Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 811 
Introduced by Representative LORDAN G. SUAN 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERFOR, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
We are surrounded by water. In fact, almost seventy percent (70%) of 
the earth’s surface is covered with water. Two percent (2%) of it, is 
freshwater. However, only one percent (1%) of our freshwater can be 
accessed. The rest is trapped in snowfields and glaciers. This tiny fraction of 
accessible freshwater caters to around 6.8 billion people. 
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United 
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), “2.2 billion people lack access to safely 
managed drinking water services, almost 2 billion people depend on health 
care facilities without basic water services, and 297,000 children under five 
die from diarrheal disease, every year, due to poor sanitation, poor hygiene, 
or unsafe drinking water.” In the 2021 Report of the United Nations – Water, 
2.3 billion people live in countries with water stress level, of which 733 
million are in high and critically water-stressed countries. Around seventy 
percent (70%) of the world’s water withdrawal is supplied to agriculture. 
However, based on the 2020 Report of the UN Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO), 3.2 billion people from agricultural areas suffer from 
water scarcity, 1.2 billion of whom are in severely water-stressed areas. 
Water stress basically means that the demand for safe and usable water 
exceeds the supply. 
July 1, 2025
1:35 pm


The Philippines is in a near-crisis water situation. Several areas in the 
country suffer from water shortage and intermittent water supply. Metro 
Manila severely suffered a two-week water crisis in 2019.  
According to Water.Org, 3 million Filipinos rely on unsafe water sources. One 
out of ten Filipinos do not have access to safe water sources, based on a study 
conducted of the WHO. The Philippine Journal of Science published a study 
stating that three (3) years from now, seventeen (17) out of the twenty (20) 
major river basins in the country will experience water shortage.  
We heavily rely on our surface and ground water sources for household and 
industrial use. The growing population, rapid urbanization and accelerated 
economic development increase the demand for water supply. The 
competing demands of agriculture and industries induce water stress and 
deplete the aquifers. Additionally, pollution, watershed degradation, 
indiscriminate land use plan and climate change affect our water quality and 
quantity. Most of our urban rivers are now heavily polluted. In fact, fifty (50) 
major rivers are now considered biologically dead.  
It is, therefore, imperative that we prepare for this impending crisis. 
We need a sustainable and effective development and management plan for 
our limited water resource. We need the necessary infrastructures to bring 
our plans into fruition. 
In light of the preceding, this bill’s approval is fervently sought. 
LORDAN G. SUAN 
Cagayan de Oro City – 1st District 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 811 
Introduced by Representative LORDAN G. SUAN 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERFOR, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Chapter I:  GENERAL PROVISIONS 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Department of Water 
2 
Resources Act of 2025.” 
3 
SECTION 2.  Declaration of Policy.  It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
4 
to ensure the provision of safe, adequate, affordable and sustainable water 
5 
supply and improved sanitation services, while maintaining the protection, 
6 
preservation and revival of the quality of the country’s water resources and 
7 
ecological balance.”   
8 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
9 
are hereby defined: 
10 
a) Department refers to the Department of Water Resources
11 
b) Flood Control refers to methods, acts and protocols to be observed
12 
in order to prevent and reduce the detrimental and catastrophic effects
13 
of flood waters which include sediment-laden or turbid flows, hyper-
14 
concentrated flows or debris flows.
15 


 
 
c) Flood Risk Management (FRM) refers to such acts of defining and 
1 
determining the appropriate methods, acts and protocols aimed at 
2 
preventing and reducing the risk of incurring loss of both life and 
3 
property due to flood waters.  Flood risk management consists of a 
4 
cycle of prevention, mitigation, adaptation, preparedness and early 
5 
warning, and, finally response and recovery.  The elements of FRM 
6 
include: integrating land-use planning, coastal zone management into 
7 
water management; adopting a holistic approach so that FRM is part 
8 
of wider risk or multi-hazard management (earthquake, landslides, 
9 
storm surge, etc); managing risk and uncertainty as a whole so it is not 
10 
only hydrological uncertainties but also social, economic and political 
11 
uncertainties in view of the human behavior and cultural dimensions 
12 
of FRM.   
13 
d) Gender Equality refers to the principle asserting the equality of men 
14 
and women and their right to enjoy equal conditions realizing their full 
15 
human potentials to contribute to and benefit from the results of 
16 
development, and with the State recognizing that all human beings are 
17 
free and equal in dignity and rights. 
18 
e) “Infrastructure and public works” as used in this Act should be read 
19 
to apply only to wholly 33 or primarily water-related projects and shall 
20 
not be read to incorporate projects which 34 would not otherwise fall 
21 
within the purview of the objectives, power and duties of the 35 
22 
Department. 
23 
f) IWRM refers to the Integrated Water Resource Management or to a 
24 
systematic, 38 collaborative and multi-stakeholder process, which 
25 
promotes the coordinated 39 development and management of water, 
26 
land and related resources within geophysical boundaries in order to 
27 
maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable 1 
28 
manner and without compromising the sustainability of vital 
29 
ecosystems. 
30 
g) Levels of Water Supply Service shall mean as follows: 
31 
Level I (point source) – a protected well or a developed spring 
32 
with an outlet but without any distribution system, generally 
33 
adaptable for rural and upland areas where the houses 6 are 
34 
thinly scattered. A Level 1 facility usually serves an average of 15 
35 
households. 
36 


 
 
Level II (communal faucet system or stand posts) – a system 
1 
composed of a water source, a reservoir, a piped distribution 
2 
network, and communal faucets. Usually, one faucet serves 4 to 
3 
6 households. Generally suitable for rural and urban fringe areas 
4 
where houses are clustered densely to justify a simple piped 
5 
system. 
6 
Level III (waterworks system or individual house connections) – a 
7 
system with a water source, a reservoir, a piped distribution 
8 
network and household taps. This is generally suited for densely 
9 
populated urban areas. 
10 
h) LGU refers to Local Government Unit or to the territorial and 
11 
political subdivisions of the Philippines as defined under the 1987 
12 
Constitution of the Philippines, which includes provinces, cities, 
13 
municipalities and barangays. 
14 
i) NDRRMC refers to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management 
15 
Council 
16 
j) PDP refers to the country’s medium-term development called the 
17 
Philippine Development Plan. 
18 
k) RBO refers to multi-stakeholder River Basin Organization or to 
19 
organizations which plan, coordinate and monitor activities within a 
20 
river basin cluster. 
21 
l) Sanitation refers to sewage, sanitation and septage management. 
22 
m) Sediment management refers to control of sediment erosion and 
23 
deposition in rivers, reservoirs and coastal zones through non-
24 
structural and structural measures and control works. 
25 
n) SDG refers to the United Nation’s sustainable development goals. 
26 
o) Septage refers to sludge produced on individual onsite wastewater 
27 
disposal systems, principally septic tanks and cesspools. 
28 
p) Sewage refers to water-carried waste in solution or suspension 
29 
including sanitary waste (waste products of normal living), 
30 
commercial waste, industrial waste, agricultural waste and surface 
31 
runoff conveyed by a sewerage system for treatment or disposal. For 
32 
purpose of this Act, the definition of septage shall be included in the 
33 
use of sewage. 
34 


