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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'13 
JUL -2 A9:48 
Introduced by Senator Cy~thia A. Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is a priority emblazoned by the Constitution to protect the nation's 
marine wealth in its archipelagic waters so that ultimately, the right to use the 
same can be enjoyed by Filipino citizens. 
The call to protect our rivers comes at an even louder voice today. For 
example, recent studies have shown that one of our rivers -the Marilao River-
is among the dirtiest rivers in the world, filled with excess levels of dangerous 
heavy metals such as chromium, cadmium and lead. It has also recorded zero 
dissolve oxygen levels and high levels of organic pollution. Similarly, the Pasig 
River is in the same state, and is still visibly among the dirtiest river systems in 
the country. 
By mandating each city or municipality that has a river system to create a 
River Development Authority, we can be assured that protection can be given to 
our river systems and ultimately, to our countrymen, as the protection of the river 
entails not only the protection of marine wealth and life, but also the protection of 
a source of livelihood, food, and even rest and relaxation. Henceforth, the 
passage of this legislation is earnestly sought. 
ILIL'U 
~;N~I~:. VIL~ 


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 299 
Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. Villar 
AN ACT 
Senatl!' 
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"13 Jill -2 A 9 :48 
MANDATING EACH CITY OR MUNICIPALITY TO CREATE A RIVER 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE PRESERVATION, PROTECTION 
AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL RIVERS, RIVER SYSTEMS, AND NATURAL 
WATERWAYS WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled' 
1 
Section 1. Each city or municipality is hereby mandated to create a River 
2 
Development Authority, hereinafter referred to as the Authority, for the 
3 
preservation, protection and development of all rivers, river systems and natural 
4 
waterways within its jurisdiction" 
5 
6 
Section 2" The Authority shall execute the powers and functions herein 
7 
vested and conferred upon it in such manner as will, in its judgment, aid to the 
8 
fullest possible extent in carrying out the process set forth in this Act. The 
9 
Authority shall have the following functions: 
10 
11 
a) Prepare a master plan to preserve, protect, develop and exploit all 
12 
rivers, dver systems, and natural waterways; 
13 
14 
b) Conduct engineering surveys of rivers, river systems and natural 
15 
waterways, assessing and monitoring water quality, pinpointing 
16 
pollution sources and identifying the rivers that need to be developed 
17 
for exploitation and rehabilitation; 
18 
19 
c) Initiate and 
facilitate 
planning, 
implementation, 
monitoring and 
20 
evaluation of pertinent projects with positive impact on environment 
21 
and development, including dredging, widening and deepening of river 
22 
channels and improvement of river alignments; 
23 
24 
d) Prioritize rivers positively identified for development and rehabilitation, 
25 
and on the basis thereof, prepare a river-specific plan of operation for 
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the improvement, development and rehabilitation of environmentally 
27 
degraded rivers; 
28 
29 
e) Initiate funding arrangements with local and foreign donors, to finance 
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priority development projects and provide direct funding of minor 
31 
initiatives expected to create a positive impact on the environment in 
32 
the projected area; 
33 


1 
f) 
Develop 
information 
materials 
to 
ensure 
a 
high 
degree 
of 
2 
environmental awareness in government agencies, organizations and 
3 
the general public; 
4 
5 
g) Make recommendations to the proper agencies offering financial 
6 
support, technical and physical assistance about the level of priority to 
7 
be accorded river systems development and rehabilitation projects; 
8 
9 
h) Coordinate and integrate such projects or operations of local 
10 
governments, agencies, public corporations and, where clearly 
II 
necessary and feasible, those of private entities, as will bear directly 
12 
upon the plans and activities of the Authority so as to make possible an 
I} 
intensive development and rehabilitation of the rivers, river systems 
14 
and natural waterways in the country within the context of the master 
IS 
plan. 
16 
17 
i) 
Set up a compact and well-trained staff for effective liaison and 
18 
consultation or joint planning and implementation with government and 
19 
private entities; 
20 
21 
j) Make an annual report to the Secretary of the Interior and Local 
22 
Government of its activities, including those done in collaboration with 
23 
the various government and 
private entities engaged 
in 
the 
24 
implantation of the projects and programs, which shall include, among 
25 
others, a comparison of the developmental and rehabilitation targets as 
26 
set for the year ending and the extent to which actual accomplishments 
27 
measure up to such targets, and the appropriate administrative and 
28 
legislative recommendations. 
29 
30 
Section 3. The Authority shall have a Board of Directors composed of 
3.1 
eleven (11) members as follows: 
32 
33 
a) City or municipal council majority floor leader, as Chairman; 
34 
35 
b) City or municipal council minority floor leader; 
36 
37 
c) Chairman of the City or MuniCipal Council Committee on Public Works; 
38 
39 
d) Chairman 
of the 
City 
or 
Municipal 
Council 
Committee 
on 
40 
Appropriations; 
41 
4;2 
e) City or municipal engineer; 
43 
44 
f) 
City or municipal planning and development officer; 
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46 
g) City or municipal planning and development officer; 
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48 
h) City or municipal administrator; 
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50 
i) 
Three (3) members representing the private sector to be appointed by 
51 
the city or municipal mayor. 
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53 
No member of the Board shall, during his term, be financially interested, 
511 
directly or indirectly, in any contract entered into by the Authority or in any special 
55 
privileges granted by the Authority. All contracts entered into in violation of this 
56 
provision shall be null and void. 
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2 


1 
Section 4. The Board shall exercise the following powers and functions: 
2 
3 
a) Formulate, prescribe, amend and repeal rules and regulations to 
4 
govern the conduct of operation of the Authority; 
5 
6 
b) Appoint the necessary staff of Authority and to fix their compensation 
7 
in accordance with existing laws; 
8 
9 
c) Suspend, remove or otherwise discipline for just cause any staff 
10 
member appointed by the Board; 
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12 
d) Recommend the annual and supplemental budgets of the Authority; 
1,3 
14 
e) Render annual reports to the secretary of the Interior and Local , 
15 
Government and to the city or municipal mayor and such special 
16 
reports as may be requested; and 
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18 
f) 
Do such other acts and perform such other functions as may be 
19 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
20 
21 
Section 5. The Secretary of the Interior and Local Government shall issue 
22 
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
23 
24 
Section 6. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall 
25 
be charged to the appropriations of the Department of Interior and Local 
26 
Government. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its continued 
27 
operation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
28 
29 
Section 7. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof 
30 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
31 
accordingly. 
32 
33 
Section 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
34 
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
35 
36 
37 
Approved, 
3