Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

6042

House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ARTHUR C. YAP

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Out of an estimated irrigable area of 3.12 million hectares nationwide,
1.51 million hectares or 48.3% remain to be irrigated.

Concededly, irrigation development requires considerable investment.
But the need for it is beyond argument. This is especially with small-scale
irrigation systems that will serve the needs of a majority of our poor farmers
and micro to small agricultural enterprises.

Since the year 2010, the implementation of irrigation projects is one
of the major interventions being pursued by the Department of Agriculture
in coordination with the National Irrigation Administration, through its
Banner Program (Rice, Corn and High Value Crops). The DA - Bureau of
Water and Soils Management (BWSM) has been the focal agency for the
project MFO 3 (rrigation Network Services for small-scale irrigation
systems), These small-scale irrigation systems include rainwater and runoff
harvesting facilities such as small water impounding projects (SWIP) and
small farm reservoir (SFR). Also included are Spring Development (SD),
and Pump Irrigation Systems (e.g. Shallow Tubewells, Pump Irrigation
System for Open Source, Solar pumps, wind pumps and hydraulic ram
pumps).

‘The BSWM has adopted a master plan anchored on the principle of
sustainable development of water resources and adheres to integrated water
resources management framework. It is a holistic and systematic approach
that recognizes that infrastructure development alone is not a guarantee for
productivity and sustainability. It should be combined with watershed
development and management, research and development and more
importantly, the provision of necessary extension services to the farmer-
beneficiaries to ensure the functionality of their systems.


This BSWM program is, however, prone to abandonment, primarily
due to the lack of sourcing and continuing funding.

This bill seeks to institutionalize the program and mandate the DA-
BSWM to undertake a ten-year program for the construction of small-scale
irrigation system projects. This shall not be confined not just in rural, but
even in urban areas, where such a project is feasible.

The DA-BSWM shall serve as the technical and administrative
secretariat of the program. It shall do research, development and extension
on appropriate and cost-efficient systems for collection, storage and
utilization of rainwater.

In consultation with relevant stakeholders, the agency shall formulate
and implement a comprehensive national rainwater harvesting program for
research, development and extension of appropriate technologies on
rainwater harvesting and small-scale irrigation structures. It shall embark on
capacity building of farmers and city and local government engineers on
community-based and cost-efficient rainwater harvesting and small-scale
irrigation systems and structures

Incentives for local stakeholders shall be designed and formulated.
There will be development water conservation techniques by optimizing the
use of excess water during the rainy season for future needs, provide
environmental benefits such as flood control, soil conservation and
groundwater recharge, reduce dependence on water supplied by commercial
service providers. This would serve as a good measure to adapt to the
adverse effects of climate change.

After the foregoing, the DA-BWSM shall thereafter prepare a
comprehensive 10-year work program with annual targets for the irrigation
development of new small-scale irrigation system projects.

The DA-BWSM shall spearhead the construction and guarantee that
all small-scale irrigation system programs. The projects to be undertaken
herein shall be completed and made fully operational or implementable
within the duration of the ten (10) - year program.

It will be with provision for sustainability of operation and
maintenance of said systems after the program completion, including
institutionalization of a comprehensive package of infrastructure and social
support services. This will be integrated into the regular annual programs
and budgets of the DA-BWSM and other implementing agencies and
instrumentalities, as well as the local government units (LGUs), to ensure a
sustained increased food productivity as strategy to attain genuine rural
development and promote water conservation.


Under this measure, it is envisioned that there will be an increase in
agricultural production. This is through the provision of innovative,
inexpensive and accessible small-scale irrigation infrastructure facilities,
rainwater and runoff harvesting facilities. There will be rural development
through increased agricultural production and sustained productivity. And,
there will be sustainable development of water resources and an integrated
water resources management that will even mitigate the harsh effects of
climate change.

For the foregoing reasons, the immediate consideration and approval
of the bill is earnestly urged.

S
ARTHUR C. YAP

Representative
3" District, Bohol


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 6042

Introduced byREPRESENTATIVE ARTHUR C. YAP

AN ACT

TO INCREASE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION,
PROMOTE RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOP
WATER CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES BY
PROVIDING FOR A TEN-YEARSMALL-SCALE
IRRIGATION SYSTEM PROGRAM, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
inCongress assembled.

