Publish available real-time raw water data as well as verified or 
validated water data in print or electronic form using latest internet 
technology; 
 
(iii) 
Conduct and publish in print and/or electronic form, standard data 
analysis such as basic statistical analysis, trend analysis, analysis 
of runs, and cluster analysis; 
 
(iv) 
Develop and continuously update water resource management, 
computerized decision support systems (DSS) that incorporate 
data management systems relating to acquisition and database, 
model base in terms of physical, design, planning and decision 
models, and user-friendly interface such as graphical and 
visualization tools. 
 
The DSS is composed of: 1) a measurement or data acquisition 
system; 2) information or database management system; 3) 
analytical and numerical models for design, planning, decision or 
evaluation purposes, and 4) a user-friendly interface which 
includes graphical interface or visualization tools. 
 
(v) 
Develop and maintain specific models to include in the following: 
 
(a) Long-term climatologic and weather forecasting model; 
 
(b) Watershed models and river-flood plain models; 
 
(c) Groundwater models and coupled to surface water models; 
 
(d) Flood forecasting model for major rivers; 
 
(e) Optimization-stimulation management models for watershed 
conservation, conjunctive surface and groundwater use, 
irrigation scheduling, normal and emergency operations of 
multi-purpose reservoirs; and 
 
(f) 
Water quality and ecological models. 
 
(vi) 
Develop and administer the management information system and 
knowledge systems of the Department to: 
 
(a) Retrieve, process, and monitor information on all projects and 
activities in the web portal; 


(b) Conduct and apply systems and process engineering, 
software development, software configuration management; 
 
(c) Develop and manage its corporate database, unified 
database for water industry, data warehouse, other water 
information resources, library services and document 
management and archiving services; 
 
(d) Develop and manage its Information and Communications 
Technology (IСТ) infrastructure and ICT related-services 
including computer networking and voice communications 
services and data exchange, and 
 
(e) Manage the literacy and training services of the Department 
on various ICT and Knowledge Management (KM) tools and 
applications, 
including 
information 
and 
knowledge 
management. 
 
(vii) 
Perform such other related functions and activities which are 
necessary for the effective administration of the management 
information and knowledge systems of the Department. 
 
(3) 
The Administrative and Human Resource Service shall provide the 
Department with services relating to human resources development, 
personnel, records, facilities maintenance, medical and dental, security, 
property and procurement services, and shall exercise the following 
functions: 
 
(i) 
Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to internal 
administration and human resources management; 
 
(ii) 
Prepare and implement an integrated personnel development plan 
that shall include provisions for merit promotions, performance 
evaluation, job rotation, incentive awards systems, and health and 
welfare services; 
 
(iii) 
Provide services related to human resource-training, education 
and development including manpower, career planning and 
forecasting, and development of indigenous training materials; 
 
(iv) 
Develop, establish, and maintain an efficient and cost-effective 
property procurement system and facilities and coordinate or 
otherwise interface with relevant agencies, whether government or 
private, for the purpose of developing or upgrading the system; 
 
(v) 
Develop, establish, and maintain an efficient and effective security 
system covering, among others, personnel, physical installations, 
facilities, equipment, documents and materials including the 
conduct of security investigations; 
 


(vi) 
Coordinate with the appropriate government agencies for a more 
efficient conduct of administrative processes; 
 
(vii) 
Develop, establish, and maintain an efficient records system; 
 
(viii) 
Provide assistance in its area of specialization to the Department 
Proper, bureaus and regional and water district offices and, when 
requested, to the government agencies and corporations attached 
to the Department; and 
 
(ix) 
Perform such other related functions and activities which are 
necessary for the effective management of the resources of the 
Department, including its human resources. 
 
(4) 
The Legal and Legislative Research Service shall provide the 
Department with services on such legal affairs as contract letting and 
litigation, legal and legislative research, complaints and investigation, 
legal counselling and other matters of law, and shall exercise the 
following functions: 
 
(i) 
Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to legal and legislative 
affairs; 
 
(ii) 
Prepare Department contracts and legal instruments, review and 
interpret all contracts and agreements entered into by the 
Department and evaluate all legal proposals; 
 
(iii) 
Conduct 
administrative 
investigation 
and 
the 
review 
of 
administrative charges against officers and employees of the 
Department; 
 
(iv) 
Exercise functional jurisdiction over the legal staffs of Regional 
Offices; 
 
(v) 
Provide legal assistance to the Department Proper, the bureaus 
and regional offices and when requested, the attached 
corporations; 
 
(vi) 
Develop and prepare the Department's Legislative Agenda, 
recommend presidential certification of the urgency of priority 
water bills, and other water-related legislation; 
 
(vii) 
Coordinate and maintain linkages between and among the various 
offices, bureaus, regional offices and attached agencies to the 
Department along with other government agencies on policy 
matters affecting the Department's mandate in relation to 
legislation; 
 
(viii) 
Perform liaison and networking activities in relation to the 
enactment of related laws relating to water resources issues in 
legislative policymaking bodies such as the Senate of the 


Philippines, the House of Representatives, and the various 
Sanggunians; 
 
(ix) 
Monitor the progress of the Department's priority or certified bills 
to ensure their passage; and 
 
(x) 
Perform such functions and activities, as may be mandated by law, 
which are necessary for the effective performance of the 
abovementioned objectives. 
 
(5) 
The Comptrollership and Financial Management Service shall 
provide the Department with coordinated services relating to financial 
systems and procedures, budget, cash, accounting and all financial 
housekeeping matters, and shall exercise the following functions: 
 
(i) 
Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to the accounting of 
government expenditures and receipts, budgeting and cash 
management, project finances and financial systems and 
procedures; 
 
(ii) 
Prepare 
budget 
proposals 
and 
pursue 
formal 
budget 
authorizations, undertake budget execution, and prepare and 
submit all appropriate reports to the proper offices; 
 
(iii) 
Develop 
and 
maintain 
accounting, 
financial 
and 
assets 
management systems, procedures and practices in the 
Department Proper, Bureaus and Regional Offices; 
 
(iv) 
Review and appraise systems and procedures, organizational 
structure, assets management practices, accounting, and other 
records, reports, and performance standards such as budgets and 
standard costs of the Department, bureaus, and regional offices; 
 
(v) 
Provide assistance in its area of specialization to any unit of the 
Department and, when requested, to government corporations 
and councils attached to the Department; and 
 
(vi) 
Perform such other related functions and activities which are 
necessary for the effective financial management of the 
Department. 
 
