Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 5248

Introduced by Hon. Delphine Gan Lee

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Constitution, Article II, Section 15 provides:

‘The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people
and instill health consciousness among them.

‘The Philippines is a country that is often hit by typhoons and other forms of heavy
precipitation, This causes flooding in most parts of the country. There is a need to protect
children who wander into culverts or drainage systems particularly when an area is flooded

and the drainage system can hardly be seen.

‘This bill seeks to have a uniform standard of safeguards that will be required of all
governmental entities. It will prevent accidents involving people who sustain injuries or even
die by falling into culverts and other similar forms of drainage. Hence, the immediate passage

of this bill is earnestly requested.

HO) IE GAN LEE
Représentativg/AGRI Party-List


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5248

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon, Delphine Gan Lee

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR SAFETY MEASURES FOR CULVERTS
OR OTHER SIMILAR FLOOD OR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
MAINTAINED BY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.

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

SECTION 1, Short Title. — This Act shall be referred to as the “The Culvert Safety

Act of 2014.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — it is the policy of the State to promote the
general welfare of the people, Pursuant to this policy, the State shall provide for safety
measures for culverts or other similar flood drainage systems managed by governmental

entities.

SECTION 3. Duty of Governmental Entities, — Every governmental entity shall:
(A) Ensure that the intake to each culvert or other enclosed flood or drainage system.
that the entity is responsible for maintaining is protected by a bar, grate, or other appropriate

covering sufficient to ensure that a child may not be swept into the system;
(B) Ensure that a sign warning of the hazard for a child, including the danger for
injury or drowning, is clearly posted at the intake to each culvert or other enclosed flood or

drainage system that the entity is responsible for maintaining;


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(C) Ensure that each culvert or other enclosed flood or drainage system that the entity
is responsible for maintaining has a hinged opening or other type of opening and closing
mechanism to permit emergency services personnel to access the system.

For purposes of this Act, the term culvert shall mean a sewer or drain crossing under a

road or embankment, the part of a road or embankment that passes over such a sewer or

drain, or the channel or conduit for such a sewer or drain,

SECTION 4. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions thereof shall remain valid and

effective.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, proclamations, rules

and regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby

repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take eff

ct fifteen (15) days from

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

Approved.