FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
s,8,2444 
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Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is a priority emblazoned by the Constitution to protect the nation's 
marine wealth in its archipelagic waters so that ultimately, the right to use the 
same can be enjoyed by Filipino citizens, 
The call to protect our rivers comes at an even louder voice today, Recent 
studies have shown the Marilao River as among the dirtiest in the world at 
present, filled with excess levels of dangerous heavy metals such as chromium, 
cadmium and lead, It has also recorded zero dissolve oxygen levels and high 
levels of organic pollution, Not to mention the fact that the Pasig River is still 
visibly among the dirtiest river systems in the country, 
By mandating each city or municipality that has a river system to create a 
River Development Authority, we can be assured that protection can be given to 
our river systems and ultimately, to our countrymen, as the protection of the river 
entails not only the protection of marine wealth and life, but also the protection of 
a source of livelihood, food, and even rest and relaxation, Henceforth, the 
passage of this legislation is earnestly sought. 
MANNY VI 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. 2444 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
AN ACT 
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MANDATING EACH CITY OR MUNICIPALITY TO CREATE A RIVER 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE PRESERVATION, PROTECTION AND 
DEVELOPMENT OF ALL RIVERS, RIVER SYSTEMS, AND NATURAL WATERWAYS 
WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Each city or municipality is hereby mandated to create a River 
Development Authority, hereinafter referred to as the Authority, for the preservation, 
protection and development of all rivers, river systems and natural waterways within its 
jurisdiction. 
Sec. 2. The Authority shall execute the powers and functions herein vested and 
conferred upon it in such manner as will, in its judgment, aid to the fullest possible 
extent in carrying out the process set forth in this Act. The Authority shall have the 
following functions: 
a) Prepare a master plan to preserve, protect, develop and exploit all rivers, river 
systems, and natural waterways; 
b) Conduct engineering surveys of rivers, river systems and natural waterways, 
assessing and monitoring water quality, pinpointing pollution sources and 
identifying the rivers that need to be developed for exploitation and 
rehabilitation; 
. 
c) Initiate and facilitate planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of 
pertinent projects with positive impact on environment and development, 
including 
dredging, widening 
and 
deepening of river channels and 
improvement of river alignments; 
d) Prioritize rivers positively identified for development and rehabilitation, and on 
the basis thereof, prepare a river-specific plan of operation for the 
improvement, development and rehabilitation of environmentally degraded 
rivers; 
e) Initiate funding arrangements with local and foreign donors, to finance priority 
development projects and provide direct funding of minor initiatives expected 
to create a positive impact on the environment in the.projected area; 
f) 
Develop information materials to ensure a high degree of environmental 
awareness in government agencies, organizations and the general public; 


g) Make recommendations to the proper agencies offering financial support, 
technical and physical assistance about the level of priority to be accorded 
river systems development and rehabilitation projects; 
h) Coordinate and integrate such projects or operations of local governments, 
agencies, public corporations and, where clearly necessary and feasible, 
those of private entities, as will bear directly upon the plans and activities of 
the Authority so as to make possible an intensive development and 
rehabilitation of the rivers, river systems and natural waterways in the country 
within the context of the master plan. 
i) 
Set up a compact and well-trained staff for effective liaison and consultation 
or joint planning and implementation with government and private entities; 
j) Make an annual report to the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government 
of its activities, including those done in collaboration with the various 
government and private entities engaged in the implantation of the projects 
and programs, which shall include, among others, a comparison of the 
developmental and rehabilitation targets as set for the year ending and the 
extent to which actual accomplishments measure up to such targets, and the 
appropriate administrative and legislative recommendations. 
Sec. 3. The Authority shall have a Board of Directors composed of eleven (11) 
members as follows: 
a) City or municipal council majority floor leader, as Chairman; 
b) City or municipal council minority floor leader; 
c) Chairman of the City or Municipal Council Committee on Public Works; 
d) Chairman of the City or Municipal Council Committee on Appropriations; 
e) City or municipal engineer; 
f) 
City or municipal planning and development officer; 
g) City or municipal planning and development officer; 
h) City or muniCipal administrator; 
i) Three (3) members representing the private sector to be appointed by the city 
or municipal mayor. 
, 
No member of the Board shall, during his term, be financially interested, directly 
or indirectly, in any contract entered into by the Authority or in any special privileges 
granted b·y the Authority. All contracts entered into in violation of this provision shall be 
null and void. 
Sec. 4. The Board shall exercise the following powers and functions: 
a) Formulate, prescribe, amend and repeal rules and regulations to govern the 
conduct of operation of the Authority; 
b) Appoint the necessary staff of Authority and to fix their compensation in 
accordance with existing laws; 
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c) Suspend, remove or otherwise discipline for just cause any staff member 
appointed by the Board; 
d) Recommend the annual and supplemental budgets of the Authority; 
e) Render annual reports to the secretary of the Interior and Local Government 
and to the city or municipal mayor and such special reports as may be 
requested; and 
f) 
Do such other acts and perform such other functions as may be necessary to 
carry out the provisions of this Act. 
Sec. 5. The Secretary of the Interior and Local Government shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
Sec. 6. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be 
charged to the appropriations of the Department of Interior and Local Government. 
Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its continued operation shall be included 
in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
Sec. 7. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
Sec. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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