Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 1844

INTRODUCED BY HON. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The dismal state of our river system, particularly in Metro Manila and other
urban areas in ‘the country, should demand immediate action from the
government.

Although the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and
other concerned agencies have set in place necessary projects and programs to
confront this dilemma, they are not able to fully solve this given its magnitude and
complexity and the fact that the agencies are also saddled with other similarly
important concerns.

The purpose of this bill, therefore, is to focus on the preservation,
protection and development of all rivers, river systems and natural waterways, by
tapping local government units to undertake the same, through creation, within
their respective jurisdictions, of a River Development Authority, that shall be
empowered to critically look into possible ways to restore our river systems to
their once pristine condition.

Under the measure, said River Development Authority shall be given
powers to do whatever is necessary to revive our dying river
systems. Specifically, it is given broad powers to do the following:

1, Prepare a master plan to preserve, protect, development and exploit all
rivers, river systems and natural waterways;

2. 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;

3. 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;

4. 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;


5. 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;

6. Develop information materials to ensure a high decree of environmental
awareness in government agencies, organizations and the general public;

7. 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:

8. 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;

9. Set up a compact and well-trained staff for effective liaison and
consultation or joint planning and implementation with government and
private entities;

10.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 implementation 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.

Localizing the approach to this problem is the only way government can
creatively implement programs that will truly work. Immediate enactment of this

measure is earnestly sought
Auta To*—

MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO.
Representative, 1* District
City of Marikina


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

~ 1844

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY HON. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

AN ACT
MANDATING EACH CITY OR MUNICIPALITY TO CREATE A RIVER
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE PRESERVATION, PROTECTION
AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL RIVERS, RIVERSYSTEMS AND NATURAL,
WATERWAYS WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION, DEFINING ITS POWER AND.
FUNCTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the 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 purposes set forth in this Act. The
Authority shall have the following functions:

a) Prepare a master plan to preserve, protect, development and exploit all
rivers, river systems and natural waterways;

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;

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;

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;

b)

°}

d

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 decree 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 welltrained 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
implementation 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 or the city or municipal council Committee on
Appropriations;

.. City or municipal engineer;

City or municipal planning and development officer;

|. City or municipal administrator;

DENR representative; and

Three (3) members representing the private sector to be

appointed by the city of municipal mayor.

-sa>e

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 by 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 the Authority and to fix their
compensation in accordance with the existing laws;

) 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) Recommend annual reports to the Secretary of the Interior
and Local Government and to the city of 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
charge 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,