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Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES i
Quezon City ~. 3/

\ So

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS < Moex

First Regular Session

HouSE BILL No. 2887

Introduced by Hon. John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to integrate all plans, operations, maintenance, and development
efforts on the country’s water supply and services by establishing a central agency
tasked to oversee and implement policies, which shall be called the Department of
Water Services and Resource Management and Development.

The general objectives of this proposed legislation are as follows:

1. To prioritize the immediate attainment of universal access to safe, adequate,
and sustainable water supply, sanitation, and irrigation services for all
Filipinos and adopt all necessary measures directed towards the realization
of the human right to water and sanitation; and

2. To integrate all water resource planning and policy making efforts to ensure
strong, well-coordinated, sustainable, fair allocation, and efficient use of
water resources between competing water uses and users, including but not
limited to domestic and municipal use, irrigation, power generation, farming,
fisheries, commercial, and industrial use.

Due to the apparent and recurring water shortage, irrigation, sewage, and
sanitation problems, this representation sees that a probable cause of such issues
is the uncoordinated efforts of agencies and institutions currently tasked to
oversee these specific areas in water management. Thus, it is high time that the
state create a department that will assume the responsibility of overseeing all
matters pertaining to the water resources and services of the country. Doing so
will allow for a more systematic, organized, efficient, effective, and accountable
approach to the management of water in the country.


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It is no secret that we, in our vows to protect the well-being and development of
our people and out nation, are in urgent need of this piece of legislation. Instead
of correcting the problems as they come, we need to take steps in preventing such
problems to occur and ensure that the Filipinos enjoy their right to safe, clean,
affordable, and accessible drinking water, sanitation, and irrigation, and ensure
that the steps taken are sustainable.

As a manifestation of support to the administration’s promise of sustainable water
resource management and service, this representation seeks the urgent passage
of this measure.

JOHN IN “YYL SERVO” C. NIETO


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. __ 2887

Introduced by Hon. John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto

AN ACT INTEGRATING ALL WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND
SERVICES, IRRIGATION, SEWAGE, AND SANITATION RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT, HEREBY CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER

SERVICES AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, DEFINING
ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Department of Water
Services and Resource Management and Development."

Section. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State
to recognize, protect, realize, and enhance the right of all Filipinos to safe, clean,
affordable, and accessible drinking water, sanitation, and irrigation as essential to
the full enjoyment of life and all human rights and the protection and sustainability
of the environment. To attain the success of this policy, this Act shall have the
following objectives:

(a) To prioritize the immediate attainment of universal access to safe,
adequate, and sustainable water supply, sanitation, and irrigation
services for all Filipinos and adopt all necessary measures directed
towards the realization of the human right to water and sanitation;
and

(b) To integrate all water resource planning and policy making efforts
to ensure strong, well-coordinated, sustainable, fair allocation, and
efficient use of water resources between competing water uses and
users, including but not limited to domestic and municipal use,
irrigation, power generation, farming, fisheries, commercial, and
industrial use.


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Section. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms
are hereby defined:

a) Department - refers to the Department of Water Services and Resource
Management

(b) Sanitation - refers to sewage, sanitation, and septage management.

(c) Sewerage - refers to any system or network of sanitary pipelines, ditches,
channels, or conduits including pumping stations, lift stations, and force mains,
service connections including other constructions, devices, or appliances pertinent
thereof, which includes the collection, sanitary piping transport, pumping, and
treatment of water-borne human or animal waste removed from residences,
buildings, institutions, and industrial and commercial establishments to point of
sewage treatment 20 plant disposal.

(d) Sewage - refers to water-carried waste in solution or suspension, including
sanitary waste, commercial waste, industrial waste, agricultural waste, and surface
runoff, conveyed by a sewerage system for treatment or disposal. For purposes of
this Act, the definition of septage shall be included in the use of sewage.

{e) Septage - refers to sludge produced on individual on-site wastewater 27
disposal systems, principally septic tanks and cesspools. The terms "infrastructure"
and "public works" as used in this Act should be ready to apply only to wholly or
primarily water-related projects and shall not be read to incorporate projects
which would not otherwise fall within the purview of the objectives, powers, and
duties of the Department.

