SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez,

House Bill No. 6828
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to mandate each city or municipality to create, within its
jurisdiction, a River Development Authority to preserve, protect and develop the
rivers, river systems and natural waterways.

The Philippines has numerous principal rivers and river systems from
Batanes to Tawi-Tawi. Many are vanishing or dying, however, due to deadly
chemicals or non-biodegradable waste being dumped on these rivers or
waterways. Thus, the threat of extinction and degradation.

While a number of laws for the preservation and rehabilitation of rivers
have been enacted, enforcement by local government units is weak. The
government must concentrate its resources and capabilities on creating a
central agency in each local government unit to implement the laws and
promote the development of rivers, river systems and natural waterways.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No, 6828

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 POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

Be it enacted by the Senate and 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, develop and exploit all
rivers, river systems and natural waterways;

b) 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;

c) 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;

d) 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;

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
government, 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 well-trained staff for effective liaison and
consultation or joint planning and implementation with government and private
entities;

i) 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
development 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 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 of the city or municipal council Committee on
Appropriations;
. City or municipal engineer;
City or municipal and development officer;
City or municipal administrator;
DENR representatives; and
Three (3) members representing the private sector to be appointed
by the city or municipal mayor

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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;

c) 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) Render annual reports to the Secretary of the Interior and Local
Government and to the city or municipal mayor and such special reports as
may be requested; and

f) Do such other acts and perform and 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
charged 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,