(6) 
The Resource Regulation Service shall provide the Department 
with services for the effective regulation of all water-related services and 
activities and shall exercise the following functions: 
 
(i) 
Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to resource 
regulations; 
 
(ii) 
Determine, grant and regulate water rights for the appropriate, 
optimal and sustainable use of surface and ground water; 
 


(iii) 
Determine and evaluate waterworks and sewerage licenses, and 
submit evaluation results to the Water Regulatory Commission for 
the latter's consideration in granting of licenses; 
 
(iv) 
Investigate violations of the water rights and the Water Code, and 
impose the appropriate sanctions in accordance with existing laws, 
rules and regulations as well as future rules and regulations which 
the Department shall promulgate; 
 
(v) 
Adjudicate water use conflicts; and 
 
(vi) 
Perform such other related functions and activities which are 
necessary for the effective regulation of water-related services. 
 
(7) 
The 
Internal 
Audit 
Service 
shall 
regularly 
conduct 
a 
comprehensive audit of various Department activities and shall exercise 
the following functions: 
 
(i) 
Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to management control 
and operations audit; 
 
(ii) 
Conduct a performance audit of the management and operations 
of the Department, its activities, the performance of all units, and 
determine the degree of compliance of all operating units with 
established 
objectives, 
policies, 
standards, 
methods 
and 
procedures, government regulations and contractual obligations of 
the Department; 
 
(iii) 
Review and appraise systems and procedures, organizational 
structure, assets management practices, accounting and other 
records, and performance standards such as budgets and 
standard costs of the Department Proper, bureaus and regional 
offices; 
 
(iv) 
Analyze and evaluate management deficiencies and recommend 
realistic courses of action; and 
 
(v) 
Perform such functions and activities, as may be mandated by law, 
which are necessary for the effective performance of the 
abovementioned objectives. 
 
(8) 
The Public Affairs Service shall enhance relations with all 
stakeholders including the media, for the effective dissemination of 
information relating to water-related issues, including important 
announcements on policies and activities of the department that is of 
interest to the general public. It shall ensure that women, men, elderly, 
and people with disabilities shall be consulted, organized and take active 
part in all aspects of water resources development and management 
activities. It shall also lead the planning and organizing of special events, 
and shall exercise the following functions: 
 


(i) 
Public Awareness 
 
(a) Advise the Secretary on matters pertaining to public affairs; 
 
(b) Develop and supervise the implementation of comprehensible 
communications programs on relevant policies, programs and 
plans of the Department; 
 
(c) Produce and supervise the dissemination of communication 
materials in line with the priorities of the Department and 
national government public information programs; 
 
(d) Conduct public opinion and attitude surveys to identify the 
interests and concerns of the stakeholders of the Department; 
 
(e) Establish policies on the presentation and publication of the 
content of the communication materials for dissemination to 
print and broadcast media; 
 
(f) 
Establish and maintain linkages with the tri-media and a 
presence in social media; 
 
(g) Coordinate the conduct of interviews and news conferences; 
 
(h) Make public announcements on matters relating to the work 
and activities of the Department through the print and 
broadcast media, either through press releases or live 
interviews; 
 
(i) 
Coordinate with various Department units, concerned 
government agencies, tri-media and other stakeholders on 
matters related to the above-enumerated functions; and 
 
(j) 
Coordinate with the appropriate national government 
agencies involved in public information affairs. 
 
(ii) 
Promote Participation 
 
(a) Conduct public consultations and discussions; 
 
(b) Develop and disseminate relevant and appropriate materials 
and programs for public information and education, as well as 
advocacy campaign; 
 
(c) Conduct seminars and workshops involving the LGUs and the 
general public on current water issues and problems; and 
 
(d) Conduct capability building seminars of various stakeholders 
to promote meaningful participation in the Department's policy 
making, planning, development and implementation of various 
programs and projects. 


(iii) 
Special Events 
 
(a) Coordinate the organization and promotion of special events 
and water exhibits; 
 
(b) Act as the focal office for all water related events; and 
 
(c) Perform such functions and activities, as may be mandated by 
law, which are necessary for the effective performance of the 
abovementioned objectives. 
 
(f) 
Bureaus. – The Department shall create bureaus which shall each be 
headed by a Bureau Director. The Bureau Director shall be responsible 
for the efficient and effective discharge of the functions of the Bureau 
concerned. The Bureau Director shall be assisted by one (1) Assistant 
Director. 
 
(1) The Bureau of Flood Control and Drainage shall plan and design 
flood control and drainage structures and facilities in accordance with 
technical standards, guidelines and manuals. For this purpose, it 
shall have the following duties and responsibilities: 
 
(i) 
Formulate policy, strategies and programs on flood risk 
management in the context of integrated flood management 
(IFM) which integrates water, land, coastal zone and multi-
hazard management. In integrating land use planning and water 
management, the Department shall harmonize and synthesize 
plans to enable the sharing of information between land-use 
planning and water management authorities. In this regard, a 
holistic approach shall be adopted by making the IFM a part of 
a wider risk or multi-hazard management system that includes 
earthquakes, landslides, fires, tsunami, and other calamities of 
the same gravity or nature; 
 
(ii) 
Integrate climate change and disaster risk reduction and 
management in policies and plans; 
 
(iii) 
Prepare master plans of flood management and drainage in river 
basins in coordination with the concerned water resources 
region and river basin organizations; 
 
(iv) 
Prepare master plans for urban drainage in cities and 
municipalities; 
 
(v) 
Prepare feasibility studies of recommended measures in the 
master plans; 
 
(vi) 
Plan and design structural measures for flood control and 
drainage; 
 


(vii) 
Implement and collaborate with concerned agencies on the 
formulation and adoption of non-structural measures for flood 
control and drainage; 
 
(viii) 
Patrol and investigate rivers, and monitor stream flows; 
 
(ix) 
Conduct post-disaster investigation and evaluation and damage 
assessment of flood infrastructures after extreme events; 
 
(x) 
Conduct research and development on water and sediment-
related disasters; 
 
(xi) 
Develop design guidelines, criteria, and standards on flood 
control and drainage structures; 
 
(xii) 
Provide technical assistance to other agencies, LGUs, and other 
stakeholders; 
 
(xiii) 
Advise the Secretary on declaring flood control areas and 
recommend guidelines for flood plain management plans in 
these areas; and 
 
(xiv) 
Perform such related activities which are necessary for the 
effective performance of its functions. 
 
