TATIVES

RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session
225
House Bill No. _©©~

RETA AN UNIT
X SERVICE

Introduced by: Representative Manuel Jose M. Dalipe

AN ACT
REVOKING THE IRRIGATION SERVICE FEES (ISFs) IMPOSED ON
FARMERS BY THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC
ACT NO. 3601, PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO.552 AND PRESIDENTIAL
DECREE NO.1701 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title. “This Act shall be known as the “Free Irrigation Services
Act”,

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State
to adhere to the principle of integrated and holistic program of support services that will
alleviate the situation of farmers to enable them to attain their full potentials as productive
forces of society as an integral part of social justice enunciated by the Constitution.

The State adheres to the promotion of a comprehensive rural development
program through increased agricultural production and the adoption of necessary and
sound measures to accelerate the achievement of self-sufficiency in food, equitable
access to opportunities and sustained productivity as key strategies to raise the quality of
life in rural areas and overall national development.

Towards this objective, it shall endeavor to provide the necessary and vital
support services and assistance to farmers, including but not limited to inputs to
production, production support, post-harvest facilities and irrigation services.

SECTION 3. Revocation of the Irrigation Service Fees (ISF) - Upon the
passage of this Act, all farmer beneficiaries shall be exempt from the payment of the
Irrigation Service Fees and the collection thereof, including the collection of back

accounts and the corresponding penalties therefore from irrigation systems constructed,


. Republic of the Philippines

Congress of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
2251
House Bill No, “© +

Introduced by: Representative Manuel Jose M. Dalipe

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is a government- owned and
controlled corporation primarily responsible for irrigation development and management
services in the Philippines. Its functions include the planning, designing, construction,
and improvement of all types of irrigation projects. It is also tasked to operate, maintain,
and administer all national irrigation systems.

NIA’s Charter allows the charging of Irrigation Service Fees or ISFs in exchange
for providing irrigation to farmers, depending on the size of their farmlands. The ISFs
were abolished by then President Joseph E. Estrada when he delivered his first State of
the Nation Address in 1998 but were reinstated when NIA sought the adoption of a
socialized irrigation fee system, as mandated by Administrative Order No.17 of August
1998. The ISFs are intermittently suspended, especially in times of calamities when it
was unreasonable to impose additional fees on farmers.

However, there is a need to revisit the status quo. Irrigation is a very basic
governmental function that can very easily be shouldered by the State. It does not have
to be passed on to farmers, Considering that it is a key factor in increasing substantial
agricultural productivity, requiring the State to subsidize it will definitely bring a long
way in ensuring adequate food supply and the early recovery of the principal means of
hood of people in disaster-hit and poverty-stricken areas.

Corollary to this, the Constitution provides for an equitable distribution of
opportunities, income, wealth and a sustained increase in the amount of goods and
services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; and an expanding
productivity as the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially the under-
privileged.

‘Thus, this bill is filed with the intention to revoke the irrigation service fees (ISFs)
and to make irrigation services free for all farmers.

The early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

MANUEL JOSE IPE
Representative, 2" Distri boanga City


funded, and /or managed by the National Irrigation Administration, shall be revoked
immediately. In this regard, Section 2 (c) of Republic Act No. 3601, Section 1(b) of
Presidential Decree 552, and Section 1(b) of Presidential Decree 1702 are hereby
repealed accordingly.

SECTION 4. Construction, Repair and Maintenance of National Irrigation
Systems. - For the purpose of ensuring the continuity of the necessary construction,
repair and maintenance of irrigation systems administered by the National Irrigation
Administration, the required amounts for the same shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act (GAA).

SECTION 5. Government Subsidy for the Management of Irrigation
System.- The State shall provide the necessary subsidies to farmers and irrigators
associations and cooperatives to ensure the effective and grassroots-based management
of irrigation systems, the funding of which shall likewise be included in the Annual
General Appropriations Act (GAA).

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees or issuances,
executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules or regulations
contrary to or inconsistent with this Act, or which may be construed, either expressly or
impliedly, to grant the National Irrigation Administration the power to levy any kind of
irrigation fee or other kind of monetary imposition, are hereby repealed, modified, or
amended accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the

application of such provision to any person or circumstance is declared invalid, the

remainder of the Act or the application of such provision to other persons or

circumstances shall not be affected by such declaration.

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette and newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.