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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 128
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■22 JUL-7 P2S8
RtCEIvEOB
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
AN ACT
REQUIRING NEW COMMERCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL, AND RESIDENTIAL 
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN METRO MANILA AND MAJOR CITIES IN 
THE PHILIPPINES TO INSTALL RAINWATER HARVESTING OR RETENTION 
FACILITIES, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Being an archipelago, the Philippines is abundant in water resources. And 
while the country, on account of its geographical location at the Pacific typhoon belt, 
is frequented by numerous typhoons that oftentimes wreak havoc to its residents, 
the same phenomena;:all together bring in torrential rainfall that continuously 
replenish our water resources.
And so, the dwindling water supply we experience nowadays, particularly In 
Metro Manila and neighbouring areas, is an ironic predicament given that heaps of 
rainwater are poured into the Philippine territory year in and year out. While a lot 
have surmised that the blame belongs to the government regulators and the 
concessionaires for the apparent lack of planning, foresight and infrastructures, 
resulting to the current deficient water supply; to my mind, Td rather see the 
wisdom of considering the current predicament as an opportunity for us to rethink 
our current water conservation practices and to start with resourceful ways of 
conserving water, such as rainwater harvesting.


Rainwater harvesting as a way of conserving water is not a new concept or 
technology. Researches show that it was practiced during the ancient times as 
evidenced by the discovery of waterproof receptacles or cisterns to collect rainf 
which is traced back to the period of Neolithic Age (or around 10,000 BC to 4500 
BC)1. In India, a technique that has been used for hundreds of years is the building 
of water harvesting systems on top of the roofs of houses; it is a simple technology 
that has been replicated in countries, such as Brazil and China2. In the Philippines, 
early use of rainwater harvesting is indicated by the presence of the Banaue rice 
terraces, believed to be built some two thousand (2,000) years ago by the Ifugao 
people.3 Thus, rainwater harvesting may be considered an ancient practice but It 
still finds relevance and practicality even in the present times, particularly given the 
increased extreme weather events (I.e. extreme heat, long periods of drought) 
brought by climate change.
There is so much potential to be gained in mainstreaming anew rainwater 
harvesting in the country. According to studies, the Philippines receives around 
2,400 mm of rainwater annually, which is considered one of the highest level of 
rainfall; and yet, despite the abundant rainfall, the country's rainwater harvest is 
only about four percent (4%).4 This is measly compared to India's sixty percent 
(60%) rainwater harvest rate. The water that will be collected via rainwater 
harvesting is a welcome addition to our scarce water supply and could be very well 
used for household and other practical purposes.
The attached bill requires new commercial, institutional, and residential 
infrastructure projects in Metro Manila and major cities in the Philippines to install 
rainwater harvesting or retention facilities that will bring about an efficient 
conservation of water, which may be used for household, or other practical purposes 
and thereby help in addressing the shortage of water supply in Metro Manila and 
major cities in the Philippines.
1 https://rotoplasusa.com/old-rainwater-harvesting-history-human-innovatlon/
2 https://www.renewableenergyhub.co.uk/main/rainwater-harvesting-information/history-of- 
rainwater-harvesting/
3 http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/water/paper/drinkingwater/rainwater/introduction.htmI
4 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1065432


I have first filed this bili in the 18th Congress, which is a counterpart of the bill 
filed by Representative Luis Raymund "LRay" F. Viiiafuerte Jr. of the Second District 
of Camarines Sur in the House of Representatives. I see the wisdom in having this 
biil passed into iaw.
In view of the foregoing, I recommend the immediate approvai of this biil.
CYNTHIA A. VILLAR


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE 
128
‘22 JUL-7 P2 58
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
AN ACT
REQUIRING NEW COMMERCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL, AND RESIDENTIAL 
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN METRO MANILA AND MAJOR CITIES IN 
THE PHILIPPINES TO INSTALL RAINWATER HARVESTING OR RETENTION 
FACILITIES, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Rainwater Haivesting
2 
Facility Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to
4 
promote the health and welfare of its citizens, and exercise sufficient powers to
5 
preserve the natural ecology within its territory. Further, it is the policy of the State to
6 
provide adequate supply of clean and unpolluted water for domestic and for other useful
7 
purposes. Thus, the State shall adopt practical measures that will efficiently conserve
8 
water and help in addressing the deficient water supply in Metro Manila and other
9 
major cities in the country. -
10 
Sec. 3. Definition of terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall be
11 
defined as:
12
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a) Department refers to the Department of Public Works and Highways 
(DPWH);


