Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
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 United Nations affirms the fundamental human right to water and 
sanitation, stating that it is indispensable for leading a life in human dignity 
and a prerequisite for the realization of all human rights.1 This recognition 
calls upon States and international organizations to provide financial 
resources, help capacity-building and technology transfer to help developing 
countries to provide safe, clean, accessible, and affordable drinking water and 
sanitation for all. 
The Philippines, despite being surrounded by natural bodies of water, 
remain in need of safe and accessible water supplies. According to the World 
Health Organization, one out of 10 Filipinos still have no access to improved 
water resources2 and often have to rely on unimproved, unsafe, and 
unsustainable water sources.  
1 United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. November 2002. 
General Comment No. 15. The right to water. 
https://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/human_right_to_water.shtml (Accessed 26 October 
2022) 
2 World Health Organization (2019) Water shortage in the Philippines threatens sustainable 
development and health. https://www.who.int/philippines/news/feature-
stories/detail/water-shortage-in-the-philippines-threatens-sustainable-development-and-
health (Accessed 26 October 2022) 
November 15, 2022
11:57 am
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In order to have access to safe drinking water, some Filipinos depend 
on water refilling stations. According to the Pediatric Infectious Disease 
Society of the Philippines, the water provided by these private businesses may 
test negative for microorganisms, but containers still may contain bacteria 
due to unwell kept containers and improper sanitation procedures. 
Keeping one's family safe from waterborne diseases such as Amoebiasis. 
Diarrhea, Cholera, and Typhoid Fever would be very difficult. There are still 
thousands of Filipinos left behind. Those that are unable to rely on water 
refilling stations are vulnerable. The lack of safe drinking water has affected 
many lives in the country. In 2016, acute watery Diarrhoeal disease has 
victimized 139,000 lives, which led this disease to be part of the top 10 leading 
causes of death in the Philippines. In 2014, there was a cholera outbreak in 
North Cotabato with 438 persons tested positive for cholera and 46 others 
tested positive for amoebiasis.3 Other factors such as climate change and 
natural disastrous phenomena has contributed to the worsening of the issue. 
In response to the immediate need to ensure the quality of drinking 
water, in December 2017, the Department of Health (DOH) presented the 
Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW) to various 
stakeholders, embodied in the DOH Administrative Order No. 10 series of 
2017. The PNSDW prescribes the standards and procedures on drinking-
water quality aiming to protect the public and consumer’s health. 
However, as of 2020, nearly 5 million Filipinos still rely on unsafe and 
unsustainable water sources, 9 million lack access to improved sanitation 
and there remains the water and sanitation crisis that need to be addressed.4 
Thus, existing laws and policies must be revisited and must strengthen its 
focus on quality assessment and increasing access to safe water for the health 
and welfare of all Filipino families. 
It is the duty of 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.  
3 Philstar Global (2015) Diseases you can get from unsafe drinking watre. 
https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/health-and-family/2015/09/06/1471788/diseases-
you-can-get-unsafe-drinking-water (Accessed 26 October 2022) 
4 Water.org. 2020. Philippines’ Water and Sanitation Crisis. https://water.org/our-
impact/where-we-work/philippines/ (Accessed 26 October 2022) 


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 proposed legislation aims to require 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. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS  
Fifth District, Quezon City 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Safe Drinking 
Water Act." 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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; 


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 PLAN 
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. 
SECTION 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 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. 
SECTION 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; 
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. 
 
SECTION 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 regulation. 
SECTION 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to effectively carry out 
the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, 
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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,