EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
S E N A T E  
S. No.
^ H
%r.
BILLS
Introduced by Senator FRANKLIN M. DRILON
AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE WATER COMMISSION, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Access to safe and clean water is universally recognized as a fundamental 
human need, and therefore, a basic human right. However, more than 40 
percent of people around the world are affected by water scarcity. This is even 
expected to worsen given the rising population and increasing demand for water.
Two separate studies conducted by the De La Salle University School of 
Economics and the University of the Philippines Los Banos projected a 
widespread water shortage in its key cities and regions in the Philippines by 
2025.
As if a glimpse into this alarming future, Metro Manila, with a population 
of about 13.7 million people, has recently experienced weak water supply to 
complete water disruptions. Water levels of Angat and La Mesa dams, two main 
reservoirs supplying water to Metro Manila, dropped below the critical level, thus, 
prompting the two water concessionaires, Maynilad and Manila Water, to 
implement painful rounds of water interruptions throughout the capital.
The current fragmented set-up of the regulation and management of 
water resources and the absence of a clear and organized framework for water 
resource governance further compound the water shortage problem. At present, 
regulation and management of water resources are lodged with various 
government units and agencies, all with different hierarchical coverage, and with 
varying degrees of power and overlapping responsibilities. These, in turn, create


challenges in the creation and implementation of the national policies and plans 
on water, sewage, sanitation and irrigation.
The proposed measure therefore seeks to address the above-mentioned 
issues by establishing an independent regulatory and quasi-judicial body 
attached to the Office of the President to be known as Philippine Water 
Commission, which shall have the overall power and authority to manage and 
regulate water resources in the Philippines. The Commission will have all the 
rights, and assume all the obligations of the relevant government agencies or 
units including the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems (MWSS), 
National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Local Water Utilities Administration 
(LWUA), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philippine Economic 
Zone Authority (PEZA), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Tourism 
Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and Clark Development 
(CDC).
The bill also aims to strengthen and coordinate water resource planning 
and policy-making and licensing, thereby ensuring sustainable and fair allocation 
and efficient use of water resources between competing water uses and users, 
especially in times of crises and national emergencies.
This measure confirms our commitment to meeting the Sustainable 
Development Goal of ensuring access to safe, adequate and sustainable water 
supply and sanitation services for all.
In view of the foregoing, the urgent approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought.
FRANKLIN M. DRILON


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
S E N A T E  
S. No.
f f i  TIME; 
/O -'/O  
Co,
BILLS/ & INDEX
Introduced by Senator Franklin M. Drilon
AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE WATER COMMISSION, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Sec. 1. Declaration o f Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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recognize, protect, realize, and enhance the right of all Filipinos to safe, clean,
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affordable, and accessible drinking water, sanitation and irrigation as essential to the
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full enjoyment of life and the protection and sustainability of the environment.
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In pursuit of said policy, this Act shall have the following objectives;
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a. To prioritize and pursue the immediate attainment of universal access to safe,
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adequate, and sustainable water supply and sanitation services 
for all Filipinos
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and adopt all necessary measures directed towards the realization 
of the
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human right to water and sanitation; and
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b. To strengthen and coordinate water resource planning, policy-making and 
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licensing to ensure sustainable and fair allocation and efficient use of water
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resources between competing water uses and users, including but not limited
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to domestic and municipal use, power generation, farming, commercial, and
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industrial use.
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Sec. 2. The Philippine Water Commission.- There is hereby created and
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established an independent, quasi-judicial body to be known as Philippine Water
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Commission ("Commission") which shall be attached to the Office of the President.


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Sec. 3. Chairman, Commissioners, Omcers. -  The powers of the Commission 
shail be vested in and exercised by a Chairman and six (6) Commissioners. No 
person shail be appointed as a member of the Commission unless he is a Filipino 
citizen, of good moral character, and of recognized competence in relevant fields 
including economics, management, law, environmental protection, urban planning, 
engineering, and hydrology.
The term of office of Chairman and Commissioners shall be three (3) years, 
and no member shall be appointed for more than two (2) consecutive or partial
terms.
The President shall appoint a professional manager as General Manager of 
the Commission with a compensation to be determined by the Board subject to the 
approval of the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Sec. 4. Powers and Duties o f the Commission. — The Commission shall have
the following powers and duties, among others.
a) Promote universal access to safe, adequate, affordable, and sustainable
water supply, sewage, and sanitation services,
b) Develop and implement a comprehensive water, sewage, and sanitation
program;
c) Manage and protect the country’s water resources to ensure the optimal 
use thereof for domestic water supply, sewage, sanitation, hydropower, 
navigation, and recreation, including the enhancement and maintenance 
of water quality, and conservation of watersheds;
d) Formulate and implement policies on use, exploitation, development, 
conservation or protection of waters, water resources, and watershed or 
basin areas in accordance with this Act and other relevant laws,
e) Pass upon, approve, or disapprove all plans, programs, or development 
projects of private individuals, corporations, and government agencies, 
whether national or local, that affect water resources, its diversion or 
abstraction, and the construction of hydraulic faciiities, including but not 
limited to plans and projects in watershed or basin areas of water supply 
sources, which have direct or indirect impact on the affected locality's
water resources;


