Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _________ 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE LORDAN G. SUAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
We are surrounded by water. In fact, almost seventy percent (70%) of the earth’s 
surface is covered with water. Two percent (2%) of it, is freshwater. However, only one 
percent (1%) of our freshwater can be accessed. The rest is trapped in snowfields and 
glaciers. This tiny fraction of accessible freshwater caters to around 6.8 billion people. 
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations 
Children’s Fund (UNICEF), “2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking 
water services, almost 2 billion people depend on health care facilities without basic water 
services, and 297,000 children under five die from diarrheal disease, every year, due to poor 
sanitation, poor hygiene, or unsafe drinking water.” In the 2021 Report of the United Nations – 
Water, 2.3  billion people live in countries with water stress level, of which 733 million are in 
high and critically water-stressed countries. Around seventy percent (70%) of the world’s water 
withdrawal is supplied to agriculture. However, based on the 2020 Report of the UN Food and 
Agriculture Organization (FAO), 3.2 billion people from agricultural areas suffer from water 
scarcity, 1.2 billion of whom are in severely water-stressed areas. Water stress basically means 
that the demand for safe and usable water exceeds the supply. 
The Philippines is in a near-crisis water situation. Several areas in the country 
suffer from water shortage and intermittent water supply. Metro Manila severely 
suffered a two-week water crisis in 2019.  
According to Water.Org, 3 million Filipinos rely on unsafe water sources. One out 
of ten Filipinos do not have access to safe water sources, based on a study conducted of 
the WHO. The Philippine Journal of Science published a study stating that three (3) 
years from now, seventeen (17) out of the twenty (20) major river basins in the country 
will experience water shortage.  
We heavily rely on our surface and ground water sources for household and 
industrial use. The growing population, rapid urbanization and accelerated economic 
development increase the demand for water supply. The competing demands of 
agriculture and industries induce water stress and deplete the aquifers. Additionally, 
pollution, watershed degradation, indiscriminate land use plan and climate change 
affect our water quality and quantity. Most of our urban rivers are now heavily polluted. 
In fact, fifty (50) major rivers are now considered biologically dead.  
November 24, 2022
3:00 pm
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It is, therefore, imperative that we prepare for this impending crisis. We need a 
sustainable and effective development and management plan for our limited water 
resource. We need the necessary infrastructures to bring our plans into fruition.  
Water is essential. As a matter of fact, water is life.  
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this Bill is earnestly, sought. 
HON. LORDAN G. SUAN 
      1st District 
     Cagayan de Oro City 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _________ 
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE LORDAN G. SUAN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
AN ACT CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, 
DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THERFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Chapter I:  GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Department of Water Resources 
Act OF 2022.” 
SECTION 2.  Declaration of Policy.  It is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure 
the provision of safe, adequate, affordable and sustainable water supply and improved 
sanitation services, while maintaining the protection, preservation and revival of the 
quality of the country’s water resources and ecological balance.”   
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms are hereby 
defined: 
a) Department refers to the Department of Water Resources
b) Flood Control refers to methods, acts and protocols to be observed in order to
prevent and reduce the detrimental and catastrophic effects of flood waters
which include sediment-laden or turbid flows, hyper-concentrated flows or
debris flows.
c) Flood Risk Management (FRM) refers to such acts of defining and determining
the appropriate methods, acts and protocols aimed at preventing and reducing
the risk of incurring loss of both life and property due to flood waters.  Flood risk
management consists of a cycle of prevention, mitigation, adaptation,
preparedness and early warning, and, finally response and recovery.  The
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elements of FRM include: integrating land-use planning, coastal zone 
management into water management; adopting a holistic approach so that FRM 
is part of wider risk or multi-hazard management (earthquake, landslides, storm 
surge, etc);  managing risk and uncertainty as a whole so it is not only 
hydrological uncertainties but also social, economic and political uncertainties in 
view of the human behavior and cultural dimensions of FRM.   
d) Gender Equality refers to the principle asserting the equality of men and 
women and their right to enjoy equal conditions realizing their full human 
potentials to contribute to and benefit from the results of development, and with 
the State recognizing that all human beings are free and equal in dignity and 
rights. 
e) “Infrastructure and public works” as used in this Act should be read to apply 
only to wholly 33 or primarily water-related projects and shall not be read to 
incorporate projects which 34 would not otherwise fall within the purview of the 
objectives, power and duties of the 35 Department. 
f) IWRM refers to the Integrated Water Resource Management or to a systematic, 
38 collaborative and multi-stakeholder process, which promotes the coordinated 
39 development and management of water, land and related resources within 
geophysical boundaries in order to maximize the resultant economic and social 
welfare in an equitable 1 manner and without compromising the sustainability of 
vital ecosystems. 
g) Levels of Water Supply Service shall mean as follows: 
Level I (point source) – a protected well or a developed spring with an 
outlet but without any distribution system, generally adaptable for rural 
and upland areas where the houses 6 are thinly scattered. A Level 1 
facility usually serves an average of 15 households. 
Level II (communal faucet system or stand posts) – a system composed of a 
water source, a reservoir, a piped distribution network, and communal 
faucets. Usually, one faucet serves 4 to 6 households. Generally suitable 
for rural and urban fringe areas where houses are clustered densely to 
justify a simple piped system. 
Level III (waterworks system or individual house connections) – a system 
with a water source, a reservoir, a piped distribution network and 
household taps. This is generally suited for densely populated urban 
areas. 
h) LGU refers to Local Government Unit or to the territorial and political 
subdivisions of the Philippines as defined under the 1987 Constitution of the 
Philippines, which includes provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays. 
i) NDRRMC refers to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council 


