-a.
RE
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSH OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
|9th Congress
First Regular Session
HousnBILLNo.    6345
ffiE[ENED
LSATE:Fin
r"E:-
BY:-
Introduced by: HON. LORNA C. SILVERIO
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill seeks to create an inter-agency body that will propose, formulate, draft and
direct the  implementation of a comprehensive  master plan to  address  an  imminent water
crisis providing its powers and functions to call on any government body including private
sector agencies to contribute to the solutions to the crisis.
Over the past two decades, the country has variously experienced water shortages that
impacted households, communities and the nation. Given the vital importance of water to the
everyday  lives,  leaders  of the  nation  should  be  alarmed  and  should  act  today  to  avert  a
devastating water shortage.
Even with the La Nifia season when there is supposed to be an abundance of water
supply,  the  nation,  particularly  the  National   Capital  Region  (NCR)  experiences  water
shortages that adversely impact on communities and business operations.
The  situation  is  made  worse  by  the  onset  of  the  EI  Nifio  phenomenon  where
traditional water sources dry up and or become limited in its capacity to  supply the water
needs of a continuously growing metropolis. While water rationing is a stop-gap solution, a
long-term solution that will assure a sustainable supply of clean, potable water must be put in
place urgently.
The approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
LORNA C. SILVERIO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVHS
Quezon City
|9th Congress
First Regular Session
HousEBILLNo.    6345
Introduced by: HON. LORNA C. SILVERIO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF AN INTER-AGENCY BODY THAT WILL
PROPOSE, FORMULATE, DRAFT AND DIRECT THE IMPLEMENTATION 0F A
COMPREIIENSIVE  MASTER  PLAN   TO  ADDRESS   AN  IMMINENT   WATER
CRISIS,   PROVIDING   ITS   POWERS   AND   FUNCTIONS   T0   CALL   ON   ANY
GOVERNMENT  BODY AND  PRIVATE  SHCTOR AGENCIES  TO  CONTRIBUTE
TO TIIE SOLUTIONS T0 TIIE CRISIS
Be  it  e_n_acted by  the  Senate  and  House  Of Representatives  Of the  Philippines  in  Congress
assembled:
Section  1.  Short Title. - This  Act  shall  be  known  as  "rJ!e  Comprefee#sz.ve  Wrc!fer  Crz.sis
Solutions Act Of 2022 " .
Section 2.        Declaration of policy. It shall be the policy of the state to effectively ensure a
long-term sustainable and viable supply of adequate clean potable water for the present and
the future generation.
It is also the declared policy of the State to assure the sustainability of water resources
that are vital to the people and the economy and most importantly for national survival.
It shall be the declared policy of the State to enlist the various instruments of the State
and of the private sectors to attain this ideal situation of continuous water supply.
Section 3.  Creation  of an Inter-Agency Body.  An Inter-Agency Body is hereby  created
with the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources as Chairman and the Secretaries of
Trade  and  Industry,  Agriculture,  Agrarian  Reform,  Finance,  Budget  and  Management,
National Defense and Interior and Local Government as members.
Two representatives from the private sectors shall complete the composition of the
body.
Section  4.  Mandate  of the  Inter-Agency  Body.  The  following  shall  be  the  powers  and
functions of the Inter-Agency Body:
a. Draft and formulate a comprehensive Master Plan and oversee its implementation
and through  monitoring,  make  an  evaluation  of the  viability  of a water  crisis  mitigation
development plan;


b.   Call   on   any   instrumentality   or   agency   of  the   government   including   the
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), the Local Water Resources Board
(LWRB), the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and the private concessionaries
to assist in attaining the goals of the Inter-Agency Body;
c. Enter into any agreement or contract with any and all entities that could help attain
its goals including financial institutions and bodies;
d. Recommend to the President any measure that could facilitate the achievement of
the purposes for which it is created; and
e. Exercise other powers and functions that may be necessary.
Section  5.  Funding.  The  amount of One  Hundred Million Pesos  (P100  million)  shall  be
allocated for the program. There after such amounts that may be required shall be provided in
the Annual General Appropriations under the Office of the President.
Section  6.  Separability  clause.  If for  any  reason,  any  part  of provision  of this  Act  is
declared  invalid  or  unconstitutional,  the  remaining  parts  of provisions  not  affected  shall
remain in full force and effect.
Section 7. RepeaHng Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, and rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are repealed or modifled
accordingly.
Section 8. Effectivity.  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,