Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 1175

Introduced by Representatives Michael L. Romero and
Enrico A. Pineda

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is a government-owned and

controlled corporation (GOCC) primarily responsible for irrigation development
in the Philippines.

This House Bill seeks to undertake a program for the construction of irrigation
projects in the remaining one million five hundred thousand (1,500,000)
hectares of unirrigated but irrigable lands, whether in the lowlands or in the
uplands, including other related project components nationwide.

This House Bill shall give priority to areas with social and economic problems.
taking into consideration population, area served, project cost and other
economic and environmental factors as may be deemed necessary in
undertaking the program within the context of the national development plans

The National Irrigation Administration, in consultation with the provincial and
municipal development councils, shall determine the are
priority.

s which shall be given

i: bill is hereby requested. |e)

MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D. ENRICO A. PINEDA
J

74

Earnest appro



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.1175

Introduced by Representatives Michael L. Romero and
Enrico A. Pineda

AN ACT

INCREASING THE CAPITALIZATION OF THE NATIONAL
IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (NIA), TO PROMOTE RURAL
DEVELOPMENT BY PROVIDING FOR AN ACCELERATED
PROGRAM, AND THE CONTINUING CONSTRUCTION OF
IRRIGATION PROJECTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICY - The State shall hereby provide
an additional Five billion pesos (P5,000,000,000.00) to promote the quality of

living of every Filipino through the provision of adequate social services
including, but not limited to, the provision of adequate irrigation projects
facilities to increase agricultural production. The Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) is hereby authorized to provide its appropriations, in the
current year of the date of the effectivity of this Act to conform with its mandate

and requirements


The National Irrigation Administration shall observe the following priorities and

guidelines in the planning, construction and management of irrigation project

(a) Funds provided for in this Act shall be used only for the construction
of new irrigation projects;

(b) Priority shall be given to the construction of communal irrigation
Projects. At least fifty percent (50%) of the funds shall be used for
communal irrigation projects;

(ec) Priority shall be given to the following:

(1) Beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program;
(2) Members of the indigenous cultural communities;

(3) Beneficiaries in areas where there are farmer-irrigators
associations; and

(4) Beneficiaries in fifth and sixth class municipalities;

(d) The irrigation projects must be equitably distributed among the
provinces and municipalities, giving priority to those provinces and
municipalities without any irrigation system;

(e) The farmer-beneficiaries of communal irrigation projects shall
participate in all stages of the project. The beneficiaries shall participate

in the project planning, identification, design, management of the project
funds, construction and monitoring;

() The beneficiaries of communal irrigation projects shall pay fifty percent
(50%) of the project cost without interest for a period of fifty (50) yea
provided, that, in case the beneficiary dies, his legal heirs or whoever may
* own the land benefited by the project at any given time during the term of
payment shall shoulder the remaining obligation of the land; and

(g) The communal irrigation system shall be managed and maintained by
the irrigators association or cooperative. The National Irrigation
Administration shall help organize the irrigators association or cooperative
and shall assist in the conduct of orientation seminars and training to the
members of the said assoviation or cooperative


SECTION 2. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS - the amount
as may be necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be taken from any
available appropriations of the National Irrigation Administration under the
current General Appropriations Act (GAA). Thereafter, the succeeding
appropriations for its continued implementation shall be included in’ the annual

General Appropriations Act until the program shall have been completed

In addition, the portion of financial grants and concessional loans
extended to the Philippines by foreign governments and multilateral agencies
including, but not limited to the Philippine Aid Plan, the amount to be
determined by the President, shall be allocated by the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) and augment the appropriations of the National Irrigation

Administration until the program is completed as mandated in this Act

SECTION 3. FUNDING - the amount of Five _ billion pesos
(P5,000,000,000.00) as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act

shall be included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of the year following
its enactment into law.

SECTION 4. PERIODIC REPORTS - The NIA shall submit periodic reports
on its findings and make recommendations on actions to be taken by Congress
and Senate and the appropriate department, and in order to carry out the

objectives and mandates of this Act, an additional amount of Five billion pesos
(P5,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated.

SECTION 5. AUTOMATIC REVIEW - Every three (3) years afier the
effectivity of this Act, an independent review panel composed of experts to be
appointed by the President shall review the policies and programs in the NIA and
shall make recommendations, based on its findings, to the President and to both

Houses of Congress.


SECTION 6. REPEALING CLAUSE. All laws, executive orders, issuances,
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed

or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If, for any reason or re

portion or provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the

sons, any

remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and

effect.

SECTION 8, EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. This Act shall take effect

een (15)

days after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,