j) PDP refers to the country’s medium-term development called the Philippine 
Development Plan. 
k) RBO refers to multi-stakeholder River Basin Organization or to organizations 
which plan, coordinate and monitor activities within a river basin cluster. 
l) Sanitation refers to sewage, sanitation and septage management. 
m) Sediment management refers to control of sediment erosion and deposition in 
rivers, reservoirs and coastal zones through non-structural and structural 
measures and control works. 
n) SDG refers to the United Nation’s sustainable development goals. 
o) Septage refers to sludge produced on individual onsite wastewater disposal 
systems, principally septic tanks and cesspools. 
p) 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 purpose of this Act, the definition of septage shall be 
included in the use of sewage. 
q) 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. 
r) Sewers refer to pipes or such other works or structures which are built and 
constructed to treat, carry, transport and dispose sewage. 
s) Social inclusion refers to the process of improving the terms for disadvantaged 
individuals and groups to take part in society. 
t) Tariffs refer to such amounts which may be charged by licensees of water 
supply and/or sanitation services for their services based on principles, 
standards and guidelines established by the Department. 
u) Water Demand Management (WDM) refers to any method – whether technical, 
economic, administrative, financial, or social – that will accomplish one (or 
more) of the following things:  
(1) reduce the quantity or quality of water required to accomplish a 
specific task  
(2) adjust the nature of the task or the way it is undertaken so that it can 
be accomplished with less water or with lower quality water  


(3) reduce the loss in quantity or quality of water as it flows from source 
through use to disposal  
(4) shift the timing of use from peak to off-peak periods  
(5) increase the ability of the water system to continue to serve society 
during times when water is in short supply. 
v) Water Resources Regional Offices (WRROs) - refer to the field office of the 
Department which are to be established in accordance with the identified water 
resources regions in the country. 
w) Water Service Providers (WSPs) refer to the water districts, any LGU-run 
water utility, BWSA, RWSA, cooperatives and private sector who provides water 
supply services to any given area. 
x) Water supply service refers to any activity comprising Levels I, II and III water 
supply 38 including bulk suppliers, suppliers to subdivisions and other water 
service providers.    
Chapter II.  ORGANIZATION  
SECTION 4. The Department of Water Resources. – There is hereby created and 
established the Department of Water Resources, hereinafter referred to as the 
“Department,” which shall be organized within one hundred eighty (180) days after the 
effectivity of this Act. The Department shall have the organizational structure, powers 
and functions needed to perform its mandate as provided in this Chapter. 
SECTION 5. Mandate of the Department. The Department shall be primary agency 
responsible for the comprehensive and integrated water resources development and 
management for the Philippines. It shall exercise such powers and functions needed to 
review, revise, harmonize and integrate policies and regulations for conservation of 
water resources and effective management of water supply, sanitation, irrigation, 
hydropower, flood control, stormwater/ urban drainage. The Department shall be 
guided by the integrated water resources management (IWRM) framework, take 
climate risks into account, and ensure sustainability of natural ecosystem functions and 
services. In managing water resources, the Department shall aim to improve water 
conservation and increase system efficiencies, and optimize the use of all freshwater in 
the country including groundwater, surface water, rainwater, run-offs, floods, 
stormwater and urban drainage, and treated wastewater to meet various needs.  
SECTION 6. Objectives of the Department. Consistent with its mandate, the Department 
shall have the following objectives: 
a) To prioritize and seek the immediate attainment of universal access to safe, 
adequate, affordable and sustainable water supply and improved sanitation 
services for all Filipinos in a manner consistent with the protection, preservation 
and revival of the quality of the country’s water resources, and to adopt all 
needed measures to advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful 
ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature; 


  
b) To strengthen and coordinate integrated water resources management 
planning and policy making to ensure sustainable and fair allocation and efficient 
use of water resources among competing uses and users, including but not 
limited to, domestic and municipal use, agriculture (irrigation, farming & 
fisheries), power generation, commercial, and industrial use; 
c) To ensure that integrated water resources management is strongly 
coordinated with land use/cover, coastal zone and multi-hazard planning and 
management. 
d) To ensure and oversee the implementation of the Water Code of the 
Philippines;  
e) To promote State participation in information sharing and education around 
best practices in the international movement to achieve universal access to safe 
water and improved sanitation and the integration of water, energy, food 
security and environment;  
f) To ensure that gender equality, social inclusion, climate resiliency and disaster 
risk reduction are integrated into any water resources management planning, 
policy making, and the design and construction of water infrastructure; 
g) To strengthen and coordinate policy making and planning for flood 
management, integrated with stormwater/urban drainage and appropriate 
retention or retarding basins in order to plan against, prevent, and minimize the 
detrimental and catastrophic effects of flooding; 
h) To encourage and enable private sector participation in the continued growth 
and development of water sector; 
i) To promote and adopt water demand management as a national policy to 
ensure that water is optimized, that water efficiency and conservation become a 
way of life, that the recycling and reuse of water and treated wastewater are 
widely practiced, that water is properly priced to encourage efficient use and 
conservation 
and 
that 
rainwater, 
flood 
waters, 
and 
run-offs 
are 
captured/harvested, stored and treated for future use; 
j) To ensure that the planning and design of water infrastructure considers the 
highest efficiency and most appropriate quality, in accordance with national 
development objectives; and 
k) To ensure the effective implementation of all the provisions of RA 9275, 
known as the Clean Water Act of the Philippines. 
SECTION 7. Powers and Duties of the Department. – The Department shall have the 
following powers and duties:  
I. Policy-making and Planning: 


