Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 10653
Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero  
    EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Constitution mandates the state to provide a National Flood 
Management, Evacuation and Recovery Protocol through appropriate 
technology and research, with adequate finance, facilities and other support 
services. 
The republic of the Philippines recognizes the occurrence of floods throughout 
the whole year. Without knowledge, awareness or beyond the local region in 
which they occur, these flooding often do not receive the entry of efficient and 
urgent support that can follow large-scale emergencies or disasters.  
To support these flooding-disasters and to provide initial frontline services before 
such emergency appeals are launched for large-scale flooding, it is imperative 
that the national government establishes a National Flood Control Act. 
The country has been distressed by the catastrophic natural disasters that 
have struck the nation over the past decades. The loss of life has been enormous, 
and the social disruption has caused heartrending setbacks for society. The 
destruction of properties has been immensely discouraging in the economic 
system in which capital goods are scarce and the potential for saving and 
investment is very limited.    
The government has undertaken several flood control and disaster prevention 
measures to reduce the impact of natural disasters. Both structural and non-
structural measures are of utmost importance in improving the level of the 
quality of alleviating human suffering and advancing development.  
July 29, 2024
8:00 am


However, it has been observed that there are flood control structures that are 
either frequently damaged or not functioning as intended. One of the causes is 
inadequate planning, mainly due to budget constraints and lack of reference 
materials. It is essential that flood control structures are carefully planned and 
designed with due consideration on local site conditions, river hydraulic 
principles and phenomena to ensure that structures are effective in mitigating 
water-induced disasters. The formulation of a Manual on Flood Control 
Planning under the JICA - Assisted Project for the Enhancement of Capabilities 
in Flood Control and Sabo Engineering (Project ENCA) is an effort by the DPWH 
through the PMO-Flood Control and Sabo Engineering Center to provide 
references in planning of flood control structures. 
  
Responsive approaches in planning of flood control structures are envisioned as 
this manual becomes available to the offices concerned in the Department of 
Public Works and Highways. Eventually in effect, improved flood control 
structures built by this department are effective, economical and sustainable.  
Deep appreciation to the DPWH engineers and staff who gave time and effort and 
the JICA experts dispatched for this Project for the technical assistance in the 
formulation of this manual. Likewise, sincerest appreciation likewise to the 
continuing support extended by JICA in the development of our technical 
capabilities in dealing with water-related disasters.  
 
This House Bill seeks to create and establish urgent Flood Control 
measures and mechanisms. To enable all concerned and affected personnel, 
organizations to carry out their unique role after a flooding-disaster.  
 
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.  
 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.    
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
 
19TH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
 
HOUSE BILL NO. 10653 
 
 
Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero  
 
 
    AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL FLOOD 
MANAGEMENT, EVACUATION AND RECOVERY PROTOCOL, TO 
PROMOTE AND EXTEND LIFE-SAVING MECHANISMS, TO 
AUGMENT THE DEMANDS FOR SUPPORT, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1.  
DECLARATION OF POLICY – It is hereby a declared 
policy of the state to provide immediate response to restore life-saving services 
to affected populations following a declared flood-disaster. 
SECTION 2.  
NATIONAL FLOOD CONTROL ACT – The state shall 
hereby create a National Flood management, evacuation and recovery 
protocol to expand and establish continuity to the aid and support provided in 
times of this flood-disaster.  
  SECTION 3.  
DETERMINING 
FACTORS 
AND 
CONDITIONS 
– 
Factors that may influence the size of the control operations to be conducted:  


a) 
Ecological and environmental extent of the damage;  
b) 
Preliminary estimate of death, injuries, and displaced 
persons;  
c) 
The reaction response capacity of key agencies; and  
d) 
The date and magnitude of the last flood that affected 
the country (taking into account the cumulative effect of 
flooding on ability to respond).  
Each Flood will be regarded as a separate event and hence be eligible for 
assistance, irrespective of whether it is issued for the same disaster-affected 
or in the same calendar year. 
SECTION 4. 
 
