Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 931 
Introduced by Hon. Bernadette S. Barbers 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING 
ALL 
RESIDENTIAL, 
COMMERCIAL 
AND 
INSTITUTIONAL 
BUILDINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES TO INSTALL RAINWATER COLLECTION 
SYSTEM, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Rainwater collection is the practice of accumulation and storage of rainwater 
for later use. This practice helps conserve water and save money. It is also beneficial 
to our environment as it reduces stormwater runoff which carries debris and other 
pollutants that can cause stress on local waterways and sewerage systems, thereby 
improve water quality in lakes and streams. 
The concept is not new in the Philippines, particularly in rural areas with limited 
water supply, where pipes or diverters connected to big barrels are used to collect and 
store rainwater. 
Urban areas, however, put little to no emphasis on rainwater collection due to 
the presence of service companies like Maynilad and Manila Water that provide stable 
and abundant water supply. 
But as water levels of Angat Dam continue to decrease and cause water service 
interruptions, it is one’s best interest to establish a sustainable rainwater supply 
system. 
Lastly,  rainwater collection will help mitigate the country’s flooding problems 
brought about by severe weather conditions due to climate change. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. BERNADETTE S. BARBERS 
2nd District, Surigao del Norte 
July 1, 2025
3:04 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 931 
Introduced by Hon. Bernadette S. Barbers 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL NEW RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL 
BUILDINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES TO INSTALL RAINWATER COLLECTION 
SYSTEM, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as “Rainwater Collection 
Act of 2025.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to protect and 
advance the rights of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with 
the rhythm and harmony of nature. Pursuant thereto, the State shall mandate the 
installation of rainwater collection systems to promote sufficient water supply in times 
of calamities or weather disturbances brought about by climate change and to reduce 
the flooding problems in  the country. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the term: 
a. Rainwater shall mean water that falls on a roof or other hard, impervious
non-pedestrian, non-vehicular surface and is captured, filtered and stored.
b. Rainwater collection shall mean the capture, diversion and storage of
rainwater for a number of different purposes including, but not limited to,
landscape irrigation;
c. Rainwater collection system (RCS) shall mean a facility designed to capture,
retain, and store rainwater flowing off a building, parking lot, or any other
manmade, impervious surface, for subsequent onsite use;
d. Institutional building shall mean civic building that can be funded privately
or by the government. It also refers to any structure that fulfills a role related
to healthcare, education, recreation, or public works. It shall include city,
municipal and barangay halls, court houses, judicial centers, executive and
legislative buildings,  police headquarters, detention facilities, military
bases, police and fire stations, transportation terminals, schools and
universities, museums, art galleries, cultural centers and the like.


SEC. 4. Rainwater Collection System. – The owner or developer of a new 
residential, commercial and institutional building shall include in its building plan a 
rainwater collection system consistent with the purpose of this Act. 
 
A Rainwater Collection System (RCS) installed pursuant to this section shall 
not be made with toxic materials and shall be designed, constructed, and maintained 
in such a way as to exclude mosquitoes and other contaminants.  The size of the 
container for the rainwater collection system shall be at least 10 cubic meter and its 
operation and maintenance shall be the sole responsibility of the owner or possessor 
of the building. 
 
The rainwater collected by rainwater collection system may be used for non-
potable and suitable purposes, such as cleaning, gardening and air-cooling processes. 
 
SEC. 5. Design Approval. – The local government units (LGUs) and the 
Housing and Land use Regulatory Board shall require rain water collection 
facility/system to be incorporated in the design or plan of all new residential, 
commercial and  institutional buildings; otherwise such building shall not be approved 
for construction by the concerned agency. 
 
SEC. 6. Issuance of Building Permit.  – If the design of a new residential, 
commercial and institutional building does not provide  for a rainwater collection sytem, 
the LGU concerned shall deny the application for issuance of a building permit for such 
building. 
 
SEC. 7. Rainwater Treatment Facility To New Government Institutional 
Buildings and Large Commercial Establishments.  – The Department of Public 
Works and Highways (DPWH), through its attached agencies, shall install a rainwater 
treatment facility to all new government institutional buildings. It shall supervise the 
filtration and purification processes to ensure that the rainwater is safe for drinking. 
 
The rainwater treatment facility or device shall be regularly monitored and 
evaluated by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG ) through the 
LGUs concerned. 
 
For all new private institutional buildings such as private schools and 
universities, including large commercial establishments like malls, supermarkets and 
companies, they are mandated to install rainwater filtration facilities connected to the 
rainwater collection systems so that the rainwater can be used as potable water.  
 
SEC. 8. Penalties. – The owner or developer of a new residential, commercial 
and institutional building who fails to install  a rainwater collection system in violation 
of Section 4 of this Act shall suffer the penalty of not less than One Hundred Thousand 
Pesos (P100,000.00) , but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(P500,000.00) for every year of non-compliance. 
 
The same penalty shall be applied to those who fail to install a rainwater 
treatment facility in violation of the third paragraph of Section 7 of this Act. 
 


The head of the government institution who violates Section 4 and Section 7 of 
this Act, or any government officer or employees who issues permits in violation of this 
Act shall suffer the penalty of suspension of not less than ten (10) days but not more 
than one hundred eighty (180) days after due notice and hearing in an appropriate 
administrative proceeding. 
 
SEC. 9. Tax Incentives. – To encourage the public to promote the installation 
of rainwater collection system, the owner of an existing residential or commercial 
building who install a rainwater collection system in his/her property shall be entitled 
to a tax credit of 10% but not exceeding ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) of the total 
real property tax of the said property for a period of two (2) years.  
 
SEC. 10. Issuance of Certification. – The LGU concerned through its 
engineering office, after proper inspection, shall issue a certification that the owner of 
an existing residential and commercial building has installed a rainwater collection 
system in his/her property. Such certification can be used as proof for tax credit 
purposes. 
 
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – To ensure the effective 
implementation of this Act, the Secretary of the Depatrtment of Public Works and 
Highways, in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local 
Government, the Chief Executive of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, and 
the Administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical 
Services Administration, shall promulgate the rules and regulations within sixty (60) 
days from the its effectivity. 
 
The above-mentioned regulations shall include guidelines for the design, 
construction, installation, materials, site-selection and planning, including the 
maintenance of the rainwater collections system. 
 
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. – All laws, orders, issuances, circulars, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
 
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 14. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,