a) Ensure that Integrated Water Resources Management is adopted as the 
strategic framework for water management policy-making and planning in the 
country and coordinate the implementation, promotion, revision and 
enhancement of IWRM plans; 
b) Provide policy direction, strategies, and targets in coordination with other 
relevant entities to meet the goals and objectives for water supply and 
sanitation, water quality, irrigation, hydropower, flood control, stormwater, and 
urban drainage. Such policies shall, among other things, integrate the issues of 
water and sanitation, food security, energy, environment and flood control; 
c) Formulate and develop policies to promote universal access to safe, adequate, 
affordable, and sustainable water supply, and improved sanitation services for 
all Filipinos; 
d) Formulate and promulgate rules and regulations for the development, and 
optimum utilization of water resources and its administration and management, 
including coherent water protocols and operation rules of all existing and future 
water infrastructure; and the imposition on fees or charges as may be deemed 
necessary by the Department for water resources development; 41 42  
e) Develop, in consultation with other agencies and stakeholders, the National 
Water Resources Management Master Plan following the IWRM framework and 
building on the 1998 Master Plan Study on Water Resources Management, the 
Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan and existing plans of other 
agencies; 
f) Conduct continuing hydrologic surveys and studies of the country’s renewable 
water supply, establish, operate and maintain observation station networks with 
a view towards formulating long-term policies to balance the sustainability and 
optimal multiple use of water resources, defining the hydrologic boundaries of 
basins of the existing water supply sources and developing or updating and 
implementing countrywide comprehensive basin-wide master plans; 
g) Establish, operate, and maintain a centralized water resources data center 
necessary for the scientific survey and appraisal of surface and ground water 
potentials of the country and determine the annual renewable water available 
per water resources region; 
h) Assist and provide the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 
secretariat with required data and input from and for the water sector in the 
formulation of the country’s short-term and long-term strategic development 
plans, and actions and recommend the adoption of general policies and 
guidelines for water resources development to the NEDA secretariat; 
i) Review and approve water resources development plans and programs of any 
agency within the context of the National Water Resource Management Master 
Plan and overall national plans and program; 


j) Regularly review regulations prescribed by any government agency pertaining 
to water use, exploitation, development, conservation or protection of waters, 
water resources, and watershed or basin areas; 
k) Develop and implement in coordination with other relevant agencies, effective 
codes, standards, benchmarks, and reasonable guidelines to ensure the safety of 
all public, and private water structures in the country and assure efficiency and 
proper quality in the construction of water, sanitation, irrigation, hydropower, 
flood control and drainage 34 infrastructure; 
l) Review existing guidelines appropriate for Private Sector Participation in the 
water sector and make needed recommendations to the PPP Center, NEDA and 
other concerned agencies to promote and enable more PPPs in the sector; 
m) Effect inter-sectoral, inter-agency, and inter-departmental coordination on all 
aspects of data gathering for water resources development planning and compel 
submissions of statistics and data on water management with the aim of 
operationalizing the integrated approach to water resources management; 
n) Issue and promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines as may be necessary to 
implement and enforce its powers and functions under this Act; 
II. Resource Regulation 
a) Manage, protect, and preserve the country’s water resources to ensure the 
optimal use thereof for domestic water supply, sanitation, irrigation, 
hydropower, 
navigation, 
flood 
control, 
and 
recreation, 
including 
the 
enhancement and maintenance of water quality, conservation of watershed, 
control of water pollution and environmental restoration, without compromising 
the natural ecosystem functions and services; 
b) Regulate and control the utilization, abstraction, diversion and development 
of water resources, taking in consideration its equitable distribution among 
competing demands and determine the standards of beneficial and priority uses 
of water in times of crisis and national emergencies; 
c) Determine, adjudicate, and grant water rights amending, for this purpose, Act 
No. 2152, and other laws relating to the appropriation and utilization of surface 
and groundwater; 
d) Formulate and enforce rules and regulations for the development and 
optimum use of water resources and its administration and management, and 
implement rules and guidelines for the enforcement of water-related laws 
including coherent water protocols, operational rules of all existing and future 
water infrastructure and appropriate sanctions to be imposed for non-
compliance; 
III. Administration and Management: 
a) Develop guidelines including rules of partnership among the Department, field 
offices of national government agencies, LGUs and other stakeholders, and 


facilitate the establishment of multi-stakeholder river basin organizations 
(RBOs) per river basin and strengthen and support existing RBOs and monitor 
their activities; 
b) Develop materials for capacity building and training on RBO development and 
conduct training and workshops for prospective river basins; 
c) Authorize its representatives or any deputized agent to enter any property of 
public dominion or any private land, building or enclave, whether inhabited or 
not, for the purpose of conducting hydrologic surveys and investigations, 
including assessing and evaluating the conditions of water facilities installed and 
determining compliance with water laws and standards; 
d) Provide technical assistance to water users including but not limited to 
farmers, communities, LGUs and other water service providers (WSP) whether 
directly or in coordination with other agencies on all aspects of integrated water 
resources management;   
e) Respond to consumer complaint/s, and ensure the adequate promotion of 
consumer interests; 
f) Deputize agents, whether from the public or private sector, to assist in the 
performance of any of the powers and functions of the Department; 
g) Appoint, hire and maintain adequate staff and personnel, advisers and/or 
consultants with suitable qualifications and experience, as necessary; 
IV. Coordination 
a) Coordinate and integrate, on a sound and logical basis, water resources 
development activities of the country within the context of national plans and 
policies for social and economic development; 
b) Coordinate with other government agencies, universities and private 
professional groups for all aspects of data gathering, the conduct of special 
studies and research on all related aspects of water resources management and 
development such as climate change, environmental quality, desalination, and 
the development of operating strategies, procedures, and protocols with 
accompanying computerized decision tools for major water facilities; 
c) Coordinate with the concerned and relevant agencies engaged in flood control, 
flood risk management and drought risk management; 
d) Proactively coordinate with Local Government Units to ensure the integration 
of water resources development plans into their comprehensive land use plans 
(CLUPs), Comprehensive Development Plans (CDPs) or Provincial Physical 
Framework and Development Plan (PPFDP). 
V. General or Others 
a) Exercise such other powers and functions necessary or incidental to the 
effective administration and management of the country’s water resources; and, 


b) Carry out such other functions as the President may from time to time assign 
to the Department consistent with the aims and provisions of this Act. 
  