FLOOD DAMAGE - is categorized in terms of structure 
damage and inundation damage. One of the countermeasures to prevent 
inundation is to increase the flow capacity of the river.  
Although under the local funds, the flood control works by the DPWH are mostly 
intended to prevent scouring, their final targets are to prevent inundation. It is 
therefore essential for the DPWH engineers to understand flood control planning 
which includes  
(1) the determination of the design discharge and  
(2) the river improvement plan such as alignment, depth, 
height and width of the water area of the river and others.   
SECTION 5. 
CALCULATION - converting rainfall to discharge and water 
level analysis are essential techniques for flood control planning. Thus far, there 
is no comprehensive guideline for such planning. Therefore, there is an urgent 
need for a comprehensive Flood Control Planning  
SECTION 6.  
TRANSITORY 
PROVISION – 
Existing 
industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given 


six (6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other 
period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 
SECTION 7.  
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. – 
The departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of 
this Act shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, 
formulate the necessary rules and regulations for its effective 
implementation. 
Section 8.  
FLOOD CONTROL TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY 
- aims to achieve the following: 
• 
build a dam in the upper Marikina River catchment 
area. 
• 
eliminate long-term flooding in the flood plain of Laguna 
de Bay. 
• 
modernize Metro Manila’s pumping stations. 
• 
improve flood forecasting and early warning systems. 
• 
improve institutional arrangements for better flood 
management. 
 
SECTION 9. 
COMPUTATION OF DISCHARGE - when there is no 
hydrological information in the target area, the importance of river segments in 
planning, river channel routing, computation of flow capacity of rivers, the 
appropriate types of structures on specific conditions, the alignment of 
structures, and others.  
SECTION 10. 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL VOLUMES COVERING THE 
SPECIFIC DISCHARGE CURVE 
- 
 the 
rainfall 
intensity 
duration 
frequency curve and the isohyet of probable 1-day rainfall and the corresponding 
specific coefficients are included to help the engineers establish the design 
discharge. Thus, the discharge in any river in the country can be established 
where there is no rainfall gauge or there is lack of data using the methods 
discussed in this manual.  


The newly formulated Rainfall Intensity Duration Frequency Curves were revised 
from previous ones, which were attached to the “Technical Standards and 
Guidelines for Planning and Design, March 2002” by the strict selection of 
appropriate data.  
To facilitate the computation of the needed parameters in planning and design, 
the Manual on Runoff Computation with HEC-HMS (Hydrological Engineering 
Center – Hydrologic Modeling System) and the Manual on Non-Uniform Flow 
with HEC-RAS. (Hydraulic Engineering Center – River Analysis System) are 
included. HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS are programs developed by the US Army 
Corps of Engineers. This will guide the engineers to derive the flow capacity of 
the river as well as identify and determine the river stretch that needs flood 
control projects.  
 
This manual and the supplements as references will guide the DPWH engineers 
on flood control planning.  
SECTION 11. 
 
MANDATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC 
WORKS AND HIGHWAYS, DPWH, as the engineering arm of the government, is 
to plan, construct and maintain flood control facilities on major or principal river 
basins to mitigate the hazards and damages of flood disasters. Generally, flood 
control projects, which constitute about 10-15% of the total DPWH budget, are 
classified into the following:  
(1) Major Flood Control Projects. These are projects along river 
basins funded by foreign assistance. The Planning Service 
undertakes 
identification 
and 
selection, 
the 
foreign 
consultants undertake the project studies, and the Project 
Management Office (PMO) supervises the implementation of 
these projects.  
(2) Small and Medium Scale Flood Control Projects. These 
projects are along the principal or major river basins under 


regular infrastructure funds or congressional initiative funds. 
The Regional Offices (ROs) and the District Engineering 
Offices (DEOs) plan and implement these projects.  
(3) Emergency Flood Control Projects. These projects are 
funded under the quick response funds of the Regional 
Disaster 
Coordinating 
Councils 
(RDCCs) 
planned 
and 
implemented by ROs and DEOs.  
The ROs and DEOs tasked to implement small, medium and emergency flood 
control projects, sometimes implement projects which are ineffective or 
inappropriate due to improper or lack of planning. Flood control plans and 
programs are not properly prepared due to limited technical capabilities, 
unavailability or insufficient hydrological data and limited budget for the 
purpose. 
   
SECTION 12. 
 
PREVAILING NEEDS - of the ROs and DEOs 
engineers, the coverage of the manual is carefully crafted to include the 
following topics:  
(1) Systematic explanation of flood control planning including 
design discharge establishment, alternative study of flood 
control measures and river improvement  
(2) Explanation of topography, climate, rivers in the Philippines 
and flood damage, which are basic information for river 
engineers  
(3) Graphical method to estimate the design discharge of the rivers 
in the Philippines  
(4) Graphical method to prepare probable design hyetograph, 
which is necessary for design discharge estimation by the 
runoff computation  
(5) Methods to formulate a river improvement plan by non-uniform 
flow computation.  
Computations of runoff discharge and non-uniform flow analysis using 
calculators are quite cumbersome and tedious. By the use of computer 


programs such as Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) and Runoff 
Analysis System (HEC-RAS), calculations can be made easy and systematic. 
   
SECTION 13. 
 
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS - are indispensable 
tools to formulate flood control plans, thus, it is necessary for the ROs and 
DEOs to have maps within their jurisdiction.  
  