(2) The Bureau of Water Quality Management shall supervise and 
exercise control over all aspects of water quality management to 
ensure the sustainability of the country's water resources and the 
protection of the environment. It should take into account proper and 
integrated treatment of freshwater and wastewater within the whole 
process. For this purpose, the Bureau shall exercise the following 
functions: 
 
(i) 
Establish water quality guidelines for freshwater and coastal or 
marine waters as basis for classifying water bodies in the 
country. Specifically, develop water quality indices or composite 
metrics to measure the quality status and health of natural water 
bodies in relation to ecological integrity and function; 
 
(ii) 
Establish effluent standards for point discharges to receiving 
bodies of water; 
 
(iii) 
Establish internationally accepted procedures for sampling and 
analysis; 
 
(iv) 
Prepare an integrated water quality management framework; 
 
(v) 
Prepare the ten-year water quality management plans for each 
water quality management area as part of the River Basin 
Master Plans and in support of the NWRMP; 
 


(vi) 
Classify groundwater sources and prepare a national 
groundwater vulnerability map; 
 
(vii) 
Classify or reclassify all water bodies according to their 
beneficial usages using the established water quality guidelines 
established; 
 
(viii) 
Issue permits, clearances, and similar instruments pursuant to 
the Clean Water Act of 2004; 
 
(ix) 
Collect the wastewater discharge fees for all permittees; 
 
(x) 
Monitor the compliance of water discharge permittees with the 
effluent standards; 
 
(xi) 
Regularly monitor the water quality of major water bodies in the 
country and analyze the data to identify possible sources of 
pollution; 
 
(xii) 
Issue notices of violations and/or cease and desist orders for 
those found in violation; 
 
(xiii) 
File the needed cases against violators with the Water Pollution 
Adjudication Board (WPAB); 
 
(xiv) 
Serve as secretariat of the WPAB; and 
 
(xv) 
Perform such functions and activities, as may be mandated by 
law, which are necessary for the effective performance of the 
abovementioned objectives. 
 
(3) A Water Resources Regional Office (WRRO) shall be organized per 
water resources region and shall be responsible for implementing the 
mandates, powers and duties of the Department at the field level, 
except for policymaking which will be vested solely in the 
Department. The formulation of the master plan for the nearby river 
basins such as the Pasig-Marikina-Laguna Lake-Cavite, shall be the 
responsibility of the Department. Each WRRO shall perform the 
following duties and responsibilities: 
 
(i) 
Formulate or update and coordinate the river basin master plans 
for river basins within its jurisdictions ensuring consistency with 
the National Water Resources Management Framework Plan; 
 
(ii) 
Advocate and strongly support the creation and functioning of 
multi-stakeholder river basin organizations (RBOs) and serve as 
the secretariat of the said RBOs; 
 
(iii) 
Undertake and evaluate the planning, design, and work 
supervision functions of the Department for the water 
infrastructures within the region; 


 
(iv) 
Ensure the implementation of laws, policies, programs, rules 
and regulations regarding the abovementioned infrastructure as 
well as public and private physical structures; 
 
(v) 
Provide technical assistance related to the water-related 
functions of other agencies within the region especially the local 
government; 
 
(vi) 
Coordinate with other departments, agencies, institutions and 
organizations, especially local government units within the 
region in the planning and implementation of the river basin 
master plans; 
 
(vii) 
Conduct consultations with the local communities, take 
appropriate measures to ensure that the services of the 
Department are responsive, and recommend such appropriate 
actions as may be necessary; and 
 
(viii) 
Perform such functions and activities, as may be mandated by 
law, which are necessary for the effective performance of the 
abovementioned objectives. 
 
The Department shall retain existing Project Management 
Offices as may be required, which shall be under the supervision 
and control of the appropriate Water Resources Regional Office 
unless otherwise determined by the Secretary for reasons of 
supra- regional scope, magnitude and multi-functional coverage. 
 
Each Water Resources Regional Office shall be headed by 
a Water Resources Regional Director who shall be responsible for 
efficiently 
and 
effectively 
carrying 
out 
the 
duties 
and 
responsibilities of the Office. Towards this end, the Water 
Resources Regional Director shall exercise functional and 
administrative supervision over all units within the region and is 
authorized to commit resources and assign personnel to integrated 
regional water resources management, water supply and 
sanitation management, and flood control and flood risk 
management initiatives. The Water Resources Regional Director 
shall also perform such other related duties and responsibilities as 
may be assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be 
required by law. 
 
The Water Resources Regional Director shall be assisted by 
two (2) Assistant Water Resources Regional Office Directors who 
shall exercise supervision over (1) the planning, project design and 
evaluation function and (2) technical assistance to the River Basin 
Organizations within the water resources region. 
 
SEC. 14. Water Pollution Adjudication Board. – There is hereby created a 
Water Pollution Adjudication Board under the Office of the Secretary. The 
Board shall be composed of the Secretary as Chairperson, two (2) 


Undersecretaries as may be designated by the Secretary, the Director of Water 
Quality Management Bureau, and three (3) other representatives from other 
stakeholders to be designated by the Secretary as members. 
 
 
The Board shall assume the powers and functions of the National 
Pollution Control Commission with respect to the adjudication of water pollution 
cases under Republic Act No. 3931 entitled, An Act Creating The National 
Water And Air Pollution Control Commission, Presidential Decree 984 entitled 
Providing For The Revision Of Republic .Act No. 3931, Commonly Known as 
the Pollution Control Law, And For Other Purposes, particularly with respect to 
Section 6 letters e, f, g, j, k and Republic Act No. 9275. The Bureau of Water 
Quality Management shall serve as the Secretariat of the Board. These powers 
and functions may be delegated to the field officers of the Department in 
accordance with rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Board. 
 