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0  Regulate 
the 
utilization, 
exploitation, 
abstraction, 
diversion, 
and 
development of water resources, taking into account its equitable 
distribution, and determine the standards of beneficial and priority uses of 
water in times of crisis and national emergencies,
g) Regulate persons or entities, formulate and collect tariffs for water supply
and sanitation services;
h) Issue and promulgate rules, regulations, and guidelines as may be 
necessary to implement and enforce its powers and functions under this
Act;
i) Investigate, motu proprio or upon complaint in writing, administrative 
matters for violations of this Act; and
j) Exercise such other incidental powers and functions as may be necessary 
to attain the objectives of this Act.
Sec. 5. Formulation o f Water Policies and Enforcement o f Water Laws, Rules 
and Regulations. -  Pursuant to the policy of a unified regulation, administration and 
management of water resources, the Commission shall formulate water policies and
enforce water laws, rules and regulations.
It shall conduct continuing surveys and studies of the country s renewable 
water supply towards formulating long-term policies to balance the sustainability and 
optimal use of water resources, defining the hydrologic boundaries of basins of the 
existing water supply sources, and creating and implementing countrywide master
plans for water resources management and development.
The Commission shall also effect and compel inter-sectoral, inter-agency, and 
inter-departmental coordination on water, energy, environmental, sewage, and 
sanitation resources development planning with the aim of operationalizing the 
integrated approach to water resources management. It shall ascertain that all 
governmental plans and project implementation designs are consistent with the
water policy, standards, and guidelines.
Local Government Units (LGUs) and national agencies shall submit zoning and 
land use management plans to the Commission to ensure the integration of water 
resource management plans.


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Sec. 6. Regulation and Issuance o f Water Supply and Sanitary Service License. -
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The Commission issue water supply and sanitary service license. It shall further
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establish, approve and regulate water supply and sanitation services tariffs, rates
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and other charges, which are fair and reasonable, and provides for the economic
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viability of operations and businesses of the licensee including a reasonable return
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on their investments. The Commission shall have the power to impose fines,
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charges, and other penalties upon licensee for any violation of water laws rules and
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regulations and provisions of the license.
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The Commission shall promulgate rules, guidelines and standards in the
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regulation and issuance of license to water supply and sanitation service providers.
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The service providers operating under existing agreements with Metropolitan
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Water and Sanitation System (MWSS), local government units (LGUs), and special
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economic and freeport zone authorities shall register with the Commission and,
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during the validity of such agreement, shall be deemed duly licensed to provide
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services consistent within the terms and conditions of such existing agreement,
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Provided, further, that these service provider shall be regulated by the Commission,
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Sec. 7. Interface with Other Sector Regulators. - The Commission is mandated to
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coordinate with the different sector regulators as follows;
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a. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall continue
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to 
have the 
primar/ authority and 
responsibility for protecting the
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environment and for the conservation of water and related natural resources,
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including protecting water bodies from waste and pollution and shall
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promulgate rules, regulations, and standards in this regard. The Commission
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shall coordinate with the DENR with respect to the consen/ation of water
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resources, protection from sewage and septage waste, and restoration from
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environment damage;
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b. The Department of Health (DOH) shall 
have primary authority and
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responsibility for determining and enforcing drinking water quality and
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sanitation standards. The Commission shall coordinate with the DOH to
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achieve an integrated approach for sanitation, including toilets, collection,
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treatment, and evaluation of wastewater;


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c. TTie Commission shall absorb the responsibility from the Department of
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Interior and Local Government (DILG) on the management and operation of
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water supply systems of local government units; and
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d. The Commission shall coordinate with other relevant agencies, including
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Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) to engage in flood control
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and 
flood 
risk 
management, 
formulate 
Integrated 
Water 
Resources
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Management (IWRM) policies and plans, and coordinate the implementation,
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promotion, revision, and enhancement of IWRM plans. 
It shall provide
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integrated planning for flood control, flood risk management, and water
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resource development and management systems, and other public works.
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Sec. 8. Transfer o f Powers, Rights, and Obligations. - The Commission shall have
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all the rights, and assume all the obligations of the relevant parts of any government
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agency or unit whose powers and duties have been transferred to the Commission,
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including the DILG, MWSS, National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Local Water
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Utilities Administration (LWUA), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Subic
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Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone
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Authority (TIEZA), and Clark Development Corporation (CDC).
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The transfer of powers and functions as provided herein shall take effect
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within one hundred eighty (180) days after the effectivity of this Act. The foregoing
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transfer of powers and functions shall include all applicable funds, personnel,
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records, property, and equipment, as may be necessary. All offices shall continue to
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function under their present mandates until transition is effected as provided for
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under this Act.
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All rights and obligations of said government agencies are hereby transferred
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to and assumed by the Commission and shall be acted upon in accordance with the
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rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit and other pertinent laws, rules
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and regulations.
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Sec. 9. Separation from Service. - Employees separated from government
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service as a result of this Act shall be ehtitled to the benefits that they may receive
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uhder existihg taws, rules, ahd regulations.
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Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within one hundred eighty
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(180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Commissioh, ih cohsultation with the


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concerned government agencies, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules
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and regulations for the implementation of this Act: Provided, That such revised
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implementing rules and regulations shall only take effect fifteen (15) days following
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its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
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Sec. 11. 
Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the
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implementation of this Act shall be appropriated every fiscal year in the General
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Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provisions or part hereof, is held invalid
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or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected
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shall remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 13. Repealing Cause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
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to or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or
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amended accordingly.
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Sec. 14. Effectivity Cause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from
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its complete publication in the Official Gazette and in at least one (1) newspaper of
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general circulation.
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Approved,