 
 
q) Sewerage refers to any system or network of sanitary pipelines, 
1 
ditches, channels or conduits including pumping stations, lift stations 
2 
and force mains, service connections including other constructions, 
3 
devices or appliances appurtenant thereof, which includes the 
4 
collection, sanitary piping transport, pumping and treatment of water-
5 
borne human or animal waste removed from residences, buildings, 
6 
institutions and industrial and commercial establishments to point of 
7 
sewage treatment plant disposal. 
8 
r) Sewers refer to pipes or such other works or structures which are 
9 
built and constructed to treat, carry, transport and dispose sewage. 
10 
s) Social inclusion refers to the process of improving the terms for 
11 
disadvantaged individuals and groups to take part in society. 
12 
t) Tariffs refer to such amounts which may be charged by licensees of 
13 
water supply and/or sanitation services for their services based on 
14 
principles, standards and guidelines established by the Department. 
15 
u) Water Demand Management (WDM) refers to any method – whether 
16 
technical, economic, administrative, financial, or social – that will 
17 
accomplish one (or more) of the following things:  
18 
(1) Reduce the quantity or quality of water required to 
19 
accomplish a specific task  
20 
(2) Adjust the nature of the task or the way it is undertaken so 
21 
that it can be accomplished with less water or with lower quality 
22 
water  
23 
(3) Reduce the loss in quantity or quality of water as it flows 
24 
from source through use to disposal  
25 
(4) Shift the timing of use from peak to off-peak periods  
26 
(5) Increase the ability of the water system to continue to serve 
27 
society during times when water is in short supply. 
28 
v) Water Resources Regional Offices (WRROs) - refer to the field office 
29 
of the Department which are to be established in accordance with the 
30 
identified water resources regions in the country. 
31 
w) Water Service Providers (WSPs) refer to the water districts, any 
32 
LGU-run water utility, BWSA, RWSA, cooperatives and private sector 
33 
who provides water supply services to any given area. 
34 


 
 
x) Water supply service refers to any activity comprising Levels I, II and 
1 
III water supply 38 including bulk suppliers, suppliers to subdivisions 
2 
and other water service providers.    
3 
Chapter II.  ORGANIZATION  
4 
SECTION 4. The Department of Water Resources. – There is hereby created 
5 
and established the Department of Water Resources, hereinafter referred to 
6 
as the “Department,” which shall be organized within one hundred eighty 
7 
(180) days after the effectivity of this Act. The Department shall have the 
8 
organizational structure, powers and functions needed to perform its 
9 
mandate as provided in this Chapter. 
10 
SECTION 5. Mandate of the Department. The Department shall be primary 
11 
agency responsible for the comprehensive and integrated water resources 
12 
development and management for the Philippines. It shall exercise such 
13 
powers and functions needed to review, revise, harmonize and integrate 
14 
policies and regulations for conservation of water resources and effective 
15 
management of water supply, sanitation, irrigation, hydropower, flood 
16 
control, stormwater/ urban drainage. The Department shall be guided by the 
17 
integrated water resources management (IWRM) framework, take climate 
18 
risks into account, and ensure sustainability of natural ecosystem functions 
19 
and services. In managing water resources, the Department shall aim to 
20 
improve water conservation and increase system efficiencies, and optimize 
21 
the use of all freshwater in the country including groundwater, surface water, 
22 
rainwater, run-offs, floods, stormwater and urban drainage, and treated 
23 
wastewater to meet various needs.  
24 
SECTION 6. Objectives of the Department. Consistent with its mandate, the 
25 
Department shall have the following objectives: 
26 
a) To prioritize and seek the immediate attainment of universal access 
27 
to safe, adequate, affordable and sustainable water supply and 
28 
improved sanitation services for all Filipinos in a manner consistent 
29 
with the protection, preservation and revival of the quality of the 
30 
country’s water resources, and to adopt all needed measures to 
31 
advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in 
32 
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature; 
33 
  
34 
b) To strengthen and coordinate integrated water resources 
35 
management planning and policy making to ensure sustainable and 
36 


 
 
fair allocation and efficient use of water resources among competing 
1 
uses and users, including but not limited to, domestic and municipal 
2 
use, agriculture (irrigation, farming & fisheries), power generation, 
3 
commercial, and industrial use; 
4 
c) To ensure that integrated water resources management is strongly 
5 
coordinated with land use/cover, coastal zone and multi-hazard 
6 
planning and management. 
7 
d) To ensure and oversee the implementation of the Water Code of the 
8 
Philippines;  
9 
e) To promote State participation in information sharing and 
10 
education around best practices in the international movement to 
11 
achieve universal access to safe water and improved sanitation and the 
12 
integration of water, energy, food security and environment;  
13 
f) To ensure that gender equality, social inclusion, climate resiliency 
14 
and disaster risk reduction are integrated into any water resources 
15 
management planning, policy making, and the design and construction 
16 
of water infrastructure; 
17 
g) To strengthen and coordinate policy making and planning for flood 
18 
management, integrated with stormwater/urban drainage and 
19 
appropriate retention or retarding basins in order to plan against, 
20 
prevent, and minimize the detrimental and catastrophic effects of 
21 
flooding; 
22 
h) To encourage and enable private sector participation in the 
23 
continued growth and development of water sector; 
24 
i) To promote and adopt water demand management as a national 
25 
policy to ensure that water is optimized, that water efficiency and 
26 
conservation become a way of life, that the recycling and reuse of water 
27 
and treated wastewater are widely practiced, that water is properly 
28 
priced to encourage efficient use and conservation and that rainwater, 
29 
flood waters, and run-offs are captured/harvested, stored and treated 
30 
for future use; 
31 
j) To ensure that the planning and design of water infrastructure 
32 
considers the highest efficiency and most appropriate quality, in 
33 
accordance with national development objectives; and 
34 


 
 
k) To ensure the effective implementation of all the provisions of RA 
1 
9275, known as the Clean Water Act of the Philippines. 
2 
SECTION 7. Powers and Duties of the Department. – The Department shall 
3 
have the following powers and duties:  
4 
I. Policy-making and Planning: 
5 
a) Ensure that Integrated Water Resources Management is adopted as 
6 
the strategic framework for water management policy-making and 
7 
planning in the country and coordinate the implementation, 
8 
promotion, revision and enhancement of IWRM plans; 
9 
b) Provide policy direction, strategies, and targets in coordination with 
10 
other relevant entities to meet the goals and objectives for water 
11 
supply and sanitation, water quality, irrigation, hydropower, flood 
12 
control, stormwater, and urban drainage. Such policies shall, among 
13 
other things, integrate the issues of water and sanitation, food security, 
14 
energy, environment and flood control; 
15 
c) Formulate and develop policies to promote universal access to safe, 
16 
adequate, affordable, and sustainable water supply, and improved 
17 
sanitation services for all Filipinos; 
18 
d) Formulate and promulgate rules and regulations for the 
19 
development, and optimum utilization of water resources and its 
20 
administration and management, including coherent water protocols 
21 
and operation rules of all existing and future water infrastructure; and 
22 
the imposition on fees or charges as may be deemed necessary by the 
23 
Department for water resources development; 41 42  
24 
e) Develop, in consultation with other agencies and stakeholders, the 
25 
National Water Resources Management Master Plan following the 
26 
IWRM framework and building on the 1998 Master Plan Study on 
27 
Water Resources Management, the Philippine Water Supply and 
28 
Sanitation Master Plan and existing plans of other agencies; 
29 
f) Conduct continuing hydrologic surveys and studies of the country’s 
30 
renewable water supply, establish, operate and maintain observation 
31 
station networks with a view towards formulating long-term policies 
32 
to balance the sustainability and optimal multiple use of water 
33 
resources, defining the hydrologic boundaries of basins of the existing 
34 


 
 
water supply sources and developing or updating and implementing 
1 
countrywide comprehensive basin-wide master plans; 
2 
g) Establish, operate, and maintain a centralized water resources data 
3 
center necessary for the scientific survey and appraisal of surface and 
4 
ground water potentials of the country and determine the annual 
5 
renewable water available per water resources region; 
6 
h) Assist and provide the National Economic and Development 
7 
Authority (NEDA) secretariat with required data and input from and 
8 
for the water sector in the formulation of the country’s short-term and 
9 
long-term strategic development plans, and actions and recommend 
10 
the adoption of general policies and guidelines for water resources 
11 
development to the NEDA secretariat; 
12 
i) Review and approve water resources development plans and 
13 
programs of any agency within the context of the National Water 
14 
Resource Management Master Plan and overall national plans and 
15 
program; 
16 
j) Regularly review regulations prescribed by any government agency 
17 
pertaining to water use, exploitation, development, conservation or 
18 
protection of waters, water resources, and watershed or basin areas; 
19 
k) Develop and implement in coordination with other relevant 
20 
agencies, effective codes, standards, benchmarks, and reasonable 
21 
guidelines to ensure the safety of all public, and private water 
22 
structures in the country and assure efficiency and proper quality in 
23 
the construction of water, sanitation, irrigation, hydropower, flood 
24 
control and drainage 34 infrastructure; 
25 
l) Review existing guidelines appropriate for Private Sector 
26 
Participation in the water sector and make needed recommendations 
27 
to the PPP Center, NEDA and other concerned agencies to promote and 
28 
enable more PPPs in the sector; 
29 
m) Effect inter-sectoral, inter-agency, and inter-departmental 
30 
coordination on all aspects of data gathering for water resources 
31 
development planning and compel submissions of statistics and data 
32 
on water management with the aim of operationalizing the integrated 
33 
approach to water resources management; 
34 


 
 
n) Issue and promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines as may be 
1 
necessary to implement and enforce its powers and functions under 
2 
this Act; 
3 
II. Resource Regulation 
4 
a) Manage, protect, and preserve the country’s water resources to 
5 
ensure the optimal use thereof for domestic water supply, sanitation, 
6 
irrigation, hydropower, navigation, flood control, and recreation, 
7 
including the enhancement and maintenance of water quality, 
8 
conservation of watershed, control of water pollution and 
9 
environmental restoration, without compromising the natural 
10 
ecosystem functions and services; 
11 
b) Regulate and control the utilization, abstraction, diversion and 
12 
development of water resources, taking in consideration its equitable 
13 
distribution among competing demands and determine the standards 
14 
of beneficial and priority uses of water in times of crisis and national 
15 
emergencies; 
16 
c) Determine, adjudicate, and grant water rights amending, for this 
17 
purpose, Act No. 2152, and other laws relating to the appropriation 
18 
and utilization of surface and groundwater; 
19 
d) Formulate and enforce rules and regulations for the development 
20 
and optimum use of water resources and its administration and 
21 
management, and implement rules and guidelines for the enforcement 
22 
of water-related laws including coherent water protocols, operational 
23 
rules of all existing and future water infrastructure and appropriate 
24 
sanctions to be imposed for non-compliance; 
25 
III. Administration and Management: 
26 
a) Develop guidelines including rules of partnership among the 
27 
Department, field offices of national government agencies, LGUs and 
28 
other stakeholders, and facilitate the establishment of multi-
29 
stakeholder river basin organizations (RBOs) per river basin and 
30 
strengthen and support existing RBOs and monitor their activities; 
31 
b) Develop materials for capacity building and training on RBO 
32 
development and conduct training and workshops for prospective 
33 
river basins; 
34 


 
 
c) Authorize its representatives or any deputized agent to enter any 
1 
property of public dominion or any private land, building or enclave, 
2 
whether inhabited or not, for the purpose of conducting hydrologic 
3 
surveys and investigations, including assessing and evaluating the 
4 
conditions of water facilities installed and determining compliance 
5 
with water laws and standards; 
6 
d) Provide technical assistance to water users including but not limited 
7 
to farmers, communities, LGUs and other water service providers 
8 
(WSP) whether directly or in coordination with other agencies on all 
9 
aspects of integrated water resources management;   
10 
e) Respond to consumer complaint/s, and ensure the adequate 
11 
promotion of consumer interests; 
12 
f) Deputize agents, whether from the public or private sector, to assist 
13 
in the performance of any of the powers and functions of the 
14 
Department; 
15 
g) Appoint, hire and maintain adequate staff and personnel, advisers 
16 
and/or consultants with suitable qualifications and experience, as 
17 
necessary; 
18 
IV. Coordination 
19 
a) Coordinate and integrate, on a sound and logical basis, water 
20 
resources development activities of the country within the context of 
21 
national plans and policies for social and economic development; 
22 
b) Coordinate with other government agencies, universities and 
23 
private professional groups for all aspects of data gathering, the 
24 
conduct of special studies and research on all related aspects of water 
25 
resources management and development such as climate change, 
26 
environmental quality, desalination, and the development of operating 
27 
strategies, 
procedures, 
and 
protocols 
with 
accompanying 
28 
computerized decision tools for major water facilities; 
29 
c) Coordinate with the concerned and relevant agencies engaged in 
30 
flood control, flood risk management and drought risk management; 
31 
d) Proactively coordinate with Local Government Units to ensure the 
32 
integration of water resources development plans into their 
33 
comprehensive land use plans (CLUPs), Comprehensive Development 
34 


 
 
Plans (CDPs) or Provincial Physical Framework and Development Plan 
1 
(PPFDP). 
2 
V. General or Others 
3 
a) Exercise such other powers and functions necessary or incidental to 
4 
the effective administration and management of the country’s water 
5 
resources; and, 
6 
b) Carry out such other functions as the President may from time to 
7 
time assign to the Department consistent with the aims and provisions 
8 
of this Act. 
9 
  
10 
SECTION 8. Secretary of the Department of Water Resources. – The authority 
11 
and responsibility for the exercise of the mandate of the Department and for 
12 
the discharge of its powers and functions shall be vested in the Secretary of 
13 
the Department of Water Resources, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, 
14 
who shall: 
15 
a) Advise the President on the promulgation of executive or 
16 
administrative orders, regulations, proclamations and other issuances 
17 
relative to matters under the jurisdiction of the Department; 
18 
b) Establish the policies and standards for the operation of the 
19 
Department pursuant to the President’s guidelines; 
20 
c) Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out 
21 
Department objectives, policies 8 and functions; 
22 
d) Exercise supervision and control over all Bureaus and Offices under 
23 
the Department; 
24 
e) Supervise all attached agencies and corporations in accordance with 
25 
law; 
26 
f) Represent the Department in contracts, awards, and the like; 
27 
g) As deemed appropriate by the Secretary, delegate authority for the 
28 
performance of any power or function, as defined herein to officials 
29 
and employees under his direction; and 
30 
 
31 
h) Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be provided 
32 
by law. No person shall be appointed Secretary unless he possesses 
33 
extensive knowledge of public administration and has a minimum of 
34 


 
 
ten (10) years experience in the administration of water, sanitation, 
1 
irrigation, flood control and drainage programs preferably in a public 
2 
agency. 
3 
 
4 
SECTION 9. Office of the Secretary. – The Office of the Secretary shall be 
5 
composed of the Secretary and his immediate staff. 
6 
SECTION 10. Undersecretaries. – The Secretary shall be assisted by not more 
7 
than five (5) Undersecretaries, who shall be appointed by the President upon 
8 
the recommendation of the Secretary. The Secretary is hereby authorized to 
9 
delineate and assign the respective functional areas of responsibility of the 
10 
Undersecretaries: Provided, that such responsibility shall be with respect to 
11 
the mandate and objectives of the Department; and Provided further, that no 
12 
Undersecretary shall be assigned primarily administrative responsibilities. 
13 
Within his functional area of responsibility, an Undersecretary shall have the 
14 
following functions:  
15 
a) Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and 
16 
implementation of Department policies, plans, programs and projects; 
17 
b) Supervise all the operational activities of the assigned units for 
18 
which the Undersecretary is responsible to the Secretary; and 
19 
c) Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned 
20 
or delegated by the Secretary to promote efficiency and effectiveness 
21 
in the delivery of public services or as may be required by law.  
22 
One (1) of the Undersecretaries shall be the Undersecretary for Planning and 
23 
Policy who should be a Career Officer and shall have primary responsibility, 
24 
in coordination with the Planning and Policy Service, for advancing efforts in 
25 
the pursuit of the ultimate goal of universal access to water supply and 
26 
sanitation systems and sustainable management of water resources. The 
27 
Undersecretary for Planning and Policy shall also have the primary 
28 
responsibility for knowledge sharing and advancement of efforts around the 
29 
integration of water, energy, environment and food security.   
30 
No person shall be appointed Undersecretary unless he possesses a working 
31 
knowledge of public administration and has a minimum of seven (7) years of 
32 
experience in the administration of water, sanitation, irrigation, flood control 
33 
and stormwater drainage, preferably in a public agency or with legal, 
34 
financial or financial knowledge of such programs; provided that only five 
35 


 
 
(5) years of experience shall be required for the Undersecretary to be 
1 
assigned for support services. 
2 
SECTION 11. Assistant Secretaries. – The Secretary shall be assisted six (6) 
3 
Assistant Secretaries appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the 
4 
recommendation of the Secretary: one to be responsible for Planning and 
5 
Policy Service; one for Decision Support System Service; one for the 
6 
Regulatory Service; one for the Comptrollership and Financial Management 
7 
Service; one for the Legal and Legislative Service; and one for the 
8 
Administrative and Human Resources Management Service.  
9 
No person shall be appointed Assistant Secretary unless he possesses a 
10 
working knowledge of public administration and has a minimum of five (5) 
11 
years of experience in the administration of water, sanitation, irrigation, 
12 
flood control and stormwater drainage or other water resources 
13 
management programs.  
14 
SECTION 12. Organizational Structure. – The Department shall be composed 
15 
of the following organizational units:  
16 
a) Department Proper consisting of the Office of the Secretary, the 
17 
Offices of the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, the Internal 
18 
Audit Office, the Public Affairs Office, the Pollution Adjudication Board, 
19 
the Planning and Policy Service, Decision Support System Service, 
20 
Administrative and Human Resources Service, Legal and Legislative 
21 
Service, Comptrollership and Financial Management Service and 
22 
Resource Regulation Service. 
23 
b) The Attached Agencies, namely: 
24 
1) The Local Water Utilities Administration, whose mandate, 
25 
powers and functions are defined in Presidential Decree No. 198, 
26 
as amended and which will be transferred from DPWH and 
27 
attached to the Department. It shall continue to be primarily a 
28 
specialized lending institution for the promotion, development 
29 
and financing of local water utilities. In the implementation of its 
30 
functions, the Administration shall (a) prescribe minimum 
31 
standards and regulations in order to assure acceptable 
32 
standards of construction materials and supplies, maintenance, 
33 
operation, personnel training, accounting and fiscal practices for 
34 
local water utilities; (b) furnish technical assistance and 
35 
personnel training programs for local water utilities; (c) monitor 
36 


 
 
and evaluate local water standards; and (d) effect system 
1 
integration, joint investment and operation, district annexation 
2 
and de-annexation whenever economically warranted (As 
3 
amended by 2 Sec. 22, PD 768). 
4 
2) The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), 
5 
whose mandates, powers and functions are defined by Republic 
6 
Act No. 6324, as amended, and which will be transferred from 
7 
the DPWH and attached to the Department. It will continue to 
8 
facilitate the exercise by the concessionaires of its agency 
9 
powers, carry out accounting and notification functions, 
10 
monitor, report, and administer loans and perform related 
11 
functions in connections with existing projects, manage and 
12 
dispose its retained assets and manage and operate the Umiray-
13 
Angat Trans-basin Project.  
14 
3) The National Irrigation Administration, whose mandate, 
15 
power and functions are stated in Republic Act No. 3601, as 
16 
amended and Presidential Decree No. 552, as amended and 
17 
which will be transferred from the Office of the President and 
18 
attached to the Department. It will: 
19 
- plan, design, construct, and/or improve all types of 
20 
irrigation projects and 18 appurtenant structures; 
21 
- operate, maintain, and administer all national irrigation 
22 
systems (NIS); 
23 
- supervise the operation, maintenance, and repair, or 
24 
otherwise, administer; 
25 
- temporarily all communal and pump irrigation systems 
26 
constructed, improved, and/or repaired wholly or 
27 
partially with government funds; 
28 
- delegate the partial or full management of NIS to duly 
29 
organized cooperatives or 24 associations; 
30 
- construct multiple-purpose water resources projects 
31 
designed primarily for irrigation, and secondarily for 
32 
hydraulic power development and/or other uses such as 
33 
flood control, drainage, land reclamation, domestic water 
34 
supply, 
roads 
and 
highway 
construction, 
and 
35 


 
 
reforestation, among others, Provided, that the plans, 
1 
designs, and the construction thereof, shall be undertaken 
2 
in coordination with the agencies concerned; 
3 
- charge and collect from the beneficiaries of the water 
4 
from all irrigation systems constructed by or under its 
5 
administration, such fees or administration charges as 
6 
may be necessary to cover the cost of operation, 
7 
maintenance, and insurance and recover the costs of 
8 
construction within a reasonable period of time to the 
9 
extent consistent with government policy; and 
10 
- recover funds or portions thereof expended for the 
11 
construction and/or rehabilitation of communal irrigation 
12 
systems (CIS) which shall accrue to a special fund for 
13 
irrigation development. 
14 
4) The Laguna Lake Development Authority, whose mandate, 
15 
powers and functions are laid out in Republic Act No. 4850, as 
16 
amended which will be transferred from DENR 42 and attached 
17 
to the Department.  It will continue to serve as the lake 
18 
management and 43 development authority similar to a multi-
19 
stakeholder river basin organization and will ensure the 
20 
implementation of the Laguna Lake Master Plan which will be 
21 
updated by the Department to ensure alignment with the 
22 
National Master Plan for Water Management.  Its regulatory 
23 
powers will however be taken over by the Department. 
24 
5) The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, which was 
25 
created by Executive Order 5 No. 54, series of 1999, as amended 
26 
which will be transferred from the Office of the 6 President and 
27 
attached to the Department. It will update the existing master 
28 
plan to ensure consistency with the National Water Resources 
29 
Management Master Plan, regulate easement, integrate and 
30 
coordinate development programs, abate industrial wastewater 
31 
and sewerage dumping and enforce environmental laws, 
32 
relocate formal and informal settlers, undertake civil works such 
33 
as dredging, clearing of structures, cleaning of the river and its 
34 
tributaries/esteros, prepare regular Status Report to the 
35 
President, coordinate with other national and local government 
36 


 
 
agencies/units and formulate its own  implementing rules and 
1 
regulations. 
2 
6) Any other agency exercising water resources management, 
3 
conservation and protection functions which the President may 
4 
order to be transferred to the Department; 
5 
c) Water Resources Regional Offices, based on the 12 water resources 
6 
regions of the country, as deemed appropriate and necessary by the 
7 
Secretary. 
8 
SECTION 13. Offices, functions, and personnel to be completely subsumed by 
9 
the 23 Department. 
10 
The following offices with their powers, functions, personnel, applicable 
11 
funds and appropriations, records, equipment and property are to be 
12 
subsumed by the Department:  
13 
a) The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) with all its divisions 
14 
and sections, whose mandate, powers and functions are found in 
15 
Presidential Decree No. 424, as amended; 
16 
b) The River Basin Control Office (RBCO) of the DENR whose mandate, 
17 
powers and functions are found in Executive Order No. 510 and 
18 
Executive Order No. 816, as amended; 
19 
c) The Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO) of the DENR which was 
20 
created by virtue of DENR Special Order 2011-01 to coordinate the 
21 
efforts of the 14 national agencies covered by the Mandamus Order of 
22 
the Supreme Court to rehabilitate Manila Bay; 
23 
d) The flood management planning and sediment management 
24 
function of the Flood Control Management Cluster of the DPWH; and 
25 
e) The Water Quality Management Section of the EMB of the DENR.   
26 
SECTION 14. Functions to be transferred to the Department.   
27 
a) The function of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the 
28 
DENR to conduct hydrological surveys; 
29 
b) The monitoring of stream flow and other water data collection 
30 
function of the Bureau of Design of the DPWH.  
31 
SECTION 15. Planning and Policy Service. – The Planning and Policy Service 
32 
is hereby created to provide the Department with the capability to undertake 
33 


 
 
water infrastructure development planning and programming. For this 
1 
purpose, it shall have the following functions: 
 
2 
a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to water resources 
3 
planning; 
4 
b) Assist the Undersecretary for Planning and Policy on all matters 
5 
related to the specific functions of the position; 
6 
c) Formulate strategies and priorities for water resources 
7 
management and development consistent with national development 
8 
objectives and initiate or undertake relevant surveys for development 
9 
planning; 
10 
d) Develop and regularly update a comprehensive and integrated 
11 
National Water Resources Management Master Plan and ensure its 
12 
integration into existing land use plans; 
13 
e) Coordinate river-basin planning following the integrated water 
14 
resources management framework and the river-basin approach; 
15 
f) 
Formulate 
or 
update 
existing 
River 
Basin 
Master 
(or 
16 
comprehensive) Plans which includes all aspects of water 
17 
management and development such as water supply and sanitation, 
18 
irrigation, flood control and stormwater/urban drainage, drought risk 
19 
management, water resource development systems and other public 
20 
water works projects, including phasing of implementation; 
21 
g) Based on the river basin master plan, identify priority packages for 
22 
water infrastructure development  per river basin including water 
23 
supply, sanitation, irrigation, flood control and stormwater/urban 
24 
drainage, drought risk management, water resource development 
25 
systems and other public works projects; package project proposals 
26 
for funding and prioritize project implementation and the allocation of 
27 
funds and other resources and undertake or supervise and evaluate 
28 
the conduct of feasibility studies and project preparation thereof; 
29 
h) Evaluate and appraise all regional and inter-regional infrastructure 
30 
water development plans and programs as to their feasibility and 
31 
consistency with approved strategies and long and medium-term 
32 
plans;  
33 
i) Initiate regular Department-wide planning exercises and act as the 
34 
secretariat thereof; 
35 


 
 
j) Gather, analyze and organize needed statistical data and 
1 
information; 
2 
k) Provide technical assistance related to its functions to the other 
3 
Services, Bureaus and the Regional Offices as needed; 
4 
l) Conduct of hydrologic and hydraulic surveys and assessments of 
5 
surface waters; 
6 
m) Develop general criteria and standards on project investigation, 
7 
formulation, planning; 
8 
n) Develop guidelines and standards on social inclusion in water 
9 
resources management and ensure policies, programs and plans are 
10 
compliant with the gender and development framework of the 
11 
government; 
12 
o) Closely coordinate with PAGASA for rainfall and other climate data 
13 
which should be considered in the planning for water resources 
14 
development and management and for various water infrastructure; 
15 
and 
16 
p) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be 
17 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
18 
SECTION 16. Decision Support System Service. – The Decision Support 
19 
System Service is hereby created to provide the Department with water 
20 
resource management tools and computerized decision support system that 
21 
incorporates data management system (acquisition and database) and 
22 
model base (physical, design, planning and decision models). Additionally, 
23 
the services include services related to networking, data management, and   
24 
information 
and 
knowledge/learning 
management 
systems 
for 
25 
administrative and non-technical support for the department. The Service is 
26 
also responsible for providing the Secretary timely reports on the status of 
27 
various Department projects and activities. For this purpose, it shall have the 
28 
following functions: 
29 
a) Provide the Secretary needed data and processed information to aid 
30 
in policy and management decisions under the mandate of the 
31 
Department; 
32 
b) Publish available real-time raw water data (through internet) as 
33 
well as verified or validated water data (in print and/or electronic 
34 


