HOUSE OF REPRESENTATH
RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES|
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session REGISTRATION UNIT
BILLS AND iNDEX SERVICE

HOUSE BILLNO. 1745 __

__Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT REQUIRING ALL PROVINCES AND CITIES THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY TO ACQUIRE PORTABLE WATER FILTERS TO ENSURE
POTABLE WATER SUPPLY DURING DISASTERS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is prone to disasters and hazards due to its geography and geology
as well as the presence of internal disputes in some regions of the country.

In its Executive Summary, “The National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Plan”, provides the following facts which are instructive regarding the
occurrence of disasters and hazards in the country:

- Tropical cyclones and its sequential effects of rain and windstorms, as well as floods
are the most prevalent types of hydro-meteorological hazards in the country. Between 1997
and 2007, eighty- four (84) tropical cyclones entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility
(PAR). These typhoons resulted to a total of 13,155 in human casualty and more than 51
million families have been affected.

- Environmental factors such as denuded forests aggravate flood risks. Even now, the
effects of loose soil and reduced forest cover from past forestry activities are felt in frequent
landslides and floods. Recent events show that the annual monsoon season in the country:
has brought severe flooding in most areas,

- In 2011, most of the disasters that claimed the lives of people and affected properties
and livelihoods of the most vulnerable were brought about by increased rainfall which caused
massive flash flooding in areas which don’t normally experience such.

- «the Philippines is situated along a highly seismic area lying along the Pacific Ring
of Fire and is highly-prone to earthquakes. According to the Philippine Institute on
Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVLOCS), the country experiences an average of five (5)
earthquakes a day, Earthquake disasters are not as frequent as the typhoons and flooding
that take place in the Philippines. Nevertheless, the impact generated on affected
communities is usually massive and devastating.

- The Philippines is ... prone to volcanic eruptions being situated along the Pacific Ring
of Fire where two major tectonic plates (Philippine Sea and Eurasian) meet. This explains the
occurrence of earthquakes and tsunamis and the existence of around 300 volcanoes of which
22 are active.

- In an analysis of natural disaster hotspots by the Hazard Management Unit of the
World Bank in 2005, the Philippines is among the countries where large percentages of
population reside in disaster prone areas. In the 2011 World Risk Report published by United
Nations University and the Institute of Environment and Human Security, looking into the
four components of risk (exposure, susceptibility, coping and adapt capacities), the
Philippines is the third most disaster risk country worldwide.



> Aside from natural causes, the country also experiences human-induced disasters.
These are brought about by hazards that are of political and socio-economic origins, among
others. Many are forced to evacuate during times of conflict. Violence continues to plague the
country, with most of the fighting in the South. Intense fighting between government forces
and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) during the first half of year 2009 resulted in
the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians. The government and the MILF
decided to lay down their arms and work toward peace accord that had failed in 2009 in
Malaysia. On the other hand, the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), labelled a terrorist organization,
continued to carry out bombings and rebels were killed during clashes with the military in
the latter part of 2009. These human-induced disasters caused by armed fightings in the
South continue to threaten the security of civilian communities which result into the
displacement of thousands of civilians. So long as there is no peace settlement mechanism in
Mindanao, internally displaced civilians will remain a given collateral damage of every armed
conflict. Such disasters consequently cause public anxiety, lost of lives, destruction of
properties and sometimes socio-political stability.

Undoubtedly, both natural and man-made disasters bring life to a standstill as
calamities do not only hamper electricity but also clean drinking water supply, which
affects the public with numerous waterborne diseases,

A case in point is the experience of many victims of the recent 7.2 magnitude
earthquake that hit Bohol, Cebu Province and Siquijor Island in Central Visayas where
cases of diarrhea and other waterborne diseases were reported due to the disruption of
running water. Many areas that were affected by the killer quake are living without
adequate quantities of clean water and sanitation facilities.

Sinkholes also reportedly appeared in some areas and local folks claimed that
water from underground sources turned yellowish, a problem that is aggravated by the
closure of bottling stations making it difficult for the residents to find potable water.

As a result, reports say that the Maynilad Water Services, Inc. has dispatched
around 400 pieces of five-gallon containers with potable water to Tagbilaran City in
Bohol through the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Philippine
Coast Guard.

Since the country is prone to disasters and hazards, waterborne diseases become
prevalent in times of tropical cyclones, earthquakes and social conflicts. Hence,
communities across the archipelago need guaranteed access to clean water and
sanitation facilities to prevent the spread of diseases.

In this light, this bill aims to provide potable water to communities affected by
calamities by requiring all provinces and cities throughout the country to acquire
appropriate and adequate portable water filters in order to ensure the continuous supply
of safe drinking water to the victims of calamities and the general public.

In view thereof, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

AUG
ANGELINA “HELEN” D.L. TAN, M.D.
4* District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1745

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT REQUIRING ALL PROVINCES AND CITIES THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY TO ACQUIRE PORTABLE WATER FILTERS TO ENSURE
POTABLE WATER SUPPLY DURING DISASTERS

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

SECTION 1. It is the policy of the State to uphold the people's constitutional right
to life by addressing the root causes of vulnerabilities to disasters, strengthening the
country’s institutional capacity for building the resilience of local communities to
disasters including climate change impacts, and adhere to and adopt the universal
norms, principles and standards of humanitarian assistance as concrete expression of
the country’s commitment to overcome human sufferings due to recurring disasters.

‘Towards this end, it shall ensure the availabi
will guarantee the continuous supply of potable water

of appropriate technology that
times of disasters.

SEC. 2. Within six (6) months after the effectivity of this Act, all provinces and
cities are hereby required to acquire appropriate and adequate portable water filters,
which shall be used to ensure the provision of safe drinking water during disasters.

SEC. 3. Any provincial or city local chief executive who fails to comply with this Act
shall be punished with a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than
One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00).

SEC. 4. The Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, in
consultation with the Department of Health, shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 5. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of
instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least
two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,