SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriquez, Jr.

House Bill No.4958

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The proposed measure seeks to amend the Charter of the National Irrigation
Administration as provided under Republic Act No. 3601, as amended, in order to
institutionalize the representation of farmers in the governing board of the said agency
Under the present law, the NIA Board is composed of six members, which include one
private sector representative.

Under R.A. No. 3601, small farmers are not assured of representation in the said
Board since the law does not expressly or specifically provide for such representation
Considering that irrigation services have a vital and direct impact on agricultural production,
their efficient management and delivery is the foremost concern of small farmers, Thus, the
said sector should be given adequate representation in the NIA Board.

Moreover, irrigation services should not be limited to rice and corn lands but should
include other crops. To stress this policy, we must not limit private sector representation in
the NIA Board to the rice and com sector.

Article XII, Section 16 of the Constitution mandates that, “the right of the people and
their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, political
and economic decision-making shall not be abridged.” The bill seeks to implement this
policy by providing for one small farmers’ representative for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,

The bill also aims to complement and reiterate the policy of equitable distribution of
benefits and opportunities in agricultural development and empowerment of small farmers,
as enunciated in Republic Act No. 7607 (The Magna Carta of Small Farmers). Under the
said law, the farmers’ representative chosen by their national organizations shall sit in the
governing boards of government agencies, which include the NIA. Although the said
provision allows small farmers to participate in the NIA Board, experience has shown that
such participation is most effective and empowering if the farmers’ representatives are
adequate in number.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is strongly recommended

Wi

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.
House Bill No. 4958

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THREE SMALL FARMERS’ REPRESENTATIVES IN THE NATIONAL
IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (NIA) BOARD BY AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO.
3601, AS AMENDED BY PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 552 AND FURTHER AMENDED
BY EXECUTIVE ORDER 292, DATED JULY 25, 1987 ENTITLED, “AN ACT CREATING
THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION”

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

SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 3601 as amended by Presidential Decree No.
552 and further amended by Executive Order No. 292, dated July 25, 1987 is hereby further
amended to read as follows

“SEC. 4. Board of Directors - The powers and functions of the National
Irrigation Administration (NIA) shall be exercised by the Board of Directors composed
of [six(6)] EIGHT (8) members, to wit

The Secretary of Agriculture, who shall be the Vice-Chairman; the Director-
General of the National Economic and Development Authority, the Secretary
‘of Public Works and Highways, the General Manager of the National Power
Corporation, and [one (1) member] THREE (3) MEMBERS REPRESENTING
THE SMALL FARMERS OF LUZON, VISAYAS AND MINDANAO,
RESPECTIVELY, who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines
upon due notice to and on recommendation of any national [rice and corn]
SMALL FARMERS organization of good standing and who shall serve for a
term of four (4) years unless sooner remove.”

SEC. 2. Repeal. — All laws, rules and issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the date of its

complete publication in the Official Gazette or, in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation

Approved,