EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. NO. 713
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•19 JUL 24 A9 53
RECEiVLD D'. .
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT ENSURING SAFE DRINKING WATER, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 
856, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CODE ON SANITATION OF 
THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is blessed with copious amount of water with a total 
annual renewable water resources of 479 billion cubic meters (m* 2 3) from its 
surface water and groundwater sources. This translates into an annual per 
capita availability of about 6,100 m3, which is twice that of the rest of Asia, 
and six times the global scarcity threshold of 1,000 m3 1
Ironically, however, as of 2017, around 8.5 million Filipinos still have no 
access to clean drinking water, and have to rely on unimproved, unsafe and 
unsustainable water sources, according to the National Water Resource 
Board.
Aside from access to clean water, water contamination remains a 
pressing issue, with heavy inorganic pollutants present in drinking water 
sources. According to environmental organization Greenpeace, five out of 18 
artesian wells in Benguet and Bulacan were found to contain nitrate levels 
well above the safety limit set by the World Health Organization.2 Inorganic 
contaminants such as nitrate may cause serious health problems to the 
population, and may even lead to death.3 For example, in 2011, 11 people
' Philippines: Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Assessment, Strategy, and Road Map. Mandaluyong City, 
Philippines: Asian Development Bank, 2013
2 
2018, 
March 
8. 
When 
water 
causes 
diseases 
and 
deaths. 
Retrieved 
from: 
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/03/08Awhen-water-causes-diseases-and-deaths/ (date last accessed: July 9, 
2019).
3 Id.


from Barangay Valencia, Cebu died due to typhoid fever after drinking water 
from unsafe water sources.4
Thus, prolonged inaction on this issue may lead to a rise in foodborne 
and waterborne diseases. According to Elizabeth Dowdeswell, the Executive 
Director of the United Nations Environment Program, “an estimated one-half 
of people in developing countries are suffering from diseases caused either 
directly by infection through the consumption of contaminated water or food, 
or indirectly by disease-carrying organisms such as mosquitoes, that breed in 
water."5 In the case of the Philippines, 50% of typhoid cases are due to water 
pollution, sanitation conditions and hygiene practices. In fact, from January to 
April 2018 alone, the Department of Health recorded 5,455 cases of typhoid 
fever that resulted in 10 reported cases of death.6
Given this, it is imperative that the State play an active role in ensuring 
all Filipinos have safe and potable drinking water by implementing a 
comprehensive management program on water safety planning, including 
water quality surveillance, adoption of risk management strategies for the 
protection of water supply systems, and the use of appropriate tools and 
instruments to properly monitor and enforce quality drinking water standards. 
This bill seeks to amend the existing provisions of the Sanitation Code of the 
Philippines on water supply. 
Among others, it requires the physical, 
bacteriological and general systematic chemical and over-all examination of 
water quality every two months. The result of such testing must be submitted 
to the Department of Health (DOH) for appropriate action and to the 
consumers so that they will be properly apprised of the quality of the water 
they are consuming.
This bill also requires all water service providers to prepare a water 
safety plan, and submit the same to the DOH for approval. They shall also 
furnish their customers an annual consumer confidence report which must 
include information regarding their current treatment techniques, monitoring 
procedures, and level of contaminants in the water system, among others.
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
'Id.
s Id
6 Food and Waterborne Diseases Monthly Surveillance Report No. 4. Department of Health. January to April 2018. 
Retrieved 
from:
httPS:/Awvw.doh.Qov.ph/sites/default/flles/statistics/2018%20Food%20and%20Water%20Borne%20Diseases%20Mor 
biditv%20Week%201-21 .pdf (date last accessed; July 11, 2019).


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. NO. 713
Senate
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T9 JUL 24 A9S3
RECElVtD ’&!
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT ENSURING SAFE DRINKING WATER,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 856, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CODE ON SANITATION OF THE 
PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Safe Drinking 
Water Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  The State shall pursue a policy of ensuring 
the health of the Filipino people through the provision of safe drinking water. 
Towards this end, the State shall promote the use of appropriate tools and 
instruments and control mechanisms and adopt risk management strategies 
for the protection of the entire water supply system against contamination 
that will adversely affect human health. The State shall also implement a 
comprehensive management program on water safety planning including 
water quality surveillance that ensures the safety of drinking water in all 
settings and ensure compliance with national standards for drinking water 
and other environmental laws affecting drinking water quality.
SEC. 3. Section 11 of Presidential Decree No. 856 is hereby amended to 
read as follows;
Section 11. Types of Water Examinations Required
The following examinations are required for drinking water:
(a) Initial examination. The physical, chemical and bacteriological 
examinations of water from newly constructed systems or sources are 
required before they are operated and opened for public use.