SECTION 8. 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 the Department of Water 
Resources, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, who 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 8 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) Represent the Department in contracts, awards, and the like; 
g) As deemed appropriate by the Secretary, delegate authority for the 
performance of any power or function, as defined herein to officials and 
employees under his direction; and 
 
h) Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be provided by law. No 
person shall be appointed Secretary unless he possesses extensive knowledge of 
public administration and has a minimum of ten (10) years experience in the 
administration of water, sanitation, irrigation, flood control and drainage 
programs preferably in a public agency. 
 
SECTION 9. Office of the Secretary. – The Office of the Secretary shall be composed of the 
Secretary and his immediate staff. 
SECTION 10. 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. The Secretary is hereby authorized to delineate and 
assign the respective functional areas of responsibility of the Undersecretaries: 
Provided, that such responsibility shall be with respect to the mandate and objectives of 
the Department; and Provided further, that no Undersecretary shall be assigned 
primarily administrative responsibilities. Within 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 assigned units for which the 
Undersecretary 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.  
One (1) of the Undersecretaries shall be the Undersecretary for Planning and Policy 
who should be a Career Officer and shall have primary responsibility, in coordination 
with the Planning and Policy Service, for advancing efforts in the pursuit of the ultimate 
goal of universal access to water supply and sanitation systems and sustainable 
management of water resources. The Undersecretary for Planning and Policy shall also 
have the primary responsibility for knowledge sharing and advancement of efforts 
around the integration of water, energy, environment and food security.   
No person shall be appointed Undersecretary unless he possesses a working knowledge 
of public administration and has a minimum of seven (7) years of experience in the 
administration of water, sanitation, irrigation, flood control and stormwater drainage, 
preferably in a public agency or with legal, financial or financial knowledge of such 
programs; provided that only five (5) years of experience shall be required for the 
Undersecretary to be assigned for support services. 
SECTION 11. Assistant Secretaries. – The Secretary shall be assisted six (6) Assistant 
Secretaries appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of 
the Secretary: one to be responsible for Planning and Policy Service; one for Decision 
Support System Service; one for the Regulatory Service; one for the Comptrollership 
and Financial Management Service; one for the Legal and Legislative Service; and one 
for the Administrative and Human Resources Management Service.  
No person shall be appointed Assistant Secretary unless he possesses a working 
knowledge of public administration and has a minimum of five (5) years of experience 
in the administration of water, sanitation, irrigation, flood control and stormwater 
drainage or other water resources management programs.  
SECTION 12. Organizational Structure. – The Department shall be composed of the 
following organizational units:  
a) Department Proper consisting of the Office of the Secretary, the Offices of the 
Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, the Internal Audit Office, the Public 
Affairs Office, the Pollution Adjudication Board, the Planning and Policy Service, 
Decision Support System Service, Administrative and Human Resources Service, 
Legal and Legislative Service, Comptrollership and Financial Management 
Service and Resource Regulation Service. 
b) The Attached Agencies, namely: 


1) The Local Water Utilities Administration, whose mandate, powers and 
functions are defined in Presidential Decree No. 198, as amended and 
which will be transferred from DPWH and attached to the Department. It 
shall continue to be primarily a specialized lending institution for the 
promotion, development and financing of local water utilities. In the 
implementation of its functions, the Administration shall (a) prescribe 
minimum standards and regulations in order to assure acceptable 
standards of construction materials and supplies, maintenance, operation, 
personnel training, accounting and fiscal practices for local water utilities; 
(b) furnish technical assistance and personnel training programs for local 
water utilities; (c) monitor and evaluate local water standards; and (d) 
effect system integration, joint investment and operation, district 
annexation and de-annexation whenever economically warranted (As 
amended by 2 Sec. 22, PD 768). 
2) The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), whose 
mandates, powers and functions are defined by Republic Act No. 6324, as 
amended, and which will be transferred from the DPWH and attached to 
the Department. It will continue to facilitate the exercise by the 
concessionaires of its agency powers, carry out accounting and 
notification functions, monitor, report, and administer loans and perform 
related functions in connections with existing projects, manage and 
dispose its retained assets and manage and operate the Umiray-Angat 
Trans-basin Project.  
3) The National Irrigation Administration, whose mandate, power and 
functions are stated in Republic Act No. 3601, as amended and 
Presidential Decree No. 552, as amended and which will be transferred 
from the Office of the President and attached to the Department. It will: 
- plan, design, construct, and/or improve all types of irrigation 
projects and 18 appurtenant structures; 
- operate, maintain, and administer all national irrigation systems 
(NIS); 
- 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; 
- delegate the partial or full management of NIS to duly organized 
cooperatives or 24 associations; 
- 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; 
- charge and collect from the beneficiaries of the water from all 
irrigation systems constructed by or under its administration, such 
fees or administration charges as may be necessary to cover the 
cost of operation, maintenance, and insurance and recover the 
costs of construction within a reasonable period of time to the 
extent consistent with government policy; and 
- recover funds or portions thereof expended for the construction 
and/or rehabilitation of communal irrigation systems (CIS) which 
shall accrue to a special fund for irrigation development. 
4) The Laguna Lake Development Authority, whose mandate, powers and 
functions are laid out in Republic Act No. 4850, as amended which will be 
transferred from DENR 42 and attached to the Department.  It will 
continue to serve as the lake management and 43 development authority 
similar to a multi-stakeholder river basin organization and will ensure the 
implementation of the Laguna Lake Master Plan which will be updated by 
the Department to ensure alignment with the National Master Plan for 
Water Management.  Its regulatory powers will however be taken over by 
the Department. 
5) The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, which was created by 
Executive Order 5 No. 54, series of 1999, as amended which will be 
transferred from the Office of the 6 President and attached to the 
Department. It will update the existing master plan to ensure consistency 
with the National Water Resources Management Master Plan, regulate 
easement, integrate and coordinate development programs, abate 
industrial wastewater and sewerage dumping and enforce environmental 
laws, relocate formal and informal settlers, undertake civil works such as 
dredging, clearing of structures, cleaning of the river and its 
tributaries/esteros, prepare regular Status Report to the President, 
coordinate with other national and local government agencies/units and 
formulate its own  implementing rules and regulations. 
6) Any other agency exercising water resources management, 
conservation and protection functions which the President may order to 
be transferred to the Department; 
c) Water Resources Regional Offices, based on the 12 water resources regions of 
the country, as deemed appropriate and necessary by the Secretary. 
SECTION 13. Offices, functions, and personnel to be completely subsumed by the 23 
Department. 


