SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
FIRS'! REGULAR SI-SSION 
)
SENATE
SENA'IT BILL NO. 1407
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‘ 1 7  
MAR 1 6  ?5'4Z
RECElVtD BY. 
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INTOODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EjERCITO
AN ACT
TO 
PROMOTE 
RURAL 
HEALTH 
BY 
PROVIDING 
TOR 
AN 
ACCELERATED PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A POTABLE 
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM IN EVERY BARANGAY IN THE COUNTRY 
WITHIN THREE YEARS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Water and sanitation are at the very core of sustainable development, critical 
to the survival of people and the planet. By 2030, the United Nations through 
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets to achieve universal and 
equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.1
In the Progress Report of the UN Secretaiy-General, 6.6 billion people, or 91 
per cent of the global population, used an imprtwed drinking water source in 
2015, versus 82 per cent in 2000. Despite that improvement, an estimated 663 
million people were using unimproved water sources or surface water that 
year. Moreover, in 2012 it was estimated that at least 1.8 billion people were 
exposed to drinking water sources contaminated with faecal matter.2 3
In the Philippines, 85.5 percent of the 22.7 million families have access to safe 
water supply or water coming from community water system piped into 
dwelling, yard or plot, public tap, and protected well. The remaining 14.5 
percent of families use unsafe source of water from unprotected well, spring, 
river, pond, lake, rain water, and tanker truck or peddler."'
Those at the bottom 30 percent families use unsafe water source. The 
administration's Ambisyon Natin 2040, promises a long and healthy life to all
1 Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform (Accessed at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg6 on 03/15/17)
2 Ibid.
3 2 0 1 4  A n n u a l P o v e rty  In d ic a to rs  S u rve y (APIS) (A ccesse d a t h ttp s ://p s a .g o v .p h /c o n te n t/h o w -w e -fa re -m d g -ta rg e t-fa m ilie s - 
a c c e s s -s a n ita ry -to ile t-fa c ility -a n d -a c c e s s -s a fe -w a te r-s u p p ly  o n  03/15/17)


Filipinos. This droam of the government for its people should be coupled with 
proactive steps taken not just by the executive but more so by the legislative. 
Aside from providing basic health services, there must be steps taken to 
provide for safe and potable drinking water supply as one of the many steps 
to achieve this end.
The measure seeks to establish a potable water supply system in every 
barangay within three years. The program shall be undertaken by the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development in cooperation with the 
Department of Health and Department of Public Works and Highway and 
shall have an allotment of Fifty Million Pe.sos (Php50/000,000.00).
It shall also employ a targeted approach in determining the priority areas 
which greatly needs the assistance by the government. Priority shall be given 
to the construction of communal water supply which must be equitably 
distributed among the provinces and municipalities, giving priority to those 
provinces and municipalities having inadequate supply of potable water.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
JOSFPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
l lRSr REGULAR SESSION 
)
SENATE
SEN AIT BILL NO. 1407
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' t tl’P
*17 
MAR 16 
P 5 I4 2
r ec liv i;d uv.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
AN ACT
TO 
PROM OTE 
RURAL 
HEALTH 
BY 
PROVIDING 
FOR 
AN 
ACCELERATED PROGRAM  FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A POTABLE 
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM IN EVERY BARANGAY IN THE COUNTRY 
W ITHIN THREE YEARS
Be it enncted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to prom ote 
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 w ater borne diseases.
SEC. 2. Legal Agency. The Departm ent of Social W elfare and Development in 
cooperation w ith the D epartm ent of Health and Departm ent of Public Works 
and Highways shall undertake a three-year program  for the construction of 
potable w ater supply system in eveiy 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 environm ental factors as 
may be deem ed necessary in undertaking the program  within the context of 
the national developm ent plans. The lead agencies concerned, in consultation 
w ith the provincial and municipal developm ent councils, shall determ ine the 
areas sliall be given priority.


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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:
(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 tlu1 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 project in 
the project planning, identification, design, management of all project 
funds, construction and monitoring;
(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 Social Welfare and 
Development, 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 project.
SEC. 4. Appropriation. The sum of Fifty Million Pesos (50,000,000.00) 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. Separability Clause. If any provision of Act is held unconstitutional, 
other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue 
to be in force and effect.


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SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, issuances, orders, 
rule and regulation and inconsistent with the provision of this Act are here 
amended, repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 7. EffecHvity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,