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Examination of water for possible radio-active contamination should 
also be done initially.
(b) Periodic examination. Water from existing sources is subject to 
PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, bacteriological AND OVER-ALL QUALITY 
examination as often as possible but the interval shall not be longer 
than [six] TWO months, [while general systematic chemical examination 
shall be conducted every 12 months or oftener. Examination of water 
sources 
shall 
be 
conducted 
yearly 
for 
possible 
radioactive 
contamination,] 
UNLESS 
OTHERWISE 
REQUIRED 
BY 
THE 
DEPARTMENT 
THROUGH 
APPROPRIATE 
REGULATIONS; 
PROVIDED, THAT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL RESTRICT THE 
DEPARTMENT FROM CONDUCTING RANDOM WATER QUALITY 
EXAMINATION AS OFTEN AS IT MAY DEEM NECESSARY AND 
PROPER.
SEC. 4. New Section 11-A and Section 11-B of Presidential Decree No. 856 
are hereby inserted to read as follows:
SECTION 11-A. PERMITS REQUIRED
DRINKING WATER SERVICE PROVIDERS, WATER LABORATORIES 
AND 
OTHER 
ESTABLISHMENTS 
WITH 
DRINKING 
WATER 
SYSTEMS CATERING TO THE PUBLIC SHALL BE REGISTERED 
WITH THE DEPARTMENT. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE FOLLOWING 
PERMITS SHALL BE SECURED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OR 
LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES, AS THE CASE MAY BE:
a) 
CERTIFICATE OF POTABILITY OF DRINKING WATER TO 
OBTAINED BY DRINKING WATER SERVICE PROVIDERS;
b) 
CERTIFICATE OF ACCREDITATION TO BE OBTAINED BY ALL 
WATER LABORATORIES AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS THAT 
SHALL PARTICIPATE IN THE DRINKING WATER SAFETY 
PROGRAM;
c) 
CERTIFICATE OF PRODUCT REGISTRATION OF WATER 
SUPPLY 
MATERIALS, 
APPURTENANCES, 
TREATMENT 
TECHNOLOGIES OR DEVICES TO BE OBTAINED BY ALL 
ENTITIES ENGAGED IN THE PROVISION OF DRINKING 
WATER SUPPLY TO THE PUBLIC,
d) 
CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY TO BE OBTAINED BY ALL 
INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL CONDUCT CAPACITY BUILDING 
ACTIVITIES 
ON 
WATER 
QUALITY 
ANALYSIS, 
WATER 
QUALITY TREATMENT, WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND 
WATER SAFETY PLANNING FROM THE DEPARTMENT;
e) 
CERTIFICATE OF WATER SAFETY PLAN ACCEPTANCE;


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f) 
DRINKING WATER SITE CLEARANCE TO BE OBTAINED BY 
ALL PERSONS OR ENTITIES INTENDING TO DEVELOP A 
DRINKING WATER SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION; 
PROVIDED, THAT NO DRINKING WATER SYSTEM SHALL BE 
INSTALLED AND OPERATED WITHOUT SUCH CLEARANCE;
g) 
OPERATIONAL 
PERMIT, 
WHICH 
MUST 
BE 
OBTAINED 
BEFORE USING A DRINKING WATER SYSTEM;
h) 
SANITARY 
CLEARANCE 
FOR 
ALL 
WATER 
DELIVERY 
VEHICLES, 
MOBILE 
WATER 
TANKERS 
AND 
SIMILAR 
VEHICLES, INCLUDING ITS APPURTENANCES.
COVERED ESTABLISHMENTS SHALL ALSO REGISTER PORTABLE 
WATER TEST KITS AND WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY OR 
DEVICES WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
SECTION 11-B. WATER SAFETY PIJ\N
WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, ALL 
DRINKING 
WATER 
SERVICE 
PROVIDERS 
SHALL 
DEVELOP 
WATER SAFETY PLANS FOR THEIR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS, 
AND ENSURE ITS IMPLEMENTATION AFTER ITS APPROVAL. AN 
APPROVED WATER SAFETY PLAN SHALL BE VALID FOR THREE 
YEARS, UNLESS SUSPENDED OR SOONER REVOKED BY THE 
DEPARTMENT.
FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP 
TOOLS, STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR WATER SAFETY 
PLAN PROCESSES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
SEC. 5. Section 12 of Presidential Decree No. 856 is hereby amended to 
read as follows:
Section 12. Examining Laboratories and Submission of Water Samples
The examination of drinking water shall be performed only in private or 
government laboratories duly accredited by the Department. THE 
DEPARTMENT SHALL PRESCRIBE APPROPRIATE GUIDELINES 
WITH RESPECT TO THE CONDUCT, MANNER AND MEASURES 
REQUIRED FOR THE 
EXAMINATION OF DRINKING WATER 
QUALITY.
It is the responsibility of operators of water systems to submit to 
accredited laboratories water samples for examination in a manner and 
at such intervals prescribed UNDER SECTION 11 OF THIS ACT OR by 
the Department THROUGH APPROPRIATE REGULATIONS.
THE RESULTS OF SUCH MONITORING SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO 
THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION, AND TO THE