1 
b) 
Green infrastructure means any storm water management technique or
2 
practice employed with the primary goal of preserving, restoring, or
3 
mimicking natural hydrology;
4 
c) Rainwater precipitation on any public or private parcel that has
5 
not entered an offsite storm drain system or channel, a flood control
6 
channel, or any other stream channel, and has not previously been put
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to beneficial use;
8 
d) 
Rainwater harvesting facility refers to a flood control structure such as
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a vertical detention tank, horizontal water tank, open retarding basin,
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and multi-use water catchment area, or an on-site regulation pond
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used to capture, retain, and store rainwater flowing off a building,
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parking lot, or any other manmade, impervious surface consequently
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preventing or delaying the release of rainwater into the public drainage
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system; and
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e) 
Return period refers to the average length of time in years for a rain-
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related natural disaster of given magnitude be equaled or exceeded by
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the length of time that a rainwater-related disaster may probably recur.
18 
Sec. 4. Rainwater Harvesting Facility Requirement - An owner or developer
19 
of a new commercial, institutional and residential development project in Metro
20 
Manila and other major cities, with an area of at least one thousand five hundred
21 
(1,500) square meters and requiring the issuance of building permit shall reserve,
22 
develop, and maintain at least three (3%) of the total area, exclusive roads, service
23 
streets and alleys, as a rainwater harvesting facility.
24 
The owner or developer of an ongoing commercial, insUtutionai, and
25 
residential development project in Metro Manila and other major cities that has no
26 
existing provision for a rainwater facility shall build the facility within a period of
27 
three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act, or suffer the penalty imposed in
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Section 8 hereof.


1 
To conserve potable water, rainwater collected by a harvesting facility may
2 
be used for non-potable and suitable purposes, such as gardening and air-cooling
3 
processes.
4 
It is the intent of the Act that the use of rainwater for non-potable uses
5 
should not be constrained by standards for drinking water or recycled water but shall
6 
fully comply with water quality requirements.
7 
Sec. 5. Design Approval. - The provision for a rainwater harvesting facility
8 
shall be required by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development
9 
(DHSUD) and local government units (LGUs) to be incorporated in the design of all
10 
new commercial, institutional, and residential development projects in Metro Manila
11 
and other major cities, and project design shall be approved for construction unless
12 
it includes such facility. The DHSUD and the LGUs shall ensure that these facilities
13 
are built during the construction phase of the projects.
14 
Sec. 6. Design Requirements. - The rainwater harvesting facility must be
15 
designed to cope with a pre-determined flood and rain return period and must have
16 
a storage capacity prescribed by the Department of Public Works and Highways
17 
(DPWH). The design of the rainwater harvesting facility includes the following:
18 
a) 
Size, shape and physical characteristics of available space;
19 
b) 
Construction plans with specified material type including lining and
20 
coating requirements;
21 
c) 
Detailed drawing on how the installation will drain into an outfall
22 
structure as a drywell or a percolation chamber, storm drain system,
23 
drainage channel, or natural wash; and
24 
d) 
Mechanism to exclude mosquitoes and not permit mosquito production.
25 
Sec. 7. Building Permits. - If the design of a new commercial, institutional,
26 
and residential project in Metro Manila and other major cities with an area of at least
27 
one thousand five hundred (1,500) square meters does not provide for a rainwater


1 
harvesting facility, the LGU concerned shall deny the request for issuance of a
2 
building permit for such project.
3 
Sec. 8. Reportorial Requirements. - The DPWH shall require the owner or
4 
developer of all new commercials, Institutional, and residential development projects
5 
covered under this Act to submit a compliance report within 12 months from the
6 
date of the completion of the project.
7 
The DPWH shall henceforth require the building owners to submit an annual
8 
report of the performance of such rainwater retention facility which may include, but
9 
is not limited to information on the total volume of retained rainwater and its
10 
utilization.
11 
Sec. 9. Penalties. - The owner or developer of all new commercial,
12 
institutional, and residential development projects in Metro Manila and other major
13 
cities who fails to construct a rainwater harvesting facility in violation of Section 4 of
14 
this Act shall suffer the penalty of a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand
15 
pesos (Php500,000.00), but not more than Two million pesos (Php2,000,000.00) for
16 
every year of non-compliance.
17 
In the case of a partnership, association, corporation or any juridical person,
18 
the fine shall be imposed upon the president, treasurer, or any officer or person
19 
responsible for the violation.
20 
If the offender is a foreigner, the foreigner shall be deported immediately
21 
without further proceedings after payment of fine.
22 
The head of the government institution who violates Section 4 of this Act, or
23 
government officials, employees, and agents who issue licenses or permits in
24 
violation of Section 8 of this Act, shall suffer the penalty of suspension of not less
25 
than ten (10) days, but not more than one hundred eighty (180) days after due
26 
notice and hearing in an appropriate administrative proceeding.


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Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within sixty (60) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Department shall, in coordination with relevant 
government agencies and other stakeholders, promulgate the rules and regulations 
for the effective implementation of this Act. The implementing rules and regulations 
shall include the standards and guidelines for the design, construction, installation, 
materials, site selection and planning, site-specific considerations, and maintenance 
of the rainwater harvesting facility.
Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional or Invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provisions 
hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in force and effect.
Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to 
the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general 
circulation.
Approved,