Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Sogsj
House Bill Noddd8

jo.

Introduced by Hon. PIMENTEL, JOHNNY T.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In a report on the state of Philippine agriculture, the Secretary of the
Department of Agriculture said that the programs of the department for this new
administration will focus on (1) staple food commodities to ensure food security and
(2) high value crops to generate jobs and foreign earnings. To quote the report, “to
achieve food sufficiency and maximum productivity in the country, the Department
of Agriculture under President Duterte must undertake the implementation of the
basic foundations of a sound agriculture and fisheries program.” At the core of this
national program is the Rice Productivity Enhancement (RIPE) program which calls
for a thorough review of the country’s water management and irrigation policies,
among, others. Quoting from the report, the country will have a “shift in the
irrigation mindset. This administration will focus more on small and community-
based irrigation projects over the highly destructive, expensive, and long-gestating
mega-irrigation projects which costs billions of pesos.” There is thus a need to revisit

the irrigation component in our agricultural sector.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) was created by law in 1963
principally to address the needs of the irrigation age and to investigate and study all
available and possible water resources in the Philippines, primarily for irrigation
purposes, to plan, design, construct and/or improve all types of irrigation projects
and appurtenant structures (Section 2, RA 3601, as amended by P.D. 552 and P.D.


1702). For this purpose, the NIA has been given the necessary flexibility of a
corporate vehicle and the administrative autonomy to achieve its statutory

objectives.

Despite this, about 2.4 million hectares or 43% of farm lands in the Philippines
still lack irrigation. Currently, the irrigation projects of NIA are supported by
organizations such as the World Bank and the Japan International Cooperation
Agency. The country needs a more streamlined, small-scale, yet far-reaching
irrigation development program that can be done here and now and this bill

provides the impetus for this goal.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested.



RENe

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Segsj
House Bill No.4808

Introduced by Hon. PIMENTEL, JOHNNY T.

AN ACT
CREATING A STREAMLINED NATIONAL IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES,
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 National Irrigation
Program of 2016."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -It is the policy of the State to pursue a
comprehensive agricultural development, through effective and progressive
irrigation programs. Guided by the principle of self-sufficiency, the agricultural

sector shall make full use of human and natural resources

In pursuit of the goals of genuine rural development, the State shall promote
a viable rural agricultural economy by raising farm productivity at competitive and
market sufficiency levels through the provision of irrigation infrastructure and

comprehensive support services for farmers.


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SECTION 3. National Irrigation Program. - The National Government shall
undertake a comprehensive irrigation program, guided by the following objectives:

(2) Generation, restoration and rehabilitation of community-based
irrigation systems and facilities using progressive and modern irrigation methods;

(b)  Reformulation and upgrading, of the methods of irrigation through
continued research and development and application of technological advancements
in the field of irrigation;

(c) Strengthened coordination with local government units, cooperatives,
farmers' associations, non-governmental organizations, and technical assistance and
development of the irrigation systems used in their respective areas and

jurisdictions;

SECTION 4. Streanilined Irrigation Development Program. - In line with the
national policy objectives, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is mandated
to expedite its irrigation development programs and be able to irrigate ninety-five
percent (95%) of irrigable lands all over the country, within a period of three (3)
years from the effectivity of this Act. After the lapse of the three year period, the NIA
shall then submit to Congress a detailed report and satisfactory proof of its

completion of the ninety-five-percent target.

SECTION 5. Continuing Research and Development. - The NIA shall conduct
continuing research and development as well as application of technological

advancements in the field of irrigation. This shall include the viability of the


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introducing solar-powered irrigation facilities to benefit remote villages that are not

connected to a power grid.

SECTION 6. Technical Assistance to Stakeholders. - The NIA shall provide
technical and financial assistance to local government units, cooperatives, farmers'
associations, and nongovernmental organizations with respect to irrigation systems

located, utilized, and managed in their respective jurisdictions.

SECTION 7. Abolition of irrigation fees. - Irrigation Services Fees (ISP) and other
kinds of irrigation fees shall no longer be charged upon effectivity of this Act. All
unpaid irrigation fees shall be restructured under terms and conditions that are not

oppressive to the farmers,

SECTION 8. Funding. - The amount of one billion pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) is

hereby appropriated for the implementation of this Act. After the initial year of

implementation, the same amount shall be included in the budget of the NIA.

SECTION 9. Submission of Detailed Status Report to Congress. - The NIA is
hereby mandated to furnish Congress a detailed status report of its programs,
targets and accomplishments for the preceding five (6) years. This is without
prejudice to the NIA's obligation to furnish Congress with a Fiscal Report under

Article VI, Section 11 of R.A. 3601,


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SECTION 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within 60 days upon.
effectivity of this Act, the NIA, through the Secretary of the Department of
Agriculture, shall initiate the convening of Technical Working Group to promulgate

the IRR of this Act with relevant stakeholders.

SECTION 11. 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 and subsisting.

SECTION 12. 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.

SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,