SECTION 1. Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Small-Scale

Irrigation System Act of 2015."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.- \t is hereby declared the

national policy to:

1

Increase agricultural production through the provision of
innovative, inexpensive and accessible irrigation small scale
infrastructure facilities, rainwater and runoff harvesting facilities
such as small water impounding projects, small farm reservoirs,
small diversion dams, spring development, shallow tube wells, and

pump irrigation systems from open sources;


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2. Promote comprehensive rural development through increased
agricultural productionand sustained productivity as key strategies
to raise the quality of rural life and national development; and,

3. Advance the principle of sustainable development of water
resources and an integrated water resources management
framework with a a holistic and systematic approach that
recognizes that infrastructure development alone is not a guarantee
for productivity and sustainability but should be combined with
watershed development and management, research and
development and more importantly, the provision of necessary
extension services to the farmer-beneficiaries to ensure the

functionality of their systems.

SECTION 3. Objectives and Mandate.- The Department of

Agriculture (DA) - Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) shall

undertake a ten-year program for the construction of small-scale irrigation

system projects, not just in rural, but even in urban areas, where such a

project is feasible. The DA-BSWM shall:

serve as the technical and administrative secretariat of the program;
undertake research, development and extension on appropriate and
cost-efficient systems for collection, storage and utilization of
rainwater. In consultation with relevant stakeholders;

formulate and implement a comprehensive national rainwater

harvesting program for research, development and extension of


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appropriate technologies on rainwater harvesting and small-scale
irrigation structures;

e embark on capacity building of farmers and city and local government
engineers on community-based and cost-efficient rainwater harvesting
and small-scale irrigation systems and structures,

e design and formulate incentives for local stakeholders and monitor
and evaluate this program:

e develop water conservation techniques by optimizing the use of
excess water during the rainy season for future needs, provide
environmental benefits such as flood control, soil conservation and
groundwater recharge, reduce dependence on water supplied by
commercial service providers and serve as a good measure to adapt to
the adverse effects of climate change; and,

© prepare a comprehensive 5-year work program with annual targets for
the irrigation development of new small-scale irrigation system

projects.

The DA-BWSM shall spearhead the construction andguarantee that all
small-scale irrigation system programs and projects to be undertaken herein
shall be completed and made fully operational or implementable within the
duration of the ten (10) - year program. This is with provision for
sustainability of operation and maintenance of said systems after the
program completion, including institutionalization of a comprehensive
package of infrastructure and social support services to be integrated into the

regular annual programs and budgets of the DA-BWSM and other


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implementing agencies and instrumentalities, as well as the local
government units (LGUs), to ensure a sustained increased food productivity
as strategy to attain genuine rural development and promote water
conservation.

Section 4, Small Scale Irrigation System Projects. -Small scale
irrigation system projects, to be built and constructed pursuant to this Act,
shall include the following:

1. Pump irrigation System from Open Sources (PISOS) - a pump
used to lift water from river, stream or marsh to the main canal for
the distribution of service area.

2. Rainwater harvesting system - composed of three subsystems:
collection, storage and distribution which aim to store water in
containers above or below ground and for groundwater recharge.

3. Small Diversion Dam (SDD) - a concrete or rock fill structure
constructed across a channel or river with continuous flow to raise
the water level allows diversion of water by gravity from the
source to the point of use.

4. Shallow Tube Well — is a tube or pipe vertically set into the
ground, usually at depths of between twenty (20) to sixty (60) feet,
for the purpose of suction lifting of water from shallow aquifers. It
consists of one or more fully developed shallow tube well
equipped with appropriate pumping units that can serve a
contiguous area owned by an individual.

5. Small Water Impounding Projects (SWIPs) - a structure

constructed across a narrow diversion or valley to hold back water


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and develop a reservoir that will store rainfall and runoff during
the rainy season for immediate or future use.

6. Small Farm Reservoir (SFR) ~ a small water impounding dam
structure to collect rainfall and run-off designed for use in a single
farm and typically has an area of about three hundred (300) to two
thousand square meters (2,000 sq. m.), with an embankment height
above ground level of less than four meters (4.0m). It can easily be
constructed manual digging or through a bulldozer. Irrigation is

done with the use of a PVC siphon pipes or pumps.

