EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OE THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E
S.B.No. 135
’19 
JUL-2 P2:10
R E C E iV ^uff.,
INTRODUCED BY: SENATOR EMMANUEL D. PACQUIAO
AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES. DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The water.org reports that out of 101 million Filipinos, 9 million rely on unimproved, 
unsafe and unsustainable water resources and 19 million lack access to improved sanitation. 
Meanwhile, despite the rainy season, the lack of water supply continues to burden Metro 
Manila and its neighboring provinces. These are just among the number of water-related 
problems the country has been facing.
The government has more than 30 different agencies/units that have water-related 
functions but the centrality of data on water resources remains absent. The lack of a lead 
government body coordinating with water-related issues contributes to the growing water 
crisis. Actual integration needs a law.
This bill seeks to create the Department of Water Resources which will holistically 
integrate all measures designed to ensure the availability and quality of water, synchronize all 
the acts of all government agencies that have water-related functions.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
M M A
PACQUIAO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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F/>.s7 Regular Session
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SENATE
S.B. No. 1S 5
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*19 
JUL-2 P2:10
INTRODUCED BY: SENATOR EMMANUEL D. PJUCOtiiAO
AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, DEFINING ITS 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEPJiFOR, AND FOR.
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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Section 1. Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Department of Water Resources.”
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Section 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is the policy of the State to recognize, protect, realize, 
and enhance the right of all Filipinos to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible drinking water, 
sanitation and irrigation as essential to the full enjoyment of life and all human rights and the 
protection and sustainability of the envirorunent.
Section 3. Scope. -  The Department of Water Resources - There is hereby created and 
established the Department of Water Resourees, referred to as the "Department," whieh shall 
be organized within one hundred twenty (120) days after the effectivity of this Act.
Section 4. Objectives, Duties, and Powers.
a. Formulate, recommend, and implement national policies, plans, programs that will 
establish systematic and efficient water management and ensure the availability of 
water for specific purposes in the country;
b. Integrate the different agencies of the government that have water-related functions 
into the Department ot Water Rcso’urccs;
c. Create and update a road map of rivers and water sources;
d. Conduct continuing surveys and studies of the country's renewable water supply 
with a view 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 create and implement countrywide master 
plans for water resources management and development;


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e. Regulate and control 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;
f. Assist and provide the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 
with required data and inputs from and for the water sector in the formulation of the 
country's short-term and long-term strategic development plans and actions;
g. Require all private individuals, corporations and government agencies affecting 
water resources and the construction of hydraulic facilities in watershed or basin 
areas of water supply sources to obtain a permit to construct such facilities from the 
Department;
h. Conduct and continue studies pertaining to water use, exploitation, development, 
conserv ation, or protection of waters, water resources, and watershed or basm ai eas;
i. Enter any property of public dominion or any private land or building for the 
purpose of conducting hydrologic surveys and investigations and to determine 
compliance with water laws and standards;
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Issue and promulgate rules, regulations, and guidelines as may be necessary to 
implement and enforce its powers and functions under this Act;
k. Ensure and protect the rights and welfare of consumers;
l. Exercise such other acts as are incident to or are appropriate and necessary in 
connection with the creation of the Department.
Section 5. 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 Secretaiy' of the Department of Water Resources.
Section 6. Office of the Secretary. -  The Office of the Secretary shall be composed of the 
Secretary and his/her immediate staff.
Section 7. 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, as follows:
a. One for the Finance Service;
b. One for the Administrative Service;
c. One for the Planning and Engineering Services;
d. One for the Regulatory and Financial A.ssistance Services; and
e. One for the Operations.


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Within her/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 units assigned to her/him, for 
which she/he is responsible to the Secretary.
Section 8. Regional Director. -  Each Regional Office shall be headed by a Regional Director 
who shall be responsible for efficiently and effectively carrying out the duties and 
responsibilities of the Regional Office. She/he 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 Regional Director shall be assisted by two (2) Assistant Regional Directors who shall 
exercise supervision respectively over (1) the planning, project design, evaluation, and 
technical assistance functions of the Regional Office, and (2) the construction, maintenance, 
and works supervision functions in the region.
Section 9. Interface with Other Sector Regulators. -  The Department is mandated to 
coordinate with the different sector regulators as follows:
a. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall continue to have 
the primary authority and responsibility for protecting the environment and for the 
conservation of water and related natural resources, including protecting water bodies 
from waste and pollution and shall promulgate rules, regulations, and standards in this 
regard. The Department shall coordinate w'ith the DENR with respect to the 
conservation of water resources, protection trorn sewage and septage waste, and 
restoration from environment damage;
b. The Department of Health (DOH) shall have primary authority and responsibility for 
determining and enforcing drinking water quality’ and sanitation standards. The 
Department shall coordinate with the DOH to achieve an integrated approach for 
sanitation, including toilets, collection, treatment, and evaluation of wastewater
c. The Department shall subsume responsibility from the Department of Public Works 
and Highways (DPWH) for wholly or primarily water-related public works projects 
including flood control, water resources development, sewerage, sanitation, and the 
harnessing and impounding of water. The Secretaries of each department shall 
coordinate on the development of evaluation criteria as necessary, to determine proper 
allocation of public works projects between the two departments.
d. The Department shall absorb the responsibility from the Department of Interior and 
Local Government (DILG) on the management and operation of water supply systems 
of local government units.
Section 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within one hundred eighty (180) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Department, in consultation with the concerned government 
agencies, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations for the


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implementation of this Act: Provided, That such revised implementing rules and regulations 
shall only take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation.
Section 11. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary to carry out the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be sourced from any available funds of the National Treasury', and is hereby 
appropriated and authorized to be released for the organization of the Depaitment and its initial 
operations.
Thereafter, funds sufficient to fully carry out the objectives, powers, and functions of the 
Department shall be appropriated every fiscal year in the General Appropriations Act.
The Department shall submit its annual budget, which shall include, among others, detailed 
information on the compensation and benefits received by their employees to the Office of the 
President for approval.
Section 12. Separability Clause. -  If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.
Section 13. Repealing Clause. -  The provisions of any law, whether general or special, rules 
and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Section 14. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,