TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE _)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES _)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 247 2

Introduced by Hon. Antonio B. Legarda, Jr.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE ANTIQUE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT AND
SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Access to safe and reliable water remains a persistent challenge in the Province
of Antique. Despite national figures showing that 97.6% of Filipinos have access to
safely managed drinking water, many areas in Antique continue to experience critical
supply issues due to limited infrastructure, outdated systems, and fragmented service
coverage. Water districts serve only a portion of barangays, and the high cost of
constructing even a single pumping station — estimated at P10 million—often exceeds
local financing capabilities.

‘This situation is particularly troubling when viewed against the backdrop of
Antique’s location within Region VI (Western Visayas)—a region with one of the
highest water resource potentials in the country. According to the Philippine Water
Supply and Sanitation Master Plan (PWSSMP), Western Visayas ranks third among
12 water resource regions, with an estimated 15,344 million cubic meters (MCM) of
water available annually, accounting for 10.5% of the national total. However, this
abundance has not translated into equitable access for Antique, where recurring water
shortages, low service coverage, and infrastructure gaps persist. This reflects a
broader challenge: while the region is water-rich, intra-regional disparities in

infrastructure and service delivery continue to marginalize provinces like Antique.


Moreover, data from the 2020 regional analysis of water sources reveals that in
Region VI, approximately 17% of families rely on unsafe water sources—a figure
significantly higher than the national average of 12%. This means that nearly 1 in every
6 households in the region may be exposed to water that does not meet safety
standards, further underscoring the urgency of targeted infrastructure investment in
provinces like Antique.

This bill seeks to establish the Antique Water Infrastructure Support and
Sustainability Program (AWSEP), a focused intervention providing a P1 billion special
purpose fund to finance the construction, rehabilitation, and expansion of water
systems across all municipalities in the province. Unlike nationwide programs that
often adopt a generalized approach, this proposed legislation is deliberately local in
scope, It seeks to develop Antique as a model province for implementing dedicated
support funds that are context-sensitive and responsive to the province’s geologic,
hydrologic, and institutional conditions.

The program introduces several key design elements to ensure effectiveness,
accountability, and replicability:

1. Water infrastructure planning shall be based on watershed and basin-level
assessments, not political boundaries, to promote inter-LGU collaboration
and long-term sustainability.

2. Project selection shalll be guided by existing national and local master plans
and feasibility studies to ensure technical soundness.

3. Procurement flexibility will be provided through various modes—
including the National Government Procurement Act (NGPA), Public-
Private Partnerships (PPP), Official Development Assistance (ODA), and
hybrid modalities— depending on project needs and viability.

4. Fast-tracking provisions will be adopted: projects under the program shall
be exempt from Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) approval
requirements.

To ensure transparency and measurable impact, up to ten percent (10%) of the

fund shall be allocated for monitoring and evaluation (M&E), audit-related expenses,
and manpower support, unless justified otherwise in the implementing rules and

regulations. The Provincial Government of Antique, in coordination with local water

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districts, shall prepare and submit annual reports detailing project implementation,
fund utilization, and M&E outcomes. Oversight shall be provided by the Department
of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) and the Commission on Audit
(COA).

The program also mandates the establishment of Barangay Water Supply
Monitoring Committees for the first five (5) years, after which responsibility shall
transition to the relevant water districts to institutionalize water governance and
strengthen community participation.

This bill is a pioneering legislative initiative that seeks to correct the mismatch
between water resource potential and access through a replicable model for localized
water infrastructure support. By concentrating efforts in one province, the
government can test, refine, and eventually scale a targeted and evidence-based
approach to water sector investment. Its passage is earnestly sought.

In line with the policy espoused by its original proponent, Senator Loren
Legarda, this bill is being introduced as a counterpart measure. In view of the
foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

Ly
whch iscyfon JR.


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 2472

Introduced by Hon. Antonio B. Legarda, Jr.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE ANTIQUE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT AND
SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Antique Water
Infrastructure Support and Sustainability Act.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
promote equitable access to clean and sustainable water, enhance water security and
resilience against drought, and support the delivery of safe water services in
underserved areas, especially in the Province of Antique. Toward this end, the State
recognizes the need to adopt innovative funding mechanisms that respond to
persistent and recurring development challenges, enabling the design of solutions that
are tailor-fit to the specific geographic, environmental, and institutional contexts of
localities.