SECTION 5. Accelerated Irrigation Development. The DA-BWSM

shall observe the following priorities and guidelines in the identification,
planning, construction, and management of small-scale irrigation system

projects:

© Conduct an inventory of the existing small scale irrigation systems to
avoid project duplication or overlapping and minimize unnecessary
pre-construction expenses, including their efficiency status update,
impact analysis, and the actual total potential areas for irrigationto be
completed not beyond six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act,

© List priority proposed sites for small scale irrigation systems projects
and programs per province per region to support the objectives of the
Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP) under the DA

¢ Implement a program for a rainwater-sensitive design for the roof of
all buildings. All medium to large scale commercial and industrial

establishments such as but not limited to shopping malls,


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supermarkets, and hotels, shall have rainwater storage facilities
commensurate with the size of roof area. Residential areas, which
exceed an area of 300 square meters, shall create rainwater harvesting
facility and compulsorily adopt good rainwater harvesting practices.
In rural areas, all barangays shall construct rainwater harvesting
facilities;

Optimize productivity in upland areas of the country by carrying out
small-scale irrigation projects with the management thereof turned
over to the farmer beneficiaries thru their Irrigators' Associations
(IAs) or Farmers Cooperatives upon project completion and after
undertaking institutional development training; Provided, that
amortization of the direct cost of these projects shall follow the
existing policies on cost recovery mechanisms for communal
irrigation systems;

Draw up a work program that is realistic, achievable and annually
target-specific to agricultural yield in the identified areas within the
ten year period. The type of project and development scheme shall be
determined based on technical feasibility studies to be conducted by
DA-BWSM;

To realize the full benefits of sustained increased productivity from
these small scale irrigation system projects, other agricultural support
services shall be provided and institutionalized within the third year of
operation under this Act. DA-BSWM shall assist the IAs and facilitate
coordination with the DA, the National Irrigation Administration

(NIA) and such other agencies and the LGUs in the provision of other


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agricultural support inputs and infrastructures such as, but not limited
to, access to agricultural credit, high-quality seeds, technical
assistance on pest management and fertilizer use, post-harvest
facilities, and marketing. Funds for these shall be included in the

estimates of project costs.

SECTION 6. Irrigators Associations- The DA -BSWM, in
coordination with NIA, shall continue to organize, develop and strengthen
farmer-beneficiaries under this Act into self-sustaining _Irrigators’
Associations or farmer cooperatives.

SECTION 7. Irrigation of Other Crops - Irrigation projects under
this Act are not limited to rice/palay production in order to maximize use of
irrigated lands.

SECTION 8. Special Accelerated Irrigation Fund.- The sum of
One Billion Pesos (P 1,000,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the initial
implementation of this Act, which shall be incorporated in the Annual
Budget of the DA-BSWM. Thereafter, a Special Irrigation Fund shall be
established by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in the
Annual General Appropriations Act for the continuous implementation of
this Act in the Annual Budget of the DA-BSWM until its tenth (10") year
completion date, with provision for accelerated release in the first three (3)
years to meet intensive small scale irrigation system program costs.

SECTION 9. Contracts.-The DA-BSWM shall comply with the
bidding regulations under Republic Act No. 9184, as amended, which

allows community participation for small-scale irrigation system projects to


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promote IA capability building. However, pursuant to the declared policy
and in the interest of the public, and to facilitate procurement of smaller
contracts, DA-BSWM may enter into contracts using the Simplified Bidding
procedures, as provided under AFMA, for the 10-year period of
implementation of this Act.

SECTION 10. List of Priority Projects.- The NIA shall annex a list
of priority projects proposed to be funded under this Act, Provided, that upon
completion of the inventory of existing irrigation systems and the
identification/listing of potential small scale irrigation system projects, the
revised list of projects to be funded shall be finalized and approved.

SECTION 11. Exemption from Election Ban.- The implementation
of the small scale irrigation system development program which involves the
emergency construction, rehabilitation, repair and installation of irrigation
facilities, including infrastructure complementary support services, shall be
exempt from the scope of the election ban on public works.

SECTION 12. Complementary Irrigation Component Projects.-
Whenever practicable, projects qualified under this Act shall include other
irrigation-related components such as, but not limited to, the following

complementary development purpos

a) watershed management and reforestation;

b) climate change vulnerability/flood prevention/erosion control;
c) fish culture;

d) power generation; and

¢) tourism development.


SECTION 13. Oversight Committee.- A joint Oversight Committee
composed of five (5) members each in the House of Representatives and
Senate, respectively, preferably coming from the Committees on Rural
Development and Agriculture shall be created to monitor the strict
implementation of this Act and the exercise of the authority granted
hereunder.

SECTION 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)- Within
60 days upon effectivity of this Act, the DA-BSWM, through the Secretary
of the DA, shall initiate the convening of a Technical Working Group to
promulgate the IRR of this Act with relevant stakeholders.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. - If any of the provisions of this
Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions
hereof not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive
orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof,
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly

SECTION 17.  Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect
fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers

of general circulation.

Approved.