Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 2514

Introduced by Representative Lorenz R. Defensor

EXPLANATORY zB

What if the very basic element of life is no longer available for the over twelve
(12) million Filipinos living in Metro Manila? That scenario happening to over 100
million Filipinos all over the country is not too far off if we do not act right now.

We have seen a prelude of this devastation in 2019 when Metro Manila suffered
the worst water crisis in decades. The same situation can also be said in almost
everywhere in the country where water was so scarce that even the poorest Filipinos
were forced to buy clean drinking water to survive.

Let us bear in mind that “access to safe drinking water and sanitation is ‘a
human right: a right to life and human dignity’1, ‘essential for the full enjoyment of life
and all human rights.’”

R.A No. 8041 or the National Water Crisis Act of 1995 was passed to adopt
urgent and effective measures to address the nationwide crisis, which adversely
affected the health of the population, food production and industrialization process. In
2004, R.A. 9275 or the Water Quality Management Act was passed to ensure a reliable
supply of water through the development of new water sources. However, despite the
passage of these two landmark legislations, and a number of other bills of similar
import filed during previous Congresses, the construction of new water sources have
not started until now. Significantly, Angat Dam can longer sustain the needs of Metro
Manila.

+2011 UN Human Rights Council Resolution
22010 UN General Assembly Resolution2010


We can no longer allow the lack of political will to further delay the
implementation of long-term solutions. We need to create a new department in
government that will rationalize and streamline the implementation of all existing
policies, laws, and regulations affecting water resources including irrigation, sewage
and sanitation as well as coordinate the functions of all relevant agencies. Thus, the
creation of the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is crucial in these times.

There is also a need to identify, map-out, and create an accurate database of all
water resources and the volume they can produce such as the 3,000 Million Liters per
Day (MLD) from the Laiban Dam if constructed, 600 MLD from Kaliwa Dam, 550 MLD
from Wawa Dam, 190 MLD from the Sumag River. Identifying our water resources will
ensure their equitable appropriation, sustainable utilization, exploitation, development,
conservation and protection.

We must likewise recognize that all water related infrastructure as certified by
the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) as priority must be declared as
projects of national interest to guarantee their construction and completion is
unimpeded.

In his State of the Nation Address on 22 July 2019, the President called on
Congress to pave the way for the creation of a Department of Water Resources and
Regulatory Commission to address the water shortage in the country.

This bill if passed into law, will address this problem, and ensure that the right to
clean, safe, and sustainable water is safeguarded for our posterity and for the full
enjoyment of life of 100 million Filipino.

For these reasons, the immediate consideration and passage of this bill is

earnestly sought.

LORENZ R| DEFENSOR


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Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 2544

Introduced by Representative Lorenz R. Defensor

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE WATER SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
INITIATIVE CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE DEPARTMENT
OF WATER RESOURCES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Water Security and
Sustainability Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. —\t is the policy of the State to promote and
protect the right of the people to safe, clean and affordable water as a basic human
right. The State also recognizes that the effective utilization and conservation of
the country’s water and resources are essential to the continuous enjoyment by the
people of a dignified life.

Towards this end, the State shall promulgate measures to ensure that people
have access to safe, clean and affordable drinking water, and to adequate services
and facilities for irrigation, sewage and sanitation.

In pursuit of this policy, this Act shall have the following objectives:


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a) Recognize and address the existing water crisis confronting the country;

b) Expedite the construction and completion of water related infrastructure
projects identified by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
ealasctardihe teancas projects of national interest;

©) Identify and map all water sources in the country to guarantee their
security, optimum development, and rational utilization while ensuring their
sustainable appropriation and conservation;

d) Define the extent of the rights and obligations of water users and owners
including the protection and regulation of such rights;

©) Ensure the equitable appropriation, sustainable utilization, exploitation,
development, conservation and protection of water resources, watersheds, and the
management and control of land related thereto;

f) Encourage participation of the private sector in the development,
utilization, conservation, and protection of water resources and water related
infrastructure projects; and

g) Recognize, protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and
healthful ecology in accord with the chythm and harmony of nature.