 
 
form through internet) in tabular and graphical displays as time series 
1 
and/or spatial data; 
2 
c) Conduct standard data analysis such as basic statistical analysis, 
3 
trend analysis, analysis of runs, cluster analysis, etc. and also publish 
4 
in print and/or electronic form;  
5 
d) Develop and continuously update water resource management, 
6 
computerized decision support system (DSS) that incorporates data 
7 
management system (acquisition and database), model base (physical, 
8 
design, planning and decision models), and user-friendly interface 
9 
(graphical and visualization tools). This DSS is composed but not 
10 
limited to: a measurement or data acquisition system; information or 
11 
database management system; analytical and numerical models for 
12 
design/planning and decision/evaluation purposes: and, finally, a 
13 
user-friendly interface which includes graphical interface or 
14 
visualization tools. 
15 
e) The specific models to be developed and maintained should include 
16 
but not limited to the following: long-term climatologic and weather 
17 
forecasting model; watershed models and river-floodplain models; 
18 
groundwater models and coupled to surface water models; flood 
19 
forecasting model for major rivers; optimization-simulation and/or 
20 
management models for watershed conservation, conjunctive surface 
21 
and groundwater use, irrigation scheduling, normal and emergency 
22 
operations of multipurpose reservoirs; and, water quality and 
23 
ecological models. 
24 
f) Develop and manage the management information system and 
25 
knowledge systems of the Department including the retrieval and 
26 
processing of monitoring information on all projects and activities of 
27 
concern to the Secretary and the web portal and conduct systems and 
28 
process engineering, software development, software configuration 
29 
management; develop and manage the Department’s corporate 
30 
database, unified database for water industry, data warehouse, other 
31 
water information resources, library services and document 
32 
management and archiving services; develop and manage the 
33 
Department’s ICT infrastructure and provide ICT related- services to 
34 
the 
Department 
including 
computer 
networking 
and 
voice 
35 
communications services and data exchange; manage the literacy and 
36 


 
 
training services of the Department on various ICTs, KM tools and 
1 
applications including information and knowledge management. 
2 
g) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be 
3 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
4 
SECTION 17. Administrative and Human Resource Service. – The 
5 
Administrative and Human Resource Service is hereby created to provide the 
6 
Department with services relating to human resources development, 
7 
personnel, records, facilities maintenance, medical and dental, security and 
8 
property and procurement services. For such purposes, it shall have the 
9 
following functions:  
10 
a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to internal 
11 
administration and human resources management; 
12 
b) Prepare and implement an integrated personnel development plan 
13 
that shall include provisions for merit promotions, performance 
14 
evaluation, job rotation, suggestions and incentive awards systems, 
15 
and health and welfare services; 
16 
c) Provide services related to human resources training, education and 
17 
development including manpower, career planning and forecasting, 
18 
and development of indigenous training materials;  
19 
d) Develop, establish and maintain an efficient and cost-effective 
20 
property procurement system and facilities and coordinate or 
21 
otherwise interface with relevant agencies, whether government or 
22 
private, for the purpose of developing or upgrading the system; 
23 
e) Secure and maintain necessary Department facilities, and develop, 
24 
establish and maintain an efficient and effective security system 
25 
covering, among others, personnel, physical installations, equipment, 
26 
documents and materials including the conduct of security 
27 
investigations; 
28 
f) Coordinate with the appropriate government agencies for a more 
29 
efficient conduct of administrative processes; 
30 
g) Develop, establish and maintain an efficient records system; 
31 
h) Provide assistance in its area of specialization to the Department 
32 
Proper, Bureaus and Regional and District Offices and, when 
33 


 
 
requested, the government agencies and corporations attached to the 
1 
Department; and 
2 
i) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be 
3 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
4 
SECTION 18. Legal and Legislative Service. – The Legal and Legislative 
5 
Service is hereby created to provide the Department with services on such 
6 
legal affairs as contract letting and litigation, legal and legislative research, 
7 
complaints and investigation, legal counselling and other matters of law. For 
8 
such purposes, it shall have the following functions:  
9 
a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to legal and legislative 
10 
affairs; 
11 
b) Prepare Department contracts and legal instruments, review and 
12 
interpret all contracts and agreements entered into by the Department 
13 
and evaluate all legal proposals; 
14 
c) Conduct administrative investigation as well as the review of 
15 
administrative charges against officers and employees of the 
16 
Department; 
17 
d) Exercise functional jurisdiction over the legal staffs of Regional 
18 
Offices; 
19 
e) Provide legal assistance to the Department Proper, the Bureaus and 
20 
Regional Offices and when requested, the attached corporations; 
21 
f) Develop and prepare the Department’s Legislative Agenda, 
22 
recommend presidential certification of the urgency of priority water 
23 
bills, and other water-related legislations;   
24 
g) Coordinate and maintain linkages among the various offices, 
25 
bureaus, regional offices and attached agencies to the DWR along with 
26 
other government agencies on policy matters affecting the 
27 
Department’s mandate in relation to legislation; 
28 
h) Maintain effective liaison with the Congress and the Senate 
29 
regarding legislative inquiries and enactment of water bills or other 
30 
laws that will affect water into law; 
31 
i) Monitor the progress of the Department’s priority/certified bills to 
32 
ensure their passage; 
33 


 
 
j) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be 
1 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
2 
SECTION 19. Comptrollership and Financial Management Service. – The 
3 
Comptrollership and Financial Management Service is hereby created to 
4 
provide the Department with coordinated services relating to financial 
5 
systems and procedures, budget, cash, accounting and all financial 
6 
housekeeping matters. For such purposes, it shall have the following 
7 
functions:  
8 
a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to the accounting of 
9 
government expenditures and receipts, budgeting and cash management, 
10 
project finances and financial systems and procedures; 
11 
b) Prepare budget proposals and pursue formal budget authorizations, 
12 
undertake budget execution, and prepare and submit all appropriate reports 
13 
to the proper offices; 
14 
c) Develop and maintain accounting, financial and assets management 
15 
systems, procedures and practices in the Department Proper, Bureaus 
16 
and Regional Offices; 
17 
d) Review and appraise systems and procedures, organizational 
18 
structure, assets management practices, accounting, and other 
19 
records, reports, ad performance standards such as budgets and 
20 
standard costs of the Department, bureaus, and regional offices; 
21 
e) Provide assistance in its area of specialization to any unit of the 
22 
Department and, when requested, to government corporations and 
23 
councils attached to the Department; and 
24 
f) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be 
25 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
26 
SECTION 20. – Resource Regulation Service. The Resource Regulatory Service 
27 
is hereby created to provide the Department with services on resource 
28 
regulation of all water-related 38 services and activities. For such purposes, 
29 
it shall have the following functions: 
30 
a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to resource regulations; 
31 
b.)  Determine, grant and regulate water rights for the appropriate, 
32 
optimal and sustainable use of surface and ground water; 
33 


 
 
c)  Determine, evaluate and grant waterworks and sewerage 
1 
franchises;   
2 
d.) Investigate violations of the water rights and the Water Code and 
3 
impose the appropriate sanctions in accordance with existing laws, 
4 
rules and regulations as well as future rules and regulations which the 
5 
Department will promulgate; 
6 
e)   Adjudicate water use conflicts; and  
7 
f)  Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be 
8 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by the 
9 
law. 
10 
SECTION 21.  Internal Audit Office. – The Internal Audit Office is hereby 
11 
created for the purpose of conducting comprehensive audit of various 
12 
Department activities and will report directly to the Secretary. Specifically, it 
13 
shall have the following functions:  
14 
a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to management control 
15 
and operations audit; 
16 
b) Conduct management and operations performance audit of 
17 
Department activities and units and determine as to the degree of 
18 
compliance with established objectives, policies, standards, methods 
19 
and procedures, government regulations and contractual obligations 
20 
of the Department; 
21 
c) Review and appraise systems and procedures, organizational 
22 
structure, assets management practices, accounting and other records, 
23 
and performance standards (such as budgets and standard costs) of 
24 
the Department Proper, Bureaus and Regional Offices; 
25 
d) Analyze and evaluate management deficiencies and assist top 
26 
management to solve problems by recommending realistic courses of 
27 
action; and 
28 
e) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be 
29 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
30 
SECTION 22. Public Affairs Office. -  The Public Affairs Office is hereby 
31 
created for the purpose of enhancing government relations with all 
32 
stakeholders including the media. It shall ensure that women, men, older 
33 
people and people with disabilities will be consulted, organized and can take 
34 


