1 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE       ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
      ) 
First Regular Session        
      ) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H. No. _______
Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR WATER RESOURCE 
MANAGEMENT AND CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER 
RESOURCES AND THE WATER REGULATORY COMMISSION, DEFINING 
THEIR MANDATES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATINGS 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Water is a basic human need and access to safe water is a universal 
human right as declared by the United Nations. 
With global warming, water security is a growing problem worldwide, and 
it calls for long term planning and responses. In the case of the Philippines, 
although an archipelagic country blessed with an abundant source of water, 
severe water shortage is being experienced due to the impact of rapid 
population growth, urbanization, pollution, excessive and inefficient use of 
water, and climate change. This is further aggravated by the lack of a holistic 
program for water resources management. 
One of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all United 
Nations Member States in 2015 is to ensure availability and sustainable 
management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.1 Despite progress, billions 
of people still lack safe water, sanitation and handwashing facilities. Data 
suggests that achieving universal access to even basic sanitation service by 
2030 would require doubling the current annual rate of progress. 
At present, management of water resources in the country is lodged with 
different units or agencies of the government such as National Water Resources 
Board (NWRB), Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), Metropolitan 
Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and the National Irrigation 
Administration (NIA) thereby resulting to duplication of functions, lack of 
coordination or even conflicts in the implementation of the national policies and 
plans on water, sewage, sanitation, and irrigation thereby resulting to backlog in 
the provision of water supply and sanitation services to the public. 
1 https://sustalnabledevelopment.un.org/sdg6 
July 20, 2022
9:41 am
2175


2 
 
This bill seeks to ensure and accelerate universal access to water supply 
and sanitation services and to encourage responsible private sector 
participation, fostering and prioritizing infrastructure and public works that adopt 
innovative solutions and international best practices to address the challenges 
of climate change.  
 
The key provisions include the following:  
 
● Creates, establishes, and mandates the Department of Water Resources 
to be the primary agency responsible for the comprehensive and integrated 
identification and mapping of all water resources, planning, policy 
formulation, and management of the ownership, appropriation, utilization, 
exploitation, development, sustainability and protection of water resources 
in the Philippines except fisheries or aquaculture; 
 
● Declares all water and water treatment infrastructure projects as projects 
imbued with national interest; 
 
● Adopts the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) as the 
strategic framework for national water management, policymaking and 
planning; 
 
● Empowers the Department on policy making, planning, management and 
regulation of water resources; and to develop institutional arrangements 
with public water organizations and ensure coordination with all 
stakeholders for all water resource development, integration and 
management activities, including sanitation, flood control, flood risk 
management and drought risk management; 
 
● Empowers the Department to create when necessary, water resource 
subsidiaries, instrumentalities and entities to engage in water transmission, 
water distribution, waste water treatment and management, and sanitation 
in accordance with existing relevant laws; 
  
● Allows the Department to enter into contracts, joint venture agreements or 
understanding, 
public-private 
partnerships, 
and 
memorandum 
of 
agreements or understanding, either domestic or foreign relating to 
investment and financing water-related projects, under such terms and 
conditions as the Department may deem proper and reasonable subject to 
existing laws; 
  
● Authorizes the Secretary of the Department to act as the Chairperson of 
the governing board of the agencies that are attached to the Department; 
  
● Attaches agencies to the Department as follows: 1. The Local Water 
Utilities Administration (LWUA); 2. The Metropolitan Waterworks and 
Sewerage System (MWSS); 3. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA); 
4. The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), whose mandate, 
powers and functions are defined under Republic Act No. 4850; 
  
● Subsumes the offices, functions and personnel of the following agencies to 
the Department, namely:  1. The National Water Resources Board 
(NWRB); 2. The River Basin Control Office (RBCO) of the DENR; 3. The 


3 
Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO) of the DENR;  4. The Water 
Resources Management Division of the Bureau of Soils and Water 
Management of the Department of Agriculture (DA); 5. The Water Supply 
and Sanitation Unit of the DILG; 5. The Water Quality Management Section 
of the EMB of the DENR; and 6. The Water Quality Management Section 
of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR; 
●Transfers to the Department the functions of the following agencies,
bureaus, and units:
(1)
The conduct of hydrological surveys and groundwater mapping
of the    Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR.
(2)
The conduct of hydrological surveys monitoring of stream flow
and other water data collection function of the Bureau of Design
and Bureau of Research and Standards of the DPWH.
(3)
The protection and conservation of natural wetlands such as
lakes, marshes, swamps of the Biodiversity Management Bureau
of the DENR.
(4)
The 
Planning, 
programming, 
administration, 
monitoring,
management 
of 
the 
National 
Sewerage 
and 
Septage
Management Program (NSSMP) by the DPWH.
(5)
The flood management planning and sediment management
function of the Flood Control Management Cluster of the DPWH.
(6)
The Water Resource Management Division and the water
research functions of the Soils and Water Research Division of
the Bureau of Soils and Water Management under the DA.
●Creates the Water Pollution Adjudication Board to assume the powers and
functions of the National Pollution Control Commission with respect to the
adjudication of water pollution cases;
●Establishes interface and institutional arrangements with other agencies
such as the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Energy (DOE), National Power
Corporation (NPC), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH), National Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Council (NDRRMC), the Climate Change Commission
(CCC), PAGASA, NAMRIA, Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine
Reclamation Authority and economic zone authorities and other relevant
government agencies, including Local Government Units (LGUs);
●Creates the National Water Sector Policy Board to approve the National
Water Resources Management Framework Plan, provide overall policy
direction and recommend policies on water resources requiring
Presidential decision, advise the President on the status of water
management and supply, recommend to the President the declaration of a
state calamity in areas affected by water supply, and submit proposals to
restore normalcy in the affected areas and ensure a multi-stakeholder
participation in the development, updating, and sharing of information
system as policy, planning and decision-making tools consistent with the
IWRM;




5 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE         ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
        ) 
First Regular Session        
        ) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H. No. ______
Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR WATER RESOURCE 
MANAGEMENT AND CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER 
RESOURCES AND THE WATER REGULATORY COMMISSION, DEFINING 
THEIR MANDATES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATINGS 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:  
CHAPTER I 
1 
2 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
3 
4 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “National Water 
5 
Act”.  
6 
7 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. –  Access to water is a basic human right. 
8 
All water belongs to the State which shall govern its development and utilization 
9 
for the people.   
10 
11 
It is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure the provision of safe, 
12 
adequate, affordable, and sustainable water supply and improved sanitation 
13 
services, while maintaining the protection, preservation, and revival of the 
14 
quality of the country’s water resources and ecological balance.  
15 
16 
In pursuit of this policy, this Act shall have the principal objective of 
17 
ensuring and accelerating universal access to water supply and sanitation 
18 
services, in a regulatory regime that encourages responsible private sector 
19 
participation, and shall foster and prioritize the establishment of infrastructure 
20 
and public works that adopt innovative solutions and international best practices 
21 
to address the challenges of climate change. Further, all water and water 
22 
treatment infrastructure projects are hereby declared as projects imbued with 
23 
national interest.  
24 
25 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
26 
27 
a. Bulk water supplier refers to any entity, natural or juridical, whether public
28 
or private, supplying or intending to supply large quantities of raw or
29 
treated water to buyers who will use these for their own consumption,
30 
such as industrial companies, or for retail distribution to consumers such
31 
2175


6 
as water service providers or real estate developers managing their own 
1 
distribution network.   
2 
3 
b. Environmental services refer to qualitative functions of natural non-
4 
produced assets of land, water, and air, including related ecosystems,
5 
and their biota, and which may be categorized into three basic types: (1)
6 
disposal services which reflect the functions of the natural environment
7 
as an absorptive sink for residuals; (2) productive services which reflect
8 
the economic functions of providing natural resource inputs and space for
9 
production and consumption, and (3) consumer or consumption services
10 
which provide for physiological as well as recreational and related needs
11 
of human beings.
12 
13 
c. Flood Control refers to methods, acts, and protocols to be observed in
14 
order to prevent and reduce the detrimental and catastrophic effects of
15 
flood waters which include sediment-laden or turbid flows, and hyper-
16 
concentrated flows or debris flows.
17 
18 
d. Flood Risk Management (FRM) refers to such acts of defining and
19 
determining the appropriate methods, acts, and protocols aimed at
20 
preventing and reducing the risk of incurring loss of both life and property
21 
due to flood waters. Flood risk management consists of a cycle of
22 
prevention, mitigation, adaptation, preparedness and early warning, and
23 
response and recovery. The elements of FRM include: (i) integrating land-
24 
use planning and coastal zone management into water management; (ii)
25 
adopting a holistic approach so that FRM is part of wider risk or multi-
26 
hazard management of earthquakes, landslides, and storm surges; (iii)
27 
managing risk and uncertainty as a whole so it not only mitigates
28 
hydrological uncertainties but also social, economic and political
29 
uncertainties on account of human behavior and the cultural dimensions
30 
of FRM.
31 
32 
e. Gender Equality refers to the principle asserting the equality of men and
33 
women and their right to enjoy equal conditions realizing their full human
34 
potentials to contribute to and benefit from the results of development,
35 
and with the State recognizing that all human beings are free and equal
36 
in dignity and rights.
37 
38 
f.
Infrastructure and public works refer only to wholly or primarily water-
39 
related projects and does not include projects that do not fall within the
40 
purview of the objectives, power and duties of the Department of Water
41 
Resources created under this Act.
42 
43 
g. Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) refers to a systematic,
44 
collaborative, and multi-stakeholder process which promotes the
45 
coordinated development and management of water, land, and related
46 
resources within geophysical boundaries in order to maximize the
47 
resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner, and without
48 
compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.
49 
50 
h. Levels of water supply refer to communal sources of water described
51 
according to location and size of the recipient human settlement as
52 
follows:
53 


7 
 
 
1 
1) Level I or the point source is a protected well or a developed spring 
2 
with an outlet but without any distribution system, generally 
3 
adaptable to rural and upland areas where houses are thinly 
4 
scattered, and is a facility which usually serves an average of 15 
5 
households.  
6 
 
7 
2) Level II or the communal faucet system or stand posts is a system 
8 
composed of a water source, a reservoir, a piped distribution 
9 
network, and communal faucets where one faucet serves 4 to 6 
10 
households and is generally suitable for rural and urban fringe 
11 
areas where houses are clustered densely to justify a simple piped 
12 
system.  
13 
 
14 
3) Level III or the waterworks system or individual house connections 
15 
is a system with a water source, a reservoir, a piped distribution 
16 
network and household taps, suitable for densely populated urban 
17 
areas.   
18 
 
19 
i. License refers to the Water Supply and/or Sanitation Services Operating 
20 
License that the Water Regulatory Commission is authorized to grant and 
21 
issue to service providers.   
22 
 
23 
j. Licensee refers to a service provider to whom a license is granted or 
24 
issued by the Water Regulatory Commission.  
25 
 
26 
k. Missionary Water Services refer to water supply or services to areas that 
27 
have no existing safe water supply and services due to geographic 
28 
limitation or absence of economic and market viability.  
29 
 
30 
l. National Water Resources Management Plan (NWRMP) refers to a policy 
31 
document that contains a framework to guide the development and 
32 
management of all the water resources in the Philippines, the general 
33 
strategies and work to be pursued to ensure the sustainability of the 
34 
resource towards water security, and top-level direction on the utilization 
35 
of existing water resources in line with national development plans, 
36 
policies, and programs in accordance with the IWRM framework. The 
37 
NWRMP shall also include a water infrastructure development program 
38 
or all waters of the country as well as provide general guidance on how 
39 
this shall be supported within an integrated financing framework that can 
40 
draw from public, private, and international development funding sources.  
41 
 
42 
m. Net Waste Load refers to the difference of the initial waste load of the 
43 
abstracted water and the waste load of the final effluent discharge of an 
44 
industry  
45 
 
46 
n. Regulatory Units refer to the offices established under Section 20 of this 
47 
Act which issue licenses authorizing the operation of Water Supply and 
48 
Sanitation Services, and provide, review, determine, fix, and approve 
49 
water and sewerage tariffs, rates, and charges that licensees may 
50 
impose.   
51 
 
52 


8 
 
o. River basin refers to an area of land drained by a stream or body of fixed 
1 
water and its tributaries which have a common outlet for surface run-off.   
2 
 
3 
p. River Basin Organization (RBO) refers to multi-stakeholder organizations 
4 
which plan, coordinate, and monitor activities within a river basin cluster.  
5 
 
6 
q. Sanitation refers to the provision of facilities and services for the safe 
7 
management of human excreta, from toilet to containment, and storage 
8 
and treatment onsite or conveyance, treatment and eventual safe end use 
9 
or disposal, and includes the safe management of solid waste and animal 
10 
waste.  
11 
 
12 
r. Sediment management refers to control of sediment erosion and 
13 
deposition in rivers, reservoirs, and coastal zones through non-structural 
14 
and structural measures and control works.   
15 
 
16 
s. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also known as the 17 Global 
17 
Goals refer to the universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet 
18 
and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030 adopted 
19 
by all United Nations Member States in 2015.   
20 
 
21 
t. Septage is the liquid and solid material pumped from a septic tank, 
22 
cesspool, or other primary treatment source.   
23 
 
24 
u. Septage Management refers to the provision of proper collection, 
25 
treatment, and disposal of septage.  
26 
 
27 
v. Service Area refers to the area covered by the water distribution system, 
28 
sewerage, and /or septage management services.   
29 
 
30 
w. Service Provider refers to any entity, natural or juridical, whether private 
31 
or public, providing or intending to provide levels II & III water supply, 
32 
including bulk water suppliers, sewerage, septage treatment, and 
33 
disposal services for domestic, residential, industrial, or commercial use.    
34 
 
35 
x. Sewage refers to water borne human or animal wastes, excluding oil or 
36 
oil waste, removed from residences, buildings, institutions, and industrial 
37 
and commercial establishments together with such groundwater, surface 
38 
water and storm waters as may be present including such waste from 
39 
vessels, offshore structures, other receptacles intended to receive or 
40 
retain waste or other places or the combination thereof.    
41 
 
42 
y. Sewerage refers to any system or network of pipelines, ditches, channels 
43 
or conduits including pumping stations, lift stations and force mains, 
44 
service connections including other infrastructure, devices, or appliances 
45 
appurtenant thereto, which include the collection, transport, pumping and 
46 
treatment of sewage to a point of disposal.  
47 
 
48 
z. Sewers refer to pipes or such other works or structures which are built 
49 
and constructed to carry, transport, and dispose sewage.  
50 
 
51 
aa. 
Social inclusion refers to the process of improving the terms for 
52 
disadvantaged individuals and groups to take part in society.   
53 


9 
 
 
1 
bb. 
Tariffs refer to such amounts which may be charged by licensees 
2 
for their water supply and sanitation services based on principles, 
3 
standards, and guidelines established by the Department of Water 
4 
Resources. 
5 
 
6 
cc. Water Demand Management (WDM) refers to any method, whether 
7 
technical, economic, administrative, financial, or social that will 
8 
accomplish one or more of the following: 
9 
 
10 
(1) Reduce the quantity or quality of water required to accomplish a 
11 
specific task;  
12 
(2) adjust the nature of the task or the way it is undertaken so that it can 
13 
be accomplished with less water or with lower quality water;  
14 
(3) Reduce the loss in quantity or quality of water as it flows from source, 
15 
through use, to disposal;  
16 
(4) Shift the timing of use from peak to off-peak periods; and  
17 
(5) Increase the ability of the water system to continue to serve society 
18 
during times when water is in short supply.  
19 
 
20 
dd. 
Water Districts refer to government-owned and controlled 
21 
corporations organized under Presidential Decree No. 198, as amended, 
22 
created primarily to acquire, install, operate, maintain, and improve water 
23 
supply and distribution systems for domestic, industrial and municipal 
24 
uses of residents and to provide, maintain and operate waste water 
25 
collection, treatment and disposal facilities within the boundaries of the 
26 
district.  
27 
 
28 
ee. 
Water pollution refers to any alteration of the physical, chemical, 
29 
biological, or radiological properties of a body of water resulting in the 
30 
impairment of its purity or quality.  
31 
 
32 
ff. Water Resource refers to water under the ground or groundwater, water 
33 
above the ground such as surface water, run-offs, floods, storm water and 
34 
urban drainage, treated wastewater, water in the atmosphere or rain 
35 
water, and the waters of the sea within the territorial jurisdiction of the 
36 
Philippines.  
37 
 
38 
gg. Water Resources Regions refer to the contiguous clusters of river basins 
39 
which are grouped together according to the hydrological boundaries, 
40 
physiographic features, and homogeneity in climate, whether or not they 
41 
straddle different local government units, for administrative purposes 
42 
under the Department of Water Resources.  
43 
 
44 
hh. Water Service Provider (WSP) refers to the water district, any Local 
45 
Government Unit (LGU) run water utility, Barangay Waterworks and 
46 
Sanitation Association (BWSA), Rural Waterworks Sanitation Association 
47 
(RWSA), cooperative and private sector entity that provides water supply 
48 
services to any given area.   
49 
 
50 
ii. Water supply service refers to any activity comprising Levels I, II and III 
51 
water supply including bulk suppliers, suppliers to subdivisions, and other 
52 
water service providers.  
53 


10 
 
CHAPTER II 
1 
 
2 
THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES 
3 
 
4 
SEC. 4. The Department of Water Resources – There is hereby created 
5 
and established the Department of Water Resources, hereinafter referred to as 
6 
the Department.  
7 
 
8 
SEC. 5. Mandate of the Department. –The Department shall be the 
9 
primary agency responsible for the comprehensive and integrated identification 
10 
and mapping of all water resources, planning, policy formulation, and 
11 
management of the ownership, appropriation, utilization, exploitation, 
12 
development, and protection of water resources in the Philippines to ensure the 
13 
optimal use thereof for domestic and municipal water supply, sanitation, 
14 
irrigation, hydropower, industry, navigation, flood management, and recreation 
15 
except fisheries or aquaculture.  
16 
 
17 
The Department shall also be the primary agency responsible for the 
18 
planning and policy formulation towards the attainment of universal access to 
19 
safe, adequate, affordable, and sustainable water supply, and improved 
20 
sanitation services for all Filipinos.  
21 
 
22 
The Department shall be the primary national agency to enforce 
23 
Presidential Decree No. 1067, otherwise known as The Water Code of the 
24 
Philippines and Republic Act No. 9275, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean 
25 
Water Act of 2004.  
26 
 
27 
The Department shall exercise the powers and functions of the defunct 
28 
Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission created under Executive Order No. 54 
29 
Series of 1999 and abolished under Executive Order No. 93 Series of 2019, 
30 
specifically the following roles that were transferred to the Manila Bay Task 
31 
Force and DENR through the latter EO:  
32 
 
33 
(a) Update and take the lead in the overall implementation of the Pasig 
34 
River Rehabilitation Master Plan, which shall harness the Pasig 
35 
River’s potential for transportation, recreation and tourism purposes 
36 
while undertaking the rehabilitation and restoration of its maritime life; 
37 
and  
38 
(b) Ensure that the easements provided for in the Civil Code and other 
39 
relevant laws are enforced, especially in all the esteros and 
40 
waterways that drain into the Pasig River as well as abate the 
41 
dumping of untreated industrial wastewater and sewerage into the 
42 
river, including all acts and omissions in violation of Presidential 
43 
Decree (PD) No. 984, s. 1976, as amended entitled, Providing For 
44 
The Revision Of Republic Act No. 3931, Commonly Known As The 
45 
Pollution Control Law, And For Other Purposes, PD No. 274, s. 1973 
46 
entitled, Pertaining To The Preservation, Beautification, Improvement 
47 
And Gainful Utilization Of The Pasig River, Providing For The 
48 
Regulation And Control Of Pollution Of The River And Its Banks In 
49 
Order To Enhance Its Development, Thereby Maximizing Its 
50 
Utilization For Socio-Economic Purposes, and other related laws. 
51 
   
52 


11 
 
SEC. 6. Guiding Principles. –In the pursuit of its mandate, the 
1 
Department shall be guided by the following key principles:  
2 
 
3 
(a) The concept of good water governance for water security and 
4 
sufficiency shall be adopted across all levels of governance by 
5 
stakeholders such as the national government, local government, non-
6 
government organizations, private organizations, individuals, even 
7 
global societal actors, and in various sectors such as water supply, 
8 
irrigation, fisheries, hydropower, navigation, ecosystem services, flood 
9 
management, climate change, and recreation. It shall entail publicly 
10 
transparent, socially accountable, and multi-stakeholder participatory 
11 
water policy planning, management, and decision-making processes.  
12 
 
13 
(b) Access to safe water supply and improved sanitation is a human right 
14 
that needs to be fulfilled and protected.   
15 
 
16 
(c) Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) shall be adopted as 
17 
the basic framework which is the coordinated development and 
18 
management of water, land, and related resources within hydrological 
19 
boundaries to optimize economic and social welfare without 
20 
compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. The IWRM 
21 
Framework shall include an enabling environment that utilizes proper 
22 
policies, legal instruments, and   institutional frameworks for effective 
23 
implementation, participatory and collaborative water policy and 
24 
management decisions, and management instruments for efficient use 
25 
of updated and accurate data, science-based decision support 
26 
systems, proper information, education, communication (IEC) 
27 
programs, assessment and allocation tools, or regulatory functions. It 
28 
shall 
observe 
the 
mutual 
accountability 
mechanism 
among 
29 
stakeholders at the national, regional, and global levels reinforcing 
30 
multi-stakeholder decision-making following a framework with specific, 
31 
measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely actions.  
32 
 
33 
(d) Each river basin has its unique characteristics relating to the physical, 
34 
socio cultural, and other aspects, and water management shall be 
35 
performed at river-basin level, involving all the stakeholders at that 
36 
particular river basin.   
37 
 
38 
(e) Integrated and accurate data collection and analysis and the use of 
39 
scientific decision support systems shall be undertaken in water 
40 
resources management including flood modeling and warning systems 
41 
that are essential for an effective, efficient, and sustainable water 
42 
resources management system.  
43 
 
44 
(f) The development of water resources shall include strategies for the 
45 
mitigation of water-related hazards and climate change adaptation. 
46 
 
47 
(g) Water resources and services should be provided where they are 
48 
intended and most needed so that water is fairly and sustainably 
49 
managed. 
50 
   
51 
(h) The proper operation and maintenance of waterworks systems resulting 
52 
in the uninterrupted and adequate supply and distribution of potable 
53 


12 
 
water for domestic and other purposes, and the proper operation and 
1 
maintenance of sewerage systems which are essential services to public 
2 
health and safety, are to be ensured at all times. The State shall therefore 
3 
supervise and control the establishment, operation, and maintenance of 
4 
such systems.   
5 
 
6 
SEC 7. Objectives of the Department. – The Department shall:  
7 
 
8 
(a) Promote and adopt water demand management as a national policy to 
9 
ensure that water is optimized, that water efficiency and conservation 
10 
become a way of life, that the recycling and reuse of water and treated 
11 
wastewater are widely practiced, that water is properly priced to 
12 
encourage efficient use and conservation and that rainwater, flood waters, 
13 
and run-offs are captured or harvested, stored and treated for future use; 
14 
  
15 
(b) Prioritize and seek the immediate attainment of universal access to safe, 
16 
adequate, affordable and sustainable water supply and improved 
17 
sanitation services for all Filipinos in a manner consistent with the 
18 
protection, preservation, and revival of the quality of the country’s water 
19 
resources, and to adopt all needed measures to advance the right of the 
20 
people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and 
21 
harmony of nature. 
22 
  
23 
(c) Strengthen and coordinate integrated water resources management 
24 
planning and policy making to ensure sustainable and fair allocation and 
25 
efficient use of water resources among competing uses and users; 
26 
  
27 
(d) Ensure that integrated water resources management is strongly 
28 
coordinated with land use and coastal and multi-hazard planning and 
29 
management; 
30 
  
31 
(e) Develop sustainably, and manage water sources and water resources 
32 
toward water security, taking into consideration water, land, and related 
33 
resources aimed at increasing water dependability for different uses, 
34 
optimizing economic benefits and social welfare without compromising 
35 
the sustainability of vital environmental systems;  
36 
 
37 
(f) Strengthen and coordinate policy making and planning towards ensuring 
38 
the availability of water for food security and energy security, as well as 
39 
towards the protection of communities and environments against flood 
40 
and other water induced hazards including sediment hazards;  
41 
  
42 
(g) Ensure that the strategy for water resources development and 
43 
conservation is participatory, and that planners, policymakers and users 
44 
including community members are involved at all levels;  
45 
 
46 
(h) Develop a standardized pricing framework for water use that accounts for 
47 
environmental externalities; and 
48 
  
49 
(i) Ensure that all sources of water, including surface water, groundwater, 
50 
rainwater and floodwater are identified, mapped, monitored, conserved 
51 
and managed for productive use and the resulting wastewater is managed 
52 


13 
 
properly, reused, and responsibly disposed of following approved 
1 
environmental standards.  
2 
 
3 
SEC.8. Powers and Functions of the Department. – The Department shall 
4 
have the following powers and functions:  
5 
 
6 
I. 
Policymaking and Planning  
7 
 
8 
(a) Ensure that Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is adopted 
9 
as the strategic framework for water management policymaking and 
10 
planning in the country and coordinate the implementation, promotion, 
11 
revision and enhancement of IWRM plans;  
12 
  
13 
(b) Formulate policies, strategies, and targets in coordination with other 
14 
relevant entities to meet the goals and objectives for water supply and 
15 
sanitation, water quality, irrigation, hydropower, flood control, storm water 
16 
utilization, and urban drainage. Such policies shall, among other 
17 
guidelines, integrate the issues of water and sanitation, food security, 
18 
energy, environment and flood control, and climate change; 
19 
  
20 
(c) Formulate and develop policies to promote universal access to safe, 
21 
adequate, affordable, and sustainable water supply, and improved 
22 
sanitation services for all Filipinos; 
23 
  
24 
(d) Regularly update, every five years or as deemed necessary by the 
25 
Department, and in consultation with other agencies and stakeholders, 
26 
the NWRMP following the IWRM framework and integrate therein a 
27 
national land use plan;  
28 
 
29 
(e) Undertake river basin survey, inventory and appraisal of water and related 
30 
resources, and develop comprehensive basin-wide plans of storage, 
31 
retardation, and control to maximize conservation and multipurpose use 
32 
of water in the basin; 
33 
  
34 
(f) Conduct continuing hydrological and hydrometeorological surveys and 
35 
studies of the country’s renewable water supply,  and establish,  operate,  
36 
and  maintain  observation  station  networks  with  a view towards  
37 
formulating  long-term  policies  to  balance  the  sustainability  and  
38 
optimal multiple use of water resources, defining the hydrologic 
39 
boundaries of basins of the existing water supply sources and developing 
40 
or updating and implementing countrywide comprehensive basin-wide 
41 
master plans; 
42 
  
43 
(g) Strengthen and coordinate policy making and planning for flood 
44 
management, integrated with storm water or urban drainage and 
45 
appropriate retention or retarding basins in order to harvest and reuse 
46 
water, and to plan against, prevent, and minimize the detrimental and 
47 
catastrophic effects of flooding; 
48 
  
49 
(h) Assist and provide the National Economic and Development Authority 
50 
(NEDA) with the required data and input from the water sector in the 
51 
formulation of the country’s short-term and long-term strategic 
52 
development plans and actions, and recommend to the NEDA Board the 
53 


14 
 
adoption of general policies and guidelines for water resources 
1 
development; 
2 
  
3 
(i) Review, approve, and provide oversight over all water-related 
4 
development plans and programs of any agency within the context of the 
5 
NWRMP, and overall national plans and programs; 
6 
  
7 
(j) Develop and implement, in coordination with other relevant agencies, 
8 
effective codes, standards, benchmarks, and reasonable guidelines to 
9 
ensure the safety of all public and private water structures in the country, 
10 
and assure efficiency and proper quality in the construction of water, 
11 
sanitation, 
irrigation, 
hydropower, 
flood 
control 
and 
drainage 
12 
infrastructure;  
13 
 
14 
(k) Ensure that gender equality, social inclusion, environmental protection, 
15 
climate resiliency, and disaster risk reduction are integrated into any water 
16 
resource management planning, policy making, and the design and 
17 
construction of water infrastructure;  
18 
 
19 
(l) Ensure that the planning and design of water infrastructure considers the 
20 
highest efficiency and most appropriate technology and quality, in 
21 
accordance with national development objectives;  
22 
 
23 
(m) Review existing guidelines appropriate for private sector participation in 
24 
the water sector and submit recommendations to the Public-Private 
25 
Partnership (PPP) Center of NEDA and other concerned agencies to 
26 
promote and enable more PPPs in the sector; 
27 
  
28 
(n) Build a central repository of water data and effect inter-sectoral, inter-
29 
agency, and interdepartmental coordination on all aspects of data 
30 
gathering and management for water resources development planning 
31 
and compel the submission of statistics and data on water utilization with 
32 
the aim of operationalizing the integrated approach to water resources 
33 
management;  
34 
 
35 
(o) Ensure the effective implementation of all the provisions of Republic Act 
36 
No. 9275, Presidential Decree No. 1067, and Sections 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13, 
37 
Chapter II of Presidential Decree No. 856, otherwise known as the Code 
38 
on Sanitation of the Philippines;  
39 
    
40 
(p) Promote Philippine participation in information sharing and education on 
41 
best practices in support of international efforts to achieve universal 
42 
access to safe water and improved sanitation; and the integration of 
43 
water, energy, environment and food security; and  
44 
 
45 
(q) Issue and promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines as may be 
46 
necessary to implement and enforce its powers and functions under this 
47 
Act.  
48 
 
49 
II. 
Resource Regulation  
50 
 
51 
(a) Manage and conserve the country’s water resources to ensure the 
52 
optimal use thereof for domestic water supply, sanitation, irrigation, 
53 


15 
 
hydropower, navigation, flood control, and recreation purposes, and 
1 
enhance and maintain water quality, conserve watersheds, control 
2 
water pollution, and restore the environment, without compromising the 
3 
natural ecosystem functions and services;  
4 
 
5 
(b) Regulate and control the utilization, abstraction, diversion and 
6 
development of water resources, taking in consideration their equitable 
7 
distribution among competing demands and determine the standards of 
8 
beneficial and priority uses of water in times of crisis and national 
9 
emergencies;  
10 
 
11 
(c) Formulate, promulgate, and enforce rules and regulations for the 
12 
development and optimum use of water resources and its 
13 
administration and management, including coherent water protocols, 
14 
operating rules of all existing and future water infrastructure; general 
15 
criteria, methods and standards for basic data collection and project 
16 
identification, formulation and planning, and appropriate sanctions to be 
17 
imposed for non-compliance;  
18 
 
19 
(d) Regularly review regulations prescribed by any government agency 
20 
pertaining to water use, exploitation, development, and conservation or 
21 
protection of waters, water resources, and watershed or basin areas 
22 
with respect to this Act;  
23 
 
24 
(e) Impose fees or charges, as may be deemed necessary for water 
25 
resources conservation and protection, such as:  
26 
a. Polluter’s Fee, which shall be based on the net waste load 
27 
depending on the wastewater charge formula pursuant to 
28 
Republic Act No. 9275;  
29 
b. Raw water price, which shall take into account, among others, 
30 
the scarcity of water; and  
31 
c. Appropriate payment structures for environmental services 
32 
 
33 
(f) Deputize LGUs to collect the national fees or charges for resource 
34 
regulation within their respective jurisdictions;  
35 
 
36 
(g) Collect, regularly update, monitor, and analyze water resources data 
37 
including climatology, hydrological and other water-related data and 
38 
ensure that such data is easily accessible by relevant and authorized 
39 
users; 
40 
  
41 
(h) Establish, operate, and maintain observation station networks and a 
42 
centralized water resources data center for the scientific survey and 
43 
appraisal of surface and groundwater potentials of the country, and 
44 
determine the annual renewable water available per water resources 
45 
region;  
46 
 
47 
(i) Maintain a database that will contain updated relevant information on 
48 
water data which will be accessible by relevant and authorized users;  
49 
 
50 
(j) Develop and continuously update a computerized decision support 
51 
system that incorporates data management systems relating to 
52 
acquisition and database, model base in terms of physical design, 
53 


16 
 
planning and decision models, and user-friendly interface concerning 
1 
graphical and visualization tools;   
2 
 
3 
(k) Conduct and promote special studies and research on water economics 
4 
and other water resources development and management issues and 
5 
concerns such as climate change, weather modification, flood 
6 
monitoring and modeling, environmental quality, and desalination; and  
7 
 
8 
(l) Raise 
public 
awareness 
through 
information, 
education 
and 
9 
communications programs, and build capacities for informed 
10 
participation in water resources management at the national and river-
11 
basin level.  
12 
 
13 
III. 
Institutional Arrangement with Public Water Organizations 
14 
   
15 
(a) Develop guidelines including rules of partnership, between and among 
16 
the Department, field offices of national government agencies, LGUs 
17 
and other stakeholders in water resource management, and facilitate 
18 
the establishment of multi-stakeholder river basin organizations (RBOs) 
19 
per river basin, and strengthen and support existing RBOs and monitor 
20 
their activities; 
21 
 
22 
(b) Develop materials for capacity building and training of prospective 
23 
RBOs;  
24 
 
25 
(c) Authorize its representatives or any deputized agent to enter any 
26 
property of public dominion with or without prior notice and consent, any 
27 
private land, building or enclave, whether inhabited or not, for the 
28 
purpose of conducting hydrologic surveys and investigations, including 
29 
assessing and evaluating the conditions of water facilities installed, and 
30 
determining compliance with water laws and standards;  
31 
 
32 
(d) Provide technical assistance to water users including farmers, 
33 
communities, and LGUs and other water service providers (WSP) 
34 
whether directly or in coordination with other agencies on all aspects of 
35 
integrated water resources management;   
36 
 
37 
(e) Respond to consumer complaints, and ensure the adequate promotion 
38 
of consumer interests;  
39 
 
40 
(f) Deputize agents, whether from the public or private sector, to assist in 
41 
the performance of any of the powers and functions of the Department;  
42 
 
43 
(g) Appoint, hire, and maintain adequate staff and personnel, advisers or 
44 
consultants with suitable qualifications and experience, as necessary, 
45 
subject to existing rules and regulations.  
46 
 
47 
IV. Coordination  
48 
 
49 
(a) Coordinate and integrate water resources development activities of the 
50 
country within the context of national plans and policies for social and 
51 
economic development; 
52 
  
53 


17 
 
(b) Coordinate with other government agencies, universities, academe and 
1 
private professional groups in all aspects of data gathering, the conduct 
2 
of special studies and research on all related aspects of water 
3 
resources management and development such as climate change, 
4 
environmental quality, desalination, and the development of operating 
5 
strategies, procedures, and protocols and accompanying computerized 
6 
decision tools for major water facilities; 
7 
    
8 
(c) Coordinate with the concerned and relevant agencies engaged in flood 
9 
control, flood risk management, and drought risk management; and  
10 
 
11 
(d) Coordinate proactively with LGUs to ensure the integration of water 
12 
resources development plans into their comprehensive land use plans 
13 
(CLUPs), Comprehensive Development Plans (CDPs) or Provincial 
14 
Physical Framework and Development Plan (PPFDP).   
15 
 
16 
V.  Other Functions  
17 
 
18 
(a) Create when necessary, water resource subsidiaries, instrumentalities, 
19 
and entities to engage in water transmission, water distribution, waste 
20 
water treatment and management, and sanitation in accordance with 
21 
existing relevant laws.   
22 
 
23 
(b) Enter into contracts, joint venture agreements or understanding, public-
24 
private 
partnerships, 
and 
memorandum 
of 
agreements 
or 
25 
understanding, either domestic or foreign, relating to investment and 
26 
financing water-related projects, under such terms and conditions as 
27 
the Department may deem proper and reasonable subject to existing 
28 
laws. 
29 
  
30 
(c) Exercise such other powers and functions necessary or incidental to the 
31 
effective administration and management of the country’s water 
32 
resources.  
33 
 
34 
SEC. 9. Secretary of the Department of Water Resources. – The 
35 
authority and responsibility for the exercise of the mandate of the Department 
36 
and for the discharge of its powers and functions shall be vested in the 
37 
Secretary of the Department, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, who 
38 
shall:  
39 
 
40 
(a) Advise the President on the promulgation of executive or administrative 
41 
orders, regulations, proclamations and other issuances relative to 
42 
matters under the jurisdiction of the Department;  
43 
 
44 
(b) Establish the policies and standards for the operation of the Department 
45 
pursuant to the President’s guidelines;  
46 
 
47 
(c) Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the objectives, 
48 
policies, and functions of the Department;  
49 
 
50 
(d) Exercise supervision and control over all bureaus and offices under the 
51 
Department;  
52 


18 
 
  
1 
(e) Supervise all attached agencies and corporations in accordance with 
2 
law;  
3 
 
4 
(f) Represent the Department in contracts, awards, and other similar 
5 
agreements;   
6 
 
7 
(g) Delegate authority for the performance of any power or function, as 
8 
defined herein to officials and employees under his direction as deemed 
9 
appropriate; 
10 
   
11 
(h) Act as the Chairperson of the governing board of the attached agencies 
12 
of the Department;  
13 
 
14 
(i) Designate and appoint officers and employees of the Department, 
15 
excluding the Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and Regional 
16 
and Assistant Regional Directors, in accordance with the civil service 
17 
laws, rules and regulations; and  
18 
 
19 
(j) Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be provided by 
20 
law. 
21 
 
22 
SEC. 10. Office of the Secretary. – The Office of the Secretary shall 
23 
be composed of the Secretary, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary and the 
24 
Secretary’s immediate staff.   
25 
 
26 
SEC. 11. Undersecretaries. – The Secretary shall be assisted by not 
27 
more than five (5) Undersecretaries, who shall be appointed by the President 
28 
upon the recommendation of the Secretary namely: (1) Undersecretary for 
29 
Resource Regulation and Governance; (2) Undersecretary for Inland Waters 
30 
and Water for Agriculture; (3) Undersecretary for Resource Development; (4) 
31 
Undersecretary for Planning and Policy and (5) Undersecretary for Missionary 
32 
Water, Indigenous People, and Special Concerns.  
33 
 
34 
The Secretary is hereby authorized to delineate and assign the respective 
35 
functional areas of responsibility of the Undersecretaries in accordance with 
36 
the mandate and objectives of the Department:  Provided, That no 
37 
Undersecretary shall be assigned purely to administrative responsibilities. 
38 
Within their respective functional areas of responsibility, the Undersecretaries 
39 
shall:  
40 
 
41 
(a) Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and implementation 
42 
of the policies, plans, programs and projects of the Department; 
43 
  
44 
(b) Supervise all the operational activities of the assigned units for which 
45 
the Undersecretary is responsible to the Secretary; and 
46 
  
47 
(c) Perform such other functions deemed necessary as may be assigned 
48 
or delegated by the Secretary to promote efficiency and effectiveness 
49 
in the delivery of public services or as may be required by law:  
50 
Provided, That the Undersecretary for Planning and Policy shall, in 
51 
coordination with the Planning and Policy Service, be primarily 
52 
responsible for advancing current efforts in attaining the ultimate goal 
53 


19 
 
of universal access to water supply and sanitation systems, and 
1 
sustainable management of water resources under the SDGs, and the 
2 
integration of water, energy, environment and food security.  
3 
 
4 
SEC. 12. Assistant Secretaries. – The Secretary shall be assisted by 
5 
six (6) Assistant Secretaries to be appointed by the President of the Philippines 
6 
upon the recommendation of the Secretary: one each for Planning and Policy 
7 
Service, Decision Support System Service, Resource Regulatory Service, 
8 
Comptrollership and Financial Management Service, Legal and Legislative 
9 
Service, and Administrative and Human Resources Management Service.  
10 
 
11 
No person shall be appointed Secretary, Undersecretary and Assistant 
12 
Secretary of the Department unless the person is a citizen and resident of 
13 
the Philippines, of good moral character, of proven integrity, competence and 
14 
expertise in water resource management: Provided, That at least one (1) of 
15 
the Undersecretaries and at least two (2) of the Assistant Secretaries shall 
16 
be career officers. 
17 
 
18 
SEC. 13. Organizational Structure. – The Department shall be 
19 
composed of the following organizational units: 
20 
  