CHAPTER III 
INTERDEPARTMENTAL RELATIONS 
AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT 
 
SEC. 15. Interface and Institutional Arrangements with Other Agencies. –  
 
(a) The Department of Health (DOH) shall continue to have primary 
authority and responsibility for setting and enforcing drinking water 
quality standards. The Department shall coordinate with the DOH in 
this aspect, and shall ensure consistency of standards and targets, as 
well as the compliance of permittees with mandated standards; 
 
(b) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall 
continue to have primary authority and responsibility for protecting the 
environment and managing the country's watersheds; 
 
(c) The Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Power Corporation 
(NPC) shall continue to have primary authority and responsibility for 
establishing and operating hydropower plants, but shall ensure that 
hydropower plant development plans are consistent with the National 
Water Development and Management Plan; 
 
(d) The Department shall coordinate with the DA to ensure agricultural 
development that reduces long-term pollution for surface water and 
groundwater, and agricultural and industrial economic development 
that employs water efficiency, water recycling or reuse, and the 
appropriate treatment of wastewater; 
 
(e) The Department shall coordinate with the National Disaster Risk 
Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) to ensure that its plans 
and designs for flood control, flood risk management and drought risk 
management are aligned with the objectives and plans of the 
Department; 
 
(f) 
The Department shall coordinate with Climate Change Commission 
(CCC), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical 
Services Administration (PAGASA), and National Mapping and 


Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) for scientific studies, 
integrated surveys, mapping, charting, and decision support systems; 
 
(g) The Department shall coordinate with the Department of Tourism 
(DOT) on recreational use of water resources; 
 
(h) The Department shall coordinate with the Philippine Reclamation 
Authority and economic zone authorities on water resources 
development and water requirements within reclamation areas and 
economic zones, respectively; and  
 
(i) 
The Department shall coordinate with relevant government agencies, 
including local government units (LGUs), with respect to development 
projects and shall ensure cross-cutting collaboration between and 
among all water subsectors and facilitate inter-agency subsector 
coordination, strategic development, planning, monitoring and 
provision of technical, institutional and financial capacity building 
support to their different stakeholders at the water subsector level. 
 
SEC. 16. National Water Sector Policy Board. – The National Water Sector 
Policy Board (NWSPB) shall be created and shall be headed by the Secretary 
of the Department of Water Resources with the Secretary of the National 
Economic and Development Authority as the Vice-Chairperson, and the 
Secretaries of the DOH, DILG, DOE, DA, Department of Social Welfare and 
Development; DPWH; Department of Budget and Management (DBM); Office 
of the President, and DENR, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples 
as members. The Department shall provide personnel to serve as Secretariat 
to the Board. 
 
SEC. 17. Powers and Functions of the National Water Sector Policy Board. 
– The NWSPB shall perform policymaking, coordination, integration, 
supervision, monitoring and evaluation functions, and shall have the following 
responsibilities: 
 
(a) Approve the NWRMP which shall serve as a principal guide to water 
management efforts in the country and shall be reviewed every five 
(5)-years interval, or as may be deemed necessary, in order to ensure 
its relevance to the times; 
 
(b) Provide overall policy direction and recommend policies on water 
resources requiring Presidential decision; 
 
(c) Advise the President on the status of water management and supply, 
recommend to the President the declaration of a state calamity in 
areas affected by water supply, and submit proposals to restore 
normalcy in the affected areas; 
 
(d) Ensure multi-stakeholder participation in the development, updating, 
and sharing of information systems as policy, planning and decision-
making tools consistent with IWRM. 
 


SEC. 18. Transfer of Rights and Obligations. – The Department shall, by 
virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights and assume all the obligations 
of the government agencies and units whose powers and functions have been 
subsumed, absorbed, transferred or attached to the Department-in accordance 
with the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit, and the Civil Service 
Commission, and other applicable laws. The transfer of powers and functions 
as herein provided shall take effect within six (6) months of the effectivity of this 
Act. As such, all affected agencies, offices, units shall continue to function 
under their present mandates. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
WATER REGULATORY COMMISSION 
 
SEC. 19. Water Regulatory Commission. – There is hereby created and 
established as an independent quasi-judicial regulatory body to be known as 
the Water Regulatory Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, 
which shall be organized within one hundred twenty (120) days after the 
effectivity of this Act. 
 
 
The Commission shall be placed under the administrative supervision of 
the Department as an attached agency. 
 
 
The Commission shall have a Board of Commissioners, and shall be 
vested with powers and functions, as conferred and set forth hereunder. 
 
SEC. 20. The Regulatory Unit. – The regulatory units of the Commission shall 
be composed of the regulatory unit and the regional regulatory units. 
 
 
The economic regulatory units and functions of the MWSS, NWRB, 
LWUA, SBMA, PEZA, and TIEZA are hereby transferred to the Commission, 
and shall collectively comprise its central regulatory unit for water supply and 
sanitation services that: (a) provide services to more than one province; and (b) 
are owned, operated and/or maintained by special economic zones and Metro 
Manila concessionaires. 
 
The regional regulatory units shall be established by the Commission in 
accordance with this Act and the rules, regulations, guidelines, and standards 
that the Commission shall issue. 
 
SEC. 21. Powers and Functions of the Commission. – The overall authority 
and powers of the Commission shall cover and apply to all service providers, 
whether private or public, providing or intending to provide levels II & III water 
supply, including suppliers to subdivisions and for other service providers, 
sewerage, and/or septage treatment and disposal services for domestic, 
residential, institutional, industrial or commercial use. 
 
 
The Commission shall exercise for the following powers and functions: 
 
(a) Issue and promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines as may be 
necessary to implement and enforce its powers and functions under 
this Act; 


(b) Promulgate and enforce just and reasonable technical standards, 
classifications and measurements of service; 
 
(c) Establish rules and regulations to monitor, avoid, and provide 
remedies for any market power abuse or anti-competitive or 
discriminatory act or behavior by or against any participant in the water 
supply and sanitation sector. Upon finding that a market participant 
has engaged in, or has fallen victim to such act or behavior, the 
Commission shall act to stop or redress the same. Such remedies 
may, without limitation, include the imposition of price controls, 
issuance of injunctions, requirement of divestment or disgorgement of 
excess profits, invalidation of contracts and imposition of fines and 
penalties pursuant to this Act; 
 
(d) Adopt and require that books, records, and accounts be kept and 
maintained in accordance with the prescribed uniform accounting 
system; 
 
(e) Fix and determine proper and adequate rates of depreciation of 
properties and equipment used in water supply and sanitation 
services; 
 
(f) 
Impose and collect annual levies determined as a percentage of gross 
revenue accruing in relation to the licensed activities, and reasonable 
fees and surcharges as may be necessary for achieving the purposes, 
powers and functions of the Commission; 
 
(g) Require the submission reports of finances and operations, verified 
under oaths by the owner or president and secretary of the board of 
the licensee; 
 
(h) Determine and require the monitoring and submission of such data, 
statistics and other information from the regulatory units and any or all 
licensees as may be necessary for the effective and efficient exercise 
of its duties, functions, powers and responsibilities; 
 
(i) 
Investigate, motu propio or upon a written complaint, any matter 
concerning the operation of the service and issues on price 
manipulation and anti-competitive behavior; 
 
