Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila ore, JUL

TIME

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 2272
jk ee te me
Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to rationalize the water, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation resource
management, including water rights, through the creation of the Department of
Water, Irrigation, Sewage, and Sanitation Resource Management.

The Philippines is rich in water sources like rivers, lakes, and groundwater
reservoirs which assure as of adequate supply for domestic, agricultural, and industrial
Purposes. However, at present, management of the said water sourced is lodged with
different units or agencies of the government thereby resulting to poorly coordinated or
even conflicts in the implementation of the national policies and plans on water, sewage,
sanitation, and irrigation thereby resulting to backlog in the provision of water supply and
sanitation services to the public.

The present set-up for water, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation responsibilities of
the government involves, among others, the following major government agencies.

a) National Water Resources Board (NWRB), a government agency responsible
for the enforcement of the Water Code of the Philippines which is under the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);

b) Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), a government-owned and
controlled corporation (GOCC) attached to the Department of Public Works and Highways
(OPWH) and has regulatory powers over:

1) all local water districts (LWDs); and
2) rural waterworks and sanitation associations (RWSAs) nationwide;

c) Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), a GOCC also
attached to the DPWH, which is responsible for the water supply and sanitation in
Metropolitan Manila and such contiguous areas as may be added to its area of jurisdiction,
and;

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17 2019

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d) National Irrigation Administration (NIA), a government agency under the Office
of the President primarily responsible for irrigation development and management

Upon the United Nations General Assembly's recognition of the human right to
water and sanitation and acknowledgement that clean drinking water and sanitation are
essential to the realization of all human rights, it is imperative upon the Philippine
government to efficiently and effectively manage its water resources to attain ideal
allocation of its water resources that will focus primarily on the people's right to safe and
affordable drinking water and sanitation service that are indispensable to every citizen's
basic health and economic prosperity. The Philippine government must consider the rapid
population growth, common waterborne diseases like diarrhea, leptospirosis, and
dengue, agricultural requirements for food production, water pollution, watershed
degradation, climate change, and other related factors that need to be adequately
addressed without delay

It must be stressed that the Philippine government's responsibility to safe, clean,
accessible and affordable drinking water, sanitation, and irrigation service to the public is
of utmost importance and it is attainable through well-coordinated, effective, efficient and
sustainable management of its water and sanitation resources.

Hence, there is an immediate need to create the Department of Water, Irrigation,

Sewage and Sanitation Resource Management which shall have the following primary
functions:

1) Set the policies for water supply and sewage and sanitation management; 2)
Develop and manage the country's water resources to ensure optimal
use, including but not limited to, domestic, irrigation, power generation,
industrial, agricultural, and commercial use;

3) Build, maintain and monitor water-related infrastructure, water quality
and accessibility;

4) Regulate the operation and management of water utilities such as MWSS,
LWDs, RWSAs and other water and sanitation service providers;

5) Make available and/or provide financial assistance to non-viable LWDs for
the improvement of water facilities or services through funds prior and
future appropriations of the National Government for waterworks and sewerage
systems;

6) Regulate and control the utilization, exploitation, development, conservation
and protection of all water resources:

7) Administer and enforce the provisions of Water Code of the Philippines;

8) Plan, design, construct, and/or improve all types of irrigation projects
and appurtenant structures;

9) Operate, maintain, and administer all national irrigation systems (NIS);

10) Supervise the operation, maintenance, and repair, or otherwise
administer temporarily all communal and pump irrigation systems constructed,
improved, and/or repaired wholly or partially with government funds:

11) Delegate the partial or full management of NIS to duly organized cooperatives
or associations;

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12) Construct multiple-purpose water resources projects designed primarily
for irrigation, and secondarily for hydraulic power development and/or other uses
such as flood control, drainage, land reclamation, domestic water supply, roads
and highway construction, and reforestation, among others, Provided, that the
plans, designs, and the construction thereof, shall be undertaken in coordination
with the agencies concerned;

13) Charge and collect from the beneficiaries of the water from all irrigation
systems constructed by or under its administration

In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly requested

RON P. SALO
KABAYAN Partylist

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
2272

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo

AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER, IRRIGATION, SEWAGE
AND SANITATION RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

CHAPTER 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION. 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Department of Water,
Irrigation, Sewage, and Sanitation Resource Management Act of 2018".

