Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

129

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. MANUEL ANTONIO F. ZUBIRI

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A healthy populace means a healthy nation, And one of the ways to achieve a healthier Philippines
is through access to potable water.

Over 8 million Filipinos have no access to clean water (htips.//businessmirror.com_ph/clean-water-
services- ier-philippines-pushed’). Nine (9) million Filipinos rely on unimproved, unsafe
and unsustainable water sources. Families without a safe water source in or near their home often
spend significant time and energy collecting water. Thus, Filipinos consider water and sanitation
access a matter of safety, pride, progress and convenience, in addition to the health consideration
(hips:/‘water org/our-impact/philippines). In another study, about 455 municipalities nationwide
have been identified by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) as waterless areas that are
having households with access to safe water of less than 50% only. Asa result, diarrhea and other
waterborne diseases still rank among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the
Philippines _(https.//www.doh gov ph/provision-of-potable-water-program). The National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on the other hand stated that 12.32% of the
country’s 22.7 million families still have no access to safe water supply (source: water org)

While the United Nations recognized the human right to water and sanitation on July 28, 2010 in
its General Assembly, the fact that access to potable water is a basic need of every person
especially that water is vital to

Thus, the approval of this bill igfearnestly sought.

MANUEL A
Representative
3" District, Bukkinon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

129

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. MANUEL ANOTNIO F. ZUBIRI

AN ACT
MANDATING THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR
POTABLE WATER ACCESS AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER SYSTEMS IN
ALL BARANGAYS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Potable Water Act of 2019”

Section 2, Declaration of State Policy. ~ It is the declared policy of the State to provide one of
man’s basic right and need—the right to access to potable water. It is also the policy of the State
to promote the quality of health of every Filipino through the provision of adequate potable water
supply system. To this end, the State shall ensure access of every Filipino to potable water through
the funding, and the construction of, water systems across the country—giving priority to the

poorest barangays.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. ~

“LWUA” ~ shall refer to the Local Water Utilities Administration

“DOH” ~ shall refer to the Department of Health

“DSWD” — shall refer to the Department of Social Welfare and Development
“NEDA” — shall refer to the National Economic Development Authority
“DPWH” ~ shall refer to the Department of Public Works and Highways

“LGUs” ~ shall refer to the Local Government Units which shall then include provinces,
cities, municipalities, barangays and autonomous areas in the Philippines

“NAPC” ~ shall refer to the National Anti-Poverty Commission
“PSA” — shall refer to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
“IRA” — shall refer to the Internal Revenue Allotment of Local Government Units.

“Water Systems / Water Facilities” — A water supply system in one or more provincial
cities or municipalities,

“Water District” — A water district is a local corporate entity that operates and maintains
‘a water supply system in one or more provincial cities or municipalities.


“Potable Water” — shall refer to drinking water; is water that is safe to drink or to use for
food preparation.

Section 4. Scope. - This Act shall cover all local government units. The necessary water systems
and water facilities shall be established, constructed and implemented on a per-area or region basis
which would be most strategic to cater to all barangays as determined by the DOH, LWUA,
DPWH, and such other agencies that have data and studies on the matter.

Any existing water system or facilities project shall be enhanced by the national
government through the above-mentioned government agencies and GOCCs in compliance with
the mandate of this Act

Section 5. Allocation from the national government. ~ The government, through the DOH,
LWUA, DPWH, and such other agencies that have the authority to plot where to implement the
objectives of this Act, develop the necessary studies to ascertain key areas that are in need of
potable water, and implement the project necessary for the construction of water systems/facilities
within the territory of the Republic of the Philippines, shall henceforth include in its budget an
allocation for such study, construction and completion of such water systems and/or facilities.

In the implementation of this Act, the poorest local government units and barangays shall
have the highest priority. The socio-economic status of said local government units shall be
determined using data from the appropriate government agencies such as the PSA, NAPC, DSWD
and NEDA.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to remove, reduce, diminish or otherwise abandon
the present responsibility and commitment of local government units to fund and/or spearhead the
construction and completion of their own water systems using their share from the IRA due them
and other sources of revenues,

Section 6, Appropriation, — The funds required for the implementation of this Act upon its
approval shall be taken from the budget of the LWUA and DPWH for the current fiscal year

Thereafter, the amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included
in the General Appropriations Act of the year immediately following its enactment into law and
subsequent thereto. The LWUA, as a government-owned and controlled corporation, shall be
required to allocate from its revenue a separate budget to comply with the requirements of this
Act

Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within ninety (90) days after the effectivity
of this Act, the LWUA, DPWH, PSA, NAPC, NEDA and such other concerned agencies, shall
adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. Such
implementing rules and regulations shall be effective fifteen (15) days following their publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) major newspapers of general circulation

Section 8. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or
invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 9. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with
or contrary to this Act are hereby deemed accordingly repealed or amended.

Section 10, Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,