(j) 
Impose penalties and fines against any licensee or against its owners, 
directors, officers, agents or representatives for any violation of this 
Act or of the license, order, rule regulation or requirement issued by 
the Commission; 
 
(k) Require any licensee to pay the actual expenses incurred by the 
Commission in any investigation if it shall be found that a licensee 
violated any provision of this Act or of the license, order, rule regulation 
or requirement issued by the Commission; 
 


(l) 
Advise, apprise and coordinate with other relevant agencies of the 
national or local government on any matter relating to water supply 
and sanitation services; 
 
(m) Deputize agents, whether from the public or private sector, to assist in 
the performance of any of the powers and functions of the 
Commission; 
 
(n) Appoint an interim or temporary management committee upon appeal 
and after due hearing, to ensure continuity of service in case a licensee 
fails to meet conditions of the license and the concerned Regulatory 
Unit fails or refuses to appoint an interim management committee as 
provided in the following section; 
 
(o) Appoint, hire and maintain adequate staff and personnel, advisers, or 
consultants, with suitable qualifications and experience, as necessary; 
 
(p) Exercise original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases contesting 
rates, fees, fines and penalties imposed by the regulatory units in the 
exercise of their powers, functions and responsibilities, as provided 
under this Act, and over all cases involving disputes between and 
among participants or stakeholders in the water supply and sanitation 
services; and 
 
(q) Such other incidental powers and functions as may be necessary to 
attain the objectives of this Act. 
 
SEC. 22. Powers and Functions of the Regulatory Units. – The regulatory 
units of the Commission shall have the following powers and functions: 
 
(a) Issue licenses authorizing the operation of water supply and sanitation 
services in any specified area or areas within the Philippines; 
 
(b) Impose fines, charges and other penalties upon any provider and/or 
its officers and stockholders who shall fail or refuse to register or obtain 
a license prior to operation or commencement of business, as provided 
hereunder; 
 
(c) Review, determine, fix, and approve, consistent with the rules, 
guidelines, procedures and methodologies which the Commission 
shall provide, proposed water and sewerage and septage 
management tariffs, rates and charges that licensees may impose 
upon their consumers; 
 
(d) Appraise and value property and equipment used by licensees in 
providing water supply and sanitation services; 
 
(e) Enforce technical, financial, and other performance standards set by 
the Commission for licensees or utilities; 
 


(f) 
Respond to consumer complaints and ensure the adequate promotion 
of consumer interests and investigate motu propio price manipulation 
and anti-competitive behavior; 
 
(g) Investigate accidents directly or indirectly arising from or connected 
with the maintenance or operation of the service, and make such order 
or recommendation as the public interest may warrant; 
 
(h) Require the review and/or approval of contracts or agreements that 
may impact on the tariff and rates of service provision entered into by 
service providers upon petition or motu propio where in its 
determination public interest so dictates; 
 
(i) 
Require the submission of reports, plans, and other documents that 
define the performance targets of the licensees or utilities, and regular 
accomplishment reports; 
 
(j) 
Impose and collect annual levies determined as a percentage of gross 
revenue accruing in relation to the licensed activities, and reasonable 
fees and surcharges as may be necessary for achieving the purposes, 
powers, and functions of the regulator; 
 
(k) Conduct benchmarking and monitor the performance of licensees or 
utilities under their jurisdiction, and publish reports detailing the results 
thereof, as may be necessary or required by the Commission; 
 
(l) 
Amend, modify, suspend, revoke any license by them, after due notice 
and hearing, on any of the following grounds: 
 
(1) 
when the facts and circumstances on the strength of which the 
license was issued have been materially misrepresented or 
have materially changed; 
 
(2) 
where the licensee has failed to meet or comply with terms, 
conditions, and performance targets, including but not limited to 
service expansion, that may have been set in the license; 
 
(3) 
where the licensee is found to be manifestly inefficient in the 
operation of or provision of water supply and sanitation services 
in its area; or 
 
(4) 
when the licensee thereof has violated or willfully refused to 
comply with any order, rule or regulation of the Commission or 
any provision of this Act; 
 
(m) Appoint an interim management committee to ensure continuity of 
service in case a license fails to meet the conditions of the license; and 
 
(n) 
Submit performance plans and reports as required by the Commission. 
 
SEC. 23. Composition of the Water Regulatory Commission. –  


(a) 
The Commission shall be a collegial body composed of five (5) full-
time members consisting of a Chairperson and four (4) members, who 
shall all be appointed by the President of the Philippines. All members 
of the Commission must be citizens and residents of the Philippines, 
at least thirty five (35) years of age, and of good moral character, of 
recognized integrity and competence in the field of law, business, 
commerce, finance, accounting or public administration, water or utility 
economics, management, physical or engineering services, hydrology 
and other related services, with at least three (3) years of actual and 
distinguished experience in their respective fields of expertise: 
Provided, That out of the four (4) members of the Commission, at least 
one (1) shall be a member of the Philippine Bar with at least ten (10) 
years of experience in the active practice of law, and at least one (1) 
shall be a certified public accountant with at least ten (10) years of 
experience in active practice. 
 
(b) 
The term of office of each member of the Commission shall be seven 
(7) years: Provided, That among the members first appointed, the 
Chairperson shall serve for a period of seven (7) years, two (2) 
members shall serve for five (5) years and the other two (2) members 
shall serve for three (3) years: Provided further, That any member 
whose term has expired as specified herein shall serve as such until a 
successor shall have been appointed and qualified: Provided 
furthermore, That any appointment to fill a vacancy in the Commission 
arising from death, removal, retirement or resignation shall be made 
only for the unexpired term: Provided, finally, That in no case shall any 
member serve for more than seven (7) years in the Commission. 
 
(c) 
The Commission shall meet as often as may be necessary on such 
day or days as the Chairperson may fix. The presence of at least three 
(3) members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, which shall 
be necessary for the transaction of any business. The affirmative vote 
of majority of the members of the Commission where a quorum is 
present shall be necessary for the adoption of any order, resolution, 
decisions, or other act of the Commission in the exercise of its quasi-
judicial functions: Provided, That in promulgating rules, regulations, 
guidelines and in exercising its quasi-legislative functions, an 
affirmative vote of three (3) members shall be required. 
 