21 
(a) Department Proper. – The Department shall consist of the Office of the 
22 
Secretary, the Offices of the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, 
23 
the Internal Audit Office, the Public Affairs Office, the Water Pollution 
24 
Adjudication Board, the Planning and Policy Service, Decision Support 
25 
System Service, Administrative and Human Resources Service, Legal 
26 
and Legislative Service, Comptrollership and Financial Management 
27 
Service, Resource Regulation Service, and the Water Resources 
28 
Regional Offices.  
29 
 
30 
(b) Attached agencies. - The Department shall exercise administrative 
31 
supervision over the following agencies for purposes of policy and 
32 
program coordination, monitoring, and evaluation:  
33 
 
34 
1) The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), whose 
35 
mandate, powers, and functions are defined in Presidential 
36 
Decree No. 198, otherwise known as the Public Water Utilities 
37 
Act of 1973, as amended, shall be transferred from the 
38 
Department of Public Works and Highways and attached to the 
39 
Department. It shall continue to primarily function as a 
40 
specialized lending institution for the promotion, development, 
41 
and financing of local water utilities. In the implementation of its 
42 
functions, the LWUA shall:  
43 
 
44 
i. 
prescribe minimum standards and regulations in order to 
45 
assure acceptable standards of construction materials and 
46 
supplies, maintenance, operation, personnel training, 
47 
accounting and fiscal practices for local water utilities;  
48 
ii. 
furnish technical assistance and personnel training 
49 
programs for local water utilities;  
50 
iii. 
monitor and evaluate local water standards; and  
51 
iv. 
effect system integration, joint investment and operation, 
52 
district 
annexation 
and 
de-annexation 
whenever 
53 


20 
 
economically warranted as amended by Sec. 22, 
1 
Presidential Decree No. 768.  
2 
 
3 
2) The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), 
4 
whose mandate, powers, and functions are defined under 
5 
Republic Act No. 6234, as amended entitled, An Act Creating 
6 
The Metropolitan Waterworks And Sewerage System And 
7 
Dissolving The National Waterworks And Sewerage Authority 
8 
And For Other Purposes, shall be transferred from the DPWH 
9 
and attached to the Department: Provided, That the MWSS 
10 
shall continue to facilitate the exercise by the concessionaires 
11 
of their responsibility; carry out accounting and notification 
12 
functions; monitor, report, and administer loans; perform 
13 
related functions in connection with existing projects; manage 
14 
and dispose its retained assets; and manage and operate the 
15 
Umiray-Angat Transbasin Project.  
16 
 
17 
3) The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), whose mandate, 
18 
powers, and functions are defined under Republic Act No. 3601 
19 
as amended by Presidential Decree No. 552 and Presidential 
20 
Decree No. 1702;  
21 
 
22 
4) The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), whose 
23 
mandate, powers and functions are defined under Republic Act 
24 
No. 4850, as amended entitled, An Act Creating The Laguna 
25 
Lake Development Authority, Prescribing Its Powers, Functions 
26 
And Duties, Providing Funds Therefor, And For Other Purposes 
27 
shall be transferred from the DENR and attached to the 
28 
Department.   
29 
 
30 
The LLDA shall continue to serve as the lake management and 
31 
development authority similar to a multi-stakeholder river basin 
32 
organization and shall ensure the implementation of the Laguna 
33 
Lake Master Plan which shall be updated by the Department to 
34 
ensure alignment with the NWRMP. Any other agency 
35 
performing water resources management, conservation and 
36 
protection functions may be transferred to the Department as 
37 
the President deems necessary.   
38 
 
39 
(c) Offices, Functions and Personnel to be Completely Subsumed under 
40 
the Department. – The following offices with their powers, functions, 
41 
personnel, applicable funds and appropriations, records, equipment 
42 
and property shall be subsumed under the Department:  
43 
 
44 
i. 
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) with all its 
45 
divisions and sections, whose mandate, powers and functions 
46 
are provided in Presidential Decree No. 424, as amended;  
47 
ii. 
The River Basin Control Office (RBCO) of the DENR whose 
48 
mandate, powers and functions are provided in Executive Order 
49 
No. 510 and Executive Order No. 816, as amended;  
50 
iii. 
The Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO) of the DENR which 
51 
was strengthened by virtue of DENR Administrative Order 
52 
(DAO) 2011-01 to coordinate the efforts of the fourteen (14) 
53 


21 
 
national agencies covered by the Mandamus Order of the 
1 
Supreme Court to rehabilitate Manila Bay;  
2 
iv. 
The Water Resources Management Division of the Bureau of 
3 
Soils and Water Management of the Department of Agriculture 
4 
(DA);  
5 
v. 
The Water Supply and Sanitation Unit of the Department of the 
6 
Interior and Local Government (DILG); and  
7 
vi. 
The Water Quality Management Section of the Environmental 
8 
Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR.  
9 
 
10 
(d) Functions to be Transferred to the Department. – The following functions 
11 
of the respective agencies, bureaus, and units shall be transferred to the 
12 
Department: 
13 
 
14 
1. The hydrological surveys and groundwater mapping function of the 
15 
Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR;  
16 
2. The hydrological surveys monitoring of stream flow and water data 
17 
collection function of the Bureau of Design and Bureau of Research 
18 
and Standards of the DPWH;  
19 
3. The protection and conservation of natural wetlands such as lakes, 
20 
marshes, swamps of the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the 
21 
DENR; and  
22 
4. The 
planning, 
programming, 
administration, 
monitoring, 
23 
management of the National Sewerage and Septage Management 
24 
Program (NSSMP) by the DPWH.  
25 
5. The flood management planning and sediment management 
26 
function of the Flood Control Management Cluster of the DPWH;  
27 
6. The Water Resource Management Division and the water research 
28 
functions of the Soils and Water Research Division of the Bureau of 
29 
Soils and Water Management under the DA.  All soil-related 
30 
functions shall be retained under the Bureau which shall be renamed 
31 
as the Bureau of Soils. 
32 
 
33 
(e) Support Services - The Department shall create the following support 
34 
services:  
35 
  
36 
1. The Planning and Policy Service shall provide the Department with the 
37 
capability to undertake water infrastructure development planning and 
38 
programming, and shall exercise the following functions:  
39 
 
40 
i. 
Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to water resources 
41 
planning;  
42 
ii. 
Assist the Undersecretary for Planning and Policy on all 
43 
matters related to the specific functions of the position;  
44 
iii. 
Formulate strategies and priorities for water resources 
45 
management and development consistent with national 
46 
development objectives, and initiate or undertake relevant 
47 
surveys for development planning;  
48 
iv. 
Develop and regularly update a comprehensive and integrated 
49 
National Water Resources Management Plan and ensure its 
50 
integration into existing land use plans;  
51 


22 
 
v. 
Coordinate river-basin planning following the integrated water 
1 
resources management framework and the river-basin 
2 
approach; 
3 
vi. 
Formulate or update existing River Basin Master or 
4 
Comprehensive Plans which includes all aspects of water 
5 
management and development such as   water supply and 
6 
sanitation, irrigation, flood control and storm water or urban 
7 
drainage, 
drought 
risk 
management, 
water 
resource 
8 
development systems and other public water works projects, 
9 
including phasing of implementation;   
10 
vii. 
Identify, based on the river basin master plan, priority 
11 
packages for water infrastructure development per river basin, 
12 
including water supply, sanitation, irrigation, flood control and 
13 
storm water or urban drainage, drought risk management, 
14 
water resource development systems and other public works 
15 
projects, package project proposals for funding and prioritize 
16 
project implementation and the allocation of funds and other 
17 
resources and undertake or supervise and evaluate the 
18 
conduct of feasibility studies and project preparation thereof;  
19 
viii. 
Evaluate and appraise all regional and inter-regional 
20 
infrastructure water development plans and programs as to 
21 
their feasibility and consistency with approved strategies and 
22 
medium and long -term plans;   
23 
ix. 
Gather, analyze, and organize needed statistical data and 
24 
information;   
25 
x. 
Provide technical assistance related to its functions to the 
26 
other services, bureaus and the regional offices as needed;   
27 
xi. 
Conduct hydrological and hydraulic surveys and assessments 
28 
of surface waters;   
29 
xii. 
Develop 
general 
criteria 
and 
standards 
on 
project 
30 
investigation, formulation, planning;   
31 
xiii. 
Develop guidelines and standards on social inclusion in water 
32 
resources management and ensure policies, programs and 
33 
plans are compliant with the gender and development 
34 
framework of the government;   
35 
xiv. 
Coordinate closely with PAGASA for rainfall and other climate 
36 
data which shall be considered in the planning for water 
37 
resources development and management and for various 
38 
water infrastructure; and  
39 
xv. 
Perform such functions and activities, as may be mandated by 
40 
law, which are necessary for the effective attainment of the 
41 
abovementioned objectives. 
42 
 
43 
2. The Decision Support System Service shall provide the Department with 
44 
water resource management tools and computerized decision support system 
45 
that incorporates a data management system relating to acquisition and database 
46 
and model base in terms of physical design, planning and decision models 
47 
including services related to networking, data management, and information   and 
48 
knowledge or learning management systems for administrative and non-technical 
49 
support. It shall provide the Secretary timely reports on the status of various 
50 
Department projects and activities. For this purpose, it shall exercise the following 
51 
functions:   
52 
 
53 


23 
 
(i) 
Provide the Secretary the necessary data and processed information 
1 
to aid in policy and management decisions under the mandate of the 
2 
Department;   
3 
(ii) 
Publish available real-time raw water data as well as verified or 
4 
validated water data in print or electronic form using latest internet 
5 
technology;  
6 
(iii) 
Conduct and publish in print and/or electronic form, standard data 
7 
analysis such as basic statistical analysis, trend analysis, analysis of 
8 
runs, and cluster analysis;  
9 
(iv) 
Develop and continuously update water resource management, 
10 
computerized decision support systems (DSS) that incorporate data 
11 
management systems relating to acquisition and database, model 
12 
base in terms of physical, design, planning and decision models, and 
13 
user-friendly interface such as graphical and visualization tools.  The 
14 
DSS is composed of: 1) a measurement or data acquisition system; 2) 
15 
information or database management system; 3) analytical and 
16 
numerical models for design, planning, decision or evaluation 
17 
purposes, and 4) a user-friendly interface which includes graphical 
18 
interface or visualization tools.   
19 
(v) 
Develop and maintain specific models to include the following:  
20 
a) long-term climatologic and weather forecasting model;  
21 
b) watershed models and river-flood plain models;  
22 
c) groundwater models and coupled to surface water models;  
23 
d) flood forecasting model for major rivers;  
24 
e) optimization-simulation management models for watershed 
25 
conservation, conjunctive surface and groundwater use, irrigation 
26 
scheduling, normal and emergency operations of multi-purpose 
27 
reservoirs; and  
28 
f) water quality and ecological models.  
29 
 
30 
(vi) 
Develop and administer the management information system and 
31 
knowledge systems of the Department to:  
32 
a) Retrieve, process, and monitor information on all projects and 
33 
activities in the web portal;  
34 
b) Conduct and apply systems and process engineering, software 
35 
development, software configuration management; 
36 
c) Develop and manage its corporate database, unified database for 
37 
water industry, data warehouse, other water information 
38 
resources, library services and document management and 
39 
archiving services; 
40 
d) Develop and manage its Information and Communications 
41 
Technology (ICT) infrastructure and ICT related-services including 
42 
computer networking and voice communications services and 
43 
data exchange, and 
44 
e) Manage the literacy and training services of the Department on 
45 
various ICT and, Knowledge Management (KM) tools and 
46 
applications, including information and knowledge management. 
47 
 
48 
(vii) 
Perform such other related functions and activities which are 
49 
necessary for the effective administration of the management 
50 
information and knowledge systems of the Department. 
51 
 
52 


24 
 
3. The Administrative and Human Resource Service shall provide the 
1 
Department with services relating to human resources development, 
2 
personnel, records, facilities maintenance, medical and dental, security, 
3 
property and procurement services, and shall exercise the following 
4 
functions:  
5 
 
6 
(i) 
Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to internal administration 
7 
and human resources management;   
8 
(ii) 
Prepare and implement an integrated personnel development plan 
9 
that shall include provisions for merit promotions, performance 
10 
evaluation, job rotation, incentive awards systems, and health and 
11 
welfare services;  
12 
(iii) 
Provide services related to human resource training, education and 
13 
development including manpower, career planning and forecasting, 
14 
and development of indigenous training materials;   
15 
(iv) 
Develop, establish, and maintain an efficient and cost-effective 
16 
property procurement system and facilities and coordinate or 
17 
otherwise interface with relevant agencies, whether government or 
18 
private, for the purpose of developing or upgrading the system;  
19 
(v) 
Develop, establish, and maintain an efficient and effective security 
20 
system covering, among others, personnel, physical installations, 
21 
facilities, equipment, documents and materials including the conduct 
22 
of security investigations;   
23 
(vi) 
Coordinate with the appropriate government agencies for a more 
24 
efficient conduct of administrative processes;   
25 
(vii) 
Develop, establish, and maintain an efficient records system;   
26 
(viii) 
Provide assistance in its area of specialization to the Department 
27 
Proper, bureaus and regional and water district offices and, when 
28 
requested, to the government agencies and corporations attached to 
29 
the Department; and 
30 
(ix) 
Perform such other related functions and activities which are 
31 
necessary for the effective management of the resources of the 
32 
Department, including its human resources. 
33 
 
34 
4. The Legal and Legislative Research Service shall provide the 
35 
Department with services on such legal affairs as contract letting and 
36 
litigation, legal and legislative research, complaints and investigation, 
37 
legal counselling and other matters of law, and shall exercise the 
38 
following functions:   
39 
 