The following offices with their powers, functions, personnel, applicable funds and 
appropriations, records, equipment and property are to be subsumed by the 
Department:  
a) The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) with all its divisions and 
sections, whose mandate, powers and functions are found in Presidential Decree 
No. 424, as amended; 
b) The River Basin Control Office (RBCO) of the DENR whose mandate, powers 
and functions are found in Executive Order No. 510 and Executive Order No. 816, 
as amended; 
c) The Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO) of the DENR which was created by 
virtue of DENR Special Order 2011-01 to coordinate the efforts of the 14 national 
agencies covered by the Mandamus Order of the Supreme Court to rehabilitate 
Manila Bay; 
d) The flood management planning and sediment management function of the 
Flood Control Management Cluster of the DPWH; and 
e) The Water Quality Management Section of the EMB of the DENR.   
SECTION 14. Functions to be transferred to the Department.   
a) The function of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR to 
conduct hydrological surveys; 
b) The monitoring of stream flow and other water data collection function of the 
Bureau of Design of the DPWH.  
SECTION 15. Planning and Policy Service. – The Planning and Policy Service is hereby 
created to provide the Department with the capability to undertake water 
infrastructure development planning and programming. For this purpose, it shall have 
the following functions: 
 
a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to water resources planning; 
b) Assist the Undersecretary for Planning and Policy on all matters related to the 
specific functions of the position; 
c) Formulate strategies and priorities for water resources management and 
development consistent with national development objectives and initiate or 
undertake relevant surveys for development planning; 
d) Develop and regularly update a comprehensive and integrated National Water 
Resources Management Master Plan and ensure its integration into existing land 
use plans; 
e) Coordinate river-basin planning following the integrated water resources 
management framework and the river-basin approach; 
f) Formulate or update existing River Basin Master (or comprehensive) Plans 
which includes all aspects of water management and development such as water 


supply and sanitation, irrigation, flood control and stormwater/urban drainage, 
drought risk management, water resource development systems and other 
public water works projects, including phasing of implementation; 
g) Based on the river basin master plan, identify priority packages for water 
infrastructure development  per river basin including water supply, sanitation, 
irrigation, flood control and stormwater/urban drainage, drought risk 
management, water resource development systems and other public works 
projects; package project proposals for funding and prioritize project 
implementation and the allocation of funds and other resources and undertake 
or supervise and evaluate the conduct of feasibility studies and project 
preparation thereof; 
h) Evaluate and appraise all regional and inter-regional infrastructure water 
development plans and programs as to their feasibility and consistency with 
approved strategies and long and medium-term plans;  
i) Initiate regular Department-wide planning exercises and act as the secretariat 
thereof; 
j) Gather, analyze and organize needed statistical data and information; 
k) Provide technical assistance related to its functions to the other Services, 
Bureaus and the Regional Offices as needed; 
l) Conduct of hydrologic and hydraulic surveys and assessments of surface 
waters; 
m) Develop general criteria and standards on project investigation, formulation, 
planning; 
n) Develop guidelines and standards on social inclusion in water resources 
management and ensure policies, programs and plans are compliant with the 
gender and development framework of the government; 
o) Closely coordinate with PAGASA for rainfall and other climate data which 
should be considered in the planning for water resources development and 
management and for various water infrastructure; and 
p) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
SECTION 16. Decision Support System Service. – The Decision Support System Service is 
hereby created to provide the Department with water resource management tools and 
computerized decision support system that incorporates data management system 
(acquisition and database) and model base (physical, design, planning and decision 
models). Additionally, the services include services related to networking, data 
management, and   information and knowledge/learning management systems for 
administrative and non-technical support for the department. The Service is also 
responsible for providing the Secretary timely reports on the status of various 


