FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBlRl 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In recent years the deterioration of the quality of potable water in many urban 
areas, has led to the proliferation of numerous companies and franchise refill stations 
selling bottled or potable water refills. These water products are advertised and 
described as mineral, spring, pure or distilled water. They are now found in nearly every 
nook and cranny in the metropolis and urban areas across the country and patronized 
by a growing number of our countrymen on a regular basis. 
This bill seeks to protect the health and welfare of the public by regulating the 
drinking water business so as to ensure that they comply with health standards and are 
consistent with their advertisement. 
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
s. No.153 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBlRl 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE BOTTLED WATER BUSINESS 
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 "Drinking Water 
Business Act of 2007." 
SECTION 2. Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the 
health of the people. Towards this end, it shall ensure that potable, safe and affordable 
drinking water is available to all the people by adopting a comprehensive policy 
framework to regulate the activities of the drinking water businesses. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -As used in this Act: 
a) Approved water source - refers to the source of water, either spring, drilled 
well, public or community water system or any other source that has been 
inspected and the water sampled, analyzed and found safe and sanitary, with 
or without treatment, in accordance with prescribed quality standards. 
b) Bottled water - refers to water that is intended for human consumption and 
that Is sealed in bottles or other containers with no added ingredients except 
that it may optionally contain safe and suitable anti-microbial agents and may 
optionally contain minerals such as, but not limited to fluorides, chlorides, 
carbonates and sulfates, including flavoring within limitations established by 
the bottler's country. Bottled water may be used as an ingredient in 
beverages such as, but not limited to, diluted juices and flavored bottled 
waters. It does not include those food ingredients that are declared in 
ingredient labeling as "water" and or carbonated, disinfected, filtered, seltzer, 
soda, sparkling and tonic water. 
c) Bottled water business - refers to the selling for profit, either wholesale or 
retail, of bottled water. It includes any an all activities concerning the 


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such product. 
procurement, production, processing, promotion, advertising, and selling of 
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d) Consumer - refers to a natural person who is a purchaser, lessee, recipient 
or prospective purchaser, lessor or recipient of a consumer product, services 
or credit. 
e) Drinking water - refers to water intended for human consumption or for use in 
food preparation. 
f) Water refill station business - refers to the selling for profit either wholesale or 
retail of water placed in refillable water containers or in customer’s containers 
in refilling stations. 
SECTION 4. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all types of drinking water 
businesses that shall include both the bottled water and water refill station business. 
SECTION 5. Registration. - Any person who wishes to engage in the drinking 
water business shall secure the appropriate water business certificate to be issued by 
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The certificate shall contain all such 
information needed as determined by the DTI. The water business certificate shall be a 
requirement precedent to the application of local business permits, clearances and 
licenses. 
SECTION 6. Responsibility of Owners/Proprietors, Operators and Producers. - 
Owners, proprietors and operators of water refill stations and producers of bottled water 
are responsible for ensuring, through good manufacturing practices, appropriate 
manufacturing techniques and sufficient quality control procedures provided for in 
existing laws, rules and regulations, that all refilled and bottled water sold to consumers 
comply with the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking Water. 
SECTION 7. Source of Wafer Protection. - The Department of Health (DOH) 
and local government units concerned shall coordinate and establish a Local Drinking 
Water Quality Monitoring Committee that shall institute and implement a source of water 
protection and treatment program to prevent any contamination of ground or surface 
water from affecting the drinking water supplies of the community. 
SECTION 8. lndustry Associafions. - All procedures of bottled water and 
owners/proprietors and operators of water refill stations are encouraged to form or join 
their respective industry associations. 
SECTION 9. Depufafion of Independent Third Party Organization. - An 
independent third party organization or industry association shall be deputized by the 
DOH for bottled water businesses and the Department of the Interior and Local 
Government (DILG) for water refill station business to monitor and report violations of 
law and rules and regulations: Provided, That these organizations shall coordinate with 
the respective local health officer and Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) 
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representatives in the fulfillment of their duties. 
SECTION IO. Responsibilities of fhe Bureau of Food and Drugs. - All franchise 
holders of duly accredited water refill stations shall be governed by the BFAD to ensure 
compliance with prescribed uniform quality standards. 
SECTION 11. Councils. - The city and municipal councils shall enact the 
necessary ordinances to ensure that the various laws and implementing rules and 
regulations concerning water refill stations are strictly enforced. 
SECTION 12. Additional Responsibilities and Powers. - In addition to the 
powers and responsibilities mandated by existing laws, rules and regulations, the local 
health authority, upon the recommendation of the local health office, shall: 
a) Suspend operations of water refill stations if found to have violated any of the 
laws and existing rules and regulations; and 
b) Prohibit the sale of water products that do not comply with regulations and 
standards and/or order the recall or withdrawal from the market of any water 
product that has been found unsuitable for human consumption. 
SECTION 13. Penalties. - A fine not exceeding Ten Thousand Pesos 
(Pl0,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not more than six (6) months, or both, at the discretion 
of the court shall be imposed on any person who: 
a) Violates, disobeys, refuses without reasonable cause, omits or neglects to 
comply with any provision of the laws, rules and regulations on the bottled 
water and water refill station industries; 
b) Interferes with or hinders, or opposes any officer, agent or member of the 
DOH or DlLG or the bureaus or agencies under it, in the performance of his 
duty as such under this law; and 
c) Willfully tears down or mutilates, defaces or alters any placard or notice 
affixed to premises in the enforcement of the law, its rules and regulations. 
Subsequent violations shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Fifty Thousand 
Pesos (P50,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not more than one (1) year, or both, at the 
discretion of the court. In addition, the business permits and licenses to operate of 
violators shall be revoked or cancelled. 
SECTION 14. lmplementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The BFAD, in 
coordination with the DOH, DTI, DlLG and other appropriate agencies, shall promulgate 
the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) and standards necessary for the efficient 
and effective implementation of this Act. 
The IRR shall be promulgated sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act. 
SECTION 15. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, and proclamations, 
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby considered repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision herein is declared 
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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Approved. 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
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