*>■ f
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF TH E ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.
of! 'c
25 JUL 14 P4 :05
RECEIVED L'
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
TO PROMOTE RURAL HEALTH BY PROVIDING FOR AN ACCELERATED 
PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A POTABLE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM 
IN EVERY BARANGAY IN THE COUNTRY WITHIN THREE YEARS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Access to safe and clean water is one of the most basic human rights. The United Nations 
defines the right to water as everyone's entitlement to access "sufficient, safe, acceptable, 
physically accessible, and affordable water for personal and domestic use." While the 
Philippine government has been consistent in its efforts to ensure access to safe and 
affordable water across the country, there still remains a fraction of the population who 
is denied of this basic right.
The 2024 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority reported 
that while 97.5 percent of Filipino families have access to basic service level drinking 
water, there is still a glaring regional disparity in safely managed drinking water services, 
which is defined by the World Health Organization as an "improved source that is 
accessible on premises, available when needed, and free from fecal and priority chemical 
contamination."
While 85.5 percent of families in the National Capital Region have access to a safely 
managed drinking water service, families in the Cagayan Valley, the Bicol Region, and the 
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have dismal access, at 27.6 
percent, 25.8 percent, and 14.8 percent, respectively.
This bill endeavors to address the persistent problem of lack of access to safe drinking 
water, especially in rural areas, by establishing a program that will provide every 
barangay in the country with a potable water supply system within three years.
Providing every Filipino with an accessible and safe supply of drinking water is key to 
protecting the health and wellbeing of the entire population. In view of the foregoing, the 
passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
IGUEL F. ZUBIRI


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18 
19
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL14 P4:05
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.
RECEiVcO-
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
TO PROMOTE RURAL HEALTH BY PROVIDING FOR AN ACCELERATED 
PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A POTABLE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM 
IN EVERY BARANGAY IN THE COUNTRY WITHIN THREE YEARS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote the 
quality of health of every Filipino through the provision of adequate social service 
including, but not limited to, the provision of an adequate potable water supply system 
to minimize the exposure of water-borne diseases.
SEC. 2. Lead Agencies. The Department of Interior and Local Government, in 
cooperation with the Department of Health, and Department of Public Works and 
Highways shall undertake a three-year program for the construction of a potable water 
supply system in every barangay throughout the country. The program shall give priority 
to areas with social and health problems brought about by water-borne diseases taking 
into consideration population, area served, project cost and other economic, social and 
environmental factors as may be deemed necessary in undertaking the program within 
the context of the national development plans. The lead agencies concerned, in 
consultation with the provincial and municipal development councils, shall determine the 
areas that shall be given priority.
SEC. 3. Program Guidelines. The lead agencies concerned shall observe the 
following priorities and guidelines in the planning, construction and management of 
potable water supply project:


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
(a) Funds provided for in this Act shall be used only for the construction of the 
new potable water supply system;
(b) Priority shall be given to the construction of communal water supply;
(c) The potable water supply projects must be equitably distributed among the 
provinces and municipalities, giving priority to those provinces and 
municipalities having inadequate supply of potable water;
(d) The local government unit concerned shall participate in the planning, 
identification, design, management of funds, construction and monitoring of 
the project;
(e) The potable water supply system shall be managed and maintained by the local 
government unit concerned;
(f) The provincial officers of the Department of Interior and Local Government 
Department of Health, and Department of Public Works and Highways, shall 
be responsible in the preparation of feasibility studies and design of communal 
water supply projects.
SEC. 4. Appropriation. The sum of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) is hereby 
appropriated for the initial implementation of the provision of this act. Thereafter, the 
succeeding appropriation for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act until the program shall have been completed.
SEC. 5. Separabiiity Clause. If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional, 
other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in 
force and effect.
SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, issuances, orders, rules 
and regulation and inconsistent with the provision of this Act are hereby amended, 
repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 7. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,