CHAPTER II ORGANIZATION

Section. 4. The Department of Water Services and Resource Management
and Development. - There is hereby created the Department of Water Services
and Resource Management and, hereinafter referred to as the "Department,"
which shall be organized within one hundred twenty (120) days after the
effectivity of this Act. The Department shall be tasked with developing and
implementing a comprehensive water, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation program
for the Philippines including, but not limited to:

(a) Implement necessary policy and resource reforms with respect to the
management of water, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation;

(b) Monitor and evaluate compliance with the national goals relating to
water, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation;

(c) Formulate an updated national road map to address the timely and
sustainable water, sewage, and sanitation requirements of the State; and

(d) Improve and develop conservation of water and increase system
efficiencies.


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Section 5. Powers and Duties of the Department. — The Department shall be
vested with the following powers and duties:

(a) Develop policies to promote universal access to safe, adequate, affordable, and
sustainable water supply, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation services for all
Filipinos;

(b) Coordinate with relevant government agencies or entities to provide policy
directions, strategies, and targets to meet the goals and objectives for water
supply, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation. Such policies shall among other things,
integrate the issue sewage, energy, environment, and food security;

(c) Manage and protect the country's water resources to ensure its optimal use for
domestic water supply, sewage, sanitation, irrigation, hydropower, navigation,
flood control, and recreation, including the enhancement and maintenance of
water quality, conservation of watersheds, control of water pollution, and
environmental restoration, without compromising the natural ecosystem functions
and services;

(d) Manage the ownership, appropriation, utilization, exploitation, development,
conservation, and protection of water resources and rights to land related thereto
and their competing demands;

(e) Undertake and coordinate with other agencies and government entities in data
gathering, scientific research, and studies on water resources management and
development, and conduct nationwide hydrologic surveys to determine the annual
renewable water available per water region;

(f) Formulate and enforce rules and regulations in the administration and
management of the country's water resources and implement rules and guidelines
for the enforcement of water related laws;

(g) Conduct continuing surveys and studies of the country's renewable water
supply with a view towards formulating long-term policies to balance the
sustainability and optimal use of water resources, defining the hydrologic
boundaries of basins of the existing water supply sources, and creating and
implementing countrywide master plans for water resources management and
development;

(h) Coordinate with and assist other government agencies in all aspects of data
gathering, conduct studies and research, and classify and establish water quality
standards for surface and ground water, including national standards for drinking
water and wastewater effluence, in coordination with relevant agencies;

(i) Coordinate with other relevant agencies to engage in flood control and flood
risk management, formulate integrated water resources management (IWRM)
policies and plans, and coordinate the implementation, promotion, revision, and
enhancement of IWRM plans;

(j) Effect and compel inter-sectoral, inter-agency, and inter-departmental


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coordination on water, irrigation, energy, environmental, sewage, and sanitation
resources development planning with the aim of operationalizing the integrated
approach to water resources management;

(k) Regulate and control the utilization, exploitation, abstraction, diversion, and
development of water resources, taking into account its equitable distribution,
and determine the standards of beneficial and priority uses of water in times of
crisis and national emergencies;

(1) Assist and provide the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
with required data and input from and for the water sector in the formulation of
the country's short-term and long-term strategic development plans and actions;

(m) Coordinate with other relevant government agencies and develop policies
and plans on water resources for farming, including sustainable mechanisms for
irrigation;

(n) Pass upon, approve, or disapprove all plans, programs, or development
projects of private individuals, corporations, and government agencies, whether
national or local, that affect water resources, its diversion or abstraction, and the
construction of hydraulic facilities, including but not limited to plans and projects
in watershed or basin areas of water supply sources, which have direct or indirect
impact on the affected locality's water resources,

(0) Regularly review regulations prescribed by any government agency pertaining
to water use, exploitation, development, conservation, or protection of waters,
water resources, and watershed or basin areas;

(p) Authorize its representatives or any deputized agent to enter any property of

public dominion or any private land, building, or enclave, whether inhabited or
not, for the purpose of conducting hydrologic surveys and investigations,
including assessing and evaluating the conditions of water facilities installed, and
determining compliance with water laws and standards;

