Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No,__ 3789

Introduced by Honorable Sharon S. Garin

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to require the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Agriculture,
and Agrarian Reform to allocate a minimum of two percent (2%) of their respective annual
budget on capital outlay and the National Irrigation Administration to earmark a minimum of ten
percent (10%) of its annual budget on capital outlay for the construction of small scale irrigation
structures and technologies and its appurtenant structures such as cistern, drilled wells, irrigation
distribution facilities, pump irrigation system from open sources, rain water collectors, rain water
harvesting, shallow tube wells, small farm reservoir, watershed, dam and reservoir area,
diversion dam, embankment dam, earth-fill dam, and all other small-scale irrigation structures
and technologies as defined by the National Irrigation Administration.

In the rural landscape, water is of extreme importance because of its economic value,
propping up farm irrigation, livestock, dairy units, and the like. But in the face of climate change
and growing population, among others, water has become a short supply commodity and is now
considered a liquid gold. As the demand for water due to competing uses increase vis-d-vis its
decreasing supply, marginalized stakeholders are caught in its whiplash, especially our small
farmers.

In this light, it is necessary to ensure a consistent and sufficient supply of water to the
irtigable lands of the small farmers by pouring in equally consistent and sufficient allocation to
the construction of small-scale irrigation structures and technologies such as small water
impounding projects (SWIP), which can be narrowed down to watersheds, dams and reservoirs,
and irrigation distribution facilities. Equipping our small farmers with small scale irrigation
structures and technologies will ensure a steady supply of water to the farmers regardless of the
season and will play a great role in boosting their cropping intensity and yield.


Several laws have been enacted for the construction of small scale irrigation projects.
Based on the provisions of Republic Act No. $435 or the Agriculture and Fishery Modernization
Act of 1997, the Department of Agriculture through its Bureau of Soil and Water Management,
is responsible for the delivery of technical assistance in relation to dams 15 meters and below.
This includes the construction of SWIPs and diversion dams. Moreover, BSWM undertakes the
provision of pump irrigation system from open sources (PISOS), shallow tubewell, and small
farm reservoir.

On the other hand, Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) is one of the major
endeavors of the National Irrigation Administration. This project is mandated by Letter of
Instruction No. 898 series of 1979 which was issued to ensure the effective and coordinated
implementation of programs of small catchment basins and impounding reservoir under the
National Infrastructure Program. Said program was envisioned to “develop and control water in a
small scale for multiple use particularly flood control, irrigation, water supply, power generation
and erosion control”.

Republic Act 6717 was also promulgated for the construction of 100,000 water wells,
rainwater collectors, development of springs and rehabilitation of existing water wells. However,
two decades have passed and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has not
adhered to the letter of the law, falling below par the prescribed targets and timeframe.

Despite the enactment of the laws for small scale irrigation, the different government
agencies involved do not perform their functions effectively and efficiently primarily because of
lack of funds.

Moreover, there is too much focus on large-scale irrigation to the detriment of small and
marginalized farmers, who critically need more attention and support. Apart from insufficient
funding, small scale irrigation projects also suffer from inconsistent funding. The allocation for
the construction of small scale irrigation structures and technologies fluctuates year by year,
rising and falling by tens of millions.

With the approval of this bill, the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Agrarian
Reform and Agriculture will be required to set aside two percent (2%) of their annual budget on
capital outlay for the construction of small scale irrigation structures and technologies. Likewise,
NIA will be required to earmark ten percent (10%) of its annual budget on capital outlay for the
construction of small scale irrigation projects. This is an assurance that consistent and sufficient
funding will be poured into small-scale irrigation projects accordingly enhancing agricultural
productivity.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is highly recommended.



Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.__ 3789

Introduced by Honorable Sharon S. Garin

AN ACT
MANDATING THE DEPARTMENTS OF PUBLIC WORKS AND
HIGHWAYS, AGRICULTURE AND AGRARIAN REFORM TO
ALLOCATE A MINIMUM OF TWO PERCENT (2%) OF THEIR
RESPECTIVE ANNUAL BUDGET ON CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION STRUCTURES AND
TECHNOLGIES AND FOR THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION
ADMINISTRATION TO EARMARK TEN PERCENT (10%) OF ITS
ANNUAL BUDGET ON CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR THE SAME PURPOSE.

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

SECTION 1. The Departments of Public Works and Highways, Agriculture
and Agrarian Reform are hereby mandated to allocate a minimum of two percent
(2%) of their respective annual budget on capital outlay for the construction of
small scale irrigation structures and technologies and its appurtenant structures
such as cistern, drilled wells, irrigation distribution facilities, pump irrigation
system from open sources, rain water collectors, rain water harvesting, shallow
tube wells, small farm reservoir, watershed, dam and reservoir area, diversion dam,
embankment dam, earth-fill dam, and all other small-scale irrigation structures and
technologies as defined by the National Irrigation Administration.


The National Irrigation Administration is likewise mandated to earmark a
minimum of ten percent (10%) of its annual budget on capital outlay for its small
scale irrigation projects.

Thereafter, such sum as maybe necessary for the operation and maintenance
of these small scale irrigation projects shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect after its publication in two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,