Department projects and activities. For this purpose, it shall have the following 
functions: 
a) Provide the Secretary needed data and processed information to aid in policy 
and management decisions under the mandate of the Department; 
b) Publish available real-time raw water data (through internet) as well as 
verified or validated water data (in print and/or electronic form through 
internet) in tabular and graphical displays as time series and/or spatial data; 
c) Conduct standard data analysis such as basic statistical analysis, trend 
analysis, analysis of runs, cluster analysis, etc. and also publish in print and/or 
electronic form;  
d) Develop and continuously update water resource management, computerized 
decision support system (DSS) that incorporates data management system 
(acquisition and database), model base (physical, design, planning and decision 
models), and user-friendly interface (graphical and visualization tools). This DSS 
is composed but not limited to: a measurement or data acquisition system; 
information or database management system; analytical and numerical models 
for design/planning and decision/evaluation purposes: and, finally, a user-
friendly interface which includes graphical interface or visualization tools. 
e) The specific models to be developed and maintained should include but not 
limited to the following: long-term climatologic and weather forecasting model; 
watershed models and river-floodplain models; groundwater models and 
coupled to surface water models; flood forecasting model for major rivers; 
optimization-simulation 
and/or 
management 
models 
for 
watershed 
conservation, conjunctive surface and groundwater use, irrigation scheduling, 
normal and emergency operations of multipurpose reservoirs; and, water quality 
and ecological models. 
f) Develop and manage the management information system and knowledge 
systems of the Department including the retrieval and processing of monitoring 
information on all projects and activities of concern to the Secretary and the web 
portal and conduct systems and process engineering, software development, 
software configuration management; develop and manage the Department’s 
corporate database, unified database for water industry, data warehouse, other 
water information resources, library services and document management and 
archiving services; develop and manage the Department’s ICT infrastructure and 
provide ICT related- services to the Department including computer networking 
and voice communications services and data exchange; manage the literacy and 
training services of the Department on various ICTs, KM tools and applications 
including information and knowledge management. 
g) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  


SECTION 17. Administrative and Human Resource Service. – The Administrative and 
Human Resource Service is hereby created to provide the Department with services 
relating to human resources development, personnel, records, facilities maintenance, 
medical and dental, security and 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 development plan that shall 
include provisions for merit promotions, performance evaluation, job rotation, 
suggestions and incentive awards systems, and health and welfare services; 
c) Provide services related to human resources training, education and 
development including manpower, career planning and forecasting, and 
development of indigenous training materials;  
d) 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; 
e) 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; 
f) Coordinate with the appropriate government agencies for a more efficient 
conduct of administrative processes; 
g) Develop, establish and maintain an efficient records system; 
h) Provide assistance in its area of specialization to the Department Proper, 
Bureaus and Regional and District Offices and, when requested, the government 
agencies and corporations attached to the Department; and 
i) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
SECTION 18. Legal and Legislative Service. – The Legal and Legislative Service is hereby 
created to provide the Department with services on such legal affairs as contract letting 
and litigation, legal and legislative research, complaints and investigation, legal 
counselling and other matters of law. For such purposes, it shall have the following 
functions:  
a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to legal and legislative affairs; 
b) Prepare Department contracts and legal instruments, review and interpret all 
contracts and agreements entered into by the Department and evaluate all legal 
proposals; 


c) Conduct administrative investigation as well as the review of administrative 
charges against officers and employees of the Department; 
d) Exercise functional jurisdiction over the legal staffs of Regional Offices; 
e) Provide legal assistance to the Department Proper, the Bureaus and Regional 
Offices and when requested, the attached corporations; 
f) Develop and prepare the Department’s Legislative Agenda, recommend 
presidential certification of the urgency of priority water bills, and other water-
related legislations;   
g) Coordinate and maintain linkages among the various offices, bureaus, regional 
offices and attached agencies to the DWR along with other government agencies 
on policy matters affecting the Department’s mandate in relation to legislation; 
h) Maintain effective liaison with the Congress and the Senate regarding 
legislative inquiries and enactment of water bills or other laws that will affect 
water into law; 
i) Monitor the progress of the Department’s priority/certified bills to ensure 
their passage; 
j) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
SECTION 19. Comptrollership and Financial Management Service. – The Comptrollership 
and Financial Management Service is hereby created to provide the Department with 
coordinated services relating to financial systems and procedures, budget, cash, 
accounting and all financial housekeeping matters. 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, Bureaus and Regional 
Offices; 
d) Review and appraise systems and procedures, organizational structure, assets 
management practices, accounting, and other records, reports, ad performance 
standards such as budgets and standard costs of the Department, bureaus, and 
regional offices; 
e) Provide assistance in its area of specialization to any unit of the Department 
and, when requested, to government corporations and councils attached to the 
Department; and 


f) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
SECTION 20. – Resource Regulation Service. The Resource Regulatory Service is hereby 
created to provide the Department with services on resource regulation of all water-
related 38 services and activities. For such purposes, it shall have the following 
functions: 
a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to resource regulations; 
b.)  Determine, grant and regulate water rights for the appropriate, optimal and 
sustainable use of surface and ground water; 
c)  Determine, evaluate and grant waterworks and sewerage franchises;   
d.) Investigate violations of the water rights and the Water Code and impose the 
appropriate sanctions in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations as 
well as future rules and regulations which the Department will promulgate; 
e)   Adjudicate water use conflicts; and  
f)  Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by the law. 
SECTION 21.  Internal Audit Office. – The Internal Audit Office is hereby created for the 
purpose of conducting comprehensive audit of various Department activities and will 
report directly to the Secretary. Specifically, it shall have the following 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 the degree of compliance with 
established objectives, policies, standards, 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, and performance 
standards (such as budgets and standard costs) of the Department Proper, 
Bureaus and Regional Offices; 
d) Analyze and evaluate management deficiencies and assist top management to 
solve problems by recommending realistic courses of action; and 
e) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
SECTION 22. Public Affairs Office. -  The Public Affairs Office is hereby created for the 
purpose of enhancing government relations with all stakeholders including the media. It 
shall ensure that women, men, older people and people with disabilities will be 
consulted, organized and can take active part in all aspects of water resources 
development and management activities. The office will also lead the planning and 