40 
i. 
Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to legal and legislative 
41 
affairs; 
42 
ii. 
Prepare Department contracts and legal instruments, review and 
43 
interpret all contracts and agreements entered into by the Department 
44 
and evaluate all legal proposals;  
45 
iii. 
Conduct administrative investigation and the review of administrative 
46 
charges against officers and employees of the Department;  
47 
iv. 
Exercise functional jurisdiction over the legal staffs of Regional 
48 
Offices;  
49 
v. 
Provide legal assistance to the Department Proper, the bureaus and 
50 
regional offices and when requested, the attached corporations;  
51 


25 
 
vi. 
Develop and prepare the Department’s Legislative Agenda, 
1 
recommend presidential certification of the urgency of priority water 
2 
bills, and other water-related legislation;   
3 
vii. 
Coordinate and maintain linkages between and among the various 
4 
offices, bureaus, regional offices and attached agencies to the 
5 
Department along with other government agencies on policy matters 
6 
affecting the Department’s mandate in relation to legislation;  
7 
viii. 
Perform liaison and networking activities in relation to the enactment 
8 
of related laws relating to water resources issues in legislative 
9 
policymaking bodies such as the Senate of the Philippines, the House 
10 
of Representatives, and the various Sanggunians;   
11 
ix. 
Monitor the progress of the Department’s priority or certified bills to 
12 
ensure their passage; and 
13 
x. 
Perform such functions and activities, as may be mandated by law, 
14 
which are necessary for the effective performance of the 
15 
abovementioned objectives. 
16 
 
17 
5. The Comptrollership and Financial Management Service shall provide 
18 
the Department   with coordinated services relating to financial systems 
19 
and procedures, budget, cash, accounting and all financial housekeeping 
20 
matters, and shall exercise the following functions:  
21 
 
22 
i. 
Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to the accounting of 
23 
government expenditures and receipts, budgeting and cash 
24 
management, project finances and financial systems and 
25 
procedures;   
26 
ii. 
Prepare 
budget 
proposals 
and 
pursue 
formal 
budget 
27 
authorizations, undertake budget execution, and prepare and 
28 
submit all appropriate reports to the proper offices;  
29 
iii. 
Develop 
and 
maintain 
accounting, 
financial 
and 
assets 
30 
management 
systems, 
procedures 
and 
practices 
in 
the 
31 
Department Proper, Bureaus and Regional Offices;  
32 
iv. 
Review and appraise systems and procedures, organizational 
33 
structure, assets management practices, accounting, and other 
34 
records, reports, and performance standards such as budgets and 
35 
standard costs of the Department, bureaus, and regional offices;  
36 
v. 
Provide assistance in its area of specialization to any unit of the 
37 
Department and, when requested, to government corporations and 
38 
councils attached to the Department; and  
39 
vi. 
Perform such other related functions and activities which are 
40 
necessary for the effective financial management of the 
41 
Department.  
42 
 
43 
6. The Resource Regulation Service shall provide the Department with 
44 
services for the effective regulation of all water-related services and 
45 
activities and shall exercise the following functions:  
46 
 
47 
i. 
Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to resource regulations;  
48 
ii. 
Determine, grant and regulate water rights for the appropriate, 
49 
optimal and sustainable use of surface and ground water; 
50 
iii. 
Determine and evaluate waterworks and sewerage licenses, and 
51 
submit evaluation results to the Water Regulatory Commission for 
52 
the latter’s consideration in granting of licenses;  
53 


26 
 
iv. 
Investigate violations of the water rights and the Water Code, and 
1 
impose the appropriate sanctions in accordance with existing laws, 
2 
rules and regulations    as well as future rules and regulations which 
3 
the Department shall promulgate;  
4 
v. 
Adjudicate water use conflicts; and  
5 
vi. 
Perform such other related functions and activities which are 
6 
necessary for the effective regulation of water-related services.  
7 
 
8 
7. 
The Internal Audit Service shall regularly conduct a comprehensive 
9 
audit of various Department activities and shall exercise the following 
10 
functions: 
11 
 
12 
i. 
Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to management control 
13 
and operations audit; 
14 
ii. 
Conduct a performance audit of the management and operations of 
15 
the Department, its activities, the performance of all units, and 
16 
determine the degree of compliance of all operating units with 
17 
established objectives, policies, standards, methods and procedures, 
18 
government 
regulations 
and 
contractual 
obligations 
of 
the 
19 
Department;  
20 
iii. 
Review and appraise systems and procedures, organizational 
21 
structure, assets management practices, accounting and other 
22 
records, and performance standards such as budgets and standard 
23 
costs of the Department Proper, bureaus and regional offices;  
24 
iv. 
Analyze and evaluate management deficiencies and recommend 
25 
realistic courses of action; and  
26 
v. 
Perform such functions and activities, as may be mandated by law, 
27 
which are necessary for the effective performance of the 
28 
abovementioned objectives.   
29 
 
30 
8. The Public Affairs Service shall enhance relations with all stakeholders 
31 
including the media, for the effective dissemination of information 
32 
relating to water-related issues, including important announcements on 
33 
policies and activities of the department that is of interest to the general 
34 
public. It shall ensure that women, men, elderly, and people with 
35 
disabilities shall be consulted, organized and take active part in all 
36 
aspects of water resources development and management activities. It 
37 
shall also lead the planning and organizing of special events, and shall 
38 
exercise the following functions:  
39 
 
40 
i. 
Public Awareness  
41 
a) Advise the Secretary on matters pertaining to public affairs;  
42 
b) Develop and supervise the implementation of comprehensible 
43 
communications programs on relevant policies, programs and plans 
44 
of the Department;  
45 
c) Produce and supervise the dissemination of communication materials 
46 
in line with the priorities of the Department and national government 
47 
public information programs;  
48 
d) Conduct public opinion and attitude surveys to identify the interests 
49 
and concerns of the stakeholders of the Department;  
50 
e) Establish policies on the presentation and publication of the content 
51 
of the communication materials for dissemination to print and 
52 
broadcast media; 
53 


27 
 
f) 
Establish and maintain linkages with the tri-media and a presence in 
1 
social media;  
2 
g) Coordinate the conduct of interviews and news conferences;  
3 
h) Make public announcements on matters relating to the work and 
4 
activities of the Department through the print and broadcast media, 
5 
either through press releases or live interviews;  
6 
i) 
Coordinate with various Department units, concerned government 
7 
agencies, trimedia and other stakeholders on matters related to the 
8 
above-enumerated functions; and  
9 
j) 
Coordinate with the appropriate national government agencies 
10 
involved in public information affairs.  
11 
 
12 
ii. 
Promote Participation  
13 
a) Conduct public consultations and discussions;   
14 
b) Develop and disseminate relevant and appropriate materials and 
15 
programs for public information and education, as well as advocacy 
16 
campaign;  
17 
c) Conduct seminars and workshops involving the LGUs and the general 
18 
public on current water issues and problems; and  
19 
d) Conduct capability building seminars of various stakeholders to 
20 
promote meaningful participation in the Department’s policy making, 
21 
planning, development and implementation of various programs and 
22 
projects.  
23 
 
24 
iii. 
Special Events  
25 
a) Coordinate the organization and promotion of special events and 
26 
water exhibits;  
27 
b) Act as the focal office for all water related events; and  
28 
c) Perform such functions and activities, as may be mandated by law, 
29 
which are necessary for the effective performance of the 
30 
abovementioned objectives. 
31 
 
32 
(f) Bureaus. – The Department shall create bureaus which shall each be 
33 
headed by a Bureau Director. The Bureau Director shall be responsible for 
34 
the efficient and effective discharge of the functions of the Bureau 
35 
concerned. The Bureau Director shall be assisted by one (1) Assistant 
36 
Director.  
37 
 
38 
1) Bureau of Flood Control and Drainage shall plan and design 
39 
flood control and drainage     structures    and   facilities   in 
40 
accordance with technical standards, guidelines and manuals. 
41 
For this purpose, it shall have the following duties and 
42 
responsibilities:  
43 
i. 
Formulate policy, strategies and programs on flood risk 
44 
management in the context of integrated flood management 
45 
(IFM) which integrates water, land, coastal zone and multi-
46 
hazard management. In integrating land use planning and water 
47 
management, the Department shall harmonize and synthesize 
48 
plans to enable the sharing of information between land-use 
49 
planning and   water management authorities. In this regard, a 
50 
holistic approach shall be adopted by making the IFM a part of 
51 
a wider risk or multi-hazard management system that includes 
52 


28 
 
earthquakes, landslides, fires, tsunami, and other calamities of 
1 
the same gravity or nature;  
2 
 
3 
ii. 
Integrate climate change and disaster risk reduction and 
4 
management in policies and plans;  
5 
 
6 
iii. 
Prepare master plans of flood management and drainage in river 
7 
basins in coordination with the concerned water resources 
8 
region and river basin organizations;   
9 
 
10 
iv. 
Prepare master plans for urban drainage in cities and 
11 
municipalities;  
12 
 
13 
v. 
Prepare feasibility studies of recommended measures in the 
14 
master plans;  
15 
 
16 
vi. 
Plan and design structural measures for flood control and 
17 
drainage;  
18 
 
19 
vii. 
Implement and collaborate with concerned agencies on the 
20 
formulation and adoption of non-structural measures for flood 
21 
control and drainage;  
22 
 
23 
viii. 
Patrol and investigate rivers, and monitor stream flows;  
24 
 
25 
ix. 
Conduct post-disaster investigation and evaluation and damage 
26 
assessment of flood infrastructures after extreme events;  
27 
 
28 
x. 
Conduct research and development on water and sediment-
29 
related disasters;   
30 
 
31 
xi. 
Develop design guidelines, criteria, and standards on flood 
32 
control and drainage structures;  
33 
 
34 
xii. 
Provide technical assistance to other agencies, LGUs, and other 
35 
stakeholders;   
36 
 
37 
xiii. 
Advise the Secretary on declaring flood control areas and 
38 
recommend guidelines for flood plain management plans in 
39 
these areas; and  
40 
xiv. 
Perform such related activities which are necessary for the 
41 
effective performance of its functions. 
42 
 
43 
2) Bureau of Water Quality Management shall supervise and 
44 
exercise control over all aspects of water quality management to 
45 
ensure the sustainability of the country’s water resources and 
46 
the protection of the environment. It should take into account 
47 
proper and integrated treatment of freshwater and wastewater 
48 
within the whole process. For this purpose, the Bureau shall 
49 
exercise the following functions:  
50 
 
51 
i. 
Establish water quality guidelines for freshwater and coastal or 
52 
marine waters as basis for classifying water bodies in the country. 
53 


29 
 
Specifically, develop water quality indices or composite metrics to 
1 
measure the quality status and health of natural water bodies in 
2 
relation to ecological integrity and function;  
3 
 
4 
ii. 
Establish effluent standards for point discharges to receiving 
5 
bodies of water;   
6 
 
7 
iii. 
Establish internationally accepted procedures for sampling and 
8 
analysis; 
9 
   
10 
iv. 
Prepare an integrated water quality management framework;  
11 
 
12 
v. 
Prepare the ten-year water quality management plans for each 
13 
water quality management area as part of the River Basin Master 
14 
Plans and in support of the NWRMP;  
15 
 
16 
vi. 
Classify 
groundwater 
sources 
and 
prepare 
a 
national 
17 
groundwater vulnerability map;  
18 
 
19 
vii. 
Classify or reclassify all water bodies according to their beneficial 
20 
usages 
using 
the 
established 
water 
quality 
guidelines 
21 
established;  
22 
 
23 
viii. 
Issue permits, clearances, and similar instruments pursuant to the 
24 
Clean Water Act of 2004;  
25 
 
26 
ix. 
Collect the wastewater discharge fees for all permittees;  
27 
 
28 
x. 
Monitor the compliance of water discharge permittees with the 
29 
effluent standards;   
30 
 
31 
xi. 
Regularly monitor the water quality of major water bodies in the 
32 
country and analyze the data to identify possible sources of 
33 
pollution;  
34 
  
35 
xii. 
Issue notices of violations and/or cease and desist orders for 
36 
those found in violation;   
37 
 
38 
xiii. 
File the needed cases against violators with the Water Pollution 
39 
Adjudication Board (WPAB);  
40 
  
41 
xiv. 
Serve as secretariat of the WPAB; and   
42 
 
43 
xv. 
Perform such functions and activities, as may be mandated by 
44 
law, which are necessary for the effective performance of the 
45 
abovementioned objectives. 
46 
 
47 
3) A Water Resources Regional Office (WRRO) shall be organized 
48 
per water resources region and shall be responsible for 
49 
implementing the mandates, powers and duties of the 
50 
Department at the field level, except for policymaking which will 
51 
be vested solely in the Department. The formulation of the 
52 
master plan for the nearby river basins such as the Pasig-
53 


30 
 
Marikina-Laguna Lake-Cavite, shall be the responsibility of the 
1 
Department. Each WRRO shall perform the following duties and 
2 
responsibilities:  
3 
 
4 
i. 
Formulate or update and coordinate the river basin master 
5 
plans for river basins within its jurisdictions ensuring 
6 
consistency with the National Water Resources Management 
7 
Framework Plan;   
8 
 
9 
ii. 
Advocate and strongly support the creation and functioning of 
10 
multi-stakeholder river basin organizations (RBOs) and serve 
11 
as the secretariat of the said RBOs;  
12 
 
13 
iii. 
Undertake and evaluate the planning, design, and work 
14 
supervision functions   of the Department for the water 
15 
infrastructures within the region;  
16 
 
17 
iv. 
Ensure the implementation of laws, policies, programs, rules 
18 
and regulations regarding the abovementioned infrastructure 
19 
as well as public and private physical structures; 
20 
 