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
recognize, protect, realize, and enhance the right of all Filipinos to safe, clean, affordable,
and accessible drinking water, sanitation and irrigation as essential to the full enjoyment
of life and all human rights and the protection and sustainability of the environment.

In pursuit of said policy, this Act shall have the following objectives:

a) To prioritize and pursue the immediate attainment of universal access to
safe, adequate, and sustainable water supply and sanitation services for all Filipinos and
adopt all necessary measures directed towards the realization of the
human right to water and sanitation; and

b) To strengthen and coordinate water resource planning and policy-making
to ensure sustainable and fair allocation and efficient use of water resources between
competing water uses and users, including but not limited to domestic and municipal use,
irrigation, power generation, farming, fisheries, commercial, and industrial use.

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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
hereby defined:

a) Department refers to the Department of Water, Irrigation, Sewage,
and Sanitation Resource Management.

b) Sanitation refers to sewage, sanitation, and septage management.

c) Sewerage refers to any system or network of sanitary pipelines,
ditches, channels, or conduits including pumping stations, lift stations, and force mains,
service connections including other constructions, devices, or appliances appurtenant
thereof, which includes the collection, sanitary piping transport, pumping, and treatment
of water-borne human or animal waste removed from residences, buildings, institutions,

and industrial and commercial establishments to point of sewage treatment plant
disposal.

d) Sewage refers to water-carried waste in solution or suspension,
including sanitary waste (waste products of normal living), commercial waste, industrial
waste, agricultural waste, and surface runoff, conveyed by a sewerage system for
treatment or disposal. For purposes of this Act, the definition of septage shall be included
in the use of sewage.

€) Septage refers to sludge produced on individual on-site wastewater disposal
systems, principally septic tanks and cesspools.

The terms "infrastructure" and "public works" as used in this Act should be ready
to apply only to wholly or primarily water-related projects and shall not be read to
incorporate projects which would not otherwise fall within the purview of the objectives,
powers, and duties of the Department.

CHAPTER II
ORGANIZATION

SEC. 4. The Department of Water, Irrigation, Sewage, and Sanitation
Resource Management. - There is hereby created and established the Department of
Water, Irrigation, Sewage, and Sanitation Resource Management, hereinafter referred to
as the "Department", which shall be organized within one hundred twenty (120) days after
the effectivity of this Act. The Department shall be tasked with developing and
implementing a comprehensive water, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation program for the
Philippines including, but not limited to:

a) Implementing necessary policy and resource reforms with respect to the
management of water, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation;

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b) Monitoring and evaluating compliance with the national goals relating to water,
irrigation, sewage, and sanitation;

c) Formulating a national updated road map to address the water, sewage, and
‘sanitation requirements of the State; and

d) Improving conservation of water and increasing system efficiencies.

SEC. 5. Powers and Duties of the Department. - The Department shall have the
following powers and duties, among others:

t Policy, Coordination, and Regulation

a) Develop policies to promote universal access to safe, adequate, affordable, and
sustainable water supply, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation services for all Filipinos.

b) Coordinate with relevant government agencies or entities to provide
Policy directions, strategies, and targets to meet the goals and objectives for water ‘supply,
irrigation, sewage, and sanitation. Such policies shall, among other things, integrate the
issues of water, irrigation, sewer, energy, environment,
and food security;

c) Manage and protect the country's water resources to ensure the optimal
use thereof for domestic water supply, sewage, sanitation, _ irrigation,
hydropower, navigation, flood control, and recreation, including the enhancement and
maintenance of water quality, conservation of watersheds, control of water pollution, and
environmental restoration, without compromising the natural
ecosystem functions and services;

d) Manage the ownership, appropriation, utilization, exploitation,
development, conservation, and protection of water resources and rights to land
related thereto and their competing demands;