(q) Require Local Government Units (LGUs) and national agencies to submit
zoning and land use management plans to ensure the integration of water
resource management plans: Provided, That no zoning and land use plan shall
become effective and enforceable unless and until a certification of integration of
water, sewage, and sanitation resource management plan has been issued by the
Department. Should the Department have serious concerns affecting
conservation and sustainability of water supply, such concerns must first be
resolved by the Department and the concerned LGU and/or national agency.
However, in the absence of such concerns, the concerned LGU and/or
government agency may, ninety (90) days from the submission of its zoning and
land use plan and after submitting to the Department a written notice of
compliance with this provision, proceed with the implementation of its zoning and
land use plan without prejudice to later integration of the water resource
management plan for the locality;


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(r) Provide technical assistance to water, irrigation, sewer and sanitation users,
whether directly or in coordination with other agencies, to assist them in
applying for water and irrigation permits and providing data on water, irrigation,
sewage, and sanitation resource usage;

(s) Plan, design, construct, and/or improve all types of irrigation projects and
appurtenant structures;

(t) Operate, maintain, and administer ail national irrigation systems (NIS);

(u) Supervise the operation, maintenance, and repair, or otherwise, administer
temporarily all communal and pump irrigation systems constructed, improved,
and/or repaired wholly or partially with government funds;

(v) Supervise the operation, maintenance, and repair, or otherwise, administer
temporarily all communal and pump irrigation systems constructed, improved,
and/or repaired wholly or partially with government funds;

(w) Delegate the partial or full management of NIS to duly organized cooperatives
or associations;

(x) Construct multiple-purpose water resources projects designed primarily for
irrigation, and secondarily for hydraulic power development and/or other uses
such as flood control, drainage, land reclamation, domestic water supply, roads
and highway construction, and reforestation, among others; Provided, that the
plans, designs, and the construction thereof, shall be undertaken in coordination
with the agencies concerned;

(y) Charge and collect from the beneficiaries of the water from all irrigation
systems constructed under its administration;

(z) In coordination with other relevant government agencies, develop and
implement effective codes, standards and reasonable guidelines to ensure the
safety of all public and private structures in the country and assure efficiency and
Proper quality in the construction of water, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation
infrastructures;

(aa) Coordinate with relevant government agencies, including the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, to ensure that the agencies’ respective
standards complement each other when taken as part of a larger whole;

(bb) In coordination with other relevant agencies, ascertain that all plans and
project implementation designs are consistent with current standards and
guidelines;

(cc) Provide the works supervision function for all public works construction and
ensure that actual construction is done in accordance with approved government
plans and specifications;

(dd) Assist other government agencies, including LCDs, in determining the most


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suitable entity to undertake the actual construction of water, irrigation, sewage,
and sanitation projects;

(ee) Maintain and cause to be maintained all flood control, water resource
development systems, irrigation systems, and other public works throughout the
country except those that are the responsibility of other agencies as directed by
the President of the Philippines or as provided by law;

(ff) Provide integrated planning for flood control, flood risk management, and
water resource development and management systems, other public works;

(gg) Issue and promulgate rules, regulations, and guidelines as may be necessary
to implement and enforce its powers and functions under this Act;

(hh) Determine and require the monitoring and submission of such data, statistics,
and other information as may be necessary for the effective and efficient exercise
of its duties, functions, powers and responsibilities;

(ii) Respond to consumer complaints and ensure the adequate promotion of
consumer interests;

(jj) Deputize agents, whether from the public or private sector, to assist in the
performance of any of the powers and functions of the Department;

(kk) Appoint, hire, and maintain adequate staff and personnel, advisers, and/or
consultants, with suitable qualifications and experience, as necessary;

(Il) Manage funds coursed through it under the General Appropriations Act
intended as financial assistance to LWDs or LGUs for the development and/or
improvement of water supply and sanitation facilities;

(mm) Exercise such other powers and functions necessary or incidental to the
effective administration and management of the country's water, irrigation,
sewage, and sanitation resources;

(nn) Exercise such other incidental powers and functions as may be necessary to
attain the objectives of this Act; and

(00) Carry out such other functions as the President may from time to time assign
to the Department consistent with the aims and provisions of this Act.