SEC. 3. Projects of National Interest. — Water infrastructure projects
identified by the NEDA to ensure adequate, sustainable, safe and secure water
supply including the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project are
declared as projects of national interest. Therefore, the construction and

completion of such projects shall be unimpeded. The Department of Water


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Resources created under Section 5 of this Act is mandated to expedite the
implementation of such projects and coordinate with all relevant agencies and
entities including local government units, the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources, National Commission for Indigenous Peoples, and the
Department of Public Works and Highways to ensure their completion.

SEC. 4. Department of Water Resources. — There is hereby established a
Department of Water Resources, hereinafter referred to as the Department, which
shall manage all water resources within the jurisdiction of the Philippines,
rationalize and streamline the implementation of all existing policies, laws, and
regulations affecting water resources including irrigation, sewage and sanitation.

The following agencies or corporate entities ma hereby transferred to the
Department from the authority of their current mother agencies or offices:

a) National Water Resources Board, which is currently under the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);

b) Local Water Utilities Administration, which is currently under the Office
of the President; and

©) ‘National Irrigation Administration, which is currently under the Office
of the President.

The Department, in coordination with the relevant agencies and entities, shall
create a data base, and, if necessary, conduct a survey for the purposes of

identifying, marking, and creating a detailed diagrammatic representation of all


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water sources within the jurisdiction of the Philippines for to ensure its
conservation, protection, sustainable appropriation, and optimum development.

"The Department shall also be responsible for the enforcement functions of
Republic Act No. 9275, otherwise known as the “Philippine Clean Water Act of
2004,” as well as all the other water management functions of the Environmental
Management Bureau of the DENR.

‘The Department shall be organized not later than one hundred eighty (180)
days after the approval of this Act.

SEC. 5. Powers and Duties of the Department. ~The Department shall
exercise the following powers and duties:

a) Formulate and develop policies to promote universal access to safe,
adequate, affordable and sustainable water supply, and sanitation services;

b) Manage, protect and preserve the water resources to ensure the optimal
use thereof for domestic water supply, sanitation, irrigation, hydropower,
navigation, flood control and recreation including the enhancement and
maintenance of water quality, conservation of watersheds, control of water
pollution and environmental restoration, without compromising the natural
ecosystem functions and services;

©) Manage the ownership, appropriation, utilization, exploitation,

development, conservation and protection of water resources;


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d) Formulate and enforce rules and regulations in the administration and
management of the water resources and implement rules and guidelines for the
enforcement of the laws on water including its utilization and conservation;

©) Coordinate with relevant entities to provide policy directions, strategies
and targets to meet the goals and objectives of water supply, and sanitation
management by integrating the issues of safe water and sanitation;

f) Conduct continuing surveys and studies on renewable water supply with
a view towards formulating long-term policies to balance the sustainability and
optimal use of water resources, defining the hydrologic boundaries of basins of the
existing water supply sources, and creating and implementing country wide master
plans for water resources management and development;

2) Undertake and coordinate with other government agencies and entities
in data gathering, scientific research and studies on water resources management
and development, and conduct nationwide hydrologic surveys to determine the
annual renewable water available per region;

h) Classify water quality standards for surface and ground water, including
establishing’ national standards for drinking water and waste water;

i) Effect inter-sectoral, inter-agency, and inter-departmental planning, data
gathering, research and developmental studies on safe water and sanitation and
compel submissions of statistic and data on water management with the aim of

operationalizing the integrated approach to water resources management;


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}) Regulate and control the utilization, exploitation, abstraction, diversion
and development of water resources, taking into consideration its equitable
distribution, and determine the standards of beneficial and priority uses of water in
times of crisis and national emergencies;

k) Assist and provide the NEDA with required data and inputs from and
for the water sector in the formulation of the short-term and long-term strategic
development plans and actions;

1) Coordinate with the National Irrigation Administration and other
relevant agencies and develop policies and plans in respect of water resources used
for farming, including sustainable mechanisms for irrigation;

m) — Study all plans, programs, or development projects that affect water
resources, its diversion or abstraction, and the construction of hydraulic facilities,
including plans and projects in watershed or basin areas of water supply sources,
which have direct ot indirect impact on the affected locality's water resources;

n) Review from time to time regulations prescribed by any government
agency pertaining to water use, exploitation, development, conservation, or
protection of waters, water resources and watershed or basin areas;

0) Authorize its representatives or any deputized agent to enter any [40]
property of public dominion or 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;


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p) Require local government units (LGUs) and national agencies to submit
zoning and land use plans, which shall not become effective and enforceable unless
and until a certification of integration of water, and sanitation resource
ue plan has been issued by the Department;

q) Provide technical assistance to water, sewer and sanitation users,
including farmers and LGUs, whether directly or in coordination with other
agencies, to assist them in applying for water permits and providing data on water
and sanitation resource usage;

1) Provide integrated planning for flood control, flood risk management
and water resource development and management systems, and other public
works;

s) Issue and promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines as maybe
necessary to implement and enforce its powers and functions under this Act;

t) Appoint, hire and maintain adequate staff and personnel, advisers or
consultants with suitable qualifications and experience, as maybe necessary; and

u) Exercise such other powers and functions necessary or incidental or that
which the President may, from time to time, assign to the Department to carry out
the objectives of this Act and for the effective administration and management of
water resources and sanitation.

SEC. 6. Department Secretary; Powers and Functions. — 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


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Department, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, who shall be appointed by the
President of the Philippines.

‘The Secretary shall exercise the following powers and functions:

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; and

©) Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the objectives,
policies and functions of the Department.

No person shall be appointed Secretary unless the appointee possesses
extensive knowledge of public administration and has a minimum seven (7) years
of experience in the administration of water resources or sanitation programs,
preferably in a public agency.

SEC. 7. Office of the Secretary. — The Office of the Secretary shall be
composed of the Secretary and immediate staff.

SEC. 8. Undersecretaries. — The Secretary shall be assisted by not more than
three (3) Undersecretaries, who shall be appointed by the President upon the
recommendation of the Secretary. The Secretary is authorized to delineate and
assign the respective functional areas of responsibility of the Undersecretaries with

respect to the mandate and objectives of the Department.


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Within the functional area of responsibility, an Undersecretary shall have the
following functions:

a) Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and implementation of
Dennett policies, plans, programs and projects;

b) Supervise all the operational activities of the assigned units for which the
Undersecretary is responsible to the Secretary; and

©) Perform such other duties and responsibilities as maybe assigned or
delegated by the Secretary to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of
public services ot as maybe required by this Act or other laws.

One (1) of the Undersecretaries shall be the Undersecretary for Planning who
shall have primary responsibility, in coordination with the Planning Service, for
advancing domestic efforts in the pursuit of the ultimate goal of universal access to
water supply and sanitation systems, and sustainable management of water
resources. The Undersecretary for Planning shall also have primary responsibility
for knowledge sharing and advancement of efforts around the integration of water,
energy, environment and food security.

The Undersecretaries must possess a working knowledge of public
administration and must have a minimum of five (5) years of experience in the
administration of water or sanitation programs, preferably in a public agency or

with legal or financial knowledge of such programs.


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The Undersecretaries shall exercise the powers and functions as provided
under Section 10, Chapter 2, Book IV of Executive Order No. 292, otherwise
known as the “Administrative Code of 1987.”

SEC. 9. Assistant Secretaries. — The Secretary shall also be assisted by five
(5) Assistant Secretaries appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the
recommendation of the Secretary: one (1) for the Monitoring and Information
Service; one (1) for the Planning Service: one (1) for the Comptrollership and
Financial Management Service; and one (1) for the Administrative and Human
Resource Management Service.

‘The Assistant Secretaries must possess a working knowledge of public
administration and must have a minimum of three (3) years of experience in the
administration of water or sanitation programs, or other public works programs.
‘The Assistant Secretaries shall perform such duties and functions as maybe
assigned by the Secretary or provided for by law.