) Undertake and coordinate with other agencies and government entities in
data gathering, scientific research, and studies on water resources management and
development, and conduct nationwide hydrologic surveys to determine the annual
renewable water available per water region;

f) Formulate and enforce rules and regulations in administration
and management of the country's water resources and implement rules and guidelines
for the enforcement of water-related laws;

g) Conduct continuing surveys and studies of the country's renewable water supply
with a view towards formulation long-term policies to balance the sustainability and
optimal use of water resources, defining the hydrologic boundaries of basins of the

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existing water supply sources, and creating and implementing countrywide master plans
for water resources management and
development;

h) Coordinate with and assist other government agencies in all aspects of
data gathering, conduct studies and research, and classify and establish water quality
standards for surface and ground water, including national standards for drinking water
and wastewater effiuence in coordination with relevant agencies;

i) Coordinate with other relevant agencies to engage in flood control and flood risk
management, formulate integrated water resources management (IWRM) policies and
plans, and coordinate the implementation, promotion, revision, and enhancement of
IWRM plans;

j) Regulate and control the utilization, exploitation, abstraction, diversion, and
development of water resources, taking into its equitable distribution, and determine the
standards of beneficial and priority uses of water in times of crisis and national
emergencies; and

k) Coordinate with other relevant government agencies and develop policies
and plans in respect of water resources.

11 Operational and Technical Powers

a) Provide technical assistance to water, irrigation, sewer and sanitation users,
whether directly or in coordination with other agencies, to assist them in applying for water

and irrigation permits and providing data on water, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation
resource usage;

b) Plan, design, construct, and/or improve all types of irrigation projects
and appurtenant structures;

c) Operate, maintain, and administer all national irrigation systems (NIS);

d) Supervise the operation, maintenance, and repair, or otherwise, administer
temporarily all communal and pump irrigation systems constructed, improved, and/or
repaired wholly or partially with government funds;

e) Delegate the partial or full management of NIS to duly organized cooperatives or
associations;

f) Construct multiple-purpose water resources projects designed primarily
for irrigation, and secondarily for hydraulic power development and/or other uses such as.
flood control, drainage, land reclamation, domestic water supply, roads and highway
construction, and reforestation, among others, Provided, that the plans, designs, and the
construction thereof, shall be undertaken in coordination with the agencies concerned

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g) In coordination with other relevant government agencies, develop
and implement effective codes, standards and reasonable guidelines to ensure the safety
of all public and private structures in the country and assure efficiency and proper quality
in the construction of water, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation infrastructures;

h) Coordinate with relevant government agencies, including the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources, to ensure that the agencies’ respective standards
complement each other when taken as part of a larger whole;

i) Provide the works supervision function for all public works construction
and ensure that actual construction is done in accordance with approved government
plans and specifications;

j) Assist other government agencies, including LGUs, in determining the
most suitable entity to undertake the actual construction of water, irrigation, sewage, and
sanitation projects;

k) Maintain and cause to be maintained all flood control, development systems,
irrigation systems, and other public works throughout the country except those that are
the responsibility of other agencies as directed by the President of the Philippines or as.
provided by law; and

|) Provide integrated planning for flood control, flood risk management, and
water resource development and management systems, other public works;

lll. General Powers

a) Issue and promulgate rules, regulations, and guidelines as may be necessary to
implement and enforce its powers and functions under this Act;

b) Determine and require the monitoring and submission of such data,
statistics, and other information as may be necessary for the effective and
efficient exercise of its duties, functions, powers and responsibilities;

c) Appoint, hire, and maintain adequate staff and personnel, advisers,
and/or consultants, with suitable qualifications and experience, as necessary;

d) Manage funds coursed through it under General Appropriations Act intended as
financial assistance to LWDs or LGUs for the development and/or improvement of water
supply and sanitation facilities;

e) Exercise such other powers and functions necessary or incidental to
the effective administration and management of the country's water, irrigation, sewage,
and sanitation resources;

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f) Exercise such other incidental powers and functions as may be necessary
to attain the objectives of this Act; and

g) Carry such other functions as the President may from time to time assign to
the Department consistent with the aims and provisions of this Act.

