NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No._________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 16, Section 9 provides: 
“The State shall protect consumers from trade malpractices and 
from substandard or hazardous products.” 
Consumption of bottled water has increased markedly in recent years, with thousands 
of households currently consuming bottled drinking water as their source of drinking water. 
Consumers are paying premium prices for bottled water based on the assumption that 
it is of superior quality to their tap water. 
Unfortunately, bottled water sold in the country is left unregulated. This, certainly, is a 
cause of concern, as there exists a possibility that the bottled water sold in the market is not 
of superior quality as claimed. 
The purpose of this bill is to establish quality standards for mineral and, carbonated 
and other bottled water, hence, immediate approval hereof is earnestly solicited. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
December 13, 2022
1:32PM
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No._________ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING QUALITY STANDARDS FOR MINERAL, CARBONATED AND OTHER 
BOTTLED WATER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title.  –  This Act shall be known as the “Safe Bottled Water Act”. 
SEC. 2. 
Statement of Policy.  –  It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the 
health of the people. Towards this end, it shall ensure that potable, safe and affordable 
drinking water is available to all the people by adopting a comprehensive policy framework to 
regulate the activities of mineral, carbonated and other bottled water businesses including 
suppliers, distributors and sellers thereof. 
SEC. 3. Quality Standards for Bottled Water.  – 
(a) The interim or revised national primary drinking water regulations concerning
maximum contaminant levels promulgated by the Director of the Food and Drugs 
Administration (FDA) shall be applicable to all kinds of bottled drinking water, including 
mineral, spring, natural sparkling and vended water. 
(b) Within twelve (12) months after the date of the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of
the Department of Health (DOH) shall establish quality standards and definitions for mineral 
water and carbonated water which shall include: 
1.
Limits for total dissolved solids, sulfate, sodium and trihalomethane content;
and
2.
As determined by established health-based drinking water standards.
SEC. 4. 
Source Protection.  –  Within twelve (12) months after the date of the effectivity 
of this Act, the Director of the FDA shall: 
(a) Identify safe sources of bottled water; and
(b) Establish criteria to determine the adequacy as well as the protection of “approved
sources” of bottled water including, but not limited to: 
1. Minimum construction standards for water wells;
2. Minimum distance separation from upstream wastewater discharges; and
3. Minimum distance separation from abandoned wells, septic tanks, waste
impoundment and landfills.
SEC. 5. 
Monitoring, Reporting and Inspection.  –  Within twelve (12) months after the date 
of the effectivity of this Act, the Director of the FDA shall: 
(a) Establish a bottled water monitoring program which, at a minimum, shall:
1. Be as stringent as that used for public water supplies and which provides
for yearly testing and monitoring for unregulated contaminants for which
public water utilities must test; and
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2. Require that any analysis or testing be performed in an approved and 
certified laboratory. 
(b) Establish a bottled water reporting program that shall: 
1. 
Stipulate time tables and procedures for timely reporting; 
2. 
Provide public notification procedures should any bottled water be 
found to be in excess of health-based standards; 
3. 
Establish a national registry of bottled water facilities and their most 
current reporting information; and 
4. 
Require that records of sampling and analysis be maintained at the 
plant for not less than two (2) years and shall be available for official 
review upon request. 
(c) Establish a bottled water facility inspection program which includes, at a minimum, 
two (2) scheduled inspections a year and one (1) unscheduled inspection a year. 
 
SEC. 6. 
Recall Regulations.  –  Within six (6) months after the date of the effectivity of 
this Act, the Director of the FDA shall: 
(a) Establish procedures and public notification guidelines for recall of a bottled water 
product which fall below any health-based standard; and 
(b) Require each bottled water manufacturer to develop and submit individual recall 
notification and recall procedures. 
 
SEC. 7. 
Prohibition of Dual Use of Bottled Water Equipment.              –  Within twelve (12) 
months after the date of the effectivity of this Act, the Director of the FDA shall prohibit the 
processing and bottling of noncarbonated water with equipment used to process milk, fruit 
juice or other food products likely to contribute nutrients for microbiological growth. 
 
SEC. 8. 
Bottling, Packaging and Storage Study.  –   The Director of the FDA shall conduct 
a comprehensive study of contaminants and the extent to which they contribute to the 
degradation of bottled water from the unique processing and storage of bottled water. The 
Director shall pay particular attention to contamination problems which may arise from the 
bottling, packaging or storage of bottled water products. 
SEC. 9. 
Labeling.  –  Within six (6) months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of the DOH shall: 
(a) Establish and enforce clear, concise, and uncoded uniform source labeling 
requirements for all bottled water products which, at a minimum, includes: 
(1) 
The original source of the water; 
(2) 
Type of water; 
(3) 
Type of treatment, if any; 
(4) 
The date of bottling; 
(5) 
The address of the bottler; and 
(6) 
Provide numerical specification of sodium content. 
(b) Define mineral water, spring water, naturally carbonated, naturally sparkling, well 
water, natural well water, artesian water, natural artesian water, purified water, distilled water, 
drinking water and all other variants of bottled water existing in the market, and require that 
the definition for the appropriate product be placed on the bottle. 
 
SEC. 10. 
Appropriations.  –  The initial amount necessary to implement the provisions of 
this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the FDA under the DOH.  
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 11. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).  –  The DOH shall issue the IRR for 
this Act within one hundred twenty (120) days from its effectivity. 
 


SEC. 12. 
Separability Clause.  –  If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid or subsisting. 
 
SEC. 13. 
Repealing Clause.  – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
 
SEC. 14. 
Effectivity Clause.  –  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
 
Approved,