Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2076

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Ma. Georgina P, De Venecia

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This

ill seeks to establish the National Inter-Agency Dam Safety Monitoring

Committee.

Like most countries, dams and watersheds are constructed in the Philippines
primarily for the purpose of irrigation, drainage and flood control. However, flooding,
destructions of crops, infrastructure and other properties, not to mention the loss of
lives still occur everytime the country is battered by 20 or more typhoons each year
even with the presence of dams. One could still remember the heavy and extensive
flooding in 2011 caused by typhoons Pedring and Quiel in Pangasinan and most of
Central Luzon where large dams are located. In both instances, there had been a lot of
finger-pointing on who was responsible for devastation. Dam managers had been
blamed for untimely release of water from the dams, One government agency
criticized another government agency for not allowing them to release water from a
certain dam which they insisted could have prevented heavy flooding in a certain
province. Meanwhile, an environment activist group had been blaming the
government of being irresponsible for not doing much to prevent flooding knowing

the impact of climate change on the weather.

Enough is enough. It is about time to stop blaming each other everytime floods
‘occur, Instead, the government agencies should work hand in hand in order to help
prevent floods and other devastations caused by spilling waters fom dams. A national

inter-agency dam safety monitoring committee must be established, as the main body


responsible for the management, supervision and control of dams and watersheds in
the country. Likewise, a local dam safety watch task force shall be established in the
locality where the dams are located. This is so because the local government units
(LGUs) where the dams are located are the most knowledgeable of the circumstances
of the f

ity, and the most affected in case of floods.

In view of the foregoing, and to prevent confusion as to what agency of the
government is responsible on matters that involve dams and watersheds in the country

especially during typhoons and other natural calamities, approval of this bill is highly

Haque] be wear —
HON. GEORGINA P. DE VENECIA

Fourth District, Pangasinan

and earnestly recommended.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

HousE BILLNo.__ 2076

Introduced by Honorable Ma. Georgina P. De Venecia

AN ACT
TABLISHING A NATIONAL INTER-AGENCY DAM SAFETY
MONITORING COMMITTEE FOR PROPER AND EFFECTIVE DAM
MONITORING SYSTEM

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

SECTION 1. Short
Monitoring Act.

je- This Act shall be known as “Dam Safety

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy- It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
protect life and property and promote the general welfare of the people which are
ntial in the enjoyment of the blessing of democracy through the prov
timely, clear, comprehensive dissemination of flood warning from the proper

ities to the people. For this purpose, a national inter-agency dam safety
monitoring committee shall be established to rationalize and unify the management of
dams and watersheds in the country, improve and strengthen the organizations and be
responsible for the dissemination of information and warning of impending discharge
of dam water and improve its manpower for a better delivery of its services to the
nation.

SEC. 3. National Inter-Agency Dam Safety Monitoring Committee. - A
National Inter-Agency Dam Safety Monitoring Committee, hereinafter referred to as
the Committee, is hereby established for the overall management, supervision and
regulation of all dams in the Philippines.

‘The Committee shall be composed of the following:

1, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, as chairperson;
2. Secretary of the Interior and Local Government;
3. Secretary of National Defense:
4, Secretary of Public Works and Highways:
5. Secretary of Health;

6. Secretary of Agriculture;

secretary of Social Welfare and Development;

8. Administrator of the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS);



9. Chairperson of the National Water Review Board (NWRB);
10. Head of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA), as members.

SEC. 4. Powers and Functions. ~ The Committee shall exercise the
following powers and functions:

1. Maintain proper operating conditions of all dams in the country;

2. Establish and maintain in the localities where dams are located, a Local
Dam Safety Watch Task Force;

3. Review and revise flood forecasting and warning systems protocol in all
existing and future dams;

4. Use hydrological data and information for the efficient operations and
management for reservoirs and dams;

5, Disseminate and discharge flood warnings or information to the local,
municipal and provincial government offices, disaster coordinating
councilor and the general public; and

6. Perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the purpose
of this Act.

SEC, 5. Local Dam Safety Watch Task Force. — The Local Dam Safety
Watch k Force, hereinafter referred to as the Local Task Force, is hereby
established in each locality where the dam is located to provide the necessary
information for the safe and cost effective operation of the existing dams in the
country and to forewarn the people in the flood plains downstream of the damsités of

the impending release of impounded water through spillways during typhoons.

The Local Task Force is hereby mandated to:

1, Recommend the optimum use of the impounded water for power
generation, irrigation, flood control and domestic water supply;

2. Mitigate flood damages, particularly loss of human lives, by timely and
adequate warnings of impending release of impounded water through
spillways;

3. Assess the weather conditions affecting or expected to affect the reservoir
catchment areas;

4. Prepare, issue and disseminate warnings or flood bulletins and flood
information as the case may be;

5. Decide and act expeditiously on matters concerning dams in times of
emergencies and when the safety of the residents in the area are in
immediate danger;

6. Report regularly to the Committee, starting the condition of the dams in
the locality; and

7. Perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes of this Act.

SEC. 6. Composition. ~ The city or municipal mayor shall organize the Local
Task Force to be composed of the following;

1. City or municipal mayor where the dam is located, as chairperson;


Vide-mayor;
‘Members of the Sanggunian;

Barangay Captains; and

Two (2) representatives from the private sector in the locality, as
members.

wReEN

‘The city or municipal mayor shall appoint the representative from the private
sector in co-terminous capacity.

SEC. 7, Flood and Dam Operations Watchman, ~ The Committee shall,
upon recommendation of the Local Task Force, appoint a Flood and Dam Operations
Watchman in each dam in the locality, who shall take care and supervise all activities
concerning flood and dam operations in the area he is assigned.

The Flood and Dam Operations Watchman shall report directly to the Local
‘Task Force on matters concerning the dam assigned to him, and the Local Task Force
shall report the same to the Committee.

The qualifications and compensation of the Flood and Dam Operations
Watchman shall be determined by the Committee, and the compensation shall be in
conformity with prescribed compensation for local government officials and
employees in co-terminous capacity.

SEC. 8. Coordination — The Committee shall be the over-all government
agency responsible for all the dams in the Philippines. It shall approve the use and
release of water in the dams.

In times of emergency such as, but not limited to, the presence of typhoons or
discharge of water from the dams, the Local Task Force shall immediately inform the
Committee of the level of water from the dam based on the analyses of hydrological
data taken by the watchman assigned in the dam.

In times of extreme urgency, the Local Task Force shall inform the Committee
of the date and time of the release of water from the dam and shall proceed with the
discharge of water without waiting for the formal approval of the Committee.

The Local Task Force and the Committee shall continue to coordinate with
PAGASA with respect to the monitoring of water levels of dams, and PAGASA shall
also continue to provide updates on flood forecasting and warnings.

SEC. 9. Funding. ~ The amount necessary for the salary and other operational
expenses of the Flood and Dam Operations Watchmen shall be taken from the regular
appropriations of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The National Water
Reyiew Board shall, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and
Highways, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department
of National Defense, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.


SECT. 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act,
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effeetivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,