NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1 R
DATE;
BILLS & JMDEX
Introduced by Senators PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK ON WATER SUSTAINABILITY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In the Philippines, around one in 10 people nationwide still do not have access 
to improved water sources.1 The COVID-19 pandemic has also demonstrated the 
critical importance of sanitation, hygiene, and adequate access to clean water for 
preventing and containing diseases.2 And as recently as 2019, Metro Manila 
experienced a water crisis that "has exposed shortfalls and delays in the region's water 
infrastructure".3
These issues remain despite the declared principles and policies under the 
Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, which includes pursuing a framework for 
sustainable development and the protection, preservation and revival of the quality of 
our fresh, brackish and marine waters. Water sustainability is also important to achieve 
the vision described by AmBisyon Natin 2040, which represents Filipinos' aspirations 
to live a strongly rooted, comfortable and secure life. The National Economic 
Development Authority has also created the Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation 
Master Plan to achieve universal access to safe, sufficient, affordable, and sustainable
1 Water shortage in the Philippines threatens sustainable development and health. (2019, March 22). 
Retrieved March 5, 2020, from https://www.who.int/philippines/news/feature-stories/detail/water- 
shortage-in-the-phiiippines-threatens-sustainable-development-and-health.
2 United Nations, (n.d.). Water and Sanitation - United Nations Sustainable Development. Retrieved 
July 3, 2022, from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/.
3 Blomberg, M. (2019, May 17). As rains fall short, Manila trickles into a water crisis. Retrieved July 3, 
2022, from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-climatechange-water-idUSKCNlSNllZ.


water supply, hygiene, and sanitation by 2030.4 However, it is important to 
institutionalize these efforts in order to ensure their long-term continuity.
Further, as a party to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable 
Development, the Philippines committed to the attainment of the seventeen (17) 
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a global compact to create a future 
where nobody is left behind. One of these is SDG 6, which calls on the parties to 
ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. These 
international commitments require urgent attention given the predictions on water 
scarcity — as many as 700 million people worldwide could be displaced by intense 
water scarcity by 2030.5
The above premises show the importance of water sustainability and how it 
directly impacts public health and quality of life. There is an urgent need to address 
water sustainability in Metro Manila and in the rest of the country to ensure that 
Filipinos will always have safe and clean sources of water. It is also incumbent to 
guarantee the availability of these resources for future generations through their 
responsible and sustainable management. The proposed measure seeks to address 
these issues through the creation of a framework on water sustainability, which 
institutionalizes SDG 6, provides yearly targets, and the corresponding annual 
budgetary requirements in order to achieve them.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
PIA S. CA^TANO/
4 National Economic Development Authority. (2021, September 15). Philippine Water Supply and 
Sanitation Master Plan. Retrieved July 3, 2022, from https://neda.gov.ph/pwssmp/.
5 United Nations, (n.d.). Scarcity - UN 
https: //WWW. u nwate r. org/water-facts/sca rcity/.
Water. Retrieved July 3, 
2022, from


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1 R
BATE;
BILLS & l^JDEX
Introduced by Senators PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK ON WATER SUSTAINABILITY
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assem bled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Water Sustainability
Act"
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State affirms the declared principles and 
policies in Republic Act No. 9275, or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, which 
includes pursuing a sustainable development framework for the protection, 
preservation and revival of the quality of our fresh, brackish and marine waters.
The State also recognizes that water sustainability and providing clean water 
and sanitation is inseparable from public health and hygiene, and directly impacts 
quality of life. It acknowledges its importance in achieving the vision described by 
AmBisyon Natin 2040, which represents Filipinos' aspirations to live a strongly rooted, 
comfortable and secure life.
As a party to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 
the State remains committed to the seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals 
(SDGs), particularly SDG 6 which calls on the State to ensure availability and 
sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
It shall be the policy of the State to establish a framework for water 
sustainability, which shall be used by the relevant agencies to ensure that Filipinos will 
always have safe and clean sources of water, and guarantee the availability of these


1 
resources for future generations through their responsible and sustainable
2 
management.
3 
Sec. 3. Philippine Water Sustainability Framework. - The Department of
4 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination with the National
5 
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Department of Science and
6 
Technology (DOST) and in consultation with other relevant agencies, shall update and
7 
consolidate all existing frameworks prepared by all government agencies for water
8 
management and sustainability into the Philippine Water Sustainability Framework.
9 
The Framework shall provide policies and set annual targets to ensure the availability
10 
and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Filipinos pursuant to.
11 
sustainable development goal (SDG) 6 under the United Nations 2030 Agenda for
12 
Sustainable Development. It shall also indicate the necessary annual budgetary
13 
requirements to achieve the yearly targets for every component under Section 4 of
14 
this Act.
15 
Sec. 4. Components. - The Framework shall include policies and targets with
16 
specific timelines on the following components, including the roles and responsibilities
17 
of relevant government agencies:
18 
(a) Safe and Affordable Drinking Water - The Framework shall ensure universal
19 
and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water nationwide.
20 
(b) Sanitation and Hygiene - It shall provide steps to achieve access to adequate
21 
and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, and end open defecation, with
22 
special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable
23 
situations.
24 
(c) Water Quality, Wastewater Treatment, and Safe Reuse - The Framework shall
25 
also include measures to improve water quality, including reducing pollution,
26 
eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and
27 
materials, as well as halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and
28 
substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse.
29 
(d) Water-Use Efficiency and Freshwater Supplies - It shall substantially increase
30 
water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and
31 
supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the
32 
number of people suffering from water scarcity.


1 
(e) Integrated Water Resources Management - It shall provide measures for the
2 
implementation of integrated water resources management at all levels,
3 
including through inter-LGU cooperation as may be appropriate and practicable.
4 
(f) Water-Related Ecosystems-The Framework shall encompass all water-related
5 
ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
6 
It shall prioritize and provide measures for their protection and restoration while
7 
allowing for their use and development in accordance with existing laws, rules
8 
and regulations.
9 
(g) International and Private Linkages and Cooperation - The Framework shall
10 
encourage cooperation and capacity-building support in partnership with other
11 
countries and private stakeholders in water- and sanitation-related activities
12 
and programs, including water harvesting, 
desalination, water efficiency,
13 
wastewater treatment, recycling, and reuse technologies.
14 
{\I) Local Engagement and Support - It shall likewise encourage, support and
15 
strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and
16 
sanitation management.
17 
Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
18 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be
19 
affected thereby.
20 
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
21 
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
22 
Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its
23 
publication in the Official Gazette ox in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,