Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4818

Introduced by Rep. Romeo S. Momo, Sr.
CWS Partylist

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The serious impact of Climate Change is imminent and dangerous, including, but not
limited to super-typhoons and severe flooding together with other rain-related
disasters. This is further aggravated by the country’s natural vulnerability to disasters.

It is a State policy to provide protection for the safety of life and limb of the Filipino
people against natural and man-made calamities.

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 establishments to construct rain harvesting
facility to pre-empt floods caused by incessant and continuous heavy rains and storms
‘on one hand, and to provide adequate source of household water on the other. With
similar intent, spirit and purpose to the existing proposed measures, albeit limited to
some areas only, this proposed measure intends to cover the entire Philippines so as.
to achieve maximum nationwide awareness and benefit.

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. 4828

Introduced by Rep. Romeo S. Momo, Sr.
CWS Partylist

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

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

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

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. 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 and provide safe and adequate
supply of clean and unpolluted water for domestic purposes and for sanitation.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms.
As used in this Act:

a. Rainwater harvesting facility refers to a flood control structure such as a
vertical detention tank, horizontal water tank, open retarding basin, and multi-use
water catchment area, or an on-site regulation pond used to prevent or delay the
release of rainwater in to the public system; and

b. Return period refers to the average length of the time in years for a rain-
related natural disaster of given magnitude to be equaled or exceeded by the length
of time a rainwater-related disaster may probably recur.


SEC. 4. Rain-water Harvesting Facility Requirement. It is hereby prescribed
that all new Subdivisions, Condominium Communities, Malls, Government Institutions,
Central Business Districts and Information Technology Parks in the Philippines shall
incorporate in their design rain-water harvesting facility and facility for storage for flood
mitigation and supply of clean water.

SEC. 5. Design Requirements. The rainwater harvesting facility must be
designed to cope with a pre-determined flood and rain return period and must have a
storage capacity prescribed by the Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH). The design of the rainwater harvesting facility shall include the following:

a. Size, shape, and physical characteristic of available space;

b. Construction plans with specified material type including lining and coating
requirements; and

cc. Detailed drawing on how the installation will drain into an outfall structure such
as drywell or percolation chamber, storm drain system, drainage channel, or natural
wash.

SEC. 6. Issuance of Building Permits. Local Government Units shall not issue
building permits pursuant to PD 1096 or the National Building Code of the Philippines
of the Philippines to construction projects that do not incorporate rain-water harvesting
and storage facilities in accordance with this Act.

SEC. 7. Penalties. Approval of designs without incorporating the rain-water
harvesting and storage facilities shall incur penalty of a fine of Five Hundred Thousand
Pesos (P500,000.00) or imprisonment of 6 months or both depending upon the
discretion of the court. 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 and/or occupancy 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 depending upon the discretion of the Court.

SEC. 8. 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. 9. 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. 10. 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. 11. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in two
(2) Newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,