21 
v. 
Provide technical assistance related to the water-related 
22 
functions of other agencies within the region especially the 
23 
local government;  
24 
  
25 
vi. 
Coordinate with other departments, agencies, institutions and 
26 
organizations, especially local government units within the 
27 
region in the planning and implementation of the river basin 
28 
master plans;  
29 
 
30 
vii. 
Conduct consultations with the local communities, take 
31 
appropriate measures to ensure that the services of the 
32 
Department 
are 
responsive, 
and 
recommend 
such 
33 
appropriate actions as may be necessary; and   
34 
viii. 
Perform such functions and activities, as may be mandated by 
35 
law, which are necessary for the effective performance of the 
36 
abovementioned   objectives.   
37 
 
38 
The Department shall retain existing Project Management Offices as may 
39 
be required, which shall be under the supervision and control of the appropriate 
40 
Water Resources Regional Office unless otherwise determined by the Secretary 
41 
for reasons of supra- regional scope, magnitude and multifunctional coverage.  
42 
 
43 
Each Water Resources Regional Office shall be headed by a Water 
44 
Resources Regional Director who shall be responsible for efficiently and 
45 
effectively carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Office. Towards this 
46 
end, the Water Resources Regional Director shall exercise functional and 
47 
administrative supervision over all units within the region and is authorized  to 
48 
commit resources and assign personnel to integrated regional water resources 
49 
management, water supply and sanitation management, and flood control and 
50 
flood risk management initiatives. The Water Resources Regional Director shall 
51 
also perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned 
52 
or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law. 
53 


31 
 
  
1 
The Water Resources Regional Director shall be assisted by two (2) 
2 
Assistant Water Resources Regional Office Directors who shall exercise 
3 
supervision over (1) the planning, project design and evaluation function and (2) 
4 
technical assistance to the River Basin Organizations within the water resources 
5 
region.  
6 
 
7 
SEC. 14. Water Pollution Adjudication Board. – There is hereby created 
8 
a Water Pollution Adjudication Board under the Office of the Secretary. The 
9 
Board shall be composed of the Secretary as Chairperson, two (2) 
10 
Undersecretaries as may be designated by the Secretary, the Director of Water 
11 
Quality Management Bureau, and three (3) other representatives from other 
12 
stakeholders to be designated by the Secretary as members.  
13 
 
14 
The Board shall assume the powers and functions of the National Pollution 
15 
Control  
16 
Commission with respect to the adjudication of water pollution cases under 
17 
Republic Act No. 3931 entitled, An Act Creating The National Water And Air 
18 
Pollution Control Commission, Presidential Decree 984 entitled, Providing For 
19 
The Revision Of Republic Act No. 3931, Commonly Known as the Pollution 
20 
Control Law, And For Other Purposes, particularly with respect to Section 6 
21 
letters e, f, g, j, k and Republic Act No. 9275. The Bureau of Water Quality 
22 
Management shall serve as the Secretariat of the Board. These powers and 
23 
functions may be delegated to the field officers of the Department in accordance 
24 
with rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Board. 
25 
 
26 
CHAPTER III  
27 
 
28 
INTERDEPARTMENTAL RELATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL 
29 
ARRANGEMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT   
30 
      
31 
SEC. 15. Interface and Institutional Arrangements with Other 
32 
Agencies. –  
33 
 
34 
(a) The Department of Health (DOH) shall continue to have primary authority 
35 
and responsibility for setting and enforcing drinking water quality 
36 
standards. The Department shall coordinate with the DOH in this aspect, 
37 
and shall ensure consistency of standards and targets, as well as the 
38 
compliance of permittees with mandated standards; 
39 
   
40 
(b) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall 
41 
continue to have primary authority and responsibility for protecting the 
42 
environment and managing the country’s watersheds; 
43 
  
44 
(c) The Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Power Corporation 
45 
(NPC) shall continue to have primary authority and responsibility for 
46 
establishing and operating hydropower plants, but shall ensure that 
47 
hydropower plant development plans are consistent with the National 
48 
Water Development and Management Plan; 
49 
  
50 
(d) The Department shall coordinate with the DA to ensure agricultural 
51 
development that reduces long-term pollution for surface water and 
52 
groundwater, and agricultural and industrial economic development that 
53 


32 
 
employs water efficiency, water recycling or reuse, and the appropriate 
1 
treatment of wastewater; 
2 
  
3 
(e) The Department shall coordinate with the National Disaster Risk Reduction 
4 
Management Council (NDRRMC) to ensure that its plans and designs for 
5 
flood control, flood risk management and drought risk management are 
6 
aligned with the objectives and plans of the Department;   
7 
(f) The Department shall coordinate with Climate Change Commission (CCC), 
8 
Philippine 
Atmospheric, 
Geophysical 
and 
Astronomical 
Services 
9 
Administration (PAGASA), and National Mapping and Resource 
10 
Information Authority (NAMRIA) for scientific studies, integrated surveys, 
11 
mapping, charting, and decision support systems ; 
12 
 
13 
(g) The Department shall coordinate with the Department of Tourism (DOT) on 
14 
recreational use of water resources;  
15 
  
16 
(h) The Department shall coordinate with the Philippine Reclamation Authority 
17 
and economic zone authorities on water resources development and water 
18 
requirements within reclamation areas and economic zones, respectively; 
19 
and  
20 
  
21 
(i) The Department shall coordinate with relevant government agencies, 
22 
including local government units (LGUs), with respect to development 
23 
projects and shall ensure cross-cutting collaboration between and among 
24 
all water subsectors and facilitate inter-agency subsector coordination, 
25 
strategic development, planning, monitoring and provision of technical, 
26 
institutional and financial capacity building support to their different 
27 
stakeholders at the water subsector level.   
28 
 
29 
SEC. 16. National Water Sector Policy Board. – The National Water 
30 
Sector Policy Board (NWSPB) shall be created and shall be headed by the 
31 
Secretary of the Department of Water Resources with the Secretary of the 
32 
National Economic and Development Authority as the Vice-Chairperson, and the 
33 
Secretaries of the DOH, DILG, DOE, DA, Department of  Social Welfare and 
34 
Development; DPWH; Department of Budget and Management (DBM); Office of 
35 
the President, and DENR, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples as 
36 
members.  The Department shall provide personnel to serve as Secretariat to the 
37 
Board.  
38 
 
39 
SEC. 17. Powers and Functions of the National Water Sector Policy 
40 
Board -- The NWSPB shall perform policymaking, coordination, integration, 
41 
supervision, monitoring and evaluation functions, and shall have the following 
42 
responsibilities: 
43 
  
44 
(a) Approve the NWRMP which shall serve as a principal guide to water 
45 
management efforts in the country and shall be reviewed every five (5)-
46 
years interval, or as may be deemed necessary, in order to ensure its 
47 
relevance to the times; 
48 
  
49 
(b) Provide overall policy direction and recommend policies on water 
50 
resources requiring Presidential decision;  
51 
 
52 


33 
 
(c) Advise the President on the status of water management and supply, 
1 
recommend to the President the declaration of a state calamity in areas 
2 
affected by water supply, and submit proposals to restore normalcy in the 
3 
affected areas;  
4 
 
5 
(d) Ensure a multi-stakeholder participation in the development, updating, and 
6 
sharing of information system as policy, planning and decision-making 
7 
tools consistent with IWRM.  
8 
 
9 
SEC.18. Transfer of Rights and Obligations. – The Department shall, by 
10 
virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights and assume all the obligations of 
11 
the government agencies and units whose powers and functions have been 
12 
subsumed, absorbed, transferred or attached to the Department in accordance 
13 
with the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit, and the Civil Service 
14 
Commission, and other applicable laws. The transfer of powers and functions as 
15 
herein provided shall take effect within six (6) months of the effectivity of this Act. 
16 
As such, all affected agencies, offices, units shall continue to function under their 
17 
present mandates. 
18 
 
19 
CHAPTER IV 
20 
 
21 
WATER REGULATORY COMMISSION 
22 
 
23 
SEC.19. Water Regulatory Commission. – There is hereby created and 
24 
established as an independent, quasi-judicial regulatory body to be known as the 
25 
Water Regulatory Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, which 
26 
shall be organized within one hundred twenty (120) days after the effectivity of 
27 
this Act.   
28 
 
29 
The Commission shall be placed under the administrative supervision of 
30 
the Department as an attached agency.  
31 
 
32 
The Commission shall have a Board of Commissioners, and shall be 
33 
vested with powers and functions, as conferred and set forth hereunder.  
34 
SEC. 20.  The Regulatory Units. – The regulatory units of the 
35 
Commission shall be composed of the central regulatory unit and the regional 
36 
regulatory units. 
37 
   
38 
The economic regulatory units and functions of the MWSS, NWRB, 
39 
LWUA, SBMA, PEZA, and TIEZA are hereby transferred to the Commission, 
40 
and shall collectively comprise its central regulatory unit for water supply and 
41 
sanitation services that: (a) provide services to more than one province; and (b) 
42 
are owned, operated and/or maintained by special economic zones and Metro 
43 
Manila concessionaires.  
44 
 
45 
The regional regulatory units shall be established by the Commission in 
46 
accordance with this Act and the rules, regulations, guidelines, and standards 
47 
that the Commission shall issue.  
48 
 
49 
SEC. 21. Powers and Functions of the Commission. – The overall 
50 
authority and powers of the Commission shall cover and apply to all service 
51 
providers, whether private or public, providing or intending to provide levels II & 
52 
III water supply, including suppliers to subdivisions and /or other service 
53 


34 
 
providers, sewerage, and/or septage treatment and disposal services for 
1 
domestic, residential, institutional, industrial or commercial use.  
2 
 
3 
The Commission shall exercise the following powers and functions: 
4 
  
5 
(a) Issue and promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines as may be necessary 
6 
to implement and enforce its powers and functions under this Act;  
7 
(b) Promulgate and enforce just and reasonable technical standards, 
8 
classifications and measurements of service;  
9 
(c) Establish rules and regulations to monitor, avoid, and provide remedies for 
10 
any market power abuse or anti-competitive or discriminatory act or behavior 
11 
by or against any participant in the water supply and sanitation sector.  Upon 
12 
finding that a market participant has engaged in, or has fallen victim to such 
13 
act or behavior, the Commission shall act to stop or redress the same.  Such 
14 
remedies may, without limitation, include the imposition of price controls, 
15 
issuance of injunctions, requirement of divestment or disgorgement of excess 
16 
profits, invalidation of contracts and imposition of fines and penalties pursuant 
17 
to this Act.  
18 
(d) Adopt and require that books, records, and accounts be kept and maintained 
19 
in accordance with the prescribed uniform accounting system;  
20 
(e) Fix and determine proper and adequate rates of depreciation of properties and 
21 
equipment used in water supply and sanitation services;  
22 
(f) Impose and collect annual levies determined as a percentage of gross 
23 
revenue accruing in relation to the licensed activities, and reasonable fees and 
24 
surcharges as may be necessary for achieving the purposes, powers and 
25 
functions of the Commission;  
26 
(g) Require the submission reports of finances and operations, verified under 
27 
oaths by the owner or president and secretary of the board of the licensee;  
28 
(h) Determine and require the monitoring and submission of such data, statistics 
29 
and other information from the regulatory units and any or all licensees as may 
30 
be necessary for the effective and efficient exercise of its duties, functions, 
31 
powers and responsibilities; 
32 
(i) Investigate, motu propio or upon a written complaint, any matter 
33 
concerning the operation of the service and issues on price manipulation and 
34 
anti-competitive behavior;   
35 
(j) Impose penalties and fines against any licensee or against its owners, 
36 
directors, officers, agents or representatives for any violation of this Act or of 
37 
the license, order, rule regulation or requirement issued by the Commission;   
38 
(k) Require any licensee to pay the actual expenses incurred by the Commission 
39 
in any investigation if it shall be found that a licensee violated any provision of 
40 
this Act or of the license, order, rule regulation or requirement issued by the 
41 
Commission;  
42 
(l) Advise, apprise and coordinate with other relevant agencies of the national or 
43 
local government on any matter relating to water supply and sanitation 
44 
services;  
45 
(m) Deputize agents, whether from the public or private sector, to assist in the 
46 
performance of any of the powers and functions of the Commission;  
47 
(n) Appoint an interim or temporary management committee upon appeal and 
48 
after due hearing, to ensure continuity of service in case a licensee fails to 
49 
meet conditions of the license and the concerned Regulatory Unit fails or 
50 
refuses to appoint an interim management committee as provided in the 
51 
following section.  
52 


35 
 
(o) Appoint, hire and maintain adequate staff and personnel, advisers, or 
1 
consultants, with suitable qualifications and experience, as necessary;  
2 
(p) Exercise original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases contesting rates, 
3 
fees, fines and penalties imposed by the regulatory units in the exercise of 
4 
their powers, functions and responsibilities, as provided under this Act, and 
5 
over all cases involving disputes between and among participants or 
6 
stakeholders in the water supply and sanitation services; and  
7 
(q) such other incidental powers and functions as may be necessary to attain 
8 
the objectives of this Act. 
9 
 
10 
SEC. 22. Powers and Functions of the Regulatory Units. – The 
11 
regulatory units of the Commission shall have the following powers and functions:  
12 
 