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CONSUMERS CONCERNED. THE SAME SHALL ALSO BE POSTED 
CONSPICUOUSLY IN THE ESTABLISHMENT.
IN THE EVENT THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT FAILS TO COMPLY 
WITH AN APPLICABLE MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL, OR FAILS 
TO COMPLY WITH THE TREATMENT TECHNIQUE REQUIRED BY 
THE DEPARTMENT, OR FAILS TO PERFORM SUCH MONITORING, 
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO ORDER THE 
IMMEDIATE 
SUSPENSION 
OF 
THE 
OPERATIONS 
OF 
THE 
ESTABLISHMENT 
OR 
TAKE 
OTHER 
STEPS 
AS 
MAY 
BE 
NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF DRINKING WATER.
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMPTLY NOTIFY THE PUBLIC OF 
SUCH OCCURRENCE, AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONCERNED 
ESTABLISHMENT. THE NOTICE SHALL CONSIST OF, BUT NOT 
LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING;
a) 
NATURE OF THE VIOLATION;
b) 
CONTAMINANT LEVEL OF WATER SUPPLY;
c) 
POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS TO THE POPUU\TION;
d) 
POPULATION AT RISK;
e) 
STEPS BEING TAKEN TO CORRECT VIOLATION;
f) 
TELEPHONE NUMBER OR CONTACT NUMBER OF THE 
OWNER, OPERATOR OR DESIGNEE OF THE PUBLIC WATER 
SYSTEM;
g) 
NECESSITY OF SEEKING ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLIES; 
AND
h) 
PREVENTIVE MEASURES THAT SHALL BE TAKEN 
BY 
CONSUMERS UNTIL THE VIOLATION IS CORRECTED.
SEC. 6. A new Section 12-A is hereby inserted to read as follows;
SECTION 12-A. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
A DRINKING WATER SERVICE PROVIDER SHALL FURNISH ITS 
CUSTOMERS AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE QUALITY OF THE 
DRINKING WATER IT PROVIDES AND THE CONTAMINANTS, IF 
ANY, FOUND THEREIN.
THE ANNUAL REPORT SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, 
THE FOLLOWING;


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a) 
INFORMATION 
ON 
THE 
SOURCE 
OF 
THE 
WATER 
DISTRIBUTED;
b) 
ENUMERATION OF PRIMARY PARAMETERS INDICATED BY 
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR DRINKING 
WATER (PNSDW);
c) 
MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL INDICATED BY PNSDW;
d) 
CURRENT TREATMENT TECHNIQUES UTILIZED BY THE 
DRINKING WATER SERVICE PROVIDER;
e) 
MONITORING PROCEDURES UTILIZED BY THE DRINKING 
WATER SERVICE PROVIDER;
f) 
LEVEL OF CONTAMINANT IN THE WATER SYSTEM WITHIN 
THE YEAR;
g) 
ANY CONTAMINANT FOR WHICH THERE HAS BEEN A 
VIOLATION 
OF 
THE 
MAXIMUM 
CONTAMINANT 
LEVEL 
DURING THE YEAR CONCERNED, AND A BRIEF STATEMENT 
IN PLAIN LANGUAGE REGARDING THE HEALTH CONCERNS 
THAT 
RESULTED 
IN 
THE 
REGULATION 
OF 
THE 
CONTAMINANT, AS PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT;
h) 
INFORMATION 
ON 
THE 
LEVELS 
OF 
UNREGULATED 
CONTAMINANTS IDENTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT;
i) 
A STATEMENT THAT THE PRESENCE OF CONTAMINANTS IN 
THE DRINKING WATER DOES NOT NECESSARILY INDICATE 
THAT THE DRINKING WATER POSES A HEALTH RISK AND 
THAT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CONTAMINANTS AND 
POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS CAN BE OBTAINED BY 
CALLING THE DEPARTMENT;
j) 
MEASURES THAT MAY BE ADOPTED BY THE CONSUMERS 
TO 
KEEP 
THEIR 
WATER 
SUPPLY 
FREE 
FROM 
CONTAMINATION; AND
k) 
SUCH 
OTHER 
ADDITIONAL 
INFORMATION 
AS 
THE 
DEPARTMENT 
DEEMS 
APPROPRIATE 
FOR 
PUBLIC 
EDUCATION.
THE ANNUAL REPORT SHALL BE PROVIDED TO CONSUMERS
EVERY TWELVE (12) MONTHS THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEDIA.
HAND DELIVERY, POSTING, OR OTHER METHODS APPROVED BY
THE DEPARTMENT.


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SEC. 7. Penalties. -  A water service provider that fails to comply with the 
provisions of this Act shall be liable for a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(Php50,000.00) for every day of continuing violation, without prejudice to any 
other penalties that may be imposed upon it in accordance with other 
relevant laws, rules and regulations.
SEC. 8. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary to effectively carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The Department of 
Health, in consultation with the concerned stakeholders and relevant 
government agencies, shall promulgate the implementing rules and 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days 
from the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, rules 
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. -  If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of the Act shall not be affected by 
such declaration.
SEC. 12. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the 
date of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers 
of general circulation.
Approved,