organizing of the special events of the Department. For such purposes, it shall have the 
following functions:  
A. Public Awareness 
a) Advise the Secretary on matters pertaining to public affairs services; 
b) Develop and supervise the implementation of communications 
programs to have relevant policies, programs and plans of the 
Department understood by the public; 
c) Produce and supervise the dissemination of communication materials 
in line with the priorities of the Department and the national government 
public information programs; 
d) Conduct public opinion and attitude surveys to identify the interests 
and concerns of key groups served by the Department; 
  
 
e) Establish editorial policies on print and broadcast media; 
f) Establish and maintain linkages with the tri-media and presence in 
social media; 
g) Coordinate the conduct of interviews and news conferences; 
  
 
h) Act as spokesperson for the Department; 
i) Coordinate with various Department units, concerned government 
agencies, tri-media and other stakeholders on matters related to the 
above-enumerated functions; 
j) Coordinate with the appropriate national government agencies tasked 
with public information affairs. 
B. Promoting Participation. 
a) Conduct public consultations and discussions; 
b) Develop and disseminate relevant and appropriate materials and 
programs for public information and education, as well as advocacy 
campaign; 
c) Conduct seminars and workshops involving the LGUs and the general 
public on current 22 water issues and problems; 
d) Conduct capability building seminars of various stakeholders to 
promote meaningful participation in the Department’s policy making, planning, 
development and implementation of various programs and projects. 
C. Special Events 
a) Coordinate the organization and promotion of special events and water 
exhibits; 
b) Act as the focal point for all water related events; 


c) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be 
assigned or delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law. 
SECTION 23. Pollution Adjudication Board. – There is hereby created a Pollution 
Adjudication Board under the Office of the Secretary. The Board shall be composed of 
the Secretary as Chairman, two (2) Undersecretaries as may be designated by the 
Secretary, the Director of Water Quality Management Bureau and three (3) other 
representatives from other stakeholders to be designated by the Secretary as members. 
The Board shall assume the powers and functions of the Commission/Commissioners of 
the National Pollution Control Commission with respect to the adjudication of water 
pollution cases under Republic Act No. 3931, Presidential Decree 984, particularly with 
respect to Section 6 letters e, f, g, j, k and p of the P.D. 984 and RA 9275. The Bureau of 
Water Quality Management shall serve as the Secretariat of the Board. These powers 
and functions may be delegated to the field officers of the Department in accordance 
with rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Board. 
SECTION 24. Bureaus. – Each Bureau shall be headed by a Bureau Director who shall be 
responsible for efficiently and effectively carrying out the functions of the Bureau 
concerned. The Bureau Director shall be assisted by one (1) Assistant Director. 
SECTION 25. Bureau of Flood Control and Drainage. – The Bureau of Flood Control and 
Drainage is hereby created to plan and design flood control and drainage structures and 
facilities in accordance with technical standards, guidelines and manuals. For this 
purpose, it shall have the following duties and responsibilities:  
a) Formulate policy, strategies and programs on flood risk management in the 
context of integrated flood management (IFM) which integrates water, land, 
coastal zone and multi-hazard management.  In integrating land-use planning 
and water management, the Department should harmonize and synthesize plans 
to enable the sharing of information between land-use planning and water 
management authorities. In integrating hazard management, a holistic approach 
should be adopted so that IFM should be part of a wider risk or multi-hazard 
management system (e.g., earthquake, landslides, fire, tsunami, etc.); 
b) Integrate climate change and disaster risk reduction and management in 
policies and plans; 
c) Prepare master plans of flood management and drainage in river basins in 
coordination with the concerned water resources region and river basin 
organizations;  
d) Prepare master plans of urban drainage in cities/municipalities; 
e) Prepare feasibility studies of recommended measures in the master plans; 
f) Plan and design structural measures for flood control and drainage; 
g) Implement and/or collaborate with concerned agencies on the non-structural 
measures; 
h) Patrol and investigate rivers including the monitoring of stream flows;  


i) Conduct post-disaster investigation and evaluation and damage assessment of 
flood infrastructures after extreme events; 
j) Conduct research and development on water and sediment-related disasters; 
k) Develop design guidelines, criteria and standards on flood control and 
drainage structures; 
l) Provide technical assistance to other agencies, LGUs and other stakeholders; 
m) Advise the Secretary on declaring flood control areas and recommend 
guidelines for flood plain management plans in these areas in coordination with 
the proposed Department of Disaster Resiliency; and 
n) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law. 
SECTION 26. Bureau of Water Quality Management. – The Bureau of Water Quality 
Management is hereby created to supervise and control over all aspects of water quality 
management to ensure the sustainability of the country’s water resources and the 
protection of the environment. It should take into account proper and integrated 
treatment of freshwater and wastewater within the whole process. For this purpose, it 
shall have the following duties and responsibilities:  
a) Establish water quality guidelines for freshwater and coastal/marine waters 
as basis for classifying water bodies in the country.  Specifically, develop water quality 
indeces or composite metrics to measure of the quality status and health of natural 
water bodies in relation to ecological integrity and function. 
b) Establish effluent standards for point sources of pollution; 
c) Establish internationally accepted procedures for sampling and analysis; 
d) Prepare an integrated water quality management framework; 
e) Prepare 10-year water quality management plans for each water quality 
management area as part of the River Basin Master Plans and in support of the National 
Water Resources Management Master Plan; 
f) Classify groundwater sources and prepare a national groundwater 
vulnerability map; 
g) Classify or reclassify all water bodies according to their beneficial usages 
using the established water quality guidelines established; 
h) Issue permits, clearances and similar instruments pursuant to the Clean Water 
Act of 2004;  
i) Collect the wastewater discharge (EUF) fees for all permittees; 
j) Monitor the compliance of water discharge permittees with the effluent 
standards;  