(d) 
The Chairperson of the Commission shall exercise general executive 
control and supervision over the Commission and its members, staff 
and personnel, agents and representatives. Within three (3) months 
from the creation of the Commission and the appointment of all 
Members of the Commission, the Chairperson shall determine and 
establish the organizational structure and plantilla positions necessary 
to carry out the powers and functions of the Commission, including 
those of the central and provincial regulatory units subject to the review 
and approval of the DBM. 
 
The plantilla positions of the Commission shall be filled by regular 
appointments in accordance with Civil Service laws, rules, and 
regulations. Members of the Commission shall enjoy security of tenure 


and shall not be suspended or removed from office except for just 
cause as specified by law. 
 
(e) 
The Chairperson and members of the Commission or any of their 
relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, 
legitimate or common law, shall be prohibited from holding any interest 
whatsoever, either as investor, stockholder, officer or director, in any 
company or entity engaged in provision of water supply and 
distribution, septage management and sewerage services and must, 
therefore, divest through sale or legal disposition of any and all 
interests in the water sector upon assumption to office. 
 
SEC. 24. Secretariat of the Commission. – The Commission shall establish 
a Secretariat which shall provide the Commission with technical and support 
services including the following:  
 
(a) 
Provide the necessary technical inputs and secretariat support to the 
Commission to facilitate the conduct of its functions; 
 
(b) 
Coordinate with Regulatory Units to ensure proper implementation of 
the rules, regulations and guidelines promulgated by the Commission; 
 
(c) 
Monitor and assess activities of the Regulatory Units vis-à-vis their 
respective annual performance plans and targets; 
 
(d) 
Maintain a database on the water supply and sanitation subsector; and 
 
(e) 
Coordinate with other relevant agencies of the national or local 
government on any matter relating to water supply and sanitation. 
 
SEC. 25. Executive Director. – The Commission shall appoint an Executive 
Director who shall head the Commission Secretariat, keep and maintain the 
official records of the Commission, render a report on the proceedings of the 
Commission, and administer oaths in all matters falling within the jurisdiction of 
the Commission. 
 
The Executive Director shall be responsible for the effective 
implementation of the policies, plans, programs, rules, regulations and 
directives of the Commission; coordinate and supervise the activities of the 
different operating units under the Commission; and perform such functions as 
may be assigned by the Chairperson and/or other members of the Commission. 
 
SEC. 26. Compensation and Other Emoluments. – The compensation of the 
members of the Commission and its staff shall conform to provisions of 
Republic Act No. 6758 as amended, otherwise known as the Compensation 
and Position Classification Act of 1989. 
 
CHAPTER V 
REGISTRATION AND LICENSING 
 
SEC. 27. Registration and Licensing of All Water Supply and Sanitation 
Services. – All water supply and sanitation service providers, including bulk 


water suppliers and those providing services to subdivisions and other service 
providers, shall register with the Commission and, subject to such rules, 
guidelines, procedures and other issuances of the Commission, obtain a 
license to operate from the appropriate regulatory units. 
 
 
The Commission shall ensure that the grant and revocation of licenses 
are carried out fairly, transparently, and without discrimination. Issuances of the 
Commission shall specify, among others, the qualifications, requirements, and 
procedure for the grant and revocation of licenses including the standards and 
performance targets that shall continuously be complied with to keep the 
licenses valid. 
 
Unless otherwise provided in this Act or by the Commission, no public 
water supply and sanitation service provider shall commence or conduct the 
business of providing-water supply and sanitation services without first 
obtaining a license. 
 
Concession agreements and other contracts for water supply provision 
and water sanitation and treatment services currently existing shall remain valid 
and enforceable unless otherwise terminated, after due notice and hearing for 
reasons provided in the existing terms and conditions under the concession or 
service agreement or contract, or when invalidated by the Commission, after 
due notice and hearing, where national security, national emergency or public 
interest so dictates. 
 
SEC. 28. Conditions of License. – The Commission or the concerned 
regulatory unit, may impose such conditions on the licensee as it may deem 
necessary, such as: 
 
(a) Tariffs, rates and charges that may be imposed from its customers or 
consumers; 
 
(b) Term fixing the duration of the privilege; 
 
(c) Grounds for modification, suspension or cancellation of the License; 
 
(d) Minimum technical performance and service level standards; 
 
(e) Expansion targets and service level improvements over time; 
 
(f) 
Restrictions or conditions for transferability of the business or controlling 
interest in the business; 
 
(g) Reportorial requirements and obligations of the grantee; 
 
(h) Submission to annual performance audit by the Commission or its duly 
authorized representative(s). 
 
The Commission shall specify the requirements and procedure for 
existing holders of Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC), Certificates-of 
Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) issued by NWRB, or Certificate of 


Conformance (CoC) issued by LWUA, to convert their existing certificates into 
licenses to operate in accordance with Sec. 27 herein. 
 
 
All existing providers of water supply and sanitation services without a 
legal and valid Certificate of Public Convenience, Certificate of Public 
Convenience and Necessity, or Certificate of Conformance shall register with 
the Commission and apply for a license within six (6) months from the effectivity 
of this Act. 
 
SEC. 29. Rights and Duties of Licensees. –  
 
(a) 
Any person granted a license under this Act shall have the obligation 
to ensure that licensed activities are conducted to further public 
interest and, in particular: 
 
(1) 
Foster the maintenance and development of efficient, 
coordinated, and viable operation of their licensed activities; 
 
(2) 
Ensure that their water supply and sanitation services are 
provided in a diligent, conscientious and workman like manner, 
in accordance with applicable laws rules and regulations issued 
by the Commission and the generally accepted standards and 
practices of the water supply and sanitation industry; and 
 
(3) 
Comply with drinking water quality requirements and standards 
that may be established by the Commission. 
 
(b) 
Any person granted a license under this Act shall, to the extent allowed 
by law and specified in the license, has the right to acquire or lease 
land, lay or repair water or sanitation main lines and other relevant 
facilities in public ways to fulfill the terms and conditions under the 
license. 
 
(c) 
Subject to any condition or limitation laid down in the license, a 
licensee may discontinue water supply and sanitation services to a 
customer if such customer defaults in the payment of fees due to the 
licensee for the water supplied or sanitation services provided, or for 
acts of pilferage pursuant to Sections 8, 9, 10, and 11 of Republic Act 
No. 8041, otherwise known as the Water Crisis Act of 1995. 
 