SEC. 6. Secretary of the Department of Water, Sewage, and Sanitation. - The
authority and responsibility for the exercise of the mandate of the Department and for the
discharge of its powers and functions shall be vested in the Secretary of the Department
of Water, Sewage and Sanitation, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, who shall have
supervision and control over the Department and shall be appointed by the President. For
such purposes, the Secretary shall:

a) Advise the President on the promulgation of executive or administrative
orders, regulations, proclamations, and other issuances relative to matters under
the jurisdiction of the Department;

b) Establish the policies and standards for the operation of the
Department pursuant to the President's guidelines;

c) Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out Department objectives,
policies, and functions;

d) Exercise supervision and control over all Bureaus and Offices under
the Department;

e) Supervise all attached agencies and corporations in accordance with law;

f) As deemed appropriate by the Secretary, delegate authority for the performance
of any power or function, as defined herein or as delegated by the President, to officers
and employees under his direction, and

g) Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be provided by law

SEC. 7. Office of the Secretary. — The Office of the Secretary shall be composed
of the Secretary and his immediate staff.

SEC. 8. Undersecretaries. — The Secretary shall be assisted by not more than
five (5) Undersecretaries, who shall be appointed by the President upon the
recommendation of the Secretary, as follows:

1) Undersecretary for Finance and Administration;

2) Undersecretary for Policy, Coordination, and Regulation;

3) Undersecretary for Planning and Engineering Services;

4) Undersecretary for Technical and Financial Assistance Services; and
5) Undersecretary for Operations.

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Within her/his functional area of responsibility, an Undersecretary shall have the
following functions:

a) Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and implementation of
Department policies, plans, programs, and projects;

b) Supervise all the operational activities of the units assigned to her/him, for which
she/he is responsible to the Secretary; and

c) Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or delegated
by the Secretary to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of public services
or as may be required by law.

SEC. 9. Assistant Secretaries. - The Secretary shall also be assisted by one
Assistant Secretary for Internal Audit and the five (5) Undersecretaries shall each be
assisted by not more than three (3) Assistant Secretaries likewise appointed by the
President of the Philippine upon the recommendation of the Secretary.

SEC. 10. Organizational Structure. — The Department shall be composed of the
following organization units:

a) Department Proper consisting of the Office of the Secretary, the Offices of
the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, the Internal Audit, Finance Service,
Administrative Service, Planning and Engineering Services, Regulatory and Financial
Assistance Services; and Operations, and

b) Regional Offices, as deemed appropriate and necessary by the Secretary

SEC. 11. Internal Audit. — The Internal Audit is hereby created for the Purpose of
conducting comprehensive audit of various Department activities and shall have the
following specific functions:

a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to management control and
operations audit;

b) Conduct management and operations performance audit of
Department activities and units and determine as to compliance with established
objectives, policies, methods and procedures, government regulations, and
contractual obligations of the Department;

c) Review and appraise systems and procedures, organizational structure,
assets management practices, accounting, and other records, reports, performance
standards of the Department of Proper and Regional Offices;

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d) Analyze and evaluate manager
to solve problems by recommending re:

nt deficiencies and assist top management
tic courses of action; and

) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned
or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

SEC. 12. Finance Service. — The Finance Services is hereby created to provide
the Department with coordinated services relating to financial systems and procedures,
budget, cash, accounting, and all financial matters not falling under other Services. For
such purposes, it shall have the following functions:

a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to the accounting of government
expenditures and receipts, budgeting and cash management, project finances, and
financial systems and procedures;

b) Prepare budget proposals and pursue formal budget authorizations,
undertake budget execution, and prepare and submit all appropriate reports to the
proper offices;

c) Develop and maintain accounting, financial, and assets management
systems, procedures, and practices in the Department Proper and Regional Offices in
accordance with the existing government accounting and auditing rules and regulations;

d) Provide assistance in its area of specialization to any unit of the Department

and, when requested, to government corporations, councils, and boards attached to the
Department; and

€) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned
or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

SEC. 13. Administrative Service. - The Administrative Service is hereby created
to provide the Department with services relating to human resources development,
Personnel records, facilities maintenance, medical and dental, gender and development

(GAD), security, property and procurement services. For such purposes, it shall have the
following functions:

a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to internal administration and human
resources management;

b) Prepare and implement an integrated personnel plan that shall
include provisions on merit promotion, performance evaluation, job rotation, suggestions
and incentive awards systems, and health and welfare services;

c) Provide services related to human resource training, education,

and development, including manpower, career planning and forecasting
and development of indigenous training materials;

