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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5494.

Introduced by Hon. ANGELO B, PALMONES

ANACT
TO REQUIRE ALL GOVERNMENT BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TO HAVE
RAIN HARVESTING FACILITY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The world’s population tripled in the 20th century with the consequent increase in the use of
renewable water resources by six-fold. It is also forecasted that the world population will
increase by another 40 to 50% in the next fifty years. This population growth and increased
industrialization will further increase demand for water.

Worldwide, the UNICEF and WHO indicated that 1.1 billion people live without clean
drinking water while 2.6 billion people lack adequate sanitation. This lack of adequate
sanitation resulted in death of 1.8 million from diarrheal diseases.

‘The inadequate supply of water has also great effects food security because expected water
withdrawals for irrigation which represents 66% of all withdrawals and aquatic ecosystems
and their dependent species are at risk of extinction.

In the Philippines water crisis is a matter of having too much or too little. During the rainy
season when the typhoon comes there is too much water and often results in flooding. During
the summer months there is too little of it or none at all resulting in drought. This water crisis
in the country triggered the passage of RA 4081 or the National Water Crisis Act of 1995
which re-structured the management and distribution of water in Metro Manila. The MWSS
and LUWA were re-organized and the private sector was recruited to do water distribution. In
spite of these there are still wide shortages of water especially in homes.

Climate change upon us and there is no escaping its impacts. One of these impacts is the
changing weather patterns. It has been observed that typhoons are bringing more rains as
never before as exemplified by typhoons Pedring and Quiel that caused flooding in as wide
swat of area in Regions 1, 2, 3 and Metro Manila. Furthermore, PAGASA has forecasted that
Mindanao will be experiencing drought and that the westem part of Luzon will experience
more rains.

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21 KO Pott



‘These changing weather pattems with respect to rain emphasize the importance of managing
water. The World Water Vision Report states that indeed "There is a water crisis today. But
the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis of managing
water so badly that billions of people - and the environment - suffer badly.”

One way of doing this is to harvest rain for various uses. It is not only a way of adapting to
climate change but also a way of reducing costs in maintaining buildings. New government
buildings should be fitted with rain-harvesting facilities for use such as but not limited to
flushing toilets and for gardening purposes.

It is therefore urged that this Act be enacted as soon as possible.

ANGHLO B. PALMONES


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.__ 5494

Introduced by Hon. ANGELO B, PALMONES

ANACT
TO REQUIRE ALL GOVERNMENT BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TO HAVE
RAIN HARVESTING FACILITY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTON 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the Rain Harvesting Facility of
Government Buildings Act of 2011.

SECTION 2. Policy Statement - It is the policy of the State to provide adequate supply of
clean and unpolluted water for domestic purposes and for sanitation to reduce health risks.
Pursuant thereto the State shall take necessary measures to capture rain-water and stave off
water crisis.

SECTION 3. Rain-water harvesting facility in government buildings — It is hereby
prescribed that all new government buildings shall incorporate in their design rain-water
harvesting facility and facility for storage. It is also prescribed that such rain-water harvesting
and storage facilities shall be constructed in all old government buildings.

SECTION 4. Approval of designs of public buildings — The Department of Public Works
and Highways shall not approve designs of public buildings that do not contain rain-
harvesting and storage facilities. The Department shall also ensure that these are included in
the actual construction of the buildings.

SECTION 5. Issuance of building permits — Local Government Units shall not issue building
permits to government building construction projects that do not incorporate rain-water
harvesting and storage facilities.

SECTION 6. Penalties — Approval of building designs without incorporating in the design
rain-water harvesting and storage facilities shall incur penalty of a fine of Two Hundred


Thousand Pesos (P200,000) or imprisonment of 6 month or both as the Court so decides.
Likewise the non-construction of rain-harvesting and storage facilities that are actually
incorporated in the design of the building shall incur the same penalty as the above.

The issuance of a building permit for the construction of government buildings without the
incorporation of rain-harvesting and storage facilities shall incur the penalty, to the signatory
of the permit, of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000) or imprisonment of 6 months or
both as the Court so decides.

SECTION 7. Implementing rules and regulations — The DPWH in consultation with Local
Government Units shall issue within 90 days from the date of approval of this Act, the
implementing rules and regulations for this Act.

SECTION 8. Separability clause - Any portion or provision of this Act which may be
declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions
or provisions hereof.

SECTION 9, Repealing Clause. - All other laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and
other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect immediately after its
publication in two (2) Newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.