 
 
active part in all aspects of water resources development and management 
1 
activities. The office will also lead the planning and organizing of the special 
2 
events of the Department. For such purposes, it shall have the following 
3 
functions:  
4 
A. Public Awareness 
5 
a) Advise the Secretary on matters pertaining to public affairs 
6 
services; 
7 
b) 
Develop 
and 
supervise 
the 
implementation 
of 
8 
communications programs to have relevant policies, programs 
9 
and plans of the Department understood by the public; 
10 
c) Produce and supervise the dissemination of communication 
11 
materials in line with the priorities of the Department and the 
12 
national government public information programs; 
13 
d) Conduct public opinion and attitude surveys to identify the 
14 
interests and concerns of key groups served by the Department; 
15 
  
 
e) Establish editorial policies on print and broadcast media; 
16 
f) Establish and maintain linkages with the tri-media and 
17 
presence in social media; 
18 
g) Coordinate the conduct of interviews and news conferences; 
19 
  
 
h) Act as spokesperson for the Department; 
20 
i) Coordinate with various Department units, concerned 
21 
government agencies, tri-media and other stakeholders on 
22 
matters related to the above-enumerated functions; 
23 
j) Coordinate with the appropriate national government 
24 
agencies tasked with public information affairs. 
25 
B. Promoting Participation. 
26 
a) Conduct public consultations and discussions; 
27 
b) Develop and disseminate relevant and appropriate materials 
28 
and programs for public information and education, as well as 
29 
advocacy campaign; 
30 
c) Conduct seminars and workshops involving the LGUs and the 
31 
general public on current 22 water issues and problems; 
32 


 
 
d) Conduct capability building seminars of various stakeholders 
1 
to promote meaningful participation in the Department’s policy 
2 
making, planning, development and implementation of various 
3 
programs and projects. 
4 
C. Special Events 
5 
a) Coordinate the organization and promotion of special events 
6 
and water exhibits; 
7 
b) Act as the focal point for all water related events; 
8 
c) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may 
9 
be assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required 
10 
by law. 
11 
SECTION 23. Pollution Adjudication Board. – There is hereby created a 
12 
Pollution Adjudication Board under the Office of the Secretary. The Board 
13 
shall be composed of the Secretary as Chairman, two (2) Undersecretaries as 
14 
may be designated by the Secretary, the Director of Water Quality 
15 
Management Bureau and three (3) other representatives from other 
16 
stakeholders to be designated by the Secretary as members. The Board shall 
17 
assume the powers and functions of the Commission/Commissioners of the 
18 
National Pollution Control Commission with respect to the adjudication of 
19 
water pollution cases under Republic Act No. 3931, Presidential Decree 984, 
20 
particularly with respect to Section 6 letters e, f, g, j, k and p of the P.D. 984 
21 
and RA 9275. The Bureau of Water Quality Management shall serve as the 
22 
Secretariat of the Board. These powers and functions may be delegated to 
23 
the field officers of the Department in accordance with rules and regulations 
24 
to be promulgated by the Board. 
25 
SECTION 24. Bureaus. – Each Bureau shall be headed by a Bureau Director 
26 
who shall be responsible for efficiently and effectively carrying out the 
27 
functions of the Bureau concerned. The Bureau Director shall be assisted by 
28 
one (1) Assistant Director. 
29 
SECTION 25. Bureau of Flood Control and Drainage. – The Bureau of Flood 
30 
Control and Drainage is hereby created to plan and design flood control and 
31 
drainage structures and facilities in accordance with technical standards, 
32 
guidelines and manuals. For this purpose, it shall have the following duties 
33 
and responsibilities:  
34 


 
 
a) Formulate policy, strategies and programs on flood risk 
1 
management in the context of integrated flood management (IFM) 
2 
which integrates water, land, coastal zone and multi-hazard 
3 
management.  In integrating land-use planning and water 
4 
management, the Department should harmonize and synthesize plans 
5 
to enable the sharing of information between land-use planning and 
6 
water management authorities. In integrating hazard management, a 
7 
holistic approach should be adopted so that IFM should be part of a 
8 
wider risk or multi-hazard management system (e.g., earthquake, 
9 
landslides, fire, tsunami, etc.); 
10 
b) Integrate climate change and disaster risk reduction and 
11 
management in policies and plans; 
12 
c) Prepare master plans of flood management and drainage in river 
13 
basins in coordination with the concerned water resources region and 
14 
river basin organizations;  
15 
d) Prepare master plans of urban drainage in cities/municipalities; 
16 
e) Prepare feasibility studies of recommended measures in the master 
17 
plans; 
18 
f) Plan and design structural measures for flood control and drainage; 
19 
g) Implement and/or collaborate with concerned agencies on the non-
20 
structural measures; 
21 
h) Patrol and investigate rivers including the monitoring of stream 
22 
flows;  
23 
i) Conduct post-disaster investigation and evaluation and damage 
24 
assessment of flood infrastructures after extreme events; 
25 
j) Conduct research and development on water and sediment-related 
26 
disasters; 
27 
k) Develop design guidelines, criteria and standards on flood control 
28 
and drainage structures; 
29 
l) Provide technical assistance to other agencies, LGUs and other 
30 
stakeholders; 
31 
m) Advise the Secretary on declaring flood control areas and 
32 
recommend guidelines for flood plain management plans in these 
33 


 
 
areas in coordination with the proposed Department of Disaster 
1 
Resiliency; and 
2 
n) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be 
3 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law. 
4 
SECTION 26. Bureau of Water Quality Management. – The Bureau of Water 
5 
Quality Management is hereby created to supervise and control over all 
6 
aspects of water quality management to ensure the sustainability of the 
7 
country’s water resources and the protection of the environment. It should 
8 
take into account proper and integrated treatment of freshwater and 
9 
wastewater within the whole process. For this purpose, it shall have the 
10 
following duties and responsibilities:  
11 
a) 
Establish 
water 
quality 
guidelines 
for 
freshwater 
and 
12 
coastal/marine waters as basis for classifying water bodies in the country.  
13 
Specifically, develop water quality indeces or composite metrics to measure 
14 
of the quality status and health of natural water bodies in relation to 
15 
ecological integrity and function. 
16 
b) Establish effluent standards for point sources of pollution; 
17 
c) Establish internationally accepted procedures for sampling and 
18 
analysis; 
19 
d) Prepare an integrated water quality management framework; 
20 
e) Prepare 10-year water quality management plans for each water 
21 
quality management area as part of the River Basin Master Plans and in 
22 
support of the National Water Resources Management Master Plan; 
23 
f) Classify groundwater sources and prepare a national groundwater 
24 
vulnerability map; 
25 
g) Classify or reclassify all water bodies according to their beneficial 
26 
usages using the established water quality guidelines established; 
27 
h) Issue permits, clearances and similar instruments pursuant to the 
28 
Clean Water Act of 2004;  
29 
i) Collect the wastewater discharge (EUF) fees for all permittees; 
30 
j) Monitor the compliance of water discharge permittees with the 
31 
effluent standards;  
32 