Sec. 3. Coverage. This Act shall apply to all local government units in the
Province of Antique, including all municipalities and their constituent barangays.

Sec. 4. Establishment of the Antique Water Supply Enhancement Program (AWSEP).
There is hereby established the Antique Water Supply Enhancement Program
(AWSEP), which shall finance and implement the construction, rehabilitation, and
expansion of water infrastructure, including but not limited to:

(a) Pumping stations;


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(b) _ Solar-powered water supply systems;

(©) Water filtration and treatment facilities;

(a) Groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting systems;

(e) _ Drought-resilient supply innovations; and

(Transmission, distribution, and storage infrastructure.

Priority shall be given to water infrastructure projects identified in existing
national and local master plans, investment programs, and feasibility studies. At all
times, planning and project implementation shall account for geologic, watershed,
and basin considerations, and not be solely based on political or administrative
boundaries. Inter-LGU provision, joint undertakings, and infrastructure linkages shall
be encouraged where appropriate.

Sec. 5. Implementing Agencies. The Provincial Government of Antique shall serve
as the lead implementing agency of the AWSEP. All concerned municipal local
government units shall likewise serve as co-implementing agencies within their
respective jurisdictions, in coordination with the Local Water Utilities Administration
(LWUA), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH), the relevant water districts, and other related water agencies.

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) and the
Commission on Audit (COA) shall serve as oversight bodies for the implementation
of this Act.

Sec. 6. Equitable Access and Non-Discrimination. — All programs, projects, and
activities under this Act shall be implemented in a manner that ensures fair and
equitable access to all municipalities and barangays in the Province of Antique, with
priority given to areas with the greatest service gaps and technical need. The allocation
of funds and selection of project sites shall be guided by objective, transparent, and
data-driven criteria, and shall not be influenced by political affiliation, partisan
interest, or changes in local leadership.

The program shall be designed to transcend political cycles and ensure
continuity of service delivery regardless of electoral outcomes, in adherence to the
principles of good governance, social justice, and the universal right to water.

Sec. 7. Barangay Water Supply Monitoring Committees. Each barangay within the
covered municipalities shall establish a Barangay Water Supply Monitoring

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Committee to assist in reporting supply disruptions, ensuring water quality, and
coordinating with local water providers. This committee shall operate for a period of
five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, after which the responsibility for
monitoring and coordination shall be transferred to the concerned water district in the
area.

Sec. 8. Appropriations, The amount of One Billion Pesos (Php 1,000,000,000.00)
is hereby appropriated as the initial infusion for the implementation of this Act. The
fund shall be established as a Special Purpose Fund in the annual General
Appropriations Act (GAA).

The Provincial Government of Antique and its component LGUs shall likewise
allocate local counterpart funds annually. Other sources such as official development
assistance (ODA), corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions, and private
sector support shall be encouraged.

A maximum of ten percent (10%) of the fund shall be allocated for monitoring
and evaluation (M&E), audit-related expenses, staffing, and manpower support. The
fund may likewise be used to finance relevant studies, research, and technical
assistance, particularly in pursuit of long-term water sustainability for the province.

Sec. 9. Water Emergency and Drought Response Plan. All water districts in Antique
shall prepare and maintain a Water Emergency and Drought Response Plan, to be
reviewed annually by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
(PDRRMO).

Sec. 10. Reporting. The Provincial Government of Antique shall prepare and
submit an annual report on the status of water infrastructure and services in the
province. The report shall include updates on the implementation of the program,
fund utilization, and monitoring and evaluation outcomes. This report shall be
prepared in coordination with the concerned water districts and submitted to
DEPDev, COA, and Congress.

Sec. 11. Procurement Modalities. Procurement of goods, infrastructure, and
services under this Act shall be governed by the National Government Procurement
‘Act (NGPA), and may likewise be undertaken through Public-Private Partnership
(PPP) arrangements, official development assistance (ODA), or hybrid modalities as
may be deemed appropriate. For purposes of expediting implementation, projects

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under this Act shall be exempt from Investment Coordination Committee (ICC)
approval requirements.

Sec. 12. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall
remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, rules, and regulations
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 14. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,