FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
S.B.No. 
322 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), which was created under R.A. 
3601, is tasked with the development of policy and the operation and 
maintenance of the irrigation systems all over the country. Likewise, it is 
mandated to provide corollary services in line with the agricultural development 
program of the national government such as construction of more infrastructures, 
and employment of modern technology and other support services. 
The creation of NIA is the government's effort to attain self-sufficiency in 
agricultural crops, which has become one of our nation's major economic goals. 
The Board of Directors exercises the powers and functions of NIA. Under 
P.D. No. 552, which amended R.A. 3601, the Board is composed of six members 
and farmers are only represented by the rice and corn organization. This 
proposed measure provides the inclusion of a representative from the private 
sector particularly the consumers and entrepreneurs who are also associates 
and partners in the formulation of economic policies. The inclusion of the sector 
in the Board shall provide for a more integrated and coordinated food security 
policies. 
Their participation will enable the agency to be more responsive to the 
concerns and agenda of all sectors of society which together constitute the 
working elements of the agricultural sector of the national economy. 
In view of the foregoing considerations, immediate passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought. 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
) 
'7 
J& -2 ': * '.i 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERClTO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE INCLUSION OF A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 
PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NATIONAL 
IRRIGATION 
ADMINISTRATION, 
AMENDING 
FOR 
THE 
PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3601, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1, Section 4 of Act 3601, as amended hereby further amended 
to read as follows: 
"SECTION 4. Board of Directors - The powers and 
functions of the National Irrigation Administration shall be 
exercised by the Board of Directors composed of six SEVEN 
members, to wit: 
The Secretary of Public Works and 
Highways, [Transportation and Communications who shall be 
the Chairman], the Director General of the National Economic 
and Development Authority, the Secretary of Agriculture, the 
[General Manager], President of 
the 
National Power 
Corporation, and (one) TWO members who shall be appointed 
by the President of 
the Philippines, ONE upon the 
recommendation of any national rice and corn organization of 
good standing; AND SECOND, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 
PRIVATE SECTOR, WHO SHALL BE A FILIPINO CITIZEN, 
AT LEAST THIRTY FIVE YEARS OF AGE, OF PROVEN 
HONESTY, INTEGRITY AND RECOGNIZED COMPETENCE, 
and who shall serve for a term of four years unless sooner 
removed FOR CAUSE OR UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS 
SHALL HAVE BEEN QUALIFIED AND APPOINTED. 
THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE SHALL BE THE EX- 
OFFICIO CHAIRMAN AND THE VICE-CHARIMAN SHALL BE THE 
ADMINISTRATOR 
OF 
THE 
NATIONAL 
IRRIGATION 
ADMINISTRATION. 
In case of failure of a member to attend the meetings of the 
Board due to physical incapacity or any temporary disability, the 
Undersecretary or the Assistant Head of the office or agency to which 
the member concerned belongs, shall attend the meetings of the 
board, with the power to vote. 


For actual attendance at regular meetings, each member of the 
Board or his representative as authorized in the preceding paragraph, 
shall receive a per diem of [three hundred pesos] TWO THOUSAND 
FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P2,500.00), and [one hundred pesos] one 
thousand pesos (PI ,000.00) for special meetings, but the total 
amount per diems that a member may receive in a month shall in no 
case be above [one thousand five hundred pesos] TEN THOUSAND 
PESOS (Pl0,OOO.OO). 
The Board shall fix the amount of 
representation and transportation allowance that the members may 
receive. 
SEC 2. Appropriation. Such sum as may be necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
SEC 3. Repealing Clause. All existing laws, executive orders, presidential 
decrees, rules and regulations, or any parts thereof inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC 4. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,