Section. 6- Secretary of the Department of Water Services and Resource
Management and Development- The authority and responsibility for the
exercise of the mandate of the Department and for the discharge of its powers and
functions shall be vested in the Secretary of the Department of Water Services and
Resource Management and Development, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary,
who shall have supervision and control over the Department and shall be
appointed by the President. For such purposes, the Secretary shall:

(a) Advise the President on the promulgation of executive or administrative
orders, regulations,


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proclamations, and other issuances relative to matters under the jurisdiction of the
Department;

(b) Establish the policies and standards for the operation of the Department
pursuant to the President's guidelines;

(c) Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out Department
objectives, policies, and functions;

(d) Exercise supervision and control over all Bureaus and Offices under the
Department;

(e) Supervise all attached agencies and corporations in
accordance with law;

(f)As deemed appropriate by the Secretary, delegate authority for the
performance of any power or function, as defined herein or as delegated by the
President, to officers and employees under the Secretary's direction; and

(g) Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be provided by law.

Section. 7. Office of the Secretary- The Office of the Secretary shall be
composed of the Secretary and his/her immediate staff.

Section. 8. Undersecretaries. - The Secretary shall be assisted by not more
than five (5) Undersecretaries, who shall be appointed by the President upon the
recommendation of the Secretary, as follows:

1) One for the Finance
Service;

2) One for the Administrative
Service;

3) One for the Planning and Engineering
Services;

4) One for the Regulatory and Financial Assistance
Services, and

5) One for the Operations.

Within her/his functional area of responsibility, an Undersecretary shall have the
following functions:

(a) Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and implementation
of 14 Department policies, plans, programs, and projects;

(b) Supervise all the operational activities of the units assigned to her/him,
for which she/he is responsible to the Secretary; and

(c) Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the


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delivery of public services or as may be required by law.

Section. 9. Assistant Secretaries. - The Secretary shall also be assisted by
one Assistant Secretary for Internal Audit and the five Undersecretaries shall
each be assisted by not more than three (3) Assistant Secretaries likewise
appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the
Secretary.

Section. 10. Organizational Structure. - The Department shall be composed of
the following organization units:

(a) Department Proper consisting of the Office of the Secretary, the Offices of the
Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, the Internal Audit, Finance Service,
Administrative Service, Planning and Engineering Services, Regulatory and
Financial Assistance Services; and Operations, and

(b) Regional Offices, as deemed appropriate and necessary by the
Secretary.

Section 11.- Internal Audit -The Internal Audit is hereby created for the
purpose of conducting comprehensive audit of various Department activities and
shall have the following specific functions:

(a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to management control and
operations audit;

(b) Conduct management and operations performance audit of Department
activities and units and determine as to compliance with established objectives,
policies, methods and procedures, government regulations, and contractual
obligations of the Department;

(c) Review and appraise systems and procedures, organizational structure, assets
management practices, accounting, and other records, reports, and performance
standards of the Department of Proper and Regional Offices;

(d) Analyze and evaluate management deficiencies and assist top management to
solve problems by recommending realistic courses of action; and

(e) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

Section. 12 - Finance Service. - The Finance Services is hereby created to
provide the Department with coordinated services relating to financial systems
and procedures, budget, cash, accounting, and ail financial matters not falling
under other Services. For such purposes, it shall have the following functions;

(a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to the accounting of government
expenditures and receipts, budgeting and cash management, project finances,
and financial systems and procedures;


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(b) Prepare budget proposals and pursue formal budget authorizations, undertake
budget execution, and prepare and submit all appropriate reports to the proper
offices,

(c) Develop and maintain accounting, financial, and assets management systems,
procedures, and practices in the Department Proper and Regional Offices in
accordance with the existing government accounting and auditing rules and
regulations;

(d) Provide assistance in its area of specialization to any unit of the Departinent
and, when requested, to government corporations, councils, and boards attached
to the Department; and

(e) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

Section. 13. Administrative Service. - The Administrative Service is hereby
created to provide the Department with services relating to human resources
development, personnel records, facilities maintenance, medical and dental,
gender and development (GAD), security, property and procurement services. For
such purposes, it shall have the following functions:

(a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to internal administration and 19
hunan resources management;

(b) Prepare and implement an integrated personnel plan that shall include
provisions on merit promotion, performance evaluation, job rotation, suggestions
and incentive awards systems, and health and welfare services;