k) Regularly monitor the water quality of major water bodies in the country and 
analyze the data to identify possible sources of pollution; 
l) Issue notices of violations and/or cease and desist orders for those found in 
violation; 
m) File the needed cases against violators with the Pollution Adjudication Board; 
n) Serve as secretariat of the PAB; and 
o) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  
SECTION 27. Water Resources Regional Offices. – The Water Resources Regional Offices, 
organized per water resources region shall be responsible for implementing the 
mandates, powers and duties of the Department at the field level, except for 
policymaking which will be vested solely with the Central Office. The master planning 
for the nearby river basins (e.g. Pasig-Marikina-Laguna Lake-Cavite) will likewise be the 
responsibility of the Central Office. For this purpose, the duties and responsibilities of 
the WRRO shall be as follows:   
a) Formulate or update and coordinate the river basin master plans for river 
basins within its jurisdictions ensuring consistency with the National Water 
Resources Management Master Plan; 
b) Advocate and strongly support the creation and functioning of multi-
stakeholder River Basin Organizations (RBOs) and serve as the secretariat of the 
said RBOs; 
c) Undertake and evaluate the planning, design, and work supervision functions 
of the Department for the water infrastructures within the region; 
d) Ensure the implementation of laws, policies, programs, rules and regulations 
regarding the abovementioned infrastructure as well as public and private 
physical structures; 
e) Provide technical assistance related to the water-related functions of other 
agencies within the region especially the local government; 
f) Coordinate with other departments, agencies, institutions and organizations, 
especially local government units within the region in the planning and 
implementation of the river basin master plans;  
g) Conduct continuing consultations with the local communities, take 
appropriate measures to make the services of the Department responsive to the 
Central Office and recommend such appropriate actions as may be necessary; 
and 
h) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or 
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.  


The Department shall retain and have such Project Management Offices as may be 
required, which shall be under the supervision and control of the appropriate Water 
Resources Regional Office Director, unless otherwise determined by the Secretary for 
reasons of supra-regional scope, magnitude and multi-functional coverage.  
SECTION 28. Water Resources Regional Director. – The Water Resources Regional 
Offices shall be headed by a Water Resources Regional Director who shall be 
responsible for efficiently and effectively carrying out the duties and responsibilities of 
the Office. Towards this end, the Water Resources Regional Director shall, within 
his/her defined powers exercise functional and administrative supervision over all 
units within the region including the authority to commit their resources and personnel 
to integrated regional water resources management, water supply and sanitation 
management, and flood control and flood risk management initiatives. The Water 
Resources Regional Director 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 Water Resources Regional Director shall be assisted by two (2) Assistant Water 
Resources Regional Office Directors who shall exercise supervision respectively over 
(1) the planning, project design and evaluation function and (2) technical assistance to 
River Basin Organizations within the water resources region. 
CHAPTER 3 – TRANSITORY PROVISIONS  
SECTION 29. Interface with Other Agencies.  
(1) The Department of Health (DOH) shall continue to have primary authority 
and responsibility for setting and enforcing drinking water quality standards. 
The Department shall coordinate with the DOH in this regard and shall ensure 
consistency of standards and targets which it will set for compliance of 
permittees with the DOH’s mandated standards; 
(2) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall 
continue to have primary authority and responsibility for protecting the 
environment and managing the country’s watersheds; 
(3) The Department of Energy and the National Power Corporation (NPC) shall 
continue to have primary authority and responsibility for setting up and running 
hydropower plants but will ensure that any hydropower plant development 
plans are consistent with the National Water Development and Management 
Plan;  
(4) The Department shall coordinate with the Department of Agriculture to 
ensure agricultural development that reduces sources of long-term pollution for 
surface water and groundwater, and agricultural and industrial economic 
development that employs water efficiency, water recycling/reuse and the 
appropriate treatment of wastewater; 
(5) The Department shall coordinate with the National Disaster Risk Reduction 
Management Council (NDRRMC) or eventually the proposed Department of 


Disaster Resiliency to ensure that its plans and designs for flood control, flood 
risk management and drought risk management are aligned with the objectives 
and plans of the said Department; and 
(6) The Department shall coordinate with relevant government agencies, 
including Local Government Units (LGUs) for development projects and to 
ensure cross-cutting collaboration between and among all water subsectors and 
facilitate inter-agency subsector coordination, strategic development, planning, 
monitoring and provision of technical, institutional and financial capacity 
building support to their different stakeholders at the water subsector level.  
 
SECTION 30.  Transfer of Rights and Obligations. 
The Department shall, by virtue of this Act, be surrogated to all the rights and assume all 
the obligations of the government agencies and units whose powers and functions have 
been absorbed, transferred, or attached to the Department provided these are in 
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit. The transfer of 
powers and functions as herein provided shall take effect within 6 months of the 
effectivity of this Act. As such, all affected agencies/offices/units shall continue to 
function under their present mandates until the transition is fully in effect.  
SECTION 31: Funding. 
The sum of Two Billion Pesos (P2,000,000,000.00) shall be set aside from 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, 
the Department shall submit its annual budget to fully carry out its powers and 
functions and achieve its objectives to the Office of the President, for approval, provided 
it shall not be less than the amount provided for in its initial implementation.  
SECTION  32. Repealing Clause. — All laws, orders, rules and regulations, or portions 
thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 33. Separability Clause. — If any provisions of this Act or the application of 
such provision to any person or circumstances be declared unconstitutional, the 
remainder of this Act or the application of such provision to other person or 
circumstances shall not be affected by such declaration. 
SECTION 34. Effectivity. —  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date of 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,