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4) Prepare and/or implement Department GAD plans and budgets and
GAD accomplishment reports;

e) Develop, establish, and maintain an efficient and cost-effective
property procurement system and facilities and coordinate or otherwise interface with
relevant agencies, whether government or private, for the purpose of developing or
upgrading the system;

f) Secure and maintain necessary Department facilities, and develop,
establish, and maintain an efficient and effective security system covering, among others,
personnel, physical installations, equipment, documents, and materials, including the
conduct of security investigations;

g) Coordinate with the appropriate government agencies for a more
efficient conduct of administrative processes;

h) Develop, establish and maintain an efficient records system;

i) Provide assistance in its area of specialization to the Department Proper
and Regional Offices and, when requested, the government agencies and corporations
attached to the Department; and

j) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

SEC. 14. Planning and Engineering Services. — The Planning and Engineering
Services is hereby created to provide the Department with the capability to undertake

infrastructure development planning, programming and implementation. For this purpose,
it shall have the following functions:

a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to infrastructure planning
and implementation;

b) Formulate strategies and priorities for infrastructure development consistent
with national development objectives and initiate or undertake relevant surveys for
development planning;

c) Formulate and implement long-range, medium-term and annual
development plans and programs for infrastructure, including flood control, water
resource development systems, and other public works projects, including phasing of
implementation and review and integrate land use plans with such water

development plans;

d) Identify and implement priority packages for _ infrastructure
development, including flood control, water resource development systems, and other

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public works projects, and undertake or supervise and evaluate the conduct of feasibility
studies and project preparation and implementation thereof;

e) Prioritize project implementation and the allocation of funds and other resources
and package project proposals for funding and implementation;

f) Evaluate and appraise all reginal interregional infrastructure development plans
and programs as to their feasibility and consistency with approved strategies and long
and medium-term plans;

9) Initiate regular Department-wide planning exercises and act as the
secretariat thereof

h) Gather, analyze, and organize needed statistical data and information;

i) Provide technical assistance related to its functions to the other Services and
Regional Offices as needed; and

j) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

SEC. 15. Regulatory and Financial Assistance Services. — The Regulatory and
Financial Assistance Services is hereby created to provide the Department with services
on all legal affairs, compliance of attached government corporations, LWDs, RWSAs,
cooperatives, and other associations, including private entities under contractual or
concession arrangement with them, and other private water service providers on the
established standards, rules and regulations relating to: water quality; infrastructure and
facilities design and construction; equipment, materials and supplies, operations and
maintenance; personnel, organization, accounting; tariffs; and other matters subject to
regulation. It shall also provide the Department services on the management of the
financial assistance available and granted to LWDs and RWSAs. For this purpose, it shall
have the following functions:

a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to legal affairs and regulation of
the operation of the attached corporations; LWDs RWSAs, cooperatives and
other associations;

b) Provide legal assistance to the Department Proper and Regional Offices
and, when requested, the attached corporations and boards;

c) Prepare Department contracts and legal instruments, review of
administrative charges against officers and employees of the Department, members of
the top management of the attached corporations and boards;

d) Conduct administrative investigation as well as the review of administrative

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charges against officers and employees of the Department, members of the
top management of the attached corporations and boards;

e) Exercise functional jurisdiction over the legal staffs of Regional Offices;

f) Establish standards for: water quality; design and construction of
facilities; optimum selection of equipment, materials and supplies, procedures for
Operations and maintenance of water and sewer equipment and facilities; training of
personnel; organization; uniform accounting system; tariffs;

g) Review all water rates or charges;

h) Manage the financial assistance available and granted to LWDs, RWSAs
and other qualified water utilities.

