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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

* 3589

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE MAGNOLIA ROSA C. ANTONINO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to abolish the collection of irrigation service fees and
administrative charges by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) from farmers and
to write-off all unpaid debts incurred by the farmers pursuant to Section 2 (c) of Republic
Act No. 3601 as amended by Presidential Decree No. 552

During the 16" Congress, this humble representation sought to grant subsidy to
farmers by deducting an amount equivalent to fifty percent (50%) from the total irrigation
fees or administration charges. That was @ counter-proposal to hard line stance of the
previous Administration against the abolition of collection of irrigation service fees and
other administrative charges if only to lessen the burden of the poor farmers. The same
bill was re-filed earlier in the 17" Congress as House Bill No, 1053.

However, with the repeated pronouncements of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
and Secretary Emmanuel Pifiol of the Department of Agriculture (DA), in press
statements and radio interviews, as a concrete gesture to the pleas and persistent
clamors of the poor farmers to abolish the collection of service fees being collected by
the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), there is an urgent to supersede the
aforementioned House Bill No. 1053 and strongly support the initiative of the Duterte
Administration to help alleviate the standard of living of the poor farmers

It must be emphasized that the collection of irrigation service fees and
administration charges from beneficiaries of water from all irrigation system was
primarily intended to recover the costs of construction of irrigation systems. However,
due to the common problems brought about by low production and aggravated by other
problems like the rising cost of fertilizers and farm laborers, the collection of irrigation
service fees and administration charges had become an additional burden to our poor
farmers resulting in their failure to settle their financial obligations with the NIA

In view of the foregoing reasons, the approval of this blLis eamestly sought
laNay : > ~
MAGNOLIA ROSA C. ANTONINO

Representative
Fourth District, Nueva Ecija

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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
9

HOUSE BILL NO. 3589

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE MAGNOLIA ROSA C. ANTONINO

AN ACT
ABOLISHING THE COLLECTION OF IRRIGATION SERVICE FEES AND
OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES AND GRANTING CONDONATION OF
ALL UNPAID DEBTS, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 2 (b) OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3601, AS AMENDED BY PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO.
552

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

SECTION 1. Section 2 (b) of Republic Act No. 3601, as amended
by Presidential Decree No. 552, is hereby repealed.

All other laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, rules and
regulations, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed
or modified accordingly.

SEC. 2. All debts incurred arising from failure to pay irrigation service
fees and administrative charges pursuant to Section 2 (b) of Republic Act No.
3601, as amended by Presidential Decree No, 552, are hereby written-off.

SEC. 3. This Act shall effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,