13 
(a) Issue licenses authorizing the operation of water supply and sanitation 
14 
services in any specified area or areas within the Philippines; 
15 
(b) Impose fines, charges and other penalties upon any provider and/or its 
16 
officers and stockholders who shall fail or refuse to register or obtain a 
17 
license prior to operation or commencement of business, as provided 
18 
hereunder; 
19 
(c) Review, determine, fix, and approve, consistent with the rules, guidelines, 
20 
procedures and methodologies which the Commission shall provide, 
21 
proposed water and sewerage and septage management tariffs, rates and 
22 
charges that licensees may impose upon their consumers;   
23 
(d) Appraise and value property and equipment used by licensees in providing 
24 
water supply and sanitation services; 
25 
(e) Enforce technical, financial, and other performance standards set by the 
26 
Commission for licensees or utilities;  
27 
(f) Respond to consumer complaints and ensure the adequate promotion of 
28 
consumer interests and investigate motu propio price manipulation and 
29 
anti-competitive behavior;  
30 
(g) Investigate accidents directly or indirectly arising from or connected with 
31 
the maintenance or operation of the service, and make such order or 
32 
recommendation as the public interest may warrant;  
33 
(h) Require the review and/or approval of contracts or agreements that may 
34 
impact on the tariff and rates of service provision entered into by service 
35 
providers upon petition or motu 30 propio where in its determination public 
36 
interest so dictates; 
37 
(i) Require the submission of reports, plans, and other documents that define 
38 
the performance targets of the licensees or utilities, and regular 
39 
accomplishment reports;  
40 
(j) Impose and collect annual levies determined as a percentage of gross 
41 
revenue accruing in relation to the licensed activities, and reasonable fees 
42 
and surcharges as may be necessary for achieving the purposes, powers, 
43 
and functions of the regulator;  
44 
(k) Conduct benchmarking and monitor the performance of licensees or 
45 
utilities under their jurisdiction, and publish reports detailing the results 
46 
thereof, as may be necessary or required by the Commission;  
47 
(l) Amend, modify, suspend, or revoke any license issued by them, after due 
48 
notice and hearing, on any of the following grounds: 
49 
  
50 
(1) when the facts and circumstances on the strength of which the 
51 
license was issued have been materially misrepresented or have 
52 
materially changed;   
53 


36 
 
(2) where the licensee has failed to meet or comply with terms, 
1 
conditions, and performance targets, including but not limited to service 
2 
expansion, that may have been set in the license;  
3 
(3) where the licensee is found to be manifestly inefficient in the 
4 
operation of or provision of water supply and sanitation services in its 
5 
area; or  
6 
(4) when the licensee thereof has violated or willfully refused to comply 
7 
with any order, rule or regulation of the Commission or any provision of 
8 
this Act;  
9 
 
10 
(m) Appoint an interim management committee to ensure continuity of service in 
11 
case a licensee fails to meet the conditions of the license; and  
12 
 
13 
(n) Submit performance plans and reports as required by the Commission. 
14 
 
15 
SEC. 23. Composition of the Water Regulatory Commission. –  
16 
  
17 
(a) The Commission shall be a collegial body composed of five (5) full-
18 
time members consisting of a Chairperson and four (4) members, who 
19 
shall all be appointed by the President of the Philippines. All members 
20 
of the Commission must be citizens and residents of the Philippines, 
21 
at least thirty five (35) years of age, and of good moral character, of 
22 
recognized integrity and competence in the field of law, business, 
23 
commerce, finance, accounting or public administration, water or utility 
24 
economics, management, physical or engineering services, hydrology 
25 
and other related services, with at least three (3) years of actual and 
26 
distinguished experience in their respective fields of expertise: 
27 
Provided, That out of the four (4) members of the Commission,  at least 
28 
one (1) shall be a member of the Philippine Bar with at least ten (10) 
29 
years of experience in the active practice of law, and at least one (1) 
30 
shall be a certified public accountant with at least ten (10) years of 
31 
experience in active practice.  
32 
 
33 
(b) The term of office of each member of the Commission shall be seven 
34 
(7) years: Provided, That among the members first appointed, the 
35 
Chairperson shall serve for a period of seven (7) years, two (2) 
36 
members shall serve for  five (5) years and the other two (2) members 
37 
shall serve for three (3) years: Provided further, That any member 
38 
whose term has expired as specified herein shall serve as such until a 
39 
successor shall have been appointed and qualified: Provided 
40 
furthermore, That any appointment to fill a vacancy in the Commission 
41 
arising from death, removal, retirement or resignation shall be made 
42 
only for the unexpired term: Provided, finally, That in no case shall any 
43 
member serve for more than seven (7) years in the Commission. 
44 
   
45 
(c) The Commission shall meet as often as may be necessary on such 
46 
day or days as the Chairperson may fix. The presence of at least three 
47 
(3) members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, which shall 
48 
be necessary for the transaction of any business. The affirmative vote 
49 
of majority of the members of the Commission where a quorum is 
50 
present shall be necessary for the adoption of any order, resolution, 
51 
decisions, or other act of the Commission in the exercise of its quasi-
52 
judicial functions: Provided, That in promulgating rules, regulations, 
53 


37 
 
guidelines and in exercising its quasi-legislative functions, an 
1 
affirmative vote of three (3) members shall be required.   
2 
 
3 
(d) The Chairperson of the Commission shall exercise general executive 
4 
control and supervision over the Commission and its members, staff and 
5 
personnel, agents and representatives. Within three (3) months from the 
6 
creation of the Commission and the appointment of all Members of the 
7 
Commission, the Chairperson shall determine and establish the 
8 
organizational structure and plantilla positions necessary to carry out the 
9 
powers and functions of the Commission, including those of the central 
10 
and provincial regulatory units subject to the review and approval of the 
11 
DBM.  
12 
 
13 
The plantilla positions of the Commission shall be filled by regular 
14 
appointments in accordance with Civil Service laws, rules, and 
15 
regulations.  Members of the Commission shall enjoy security of tenure 
16 
and shall not be suspended or removed from office except for just cause 
17 
as specified by law.  
18 
 
19 
(e) The Chairperson and members of the Commission or any of their 
20 
relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, 
21 
legitimate or common law, shall be prohibited from holding any interest 
22 
whatsoever, either as investor, stockholder, officer or director, in any 
23 
company or entity engaged in provision of water supply and distribution, 
24 
septage management and sewerage services and must, therefore, divest 
25 
through sale or legal disposition of any and all interests in the water 
26 
sector upon assumption to office. 
27 
 
28 
SEC. 24. Secretariat of the Commission. – The Commission shall 
29 
establish a Secretariat which shall provide the Commission with technical and 
30 
support services including the following: 
31 
   
32 
(a) Provide the necessary technical inputs and secretariat support to the 
33 
Commission to facilitate the conduct of its functions;   
34 
(b) Coordinate with Regulatory Units to ensure proper implementation of the 
35 
rules, regulations and guidelines promulgated by the Commission;  
36 
(c) Monitor and assess activities of the Regulatory Units vis-à-vis their 
37 
respective annual performance plans and targets;  
38 
(d) Maintain a database on the water supply and sanitation subsector; and   
39 
(e) Coordinate with other relevant agencies of the national or local 
40 
government on any matter relating to water supply and sanitation.  
41 
 
42 
SEC. 25. Executive Director. – The Commission shall appoint an 
43 
Executive Director who shall head the Commission Secretariat, keep and 
44 
maintain the official records of the Commission, render a report on the 
45 
proceedings of the Commission, and administer oaths in all matters falling within 
46 
the jurisdiction of the Commission.   
47 
 
48 
The Executive Director shall be responsible for the effective 
49 
implementation of the policies, plans, programs, rules, regulations and directives 
50 
of the Commission; coordinate and supervise the activities of the different 
51 
operating units under the Commission; and perform such functions as may be 
52 
assigned by the Chairperson and/or other members of the Commission.   
53 


38 
 
 
1 
SEC. 26. Compensation and Other Emoluments. – The compensation 
2 
of the members of the Commission and its staff shall conform to provisions of 
3 
Republic Act No. 6758 as amended, otherwise known as the Compensation and 
4 
Position Classification Act of 1989. 
5 
 
6 
CHAPTER V 
7 
 
8 
REGISTRATION AND LICENSING 
9 
 
10 
SEC. 27. Registration and Licensing of All Water Supply and 
11 
Sanitation Services. – All water supply and sanitation service providers, 
12 
including bulk water suppliers and those providing services to subdivisions and 
13 
other service providers, shall register with the Commission and, subject to such 
14 
rules, guidelines, procedures and other issuances of the Commission, obtain a 
15 
license to operate from the appropriate regulatory units.  
16 
 
17 
The Commission shall ensure that the grant and revocation of licenses 
18 
are carried out fairly, transparently, and without discrimination. Issuances of the 
19 
Commission shall specify, among others, the qualifications, requirements, and 
20 
procedure for the grant and revocation of licenses including the standards and 
21 
performance targets that shall continuously be complied with to keep the 
22 
licenses valid.  
23 
 
24 
Unless otherwise provided in this Act or by the Commission, no public 
25 
water supply and sanitation service provider shall commence or conduct the 
26 
business of providing water supply and sanitation services without first obtaining 
27 
a license.  
28 
 
29 
Concession agreements and other contracts for water supply provision 
30 
and water sanitation and treatment services currently existing shall remain valid 
31 
and enforceable unless otherwise terminated, after due notice and hearing for 
32 
reasons provided in the existing terms and conditions under the concession or 
33 
service agreement or contract, or when invalidated by the Commission, after 
34 
due notice and hearing, where national security, national emergency or public 
35 
interest so dictates.  
36 
 
37 
SEC 28.  Conditions of License. – The Commission or the concerned 
38 
regulatory unit, may impose such conditions on the licensee as it may deem 
39 
necessary, such as:  
40 
 
41 
(a) Tariffs, rates and charges that may be imposed from its customers or 
42 
consumers; 
43 
(b) Term fixing the duration of the privilege; 
44 
(c) Grounds for modification, suspension or cancellation of the License; 
45 
(d) Minimum technical performance and service level standards; 
46 
(e) Expansion targets and service level improvements over time; 
47 
(f) Restrictions or conditions for transferability of the business or 
48 
controlling interest in the business; 
49 
(g) Reportorial requirements and obligations of the grantee; 
50 
(h) Submission to annual performance audit by the Commission or its duly 
51 
authorized representative(s).  
52 
 
53 


39 
 
The Commission shall specify the requirements and procedure for 
1 
existing holders of a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC), Certificates of 
2 
Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) issued by NWRB, or Certificate of 
3 
Conformance (CoC) issued by LWUA, to convert their existing certificates into 
4 
licenses to operate in accordance with Sec. 27 herein.  
5 
 
6 
All existing providers of water supply and sanitation services without a 
7 
legal and valid Certificate of Public Convenience, Certificate of Public 
8 
Convenience and Necessity, or Certificate of Conformance shall register with 
9 
the Commission and apply for a license within six (6) months from the effectivity 
10 
of this Act.  
11 
 
12 
SEC. 29. Rights and Duties of Licensees. –  
13 
 
14 
(a) Any person granted a license under this Act shall have the obligation to 
15 
ensure that licensed activities are conducted to further public interest and, 
16 
in particular: 
17 
  
18 
(1) Foster the maintenance and development of efficient, coordinated, and 
19 
viable operation of their licensed activities;  
20 
(2) Ensure that their water supply and sanitation services are provided in 
21 
a diligent, conscientious and workman like manner, in accordance with 
22 
applicable laws rules and regulations issued by the Commission and 
23 
the generally accepted standards and practices of the water supply 
24 
and sanitation industry; and  
25 
(3) Comply with drinking water quality requirements and standards that 
26 
may be established by the Commission.  
27 
 
28 
(b) Any person granted a license under this Act shall, to the extent allowed 
29 
by law and specified in the license, has the right to acquire or lease land, 
30 
lay or repair water or sanitation main lines and other relevant facilities in 
31 
public ways to fulfill the terms and conditions under the license.  
32 
 
33 
(c) Subject to any condition or limitation laid down in the license, a licensee 
34 
may discontinue water supply and sanitation services to a customer if 
35 
such customer defaults in the payment of fees due to the licensee for the 
36 
water supplied or sanitation services provided, or for acts of pilferage 
37 
pursuant to Sections 8, 9, 10, and 11 of Republic Act No. 8041, otherwise 
38 
known as the Water Crisis Act of 1995.  
39 
 
40 
(d) Any license issued under this Act shall contain provisions designed to 
41 
ensure that licensees:  
42 
(1) Publish the Tariff and other charges approved by and the terms and 
43 
conditions imposed by the Commission for the provision of water 
44 
supply and sanitation services; 
45 
(2) Prepare, within three (3) months from the issuance of a license, in 
46 
consultation with its customers, a Customer Service Code specifying 
47 
the manner and procedure for: (a) metering, billing, and collection of 
48 
the licensee’s approved tariff and other charges; (b) disconnection or 
49 
suspension of service in case of non-payment of tariffs and/or other 
50 
charges, or acts of pilferage; and (c) recommendation and recovery of 
51 
arrears in tariffs and other charges;    
52 


40 
 
(3) Maintain financial accounts in accordance with the manner and 
1 
procedure specified in the license and as may be required by the 
2 
Commission; and  
3 
(4) Maintain and upon request by anyone during regular office hours, 
4 
promptly make available for scrutiny and inspection such data, 
5 
statistics and other information, as may be required by the 
6 
Commission.  
7 
 
8 
SEC. 30. Setting Tariffs, Rates, and Other Charges. – Regulatory units 
9 
shall establish tariffs, rates and other charges which are fair and reasonable, 
10 
and ensure economic viability and a fair return on investments. 
11 
 
12 
Tariffs, rates and charges shall be based on and consistent with a rate-
13 
setting methodology that the Commission shall, after due consultation, define 
14 
and publish, taking into account the following, among others:  
15 
(a) Reasonable and prudent capital and recurrent costs of providing the 
16 
service including a reasonable rate of return on capital;  
17 
(b) Efficiency of the service;   
18 
(c) Incentives for enhancement of efficiency;   
19 
(d) Willingness to pay of the customers/consumers;   
20 
(e) Equity considerations; and   
21 
(f) Administrative simplicity.  
22 
 