SEC. 10. Organizational Structure. —

a) The Department shall determine its organizational structure and create
new divisions or units as it may deem necessary, and shall appoint officers and
employees of the Department in accordance with the civil service law, rules, and
regulations.

b) Initially, the Department shall be composed of the following
organizational units:

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1) _ Department proper consisting of the Office of the Secretary, the Offices
of the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, the Administrative and Human
Resource Management Service, Monitoring and Information Service, Planning
Service, Comptrollership and Financial Management Service and Legal Service;

2) National Water Resources Board, whose mandate, powers and functions
are found in Presidential Decree No. 424, as amended;

3) Local Water Utilities Administration, whose mandate, powers and
functions are defined in Presidential Decree No. 198, as amended;

4) National Irrigation Administration, whose mandate, power and
functions are stated in Republic Act No. 3601, as amended and Presidential Decree
No. 552, as amended;

5) Water Management Bureau, which is tasked to enforce and implement
Republic Act No. 9275 and all environmental laws related to water management
and conservation; and

6) Regional offices, as deemed appropriate and necessary by the Secretary
in accordance with Section 16 of this Act.

©) The following agencies are attached to the Department for policy and
program coordination, and shall continue to operate and function in accordance
with their respective charters, laws, or orders creating them, insofar as they are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act:

1) Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System;

2) Laguna Lake Development Authority; and
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2.

3) Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.

d) The President may order the transfer to the Department of any other
agency exercising water resources management, conservation and protection
functions.

SEC. 11, Administrative and Human Resource Management Service. -
‘The Administrative and Human Resource Management Service is responsible for
providing services relating to human resources development, personnel, records,
facilities maintenance, medical and dental, security, and property and procurement
services.

‘The Administrative and Human Resource Management Service shall have the
following functions:

a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to internal administration and
human resources management;

b) Prepare and implement an integrated personnel plan that includes
provisions on merit promotions, performance evaluation, job rotation, suggestions
and incentive awards systems, and health and welfare services;

©) Provide services related to human resources training, education, and
development, including manpower, career planning and forecasting, and
development of indigenous training materials;

d) Develop, establish, and maintain an efficient and cost-effective

property procurement system and facilities, and coordinate or otherwise interface

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with relevant agencies, whether government or private, for the purpose of
developing or upgrading the system;

©) Secure and maintain necessary Department facilities, and develop,
establish, and maintain an efficient and effective security system covering, among
others, personnel, physical installations, equipment, documents, and materials,
including the conduct of security investigations;

£) Coordinate with the appropriate government agencies for a more
efficient conduct of administrative processes;

2) Develop, establish, and maintain an efficient records system;

h) Provide assistance in its area of specialization to the Department proper,
bureaus, and regional offices and, when requested, the government agencies and
corporations attached to the Department; and

i) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as maybe assigned
or delegated by the Secretary or as maybe required by law.

SEC. 12. Monitoring and Information Service. — ‘The Monitoring and
Information Service is responsible for providing the Secretary timely reports on the
status of various Department projects and activities and develop and implement
information programs for mass dissemination in coordination with the appropriate
government agencies.

‘The Monitoring and Information Service shall have the following functions:

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a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to the monitoring of the
Department’s projects and activities and implementing public information
programs;

b) Develop and maintain a system for retrieving and processing
monitoring information on all projects and activities of concern to the Secretary;

©) Provide accurate and timely status and exception reports to the
Secretary;

d) Generate monitoring reports for the President, the Cabinet, or for any
other purpose as required by the Secretary;

©) Develop and supervise the implementation of communications
programs to have relevant policies, programs, and plans of the Department
understood by the public;

f) Produce and supervise the dissemination of media materials in line with
national government public information programs;

2) Coordinate with the appropriate national government agencies tasked
with public information affairs; and

h) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as maybe assigned
or delegated by the Secretary or as maybe required by law.

SEC. 13. Planning Service. — The Planning Service is responsible for
providing the Department with the capability to undertake infrastructure
development planning and programming.

‘The Planning Service shall have the following functions:


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a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to infrastructure planning;

b) Assist the Undersecretary for Planning on all matters related to the
specific functions of the position;

©) Formulate strategies and priorities for infrastructure development
consistent with national development objectives and initiate or undertake relevant
surveys for development planning;

d) Formulate long-range, medium-term, and annual development plans and
programs for infrastructure, including flood control, water resource development
systems, and other public works projects, including phasing of implementation and
review and integrate land use plans with these water development plans;