(d) 
Any license issued under this Act shall contain provisions designed to 
ensure that licensees: 
 
(1) 
Publish the tariff and other charges approved by and the terms 
and conditions imposed by the Commission for the provision of 
water supply and sanitation services; 
 
(2) 
Prepare, within three (3) months from the issuance of a license, 
in consultation with its customers, a Customer Service Code 
specifying the manner and procedure for: (a) metering, billing, 
and collection of the licensee's approved tariff and other 
charges, (b) disconnection or suspension of service in case of 


non-payment of tariffs and/or other charges, or acts of pilferage, 
and (c) recommendation and recovery of arrears in tariffs and 
other charges; 
 
(3) 
Maintain financial accounts in accordance with the manner and 
procedure specified in the license and as may be required by 
the Commission; and 
 
(4) 
Maintain and upon request by anyone during regular office 
hours, promptly make available for scrutiny and inspection such 
data, statistics and other information, as may be required by the 
Commission. 
 
SEC. 30. Setting Tariffs, Rates, and Other Charges. – Regulatory units shall 
establish tariffs, rates and other charges which are fair and reasonable, and 
ensure economic viability and a fair return on investments. Tariffs, rates and 
charges shall be based on and consistent with a rate-setting methodology that 
the Commission shall, after due consultation, define and publish, taking into 
account the following, among others: 
 
(a) 
Reasonable and prudent capital and recurrent costs of providing the 
service including a reasonable rate of return on capital; 
 
(b) 
Efficiency of the service; 
 
(c) 
Incentives for enhancement of efficiency; 
 
(d) 
Willingness to pay of the customers/consumers; 
 
(e) 
Equity considerations; and 
 
(f) 
Administrative simplicity. 
 
Tariffs, rates, and charges set by the regulatory units shall be presumed 
valid and reasonable unless a protest or contest is filed with the Commission. 
 
SEC. 31. Direct Access. –  Fifty-one (51) percent of the registered water 
consumers in a municipality, city or province may petition for direct access to 
water from any water service provider subject to concurrence by the service 
provider and approval by the Commission. The Commission shall promulgate 
rules and procedures for this mode of service. 
 
SEC. 32. Innovative Scheme to Improve Efficiency and Management of 
Systems. – The Commission shall promote innovative schemes such as 
consolidation or integration of water supply and sanitation service, or providers 
in the same service area, where it shall result in improved efficiency, service 
expansion and lower-cost. 
 
To this end, the Commission shall establish and issue such rules and 
guidelines as may be necessary to (a) create incentives to encourage efficiency 
and service expansion; (b) establish the standards and targets that service 


providers are required to meet; and (c) define the fines and penalties that shall 
be imposed for failure to meet such standards and targets. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
QUASI-JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION 
 
SEC. 33. Proceedings Before the Commission. – For the purpose of any 
investigation, inquiry or proceeding, the Commission shall: 
 
(a) 
Issue subpoena duces tecum and subpoena ad testificandum; 
 
(b) 
Appoint hearing officers to hear and receive evidence on behalf of the 
Commission; 
 
(c) 
Cite any person or party for contempt for refusal to appear, testify, or 
comply with an order of the Commission on any matter that is the 
subject of investigation, inquiry or proceeding before the Commission. 
 
SEC. 34. Orders and Decisions of the Commission. – Any order, resolution, 
or decisions of the Commission shall be promulgated promptly, expeditiously, 
reasonably, and in writing, and shall state clearly and distinctly the facts and 
law on which it is based. 
  
The Commission shall publish and make available for public inspection, 
all decisions and final orders in the adjudication of contested cases or 
applications. 
 
SEC. 35. Appeals Procedure and Prohibition Against Injunction. – 
  
(a) 
The orders, rulings, and decisions of the Commission are final and 
executory unless appealed to the Court of Appeals within fifteen (15) 
days from receipt of notice of such order, ruling or decision: Provided, 
That orders, rulings, and decisions of the Commission approving 
tariffs, shall be immediately executory and may be suspended only 
upon appeal and filing of a bond, in an amount to be fixed by the 
Commission, to answer for damages occasioned by the suspension or 
stay of execution of such orders, rulings, and decisions. 
 
(b) 
No injunction may be issued by any court or administrative agency to 
restrain any proceeding before, or the implementation or execution of 
any order, ruling, or decision of the Commission, except on the basis 
of a question of law brought before the Supreme Court on certiorari. 
 
(c) 
Any act or decision of the Commission shall not be invalidated merely 
because of a defect or irregularity in, or in connection with, the 
appointment or vacancy in the Office of the Chairperson or any other 
member of the Commission. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
INTERDEPARTMENTAL RELATIONS OF THE COMMISSION 
 
SEC. 36. Interface with Other Sector Regulators. – 


(a) 
The DENR shall continue to exercise primary jurisdiction over 
programs aimed at -protecting the environment and the quality of water 
sources from waste and pollution, and shall promulgate rules, 
regulations, and standards in this regard. The Department of Health 
(DOH) shall continue to exercise primary jurisdiction over the 
determination and enforcement of standards for quality drinking water 
and sanitation. 
 
(b) 
The Commission shall coordinate with the: 
 
(1) 
DOH to ensure that the standards and targets for quality drinking 
water and sanitation are consistently complied with; 
 
(2) 
LGUs for development projects relating to water supply and 
sanitation; and 
 
(3) 
Department of Public Works and Highways for flood control and 
harnessing and impounding of water. 
 
SEC. 37. Transfer of Rights and Obligations. – The Commission shall, by 
virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights, and assume all the obligations, 
of the Water Utilities Division of the NWRB, the regulatory offices of MWSS and 
LWUA, the regulatory units of all special economic zones, and all other 
government agencies and units whose powers and functions have been 
transferred to the Commission. 
 
The transfer of powers and functions to the Department of the concerned 
agencies as herein provided for, shall be deemed completed within six (6) 
months after the effectivity of this Act. The transfer of powers and functions 
shall include all applicable funds, personnel, records, property and equipment, 
as may be necessary. The same shall apply to agencies which have been 
attached to the Department by virtue of this Act. 
 
All agencies transferred, subsumed and attached to the Department, 
shall continue to function under their present mandates until the six-month 
transition period mandated under this Act shall have lapsed. The heads of the 
affected agencies shall continue to serve until replaced. All rights and 
obligations of the affected agencies are hereby transferred to and assumed by 
the Commission, and shall be acted upon in accordance with the rules and 
regulations of the Commission on Audit and other pertinent laws, rules, and 
regulations. 
 
