EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. )
First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. No. 4532

Introduced by Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto
6th District of Batangas

AN ACT
DESIGNATING THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE NATIONAL
IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 4
OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3601, AS AMENDED

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is a government-owned and controlled
corporation primarily responsible for irrigation development and management. It was created
under Republic Act (RA) 3601 in 1963. Its charter was amended by Presidential Decree (PD)
552, s. 1974 and PD 1702, s. 1980. Both increased the capitalization and broadened the
authority of the Agency. NIA aims to construct, operate and maintain irrigation systems
consistent with integrated water resource management principles to improve agricultural
productivity and increase farmers’ income. NIA envisions that by 2020, it wholly transforms
into a professional and efficient irrigation agency contributing to the inclusive growth of the
country and in the improvement of the farmers’ quality of life.

NIA was placed under the Office of the President (OP) upon its creation.
Subsequently, it was attached to the Department of Public Works, Transportation, and
Communication by virtue of PD 1, s. 1972. Fifteen (15) years after, the Administrative Code
of 1987 attached NIA to both the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and
Department of Agriculture (DA). Despite the said Administrative Code, NIA remained
attached to DPWH. It was transferred back to OP in 1992 pursuant to Executive Order (EO)
No. 22. A month after, it was attached to DA under Administrative Order No. 17 dated 14
October 1992. Again, in 2014, EO No. 165 transferred NIA together with the National Food


Authority, Philippine Coconut Authority, and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority to the Office
of the President and consequently designating the Presidential Assistant for Food Security
and Agricultural Modernization as chairman of the respective governing bodies of the
abovementioned agencies. In a memorandum dated 3 November 2016 of the Executive
Secretary, the Cabinet Secretary was designated as the Acting Chairman of the NIA Board of

Directors.'

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pifiol, who, back in 2016 wanted NIA along with the
National Food Authority, Philippine Coconut Authority and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority
to be reintegrated back to the DA, said that there was “absolutely no sense in separating the
NFA, NIA, FPA and PCA from the DA.”? What is worse is that the Secretary of Agriculture
is not even part of the current NIA governing board.

Thus, this bill seeks to correct the current composition of the NIA governing board by
mandating the Secretary of Agriculture to sit as its ex-officio Chairperson to ensure the
coordination and harmonization of NIA’s programs and policies to the agriculture industry's
overall strategic development.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is

“atonal gation Adminstration. Legions infoemationreieved on Apr 12,2038 from tp: www: a gov. ph/Pscontentegsatons
* Manila Tes Vly 6, 2016} Good—NIA, MFA nd PCA apan under Agrcture Department. Information retrieved fom hip www manatines net/gons

lf: and ca: apn-under- gre éepartment/272348/ on het, 2038



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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B.No._4532

Introduced by Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto
6th District of Batangas

AN ACT
DESIGNATING THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE NATIONAL
IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 4
OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3601, AS AMENDED

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

Section 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 3601, as amended is hereby further amended

to read as follows:
"Sec. 4, Board of Directors. The powers and functions of the National
Irrigation Administration shall be exercised by a Board of Directors
composed of six members, to wit: The Secretary of [Publie—Werks,
‘Fransportation-and-_Communieations] AGRICULTURE, who shall be the
[Chairman] CHAIRPERSON, the Administrator of the National Irrigation
Administration, who shall be the Vice-[Chairman] CHAIRPERSON, the
Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority, the
Secretary of [Agriculture] PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS, the
General Manager of the National Power Corporation, and one member who
shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines on recommendation of
any national rice and cor organization of good standing and who shall serve
for a term of four years unless sooner removed.

eo 59


Sec. 2. Repealing clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,