©) Identify priority packages for infrastructure development, including
flood control, water resource development systems, and other public works
projects, and undertake or supervise and evaluate the conduct of feasibility studies
and project preparation thereof;

f) Prioritize project implementation and the allocation of funds and other
resources and package project proposals for funding and implementation;

g) Evaluate and appraise all regional interregional _ infrastructure
development plans and programs as to their feasibility and consistency with
approved strategies and long and medium-term plans;

h) Initiate regular Department-wide planning exercises and act as the
secretariat thereof;

i) Gather, analyze, and organize needed statistical data and information;

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}) Provide technical assistance related to its functions to the other services,
bureaus, and the regional offices as needed; and

k) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as maybe assigned
or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

SEC. 14. Comptrollership and Financial Management Service. — The
Comptrollership and Financial Management Service is responsible for providing
the Department with coordinated services relating to financial systems and
procedures including budgeting, cash management, accounting, and all financial
housekeeping matters.

‘The Comptrollership and Financial Management Service shall have the
following functions:

a) 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;

b) Prepare budget proposals and pursue formal budget authorizations,
undertake budget execution, and prepare and submit all appropriate reports to the
proper GEficess

©) Develop and maintain accounting, financial, and assets management
systems, procedures, and practices in the Department proper, bureaus, and regional

offices;

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d) 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

) 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
proper, bureaus, and regional offices; and

£) _Pesform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned
or delegated by the Secretary or as maybe required by law.

SEC. 15. Legal Service. — ‘The Legal Service is responsible for providing the
Department with services on such legal affairs as contract letting and litigation,
legal and legislative research, complaints and investigation, legal counseling, and
other matters of law.

‘The Legal Service shall have the following functions:

a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to legal affairs;

b) Prepare Department contracts and legal instruments, review and
interpret all contracts and agreements entered into by the Department, and
evaluate all legal proposals;

©) Conduct administrative investigation as well as the review of
administrative charges against officers and employees of the Department;

d) Exercise functional jurisdiction over the legal staffs of regional

offices;

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©) Provide legal assistance to the Department proper, the bureaus, and
regional offices and, when requested, the attached corporations; and

f) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as maybe assigned
or delegated by the Secretary or 28 maybe requited by law.

SEC. 16. Regional Office. - The Department may establish, operate, and
maintain a regional office in the different administrative regions of the country as
may be deemed appropriate and necessary by the Secretary.

Regional offices shall be responsible for flood control, water resource
development systems, and other public works within their regional jurisdiction. For
this purpose, their duties and responsibilities shall be as follows:

a) Undertake and evaluate the planning, design, construction, and works
supervision functions of the Department for the infrastructure projects within the
region;

b) Undertake the maintenance of the infrastructure within the region and
supervise the maintenance of such local infrastructure receiving national
government financial assistance as the Secretary may determine;

©) Ensure the implementation of laws, policies, programs, rules, and
regulations regarding the infrastructure as well as all public and private physical
structures;

d) Provide technical assistance related to their functions to other agencies

within the region especially to LGUs;

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©) Coordinate with other departments, agencies, institutions, and
organizations, especially LGUs within the region, in the planning and
implementation of water infrastructure projects;

{Conduct continuing consultations with the local communities, take
appropriate measures to make the services of the Department responsive to the
needs of the general public, compile and submit such information to the central
office, and recommend such appropriate actions as maybe necessary; and

Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as maybe assigned
or delegated by the Secretary or as maybe required by law.

‘The Department shall retain and have such project management offices as
maybe required, which shall be under the supervision and control of the
appropriate regional director, unless otherwise determined by the Secretary for
reasons of supra- regional scope, magnitude, and multi-functional coverage.

SEC. 17. Regional Director, — ‘The regional office shall be headed by a
regional director who is responsible for efficiently and effectively carrying out the
duties and responsibilities of the regional office. Towards this end, the regional
director shall, within the defined powers, exercise functional and administrative
supervision over district offices within the region including the authority to commit
their resources and personnel to integrated regional water management and flood
control and flood risk, management initiatives. The regional director shall also
perform such other related duties and responsibilities as maybe assigned or

delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

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‘The regional director shall be assisted by an assistant regional director who
shall exercise supervision on the planning, project design, evaluation, and technical
assistance functions of the regional office.