The procedure in flood control planning is enumerated below:  
(1) Calculate the discharges corresponding to several flood 
frequency levels.  
(2) Calculate the existing river flow capacities on several control 
points.  
(3) Investigate the flood damage caused by past major floods and 
develop the relationship between flood discharge and flood 
damage.  
(4) Consider the possibilities of river improvement.  
(5) Determine the preliminary river improvement plan.  
(6) Evaluate the cost to be incurred in the preliminary river 
improvement plan.  
(7) If the preliminary river improvement planning is not realistic, 
repeat the procedure from step (3). In consideration of the small 
and medium scale flood control projects, economic evaluation is 
not discussed to Determine the most appropriate plan 
 
SECTION 14. 
 
FUNDING FROM NATIONAL BUDGET - flood 
control projects would be funded under the P6.352 trillion national budget, 
FY 2025 from the Department of Budget and Management. 
SECTION 15. 
SUPERVISING AND ASSESSMENT CONCERNS. — the 
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Department of 


Interior and Local Government (DILG)shall provide the necessary technical and 
financial assistance to ensure effective operations and build-up. 
SECTION 16.  
IMPLEMENTING AGENCY. — the Department of Public 
Works and Highways (DPWH) and other subject matter experts. 
SECTION 17. 
APPROPRIATION. — The amount necessary for the 
initial implementation to fund this act shall be charged under the Department 
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).  
The amount of five (5) billion pesos (Php 5, 000,000,000.00) necessary for the 
initial implementation to fund this act shall be charged under the Department 
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).  
Thereafter such amounts necessary for the successive and continuous 
implementation of this Act, including the operations maintenance of reserves 
shall be automatically appropriated in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
Thereafter, such amounts necessary for the implementation of this act shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). The agencies 
concerned shall provide for the continued maintenance, operation, and 
management of all the facilities and equipment. 
SECTION 18. 
CONTINUING APPROPRIATION. - The Department of 
Budget and Management (DBM) is hereby mandated to include annually in the 
next five (5) years, in the President's Program of expenditures for submission to 
Congress, and release, an amount not less than two (2) billion pesos (Php 2, 
OOO, OOO, OOO.OO) for the implementation of this Act. 
 
The (Flood Management, Evacuation and Recovery Plan) shall be 
chargeable against funds for the purpose and other sources recommended by 
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).  


The amount necessary for the initial implementation to fund this act shall 
be charged under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).  
Thereafter, appropriations for the (Flood Management, Evacuation and 
Recovery Plan), shall be included in the budget proposals under the Annual 
General Appropriations Act (GAA) 
 
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall rationalize the existing 
organizational structure and staffing pattern of the (DPWH) in accordance with 
the prevailing provisions and relevant compensation and position classification 
laws, rules and regulations. 
 
Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of the 
modernization program shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations 
Act (GAA). 
The Fund shall be administered by the Secretary of DPWH in accordance 
with existing government budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and 
regulations. 
SECTION 19. 
PERIODIC REPORTS - The Secretary of the (DPWH) 
shall submit periodic reports on its findings and make recommendations on 
actions to be taken by Congress and Senate and the appropriate department, 
and in order to carry out the objectives and mandates of this Act. 
SECTION 20. 
 AUTOMATIC REVIEW - Every three (3) years after 
the effectivity of this Act, an independent review panel composed of experts to 
be appointed by the President of the Republic shall review the policies and 
programs in the agriculture sector and shall make recommendations, based 
on its findings, to the President and to both Houses of Congress. 


SECTION 21. 
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS – The 
departments and agencies charged, to be led by the Department of Public 
Works and Highways (DPWH) with carrying out the provisions of this Act, shall 
within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the necessary 
rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
 
Hence, it is authorized to increase its manpower to meet such required 
and may continue to increase personnel per percentage rate increase of 
committed mandates annually or as the need arises. 
SECTION 
22. 
PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION – The modernization 
program under this Act shall be implemented for an initial period of three (3) 
years:  
Provided, that payments for multi-year contract obligations incurred 
under this Act may extend beyond this period:  
Provided, further, That the (DPWH) shall continue to develop, modernize 
and constantly update its operational capabilities to keep pace with best global 
practices. 
SECTION 
23. 
INCREASE OF PERSONNEL. – The (DPWH) shall 
maintain a sufficient staffing pattern.  
Hence, it is authorized to increase its manpower to meet such required 
and may continue to increase personnel per percentage rate increase of 
committed mandates annually or as the need arises. 
SECTION 24.  
REPEALING CLAUSE. – All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 


SECTION 25.  
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 26.  
EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. – This Act shall take effect 
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
 
Approved,