(c) Provide services related to human resource training, education, and
development, including manpower, career planning and forecasting and
development of indigenous training materials;

(d) Prepare and/or implement Department GAD plans and budgers and GAD
accomplishment reports;

(e) Develop, establish, and maintain an efficient and cost-effective property
procurement system and facilities and coordinate or otherwise interface with
relevant agencies, whether governinent or private, for the purpose of developing
or upgrading the system;

(f) Secure and maintain necessary Department facilities, and develop, establish,
and maintain an efficient and effective security system covering, among others,
personnel, physical installations, equipment, documents, and materials, including
the conduct of security investigations;

(g) Coordinate with the appropriate government agencies for a more efficient
conduct of administrative processes;

(h) Develop, establish and maintain an efficient records system;


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(i) Provide assistance in its area of specialization to the Department Proper and
Regional Offices and, when requested, the government agencies and corporations
attached to the Department; and

(j) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

Section. 14. Planning and Engineering Services. - The Planning and
Engineering Services is hereby created to provide the Department with the
capability to undertake infrastructure development planning, programming, and
implementation. For this purpose, it shall have the following functions:

(a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to infrastructure planning and
implementation;

(b) Formulate strategies and priorities for infrastructure development consistent
with national development objectives and initiate or undertake relevant surveys
for development planning;

(c) Formulate and implement long-range, medium-term and annual development
plans and programs for infrastructure, including flood control, water resource
development systems. and other public works projects, including phasing of
implementation and review and integrate land use plans with such water
development plans;

(d) Identify and implement priority packages for infrastructure development,
including

control, water resource development systems, and other public works projects,
and undertake or supervise and evaluate the conduct of feasibility studies and
Project preparation and implementation thereof;

(e) Prioritize project implementation and the allocation of funds and other
resources and package project proposals for funding and implementation;

(f) Evaluate and appraise all regional interregional infrastructure development
plans and programs as to their feasibility and consistency with approved strategies
and long and medium tens plans;

(g) Initiate regular Department-wide planning exercises and act as the secretariat
thereof;

(h) Gather, analyze, and organize needed statistical data and information;

(i) Provide technical assistance related to its functions to the other Services and
Regional Offices as needed; and

(j) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

Section. 15. Regulatory and Financial Assistance Services. - The Regulatory
and Financial Assistance Services is hereby created to provide the Department


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with services on all legal affairs, compliance of attached government corporations,
LWDs, RWSAs, cooperatives, and other associations, including private entities
under contractual or concession arrangement with them, and other private water
service providers on the established standards, rules and regulations relating to:
water quality, infrastructure and facilities design and construction; equipment,
materials and supplies, operations and maintenance; personnel; organization;
accounting; tariffs; and other matters subject to regulation. It shall also provide
the Department services on the management of the financial assistance available
and granted to LWDs and RWSAs. For this purpose, it shall have the following
functions:

(a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to legal affairs and regulation of
the operation of the attached corporations, LWDs, RWSAs, cooperatives and other
associations,

(b) Provide legal assistance to the Department Proper and Regional Offices 7 and,
wlien requested, the attached corporations and boards;

(c) Prepare Department contracts and legal instruments, review of administrative
charges against officers and employees of the Department, members of the top
management of the attached corporations and boards;

(d) Conduct administrative investigation as well as the review of administrative
charges against officers and employees of the Department, members of the top
management of the attached corporations and boards;

(e) Exercise functional jurisdiction over the legal staffs of Regional Offices;

(f) Establish standards for water quality; design and construction of facilities,
optimum selection of equipment, materials and supplies, procedures for operations
and maintenance of water and sewer equipment and facilities; training of
personnel; organization; uniform accounting system, tariffs,

(g) Review all water rates or charges;

(h) Manage the financial assistance available and granted to LWDs, RWSAs and
other qualified water utilities.