SEC. 16. Operations. - The Operations is hereby created to provide the
Department through Regional Offices with the capability to plan, design, and implement
Projects for water resource development systems, irrigation, flood control, and other
Public works in different regions of the country. For this purpose, it shall have the following
functions:

a) Undertake and evaluate the planning, design, construction, and
works supervision functions of the Department for the abovementioned
infrastructure within the region;

b) Undertake the maintenance of the abovementioned infrastructure within
the region and supervise the maintenance of such local infrastructure receiving national
government financial assistance as the Secretary may determine;

c) Ensure the implementation of laws, policies, programs, rules and
regulations regarding the abovementioned infrastructure as well as public and
private physical structures;

4) Provide technical assistance related to their functions to other agencies
within the region;

e) Coordinate with other departments, agencies, institutions, and organizations
within the region, in the planning and implementation of infrastructure projects;

f) Conduct continuing consultations with the local communicates, take appropriate
measures to make the services of the Department responsive to the needs of the general
public, compile and submit such information to the central office, and recommend such
appropriate actions as may be necessary;
and

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g) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned
or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

SEC. 17. Regional Director. — Each Regional Office shall be headed by a
Regional Director who shall be responsible for efficiently and effectively carrying out the
duties and responsibilities of the Regional Office. She/he shalll also perform such other
related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or delegated by the Secretary or
as may be required by law.

The Regional Director shall be assisted by two (2) Assistant Regional Directors
who shall exercise supervision respectively over (1) the planning, project design,
evaluation, and technical assistance functions of the Regional Office, and (2) the
construction, maintenance, and works supervision functions in the region.

CHAPTER III
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

SEC. 18. Interface with Other Sector Regulators. - The Department is
mandated to coordinate with the different sector regulators as follows:

a) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall
continue to have the primary authority and responsibility for protecting the
environment and for the conservation of water and related natural resources, including
protecting water bodies from waste and pollution and shall promulgate rules, regulates,
and standards in this regard. The Department shall coordinate with the DENR with
respect to the conservation of water resources, protection from sewage and septage
waste, and restoration from environment damage.

b) The Department of Health (DOH) shall have primary authority and
responsibility for determining and enforcing drinking water quality and sanitation
standards. The Department shall coordinate with the DOH to achieve an integrated
approach for sanitation, including toilets, collection, treatment, and evaluation of
wastewater

c) The Department shall subsume responsibility from the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for wholly or primarily water-related public works
projects including flood control, water resources development, sewerage, sanitation, and
the hamessing and impounding of water. The Secretaries of each department shall
coordinate on the development of evaluation criteria, as necessary, to determine proper
allocation of public works projects between the two departments.

d) The Department shall absorb the responsibility from the Department of

Interior and Local Government (DILG) on the management and operation of water supply
systems of local government units.

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SEC. 19. Transfer of Rights and Obligations. — The Department, shall by virtue
of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights, and assume all the obligations of the relevant
parts of any government agency or unit whose powers and duties have been transferred
to the Department, including the DPWH, National Irrigation Administration (NIA), National
Water Resources Board (NWRB), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System
(MWSS), Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), Metro Manila Development
Authority (MMDA), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The transfer of powers and functions in SEC. 18 above, as applicable, and
agencies attached thereto, as herein provided for, shall take effect within one hundred
eighty (180) days after the effectivity of this Act. The foregoing transfer of powers and
functions shall include all applicable funds, personnel, records, pro as may be necessary
All offices shall continue to function under their present mandates until transition is
effected as provided for under this Act.

All rights and obligations of said government agencies are hereby transferred to
and assumed by the Department and shall be acted upon in accordance with the rules
and regulations of the Commission on Audit and other pertinent laws, rules, and
regulations.

SEC. 20. Separation from Service. — Employees separated from government
service as a result of this Act shall be entitled to the benefits that they may receive under
existing laws, rules, and regulations.

SEC. 21. Funding. — The sum of One Billion Pesos (P 1,000,000,000. 00) shall be
set aside from any available funds of the National Treasury, and is hereby appropriated
and authorized to be released, for the organization of the Department and its initial
Operations. Thereafter, funds sufficient to fully carry out the objectives, powers, and
functions of the Department shall be appropriated every fiscal year in the General
Appropriations Act.

The Department shall submit its annual budget, which shall include, among others,
detailed information on the compensation and benefits received by their employees to the
Office of the President for approval

SEC. 22, Separability Clause. — {f any provisions or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 24. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation with its Implementing

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Rules and Regulations promulgated by the MPPPC within sixty (60) days from the formal
organization of the Council.

Approved.

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