NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.
Menace
o( tije #:'(>rvrtnrp
‘22 JUL-7 P2:15
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to Water.org, a global nonprofit organization working to bring water 
and sanitation to the world, out of 109 million Filipinos, 3 million rely on unsafe 
and unsustainable water sources and 7 million lack access to improved sanitation. 
On top of that, our water sources are constantly on tremendous pressure due to 
the ever-increasing demand of our population and a burgeoning economy. This is 
more pronounced during the dry season when many of our dams and water 
sources reach critical levels.
Aside from water sources problems, another issue that we face is the quality 
of water from our sources. The quality of water from many areas continue to 
deteriorate due to several factors, among them is pollution.
These problems and issues are difficult to resolve when the government has 
more than 30 different agencies or units that have water-related functions or deal 
with water issues. To effectively implement the Philippines' roadmap to achieve 
universal water and sanitation services coverage by 2028 and achieve synergy and 
close coordination among agencies with water-related functions, it is imperative to 
have a department that will house all these agencies with water-related fucntions.
This bill seeks to create the Department of Water Resources. This Department 
once created, will be the lead agency to implement the country's policies and 
programs on water. It will have the whole-of-government approach in dealing 
with water issues. It will provide synergy, close coordination among government 
agencies and synchronize all the government's policies and programs on water.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is urgently sought.
MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 87
of itjr
■22 JUL-7 P2.-16
RE€HfViEe BY
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SEC. 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Department of Water 
Resources Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is 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 the protection and sustainability of the environment.
SEC. 3. The Department of Water Resources. - There is hereby created and 
established a Department of Water Resources, herein referred to as the "Department" 
which shall be organized within one hundred twenty (120) days after the effectivity of 
this Act.
SEC. 4. Objectivesr Duties and Powers of the Department of Water 
Resources. —
(a) Formulate, recommend, and implement national policies, plans, programs, that 
will establish systematic and efficient water management and ensure the 
availability of water for specific purposes in the country;
(b) Integrate the different agencies of the government that have water-related 
functions into the Department of Water Resources;


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(c) Create and update a road map of river and water sources;
(d) Conduct continuing surveys and studies of the country's renewable water 
supply with a view towards formulating long-term policies to balance the 
sustainability and optimal use of water resources, defining the hydrologic 
boundaries of basis of the existing water supply sources, and create and 
implement countrywide master plans for water resources management and 
development;
(e) Regulate and control the utilization, exploitation, abstraction, diversion, and 
development of water resources, taking into account is equitable distribution, 
and determine the standards of beneficial and priority uses of water in times 
of crisis and national emergencies;
(f) Assist and provide the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 
with required date and inputs from and for the water sector in the formulation 
of the country's short-term and long-term strategic development plans and 
actions;
(g) Require all private individuals, corporations and government agencies affecting 
water resources and the construction of hydraulic facilities in watershed or 
basin areas of water supply sources to obtain a permit to construct such 
facilities from the Department;
(h) Conduct and continue studies pertaining to water use, exploitation, 
development, conservation or protection of waters, water resources, and 
watershed or basin areas;
(i) Enter any property of public dominion or any private land or building for the 
purpose of conducting hydrologic surveys and investigations and to determine 
compliance with water laws and standards;
(]) Issue and promulgate rules, regulations, and guidelines as may be necessary 
to implement and enforce its powers and functions under this Act;
(k) Ensure and protect the rights and welfare of consumers;
(l) Exercise such other acts as are incident to or appropriate and necessary in 
connection with the creation of the Department.
SEC. 5. Secretary of the Department of Water Resources. —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 Water Resources.


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SEC. 6. Office of the Secretary. -The Office of the Secreatry shall be composed 
of the Secretary and his/her immediate staff.
SEC. 7. 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:
a. One for Finance Service;
b. One for Administrative Service;
c. One for Planning and Engineering Services;
d. One for Regulatory and Financial Assistance Services; and
e. One for Operations
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 ail the operational activities of the units assigned to her/him, for 
which she/he is responsible to the Secretary.
SEC. 8. 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 shall 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.
SEC. 9. 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, 
regulations 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;


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(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 harnessing 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.
SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred eighty 
(180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department, in consultation with the 
concerned government agencies, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and 
regulations for the implementation of this Act: Provided^ That such implementing rules 
and regulations shall only take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation.
SEC. 11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be sourced 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.


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SEC. 12. Separability Clause. —If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. -The provisions of any law, whether general or 
special, rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent 
with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 14. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,