 
 
k) Regularly monitor the water quality of major water bodies in the 
1 
country and analyze the data to identify possible sources of pollution; 
2 
l) Issue notices of violations and/or cease and desist orders for those 
3 
found in violation; 
4 
m) File the needed cases against violators with the Pollution 
5 
Adjudication Board; 
6 
n) Serve as secretariat of the PAB; and 
7 
o) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be 
8 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
9 
SECTION 27. Water Resources Regional Offices. – The Water Resources 
10 
Regional Offices, organized per water resources region shall be responsible 
11 
for implementing the mandates, powers and duties of the Department at the 
12 
field level, except for policymaking which will be vested solely with the 
13 
Central Office. The master planning for the nearby river basins (e.g. Pasig-
14 
Marikina-Laguna Lake-Cavite) will likewise be the responsibility of the 
15 
Central Office. For this purpose, the duties and responsibilities of the WRRO 
16 
shall be as follows:   
17 
a) Formulate or update and coordinate the river basin master plans for 
18 
river basins within its jurisdictions ensuring consistency with the 
19 
National Water Resources Management Master Plan; 
20 
b) Advocate and strongly support the creation and functioning of 
21 
multi-stakeholder River Basin Organizations (RBOs) and serve as the 
22 
secretariat of the said RBOs; 
23 
c) Undertake and evaluate the planning, design, and work supervision 
24 
functions of the Department for the water infrastructures within the 
25 
region; 
26 
d) Ensure the implementation of laws, policies, programs, rules and 
27 
regulations regarding the abovementioned infrastructure as well as 
28 
public and private physical structures; 
29 
e) Provide technical assistance related to the water-related functions 
30 
of other agencies within the region especially the local government; 
31 
f) Coordinate with other departments, agencies, institutions and 
32 
organizations, especially local government units within the region in 
33 
the planning and implementation of the river basin master plans;  
34 


 
 
g) Conduct continuing consultations with the local communities, take 
1 
appropriate measures to make the services of the Department 
2 
responsive to the Central Office and recommend such appropriate 
3 
actions as may be necessary; and 
4 
h) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be 
5 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
6 
The Department shall retain and have such Project Management Offices as 
7 
may be required, which shall be under the supervision and control of the 
8 
appropriate Water Resources Regional Office Director, unless otherwise 
9 
determined by the Secretary for reasons of supra-regional scope, magnitude 
10 
and multi-functional coverage.  
11 
SECTION 28. Water Resources Regional Director. – The Water Resources 
12 
Regional Offices shall be headed by a Water Resources Regional Director who 
13 
shall be responsible for efficiently and effectively carrying out the duties and 
14 
responsibilities of the Office. Towards this end, the Water Resources Regional 
15 
Director shall, within his/her defined powers exercise functional and 
16 
administrative supervision over all units within the region including the 
17 
authority to commit their resources and personnel to integrated regional 
18 
water resources management, water supply and sanitation management, 
19 
and flood control and flood risk management initiatives. The Water 
20 
Resources Regional Director shall also perform such other related duties and 
21 
responsibilities as may be assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may 
22 
be required by law. 
23 
The Water Resources Regional Director shall be assisted by two (2) Assistant 
24 
Water Resources Regional Office Directors who shall exercise supervision 
25 
respectively over (1) the planning, project design and evaluation function 
26 
and (2) technical assistance to River Basin Organizations within the water 
27 
resources region. 
28 
CHAPTER 3 – TRANSITORY PROVISIONS  
29 
SECTION 29. Interface with Other Agencies.  
30 
(1) The Department of Health (DOH) shall continue to have primary 
31 
authority and responsibility for setting and enforcing drinking water 
32 
quality standards. The Department shall coordinate with the DOH in 
33 
this regard and shall ensure consistency of standards and targets 
34 
which it will set for compliance of permittees with the DOH’s 
35 
mandated standards; 
36 


 
 
(2) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 
1 
shall continue to have primary authority and responsibility for 
2 
protecting the environment and managing the country’s watersheds; 
3 
(3) The Department of Energy and the National Power Corporation 
4 
(NPC) shall continue to have primary authority and responsibility for 
5 
setting up and running hydropower plants but will ensure that any 
6 
hydropower plant development plans are consistent with the National 
7 
Water Development and Management Plan;  
8 
(4) The Department shall coordinate with the Department of 
9 
Agriculture to ensure agricultural development that reduces sources 
10 
of long-term pollution for surface water and groundwater, and 
11 
agricultural and industrial economic development that employs water 
12 
efficiency, water recycling/reuse and the appropriate treatment of 
13 
wastewater; 
14 
(5) The Department shall coordinate with the National Disaster Risk 
15 
Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) or eventually the 
16 
proposed Department of Disaster Resiliency to ensure that its plans 
17 
and designs for flood control, flood risk management and drought risk 
18 
management are aligned with the objectives and plans of the said 
19 
Department; and 
20 
(6) The Department shall coordinate with relevant government 
21 
agencies, including Local Government Units (LGUs) for development 
22 
projects and to ensure cross-cutting collaboration between and among 
23 
all 
water 
subsectors 
and 
facilitate 
inter-agency 
subsector 
24 
coordination, strategic development, planning, monitoring and 
25 
provision of technical, institutional and financial capacity building 
26 
support to their different stakeholders at the water subsector level.  
27 
 
28 
SECTION 30.  Transfer of Rights and Obligations. 
29 
The Department shall, by virtue of this Act, be surrogated to all the rights and 
30 
assume all the obligations of the government agencies and units whose 
31 
powers and functions have been absorbed, transferred, or attached to the 
32 
Department provided these are in accordance with the rules and regulations 
33 
of the Commission on Audit. The transfer of powers and functions as herein 
34 
provided shall take effect within 6 months of the effectivity of this Act. As 
35 


 
 
such, all affected agencies/offices/units shall continue to function under 
1 
their present mandates until the transition is fully in effect.  
2 
SECTION 31: Funding. 
3 
The sum of Two Billion Pesos (P2,000,000,000.00) shall be set aside from 
4 
available funds of the National Treasury and is hereby appropriated and 
5 
authorized to be released for the organization of the Department and its 
6 
initial operations. Thereafter, the Department shall submit its annual budget 
7 
to fully carry out its powers and functions and achieve its objectives to the 
8 
Office of the President, for approval, provided it shall not be less than the 
9 
amount provided for in its initial implementation.  
10 
SECTION 32. Repealing Clause. — All laws, orders, rules and regulations, or 
11 
portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
12 
accordingly. 
13 
SECTION 33. Separability Clause. — If any provisions of this Act or the 
14 
application of such provision to any person or circumstances be declared 
15 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or the application of such 
16 
provision to other person or circumstances shall not be affected by such 
17 
declaration. 
18 
SECTION 34. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
19 
the date of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of 
20 
general circulation. 
21 
 
22 
Approved, 
23