EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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S E N A T E  
S. No. 93 8
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•19 
AUG 20 P2--42
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
RECc1V:D8V___
AN ACT
MANDATING ALL EMPLOYERS IN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS, 
INCLUDING 
ALL 
GOVERNMENT 
OFFICES, 
AGENCIES 
AND 
INSTRUMENTALITIES, TO PROVIDE, FREE OF CHARGE, CLEAN, HEALTHY, 
SUFFICIENT AND ACCESSIBLE DRINKING WATER TO ALL ITS EMPLOYEES
Explanatory Note
The United Nations recognized one's access to water as a basic human right. 
There has to be sufficient, accessible and affordable water.
In the Philippines, the standards and procedures on drinking water quality to 
protect public/consumers' health are prescribed in the National Standards for 
Drinking Water which started way back in 1963 and revised in Department of Health 
Administrative Order No. 2017-10.
According to studies, adult humans are 60% water and our blood is 90% 
water. To function properly, all the cells and organs of the body need water. 
Drinking water is needed to lubricate the joints, form saliva, deliver oxygen 
throughout the body, cushion the brain, spinal cord, and other sensitive tissues, 
regulate body temperature, produce hormones and neurotransmitters, help food 
pass through the intestines, and flush body waste, among others.1
Drinking-water, no matter how essential, is unfortunately not free. Refilling 
stations charge around PhpSO.OO per 5 gallons of drinking-water. For people who 
are working in the field or those who are obligated to move around and outside an
1 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/290814. php


office, bottled mineral water ranges from PhplS.OO to Php40.00 depending on the 
volume (1 liter to 1.5 liters).
This legislative measure seeks to remove the burden of having to spend for 
healthy drinking water in line of duty. It mandates all employers to provide free, 
healthy, and accessible drinking water to all employees during working hours 
whether or not the latter's work, tasks and/or duties are performed inside or outside 
office or business premises. This legislative measure likewise seeks to penalize non- 
compliant employers who will deprive employees of the basic human need to have 
healthy and accessible drinking water.
It is for the foregoing considerations and reasons that the immediate approval 
of this legislative measure is earnestly sought.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
)
S E N A T E
S. No. 938
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•19 
AUG 20 
P2--43
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
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AN ACT
MANDATING ALL EMPLOYERS IN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS, 
INCLUDING 
ALL 
GOVERNMENT 
OFFICES, 
AGENCIES 
AND 
INSTRUMENTALITIES, TO PROVIDE, FREE OF CHARGE, CLEAN, HEALTHY, 
SUFFICIENT AND ACCESSIBLE DRINKING-WATER TO ALL ITS EMPLOYEES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the 'Tubig Para Sa Mga 
Empieyado Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is the declared policies of the State to 
promote the general welfare of everyone and to protect and promote everyone's 
right to health.
Further, the State affirms that labor is a primary social economic force. The 
State shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare. It is hereby 
declared as a policy of the State to ensure that all employees shall be provided, free 
of charge, with clean, healthy, sufficient and accessible drinking water.
Sec. 3. Definition o f Terms. -  The following terms as used in this Act shall
mean:
a. Drinking Water -  water that is compliant with Administrative Order No. 
2017-0010 issued by the Office of the Secretary, Department of Health (DOH) or the 
"Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water" or "PNSDW";
b. Employee -  any employee or worker regardless of the nature of 
employment, including regular, non-regular, project-based, contractuals, permanent, 
casuals, co-terminus, job order employees and/or personnel.


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Sec. 4. Mandatory Provision o f Drinking-Water to all Employees. -  All 
employers in the private and public sectors are mandated to provide, free of charge, 
healthy, sufficient and accessible drinking-water to all its employees during working 
hours while performing their respective tasks and/or duties inside or outside the 
office or business place and premises thereof.
Employers shall provide the above-mentioned drinking-water not in the form 
of monetary allowance of whatever nature and shall never be allowed to deduct the 
expenses for said item in the salaries, allowances and/or benefits of/for the 
employees.
Sec. 5. Penalties. -  A fine of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Phpl00,000.00) 
to Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php500,000.00) and/or imprisonment of six (6) 
months to two (2) years shall be imposed to an employer per violation of Section 4 
of this Act.
For juridical entities, the officer(s)/official(s) responsible for the above 
mentioned violation shall be the one(s) to be penalized. Said officer(s)/official(s) 
shall be solidarily liable with the juridical entity in relation to the payment of fines.
In case of public officers/officials/employees, the accessory penalty of 
perpetual disqualification from public office shall likewise be imposed. Filing of other 
appropriate administrative cases is not barred by the implementation of this Act.
Sec. 6. Prescription. -  Violations of Section 4 of this Act shall prescribe in one 
(1) year from the date of the discovery of said violation.
Sec. 7. Jurisdiction. -  Violations of this Act shall be cognizable by the 
appropriate Regional Trial Courts where said violations were committed.
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The Department of Labor and 
Employment (DOLE) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government 
(DILG), together with the Department of Health (DOH), Civil Service Commission 
(CSC), Department of Budget Management (DBM), and all other involved agencies, 
shall formulate and promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations of 
this Act within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. -  If for any reason any section or provision of this 
Act is declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions 
thereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.


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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules or regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended, or modified accordingly.
Sec. 11. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days upon 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,