Section. 16. Operations. - The Operations is hereby created to provide the
Department through Regional Offices with the capability to plan, design, and
implement projects for water resource development systems, irrigation, flood
control, and other public works in different regions of the country. For this
purpose, it shall have the following functions:

(a) Undertake and evaluate the planning, design, construction, and works
supervision functions of the Department for the abovementioned infrastructure
within the region;

(b) Undertake the maintenance of the abovementioned infrastructure within


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the region and supervise the maintenance of such local infrastructure receiving
national government financial assistance as the Secretary may determine;

(c) Ensure the implementation of laws, policies, programs, rules and
regulations regarding the abovementioned infrastructure as well as public and
private physical structures;

(d) Provide technical assistance related to their functions to other agencies
within the region;

(e) Coordinate with other departments, agencies, institutions, and
organizations within the region, in the planning and implementation of
infrastructure projects,

(f) Conduct continuing consultations with the local communities, take
appropriate measures to make the services of the Department responsive to the
needs of the general public, compile and submit such information to the central
office, and recommend such appropriate actions as may be necessary, and

(g) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

Section. 17. Regional Director. - Each Regional Office shall be headed by a
Regional Director who shall be responsible for efficiently and effectively carrying
out the duties and responsibilities of the Regional Office. She/he shall also
perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law. The Regional Director
shall be assisted by two (2) Assistant Regional Directors who shall exercise
supervision respectively over:

(1) the planning, project design, evaluation, and technical assistance functions of
the Regional Office, and

(2) the 2 construction, maintenance, and works supervision functions in the
region.

CHAPTER III TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Section. 18. Interface with Other Sector Regulators. - The Department is
mandated to coordinate with the different sector regulators as follows:

(a) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall continue
to have the primary authority and responsibility for protecting the environment
and for the conservation of water and related natural resources, including
protecting water bodies from waste and pollution and shall promulgate rules,
regulations, and standards in this regard. The Department shall coordinate with
the DENR with respect to the conservation of water resources, protection from


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sewage and septage waste, and restoration from environment damage;

(b)The Department of Health (DOH) shall have primary authority and
responsibility for determining and enforcing drinking water quality and sanitation
standards. The Department shall coordinate with the DOH to achieve an
integrated approach for sanitation, including toilets, collection, treatment, and
evaluation of wastewater.

(c)The Department shall subsume responsibility from the Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH) for wholly or primarily water-related public works
projects including flood control, water resources development, sewerage,
sanitation, and the harnessing and impounding of water. The Secretaries of each
department shall coordinate on the development of evaluation criteria as
necessary, to determine proper allocation of public works projects between the
two departments;

(d) The Department shall absorb the responsibility from the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG) on the management and operation of
water supply systems of local government units.

Section 19. Transfer of Rights and Obligations. - The Department, shall by
virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights, and assume all the obligations of
the relevant parts of any agency or unit whose powers and duties have been
transferred to the Department, including the DPWH, National Irrigation
Administration (NIA), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Metropolitan
Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), Local Water Utilities Administration
(LWUA), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG).The transfer of powers and functions in
Section 18 above, as applicable, and agencies attached thereto, as herein
provided for, shall take effect within one hundred eighty (180) days after the
effectivity of this Act.

The foregoing transfer of powers and functions shall include all applicable funds,
personnel, records, property, and equipment, as may be necessary. All offices
shall continue to function under their present mandates until transition is effected
as provided for under this Act. All rights and obligations of said government
agencies are hereby transferred to and assumed by the Department and shall be
acted upon in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission on
Audit and other pertinent laws, rules, and regulations.

Section 20. Separation from Service. - Employees separated from government
service as a result of this Act shall be entitled to the benefits that they may
receive under existing laws, rules, and regulations.

Section. 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within one hundred
eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department, in consultation
with the concerned government agencies, shall promulgate the necessary
implementing rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act: Provided,
That such revised implementing rules and regulations shall only take effect fifteen


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(15) days following its 3 publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Section. 22. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the initial
implementation of this Act shall be sourced from any available funds of the
National Treasury, and is hereby appropriated and authorized to be released for
the organization of the Department and its initial operations. Thereafter, funds
sufficient to fully carry out the objectives, powers, and 9 functions of the
Department shall be appropriated every fiscal year in the General Appropriations
Act. The Department shall submit its annual budget, which shall include, arnong
others, detailed information on the compensation and benefits received by their
employees to the Office of the President for approval.

Section. 23. Separability Clause. - If any provisions or part hereof, is hela
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

Section 24. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
contrary to or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.

Section. 25. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
from its complete publication in the Official Gazette and in at least one (1)
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,