SEC. 38. Absorption or Separation from Service of Employees of the 
Subrogated Agencies. – The current employees of the Water Utilities Division 
of the NWRB, the regulatory offices of MWSS and LWUA, the regulatory units 
of all special economic zones, and all other government agencies and units 
whose powers and functions have been transferred to the Commission shall 
enjoy security of tenure, and shall be absorbed by the Department, in 
accordance with their staffing pattern and the selection process as prescribed 
under Republic Act No. 6656 or the Government Reorganization Law. 
 


Employees opting to be separated from the service as a consequence of 
the consolidation, and reconstitution under the provisions of this Act shall, 
within one (1) month from their separation or phase out from the service, 
receive separation benefits in accordance with existing laws, and those who 
are qualified to retire shall be allowed to retire and be entitled to all benefits 
under existing retirement laws. 
 
SEC. 39. Water Trust Fund. – There is hereby created a Water Trust Fund in 
the Bureau of Treasury. All non-tax revenues, including raw water pricing, 
permit fees, registration fees, supervision and regulation enforcement fees, 
filing fees, testing fees, and other service income from the use of water 
resources shall be remitted to the Water Trust Fund. The trust fund shall be 
accounted separately from the government's general revenues and shall be 
automatically appropriated to the Department. Proceeds from the trust fund 
shall be utilized for water development, water sanitation and waste water 
treatment and management, and water sustainability programs and projects 
authorized under this Act: Provided, That a maximum of ten percent (10%) of 
the total income generated from raw water extraction shall be given as share 
of the concerned local government unit or indigenous peoples (IP) community 
who own the specific areas or land where the raw water was sourced. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
FINAL PROVISIONS. 
 
SEC. 40. Applicability of Ease of Doing Business Law. – The prescribed 
processing time provided under Section 9.b of Republic Act No. 11032, 
otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government 
Service Delivery Act of 2018, shall be applicable to all agencies and LGUs 
covered under this Act particularly on accessing government services. 
 
SEC. 41. Transitory Provisions. – Performance audit of all water-related 
agencies and institutions, including LWUA and water districts, MWSS, MWSS-
RO and its concessionaires, LGU-run utilities, Tourism Infrastructure and 
Enterprise Zone Authority, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Bases 
Conversion and Development Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, 
DILG, and NIA, shall be conducted by the Department. 
 
SEC. 42. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to cover the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's 
appropriations of the agencies and offices transferred and subsumed by the 
Department and the Commission in the General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, 
such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of the Act 
shall be included in the annual GAA. 
 
SEC. 43. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within one hundred eighty 
(180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department, NEDA, DBM, DENR, 
CSC, in consultation with concerned government agencies, the Presidential 
Legislative Liaison Office shall promulgate rules and regulations for the 
effective implementation of this Act. 
 


SEC. 44. Separability Clause. – If for any reason, any portion or provision of 
this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 45. Repealing Clause. – (a) The following provisions are hereby 
repealed: 
 
1) 
Section 3 (h) and Section 12 on the provision with respect to fixing of 
water rates and sanitation service fees, Section 3 (n) on the provision 
with respect to regulation of waterworks and deep wells, and Section 
3 (p) on the provision with respect to regulation of waterworks and 
sanitation systems in privately owned subdivisions of Republic Act 
6234 entitled, An Act Creating The Metropolitan Waterworks And 
Sewerage System And Dissolving The National Waterworks And 
Sewage Authority, And For Other Purposes, as amended; 
 
2) 
Title III on Local Water Utilities Administration Law of Presidential 
Decree No. 198 otherwise known as the Provincial Water Utilities Act 
of 1973, as amended by Letter of Instruction No. 700 - Providing 
Measures To Control And Regulate Increase In Water Rates, Letter 
of Instruction No. 744 - Relative To Reliable Water Supply .At 
Reasonable Rates In The Countryside on the, Executive Order No. 
124, 30 January 1987 - Reorganization Act of the Ministry of Public 
Works and Highways, Executive Order No. 123, 30 January 1987 - 
Reorganization Act of Ministry of Social Services and Development; 
 
3) 
Republic Act No. 3601 as amended by Presidential Decree No. 552 
and Presidential Decree No. 1702 pertaining to the creation of the 
National Irrigation Administration; 
 
4) 
Section 1 of Executive Order No. 124-A S. 1987 Amending Executive 
Order No. 124, dated 30 January 1987, Reorganizing the Department 
of Public Works and Highways, Redefining Its Powers and Functions, 
and For Other Purposes on renaming and reorganizing the National 
Water Resources Council into the National Water Resources Board. 
 
(b)  The following provisions are hereby amended accordingly: 
 
1) 
Section 3 paragraph 3 Commonwealth Act No. 146, as amended, 
otherwise known as the Public Service Act pertaining to all cases 
involving the fixing of rates; 
 
2) 
Section 154, Article V, Chapter I, Title One, Book II of Republic Act 
No. 7160, as amended, otherwise known as the "Local Government 
Code of 1991", and its implementing rules and regulations on the 
power of the local government units to fix the rates of water utilities 
owned, operated and maintained by them within their jurisdiction is 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly; 
 
3) 
Section 13 (b) on the regulation of enterprises within the Economic 
Zone under Republic Act No. 7916 as amended, otherwise known as 
"The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995"; 


 
4) 
Section 69 of Republic Act No. 9593 otherwise known as "The 
Tourism Act of 2009" and its implementing rules and regulations 
which mandate the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone 
Authority to grant franchises, supervise the operation of public 
utilities, and register, monitor and regulate enterprises within Tourism 
Enterprise Zones, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly; 
 
5) 
Sections 7 and 8 on the adjudication of water pollution cases under 
Republic Act No. 3931 entitled, An Act Creating The National Water 
And Air Pollution Control Commission, particularly with respect to 
Section 6 letters e, f, g, j, k Presidential Decree 984 entitled, Providing 
for the Revision of Republic Act No. 3931, Commonly Known as the 
Pollution Control Law, and For Other Purposes; 
 
6) 
Sections 4(1) and 7 of Republic Act No. 9275, otherwise known as 
the "Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004"; 
 
7) 
Articles 3(d) and 79 of Presidential Decree No. 1067, otherwise 
known as The Water Code of the Philippines; 
 
8) 
Sections 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, Chapter II of Presidential Decree No. 
856, otherwise known as the "Code on Sanitation of the Philippines"; 
and 
 
9) 
Section 3.2 (b) of Executive Order No. 149 Series of 1993 transferring 
the Laguna Lake Development Authority from the Office of the 
President to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 
 
All other laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, presidential 
proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
 
SEC. 46. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,