23 
Tariffs, rates, and charges set by the regulatory units shall be presumed 
24 
valid and reasonable unless a protest or contest is filed with the Commission.  
25 
 
26 
SEC.31. Direct Access. - Fifty-one (51) percent of the registered water 
27 
consumers in a municipality, city or province may petition for direct access to 
28 
water from any water service provider subject to concurrence by the service 
29 
provider and approval by the Commission. The Commission shall promulgate 
30 
rules and procedures for this mode of service.  
31 
 
32 
SEC. 
32. 
Innovative 
Schemes 
to 
Improve 
Efficiency 
and 
33 
Management of Systems. – The Commission shall promote innovative 
34 
schemes such as the consolidation or integration of water supply and sanitation 
35 
services, or providers in the same service area, where it shall result in improved 
36 
efficiency, service expansion and lower costs.  
37 
 
38 
To this end, the Commission shall establish and issue such rules and 
39 
guidelines as may be necessary to (a) create incentives to encourage efficiency 
40 
and service expansion; (b) establish the standards and targets that service 
41 
providers are required to meet; and (c) define the fines and penalties that shall 
42 
be imposed for failure to meet such standards and targets. 
43 
 
44 
CHAPTER VI  
45 
 
46 
QUASI-JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION  
47 
 
48 
SEC. 33. Proceedings Before the Commission. – For the purpose of 
49 
any investigation, inquiry or proceeding, the Commission shall:  
50 
 
51 
(a) Issue subpoena duces tecum and subpoena ad testificandum;  
52 


41 
 
(b) Appoint hearing officers to hear and receive evidence on behalf of the 
1 
Commission;   
2 
(c) Cite any person or party for contempt for refusal to appear, testify, or 
3 
comply with an order of the Commission on any matter that is the 
4 
subject of investigation, inquiry or proceeding before the Commission.  
5 
 
6 
SEC. 34. Orders and Decisions of the Commission. – Any order, 
7 
resolution, or decisions of the Commission shall be promulgated promptly, 
8 
expeditiously, reasonably, and in writing, and shall state clearly and distinctly 
9 
the facts and law on which it is based.  
10 
 
11 
The Commission shall publish and make available for public inspection, 
12 
all decisions and final orders in the adjudication of contested cases or 
13 
applications.  
14 
 
15 
SEC. 35. Appeals Procedure and Prohibition Against Injunction. –    
16 
(a) The orders, rulings, and decisions of the Commission are final and 
17 
executory unless appealed to the Court of Appeals within fifteen (15) 
18 
days from receipt of notice of such order, ruling or decision: Provided, 
19 
That orders, rulings, and decisions of the Commission approving 
20 
tariffs, shall be immediately executory and may be suspended only 
21 
upon appeal and filing of a bond, in an amount to be fixed by the 
22 
Commission, to answer for damages occasioned by the suspension or 
23 
stay of execution of such orders, rulings, and decisions.  
24 
 
25 
(b) No injunction may be issued by any court or administrative agency to 
26 
restrain any proceeding before, or the implementation or execution of 
27 
any order, ruling, or decision of the Commission, except on the basis 
28 
of a question of law brought before the Supreme Court on certiorari.   
29 
 
30 
(c) Any act or decision of the Commission shall not be invalidated merely 
31 
because of a defect or irregularity in, or in connection with, the 
32 
appointment or vacancy in the Office of the Chairperson or any other 
33 
member of the Commission.  
34 
 
35 
CHAPTER VII  
36 
 
37 
INTERDEPARTMENTAL RELATIONS OF THE COMMISSION  
38 
 
39 
SEC. 36. Interface with Other Sector Regulators. –  
40 
 
41 
(a) The DENR shall continue to exercise primary jurisdiction over 
42 
programs aimed at protecting the environment and the quality of water 
43 
sources from waste and pollution, and shall promulgate rules, 
44 
regulations, and standards in this regard. The Department of Health 
45 
(DOH) shall continue to exercise primary jurisdiction over the 
46 
determination and enforcement of standards for quality drinking water 
47 
and sanitation.   
48 
 
49 
(b) The Commission shall coordinate with the:  
50 
(1) DOH to ensure that the standards and targets for quality drinking 
51 
water and sanitation are consistently complied with;  
52 


42 
 
(2) LGUs for development projects relating to water supply and 
1 
sanitation; and   
2 
(3) Department of Public Works and Highways for flood control and 
3 
harnessing and impounding of water. 
4 
  
5 
SEC. 37. Transfer of Rights and Obligations. – The Commission shall, 
6 
by virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights, and assume all the 
7 
obligations, of the Water Utilities Division of the NWRB, the regulatory offices of 
8 
MWSS and LWUA, the regulatory units of all special economic zones, and all 
9 
other government agencies and units whose powers and functions have been 
10 
transferred to the Commission. 
11 
  
12 
The transfer of powers and functions to the Department of the concerned 
13 
agencies as herein provided for, shall be deemed completed within six (6) 
14 
months after the effectivity of this Act. The transfer of powers and functions shall 
15 
include all applicable funds, personnel, records, property and equipment, as 
16 
may be necessary. The same shall apply to agencies which have been attached 
17 
to the Department by virtue of this Act.  
18 
 
19 
All agencies transferred, subsumed and attached to the Department, shall 
20 
continue to function under their present mandates until the six-month transition 
21 
period mandated under this Act shall have lapsed. The heads of the affected 
22 
agencies shall continue to serve until replaced.  
23 
 
24 
All rights and obligations of the affected agencies are hereby transferred 
25 
to and assumed by the Commission, and shall be acted upon in accordance with 
26 
the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit and other pertinent laws, 
27 
rules, and regulations.  
28 
 
29 
SEC. 38. Absorption or Separation from Service of Employees of the 
30 
Subrogated Agencies. – 
31 
  
32 
The current employees of the Water Utilities Division of the NWRB, the 
33 
regulatory offices of MWSS and LWUA, the regulatory units of all special 
34 
economic zones, and all other government agencies and units whose powers 
35 
and functions have been transferred to the Commission shall enjoy security of 
36 
tenure, and shall be absorbed by the Department, in accordance with their 
37 
staffing pattern and the selection process as prescribed under Republic Act No. 
38 
6656 or the Government Reorganization Law.  
39 
 
40 
Employees opting to be separated from the service as a consequence of 
41 
the consolidation, and reconstitution under the provisions of this Act shall, within 
42 
one (1) month from their separation or phase out from the service, receive 
43 
separation benefits in accordance with existing laws, and those who are 
44 
qualified to retire shall be allowed to retire and be entitled to all benefits under 
45 
existing retirement laws.  
46 
 
47 
SEC. 39. Water Trust Fund. – There is hereby created a Water Trust 
48 
Fund in the Bureau of Treasury. All non-tax revenues, including raw water 
49 
pricing, permit fees, registration fees, supervision and regulation enforcement 
50 
fees, filing fees, testing fees, and other service income from the use of water 
51 
resources shall be remitted to the Water Trust Fund. The trust fund shall be 
52 
accounted separately from the government’s general revenues and shall be 
53 


43 
 
automatically appropriated to the Department.  Proceeds from the trust fund 
1 
shall be utilized for water development, water sanitation and waste water 
2 
treatment and management, and water sustainability programs and projects 
3 
authorized under this Act:  Provided, That a maximum of ten percent (10%) of 
4 
the total income generated from raw water extraction shall be given as share of 
5 
the concerned local government unit or indigenous peoples (IP) community who 
6 
own the specific areas or land where the raw water was sourced. 
7 
 
8 
CHAPTER VIII  
9 
 
10 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
11 
 
12 
Sec. 40. Applicability of Ease of Doing Business Law. – The 
13 
prescribed processing time provided under Section 9 (b) of Republic Act No. 
14 
11032, otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient 
15 
Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, shall be applicable to all agencies 
16 
and LGUs covered under this Act particularly on accessing government 
17 
services.  
18 
 
19 
Sec. 41. Transitory Provisions. – Performance audit of all water-related 
20 
agencies and institutions, including LWUA and water districts, MWSS, MWSS-
21 
RO and its concessionaires, LGU-run utilities, Tourism Infrastructure and 
22 
Enterprise Zone Authority, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Bases 
23 
Conversion and Development Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, 
24 
DILG, and NIA, shall be conducted by the Department.  
25 
 
26 
SEC. 42. Appropriations – The amount necessary to cover the initial 
27 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the currents year’s 
28 
appropriations of the agencies and offices transferred and subsumed by the 
29 
Department and the Commission in the General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, 
30 
such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of the Act 
31 
shall be included in the annual GAA.  
32 
 
33 
SEC. 43. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within one hundred 
34 
eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department, NEDA, DBM, 
35 
DENR, CSC, in consultation with concerned government agencies, the 
36 
Presidential Legislative Liaison Office shall promulgate rules and regulations for 
37 
the effective implementation of this Act. 
38 
 
39 
SEC. 44. Separability Clause. – If any reason, any portion or provision 
40 
of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions 
41 
not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
42 
 
43 
 SEC. 45. Repealing Clause. – 
44 
  
45 
(a) The following provisions are hereby repealed:  
46 
 
47 
1) 
Section 3 (h) and Section 12 on the provision with respect to 
48 
fixing of water rates and sanitation service fees, Section 3 (n) on the provision 
49 
with respect to regulation of waterworks and deep wells, and Section 3 (p) on 
50 
the provision with respect to regulation of waterworks and sanitation systems 
51 
in privately owned subdivisions of Republic Act 6234 entitled, An Act Creating 
52 
The Metropolitan Waterworks And Sewerage System And Dissolving The 
53 


44 
 
National Waterworks And Sewerage Authority, And For Other Purposes, as 
1 
amended.  
2 
 
3 
2) 
Title III on Local Water Utilities Administration Law of Presidential 
4 
Decree No. 198 otherwise known as the Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973, 
5 
as amended by Letter of Instruction No. 700 - Providing Measures To Control 
6 
And Regulate Increase In Water Rates, Letter of Instruction No. 744 - Relative 
7 
To Reliable Water Supply At Reasonable Rates In The Countryside on the, 
8 
Executive Order No. 124, 30 January 1987 -  Reorganization Act of the 
9 
Ministry of Public Works and Highways, Executive Order No. 123, 30 January 
10 
1987 -  Reorganization Act of Ministry of Social Services and Development.  
11 
 
12 
3) 
Republic Act No. 3601 as amended by Presidential Decree No. 
13 
552 and Presidential Decree No. 1702 pertaining to the creation of the 
14 
National Irrigation Administration;  
15 
 
16 
4) 
Section 1 of Executive Order No. 124-A S. 1987 Amending Executive 
17 
Order No. 124, dated 30 January 1987, Reorganizing the Department of 
18 
Public Works and Highways, Redefining Its Powers and Functions, and For 
19 
Other Purposes on renaming and reorganizing the National Water Resources 
20 
Council into the National Water Resources Board.  
21 
(b) The following provisions are hereby amended accordingly: 
22 
 
23 
1) 
Section 3 paragraph 3 Commonwealth Act No. 146, as amended, 
24 
otherwise known as the Public Service Act pertaining to all cases involving 
25 
the fixing of rates;  
26 
 
27 
2) 
Section 154, Article V, Chapter I, Title One, Book II of Republic 
28 
Act No. 7160, as amended, otherwise known as the “Local Government Code 
29 
of 1991”, and its implementing rules and regulations on the power of the local 
30 
government units to fix the rates of water utilities owned, operated and 
31 
maintained by them within their jurisdiction is hereby repealed or modified 
32 
accordingly;  
33 
 
34 
3) 
Section 13 (b) on the regulation of enterprises within the 
35 
Economic Zone under Republic Act No. 7916 as amended, otherwise known 
36 
as “The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995”;  
37 
 
38 
4) 
Section 69 of Republic Act No. 9593 otherwise known as “The 
39 
Tourism Act of 2009” and its implementing rules and regulations which 
40 
mandate the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority to grant 
41 
franchises, supervise the operation of public utilities, and register, monitor and 
42 
regulate enterprises within Tourism Enterprise Zones, are hereby repealed or 
43 
modified accordingly;  
44 
 
45 
5) 
Sections 7 and 8 on the adjudication of water pollution cases 
46 
under Republic Act No. 3931 entitled, An Act Creating The National Water 
47 
And Air Pollution Control Commission, particularly with respect to Section 6 
48 
letters e, f, g, j, k Presidential Decree 984 entitled, Providing for the Revision 
49 
of Republic Act No. 3931, Commonly Known as the Pollution Control Law, 
50 
and For Other Purposes; 
51 
 
52 


45 
 
6) 
Sections 4(1) and 7 of Republic Act No. 9275, otherwise known 
1 
as the “Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004”;  
2 
 
3 
7) 
Articles 3(d) and 79 of Presidential Decree No. 1067, otherwise 
4 
known as The Water Code of the Philippines;  
5 
 
6 
8) 
Sections 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, Chapter II of Presidential Decree 
7 
No. 856, otherwise known as the “Code on Sanitation of the Philippines”; and  
8 
 
9 
9) 
Section 3.2 (b) of Executive Order No. 149 Series of 1993 
10 
transferring the Laguna Lake Development Authority from the Office of the 
11 
President to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.  
12 
10) 
All 
other 
laws, 
presidential 
decrees, 
executive 
orders, 
13 
presidential proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are 
14 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
15 
accordingly.  
16 
 
17 
SEC. 46. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
18 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
19 
 
20 
Approved, 
21