Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2418

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the wake of super-typhoon Yolanda and the country’s natural vulnerability to storms,
typhoons, floods, and other rain-related natural disasters, the need to effect some effective
and positive response takes a paramount place in the way we do things.

It is State policy to provide protection for the safety of life and limb especially for the cities
and municipalities that comprise the whole of Metro Manila.

Thus, it is the intent of this measure to require all new subdivisions, condominium
communities, malls, government institutions, central business districts, information
technology parks, and other vital public and private establishments to construct rain
harvesting facility to pre-empt floods caused by incessant and continuous heavy rains and
‘storms.

It is helpful to cite the case of Singapore that has provided for this rain catchment facility or
rain harvesting facility as part of their development trends and patterns. Some of these
could be seen as well at the Bonifacio Global City, or the Fort.

The author contemplates that DPWH, HLURB, DENR, and LGUs through technical and
administrative collaboration, will issue the implementing rules and regulations within ninety
(90) days from the date of the approval of this Act.

The immediate passage of this bill is therefore most earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. eae

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL NEW SUBDIVISIONS, CONDOMINIUM COMMUNITIES, MALLS,
GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS AND INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY PARKS IN METRO MANILA TO CONSTRUCT RAIN HARVESTING
FACILITY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTON 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the ‘Rain Harvesting Facility Act.’

SEC. 2. Policy Statement. It is the policy of the State to protect lives and property in
the event of floods. Pursuant thereto the State shall take necessary measures to capture
rain-water to control flooding in Metro Manila and provide safety adequate supply of clean
and unpolluted water for domestic purposes and for sanitation.

SEC. 3. Rain-water Harvesting Facility. It is hereby prescribed that all new
Subdivisions, Condominium Communities, Malls, Government Institutions, Central Business
Districts and Information Technology Parks in Metro Manila shall incorporate in their design
rain-water harvesting facility and facility for storage for flood mitigation and supply of clean
water.

SEC. 4. Approval of Designs. The Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and
Local Government Units shall not approve designs of subdivisions, condominiums, malls,
government institutions, central business districts and information technology parks that do
Not contain rain-harvesting and storage facilities. They shall ensure that these are included
in the actual construction of the buildings.

SEC. 5. Issuance of Building Permits. Local Government Units shall not issue
building permits to construction projects that do not incorporate rain-water harvesting and
storage facilities.

SEC. 6. Penalties. Approval of designs without incorporating in the design rain-water
harvesting and storage facilities shall incur penalty of a fine of Five Hundred Thousand
Pesos (P500,000) or imprisonment of 6 month or both as the Court so decides. Likewise the
non-construction of rain-harvesting and storage facilities that are actually incorporated in the
design of the building shall incur the same penalty as the above.

The issuance of a building permit for the construction without the incorporation of rain-
harvesting and storage facilities shall incur the penalty, to the signatory of the permit, of Five
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000) or imprisonment of 6 months or both as the Court so
decides.


SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Public Works
and Highways, the Housing, Land Use Regulatory Board and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources in consultation with Local Government Units shall issue
within 90 days from the date of approval of this Act, the implementing rules and regulations
for this Act.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. Any portion or provision of this Act which may be
declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or
provisions hereof.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. All other laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and other
issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect immediately after its publication in two
(2) Newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,