SEC. 18. Interface with Other Sector Regulators. —

a) ‘The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall
continue to have the primary authority and responsibility for protecting the
environment and shall complement the Department's responsibility for the
conservation of water and related natural resources, including protecting water
bodies from waste and pollution. The DENR shall continue to promulgate rules,
regulations, and standards in this regard. The Department shall coordinate with the
DENR with respect to the conservation of water resources.

b) The Department of Health (DOH) shall have primary authority and
responsibility for determining and enforcing drinking water quality and sanitation
standards, The Department shall coordinate with the DOH to achieve an
integrated approach for sanitation, including collection, treatment, and evaluation
of waste water.

©) ‘The Department shall share responsibility with the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for wholly or primarily water-related public
works projects including flood control, water resources development, sewerage,
sanitation, and the harnessing and impounding of water. The Secretaries of the

Department and the DPWH shall coordinate on the development of evaluation

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criteria, as necessary, to determine proper allocation of public works projects
between the two departments.

d) The Department shall coordinate with the Department of Agriculture to
ensure availability of water for agricultural development, reduce sources of long-
term pollution for surface water and ground water, and agricultural and industrial
economic development through irrigation, water recycling and treating waste water.

SEC. 19. 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 relevant parts of any government agency or unit whose powers and functions
have been transferred to the Department.
ie athe foregoing transfer of powers and functions shall be completed not later
than six (6) months from the approval of this Act and shall include all applicable
funds, personnel, records, property, and equipment, as maybe necessary. All offices
shall continue to function under their present mandates until transition is effected
as provided for under this Act.

‘All tights and obligations of said government agencies are hereby transferred
to and assumed by the Department 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. 20. Separation from Service. — Employees separated from

government service as a result of this Act shall, within six (6) months from thei

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Heparatignt from the secvice, receive the benefits to which they may be entitled
under existing laws, rules, and regulations.

SEC. 21. Funding. — The sum of One Hundred Million Pesos
(P100,000,000.00) shall be set aside from any available funds of the National
Treasury, and is hereby appropriated and authorized to be released, for the
organization and initial operations of the Department.

‘Thereafter, funds sufficient to fully carry out the objectives, powers, and
functions of the Department shall be included in the annual General
‘Appropriations Act.

NSEC! 22. Periodic Performance Fraluation, — ‘The Depactment is hereby
required to formulate and enforce a system of measuring and evaluating
periodically and objectively the performance of the Department and submit the
same annually to the President.

SEC. 23. Prohibition Against Organizational Change. — No change in the
organizational steucture herein prescribed shall be valid except upon prior approval
of the President for the purpose of promoting efficiency and effectiveness in the
delivery of public services.

SEC. 24. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is
declared unconstitutional ot invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not affected
shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 25. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, letters of

instructions, executive orders, rules, regulations, and other issuances or parts

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thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby revoked, repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

The provisions on the charter creating the following agencies which are
inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended or modified accordingly, to wit: i)
National Water Resources Board under Presidential Decree No. 424 as amended;
ii) Local Water Utilities Administration created by Presidential Dectee No. 198 as
amended; iii) National Irrigation Administration Republic Act No. 3601 as
amended;

Furthermore, sub-sections 4()) and 4(ee) of Republic Act No. 9275, entitled
“Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004,” Section 1 of Executive Order No. 860, entitled
“Redefining the Composition and Powers of the National Water Resources Board,” Series of
2010, Section 49 of Presidential Decree No. 198, entitled “Declaring a National
Policy Favoring Local Operation and Control of Water Systems; Authorizing the Formation of
Local Water Districts and Providing for the Government and Administration of such Districts;
Chartering a National Administration to Facilitate Improvement of Local Water Utilities;
Granting said Administration such Powers as are Necessary to Optimize Public Se Nice from
Water Utility Operations, and For Other Purposes," as amended, Executive Order No.
165, entitled “Transferring the National Food Authority, National Irrigation Administration,
Philippine Authority, and Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority to the Office of the President,”
Series of 2014, Section 3.3(b) of Executive Order No. 149, entitled “Streamlining of

the Office of the President,” Series of 1993, and Section 3(h) of Executive Order No. 54,

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entitled “Creating the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission,” Series of 1999, are
hereby amended or modified accordingly to be consistent with this Act.

SEC. 26. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
eee aad Gare este ewsriep cu of general ciacplation:

Approved,

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