Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No.  
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Water, as succinctly pointed out by the United Nations Secretary General, is the 
most precious common good and needs to be at the center of the global political agenda. 
He further emphasized that all of humanity’s hopes for the future depend in some way, on 
charting a new science-based course to bring the water action agenda to life. 
We need to ensure access to safe water not only for drinking but for sanitation and 
other purposes as well. Globally, the water issue is even becoming a source of potential 
conflict between or among nations sharing limited water resource. 
This bill aims to require all new residential, commercial and institutional buildings in 
the country to install rainwater collection system. Hopefully, this would promote our people’s 
security for this most vital of resource which veritably is humanity’s “lifeblood.” 
In view of the foregoing, the early approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA
March 28, 2023
10:25 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
AN ACT REQUIRING ALL NEW RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS 
IN THE PHILIPPINES TO INSTALL RAINWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM, AND PROVIDING 
PENALTIES THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Rainwater Collection Act of 2023." 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and advance the 
rights of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and 
harmony of nature. Pursuant thereto, the State shall mandate the installation of rainwater 
collection systems to promote sufficient water supply in times of calamities or weather 
disturbances brought about by climate change and to reduce the flooding problems in the 
country. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
a. Rainwater shall mean water that falls on a roof or other hard, impervious non- 
pedestrian, non-vehicular surface and is captured, filtered and stored.
b. Rainwater collection shall mean the capture, diversion and storage of rainwater
for a number of different purposes including, but not limited to, landscape
irrigation;
c. Rainwater collection system {RCS) shall mean a facility designed to capture, retain,
and store rainwater flowing off a building, parking lot, or any other manmade,
impervious surface, for subsequent onsite use;
d. Institutional building shall mean civic building that can be funded privately or by
the government. It also refers to any structure that fulfills a role related to
healthcare, education, recreation, or public works. It shall include city, municipal
and barangay halls, court houses, judicial centers, executive and legislative
buildings, police headquarters, detention facilities, military bases, police and fire
stations, transportation terminals, schools and universities, museums, art
galleries, cultural centers and the like.
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SEC. 4. Rainwater Collection System. - The owner or developer of a new residential, 
commercial and institutional building shall include in its building plan a rainwater collection 
system consistent with the purpose of this Act. 
 
A Rainwater Collection System (RCS) installed pursuant to this section shall not be 
made with toxic materials and shall be designed, constructed, and maintained in such a way 
as to exclude mosquitoes and other contaminants. The size of the container for the rainwater 
collection system shall be at least 10 cubic meter and its operation and maintenance shall be 
the sole responsibility of the owner or possessor of the building. 
 
The rainwater collected by rainwater collection system may be used for non-potable 
and suitable purposes, such as cleaning, gardening and air-cooling processes. 
 
SEC. 5. Design/Plan Approval. - The local government units (LGUs) and the 
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) shall require rain 
water collection facility/system to be incorporated in the design or plan of all new residential, 
commercial and institutional buildings; otherwise such building shall not be approved for 
construction by the concerned agency. 
 
SEC. 6. Issuance of Building Permit. - If the design of a new residential, commercial 
and institutional building does not provide for a rainwater collection sytem, the LGU 
concerned shall deny the application for issuance of a building permit for such building. 
 
SEC. 7. Rainwater Treatment Facility To New Government Institutional Buildings and 
Large Commercial Establishments. - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), 
through its attached agencies, shall install a rainwater treatment facility to all new 
government institutional buildings. It shall supervise the filtration and purification processes 
to ensure that the rainwater is safe for drinking. 
 
The rainwater treatment facility or device shall be regularly monitored and evaluated 
by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the LGUs concerned. 
 
For all new private institutional buildings such as private schools and universities, 
including large commercial establishments like malls, supermarkets and companies, they are 
mandated to install rainwater filtration facilities connected to the rainwater collection 
systems so that the rainwater can be used as potable water. 
 
SEC. 8. Penalties. - The owner or developer of a new residential, commercial and 
institutional building who fails to install a rainwater collection system in violation of Section 
4 of this Act shall suffer the penalty of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(P100,000.00), but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) for every 
year of non-compliance. 
 
The same penalty shall be applied to those who fail to install a rainwater treatment 
facility in violation of the third paragraph of Section 7 of this Act. 


The head of the government institution who violates Section 4 and Section 7 of this 
Act, or any government officer or employees who issues permits in violation of this Act shall 
suffer the penalty of suspension of not less than ten (10) days but not more than one hundred 
eighty (180) days after due notice and hearing in an appropriate administrative proceeding. 
 
SEC. 9. Tax Incentives. - To encourage the public to promote the installation of 
rainwater collection system, the owner of an existing residential or commercial building who 
install a rainwater collection system in his/her property shall be entitled to a tax credit of 10% 
but not exceeding Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) of the total real property tax of the said 
property for a period of two (2) years. 
 
SEC. 10. Issuance of Certification. - The LGU concerned through its engineering office, 
after proper inspection, shall issue a certification that the owner of an existing residential and 
commercial building has installed a rainwater collection system in his/her property. Such 
certification can be used as proof for tax credit purposes. 
 
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - To ensure the effective 
implementation of this Act, the Secretary of the DPWH, in coordination with the Secretary of 
the DILG, the Secretary of the DHSUD, and the Administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, 
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), shall promulgate the 
rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from its effectivity. 
 
The above-mentioned regulations shall include guidelines for the design, construction, 
installation, materials, site-selection and planning, including the maintenance of the 
rainwater collections system and the rainwater treatment facility. 
 
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, issuances, circulars, rules and regulations 
or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
modified, or amended accordingly. 
 
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional 
or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full 
force and effect. 
 
SEC. 14. Effectivity Clause. - The Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved.