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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES           4Qj:'>.;j`  F;:r=
Quezon City
NINnTEENTH CoNGRE ss
Second Regular Session
HoUSH BILL NO.           10089
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Introduced by Representative Claude P. Bautista
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In a 2023 report by the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), it was stated that
"Half Of the worid's papulation could be living in areas facing water scarcity as early as 2025.
Some 700 million people could be displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030. By 2040, roughly
I in 4 children worldwide will be living in areas of extremely high water stress."
Bringing the issue close to home,  Water.Org declared that the Philippines "Out of its
population Of 1 15 million peoples, 60 million or 52% of the population lack access to safe water
and 43 million or 37 % lack access to a safe toilet."  More than the threat Of food insufficiency,
kygiene, and sanitation prchlems, and concomitant health issues , water scarcity will endanger the
very survival of the people themselves.  As one environmental advocate has stated, "Ang tubig ay
buhay."
It is ironic that though an archipelagic state, the Philippines is faced with a water crisis.
Aside from the people' s wanton wastage of this precious resource, other factors beyond our control
have exacerbated this problemHlimate change, sporadic rainfall, and the burgeoning population
have contributed to the continual dwindling of this life-giving source.
To help remedy this situation, this Bill  seeks to create a rain catchment facility that will
collect and store rainwater as a self-supply option.   As per the World Health Organization Rain
Water Harvesting Systems can be used as long as the system takes into account site precipitation,
surface catchment area, runoff coefficient, roof material,   and system water loss.   In Singapore,
rainwater   catchment   facility   is   collected   and   used   to   flush   toilets,   thus,   reducing   water
consumption, energy consumption, and other construction expenditures.   In Japan, farmers make
excellent use of rainwater to increase their produce and lessen their dependence on irrigation and
other water resources.


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While the  1989 RA 6716 has similar intentions to the proposed Bill, DPWH is the sole
government agency  responsible for the funding,   construction,  rehabilitation,  and repair of the
rainwater collection.   The difference, however, with RA 6716, is that the proposed Bill will be a
j oint effort of the DA, DSWM, DPWH, and other concerned government agencies that will provide
the funding for Small Water Impounding Projects or SWIP.  Unlike the  1989 RA 6716, this current
Bill  will  have  the  formation  of  farmer-beneficiaries  into  associations  to  take  charge  of the
operation,   management,     and  maintenance  of  the   SWIP,   making  the  project  a  collective
engagement
A semi-annual accomplishment report shall be forwarded to the concerned agencies by the
farmer-beneficiaries association to gauge the effective operation of the SWIP and address concerns
that may come up regarding the project.
Due to the importance of the SWIP, the passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.
cLAU¢E
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEHNTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HoUSE BILL No.  10 0 8 9
Introduced by Representative Claude P. Bautista
ANACT
pRovlDING SMALL WATER IrmouNDING PRo]ECTs ( Swlp) FOR
AGRICULTURE  IN THE COUNTRY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be  it enacted by  the  Senate  and House  Of Representatives  Of the  Philippines  in  Congress
assembled:
SECTION I. S#ar4 rj?Jc. - This Act shall be known as the SWIP Act
SHCTI0N 2. Dechar¢ft.o# a/PoJI.c)).- It is the policy of the State to adopt a measure
that is efficient and expedient in order to address issues on food security and water scarcity
especially  during  the  drought  season.  It  is  also  the  policy  of the  state  to  recognize  and
strengthen the  capacities  of Local  Government Units  and  communities  in  addressing these
issues. For this purpose, the government shall provide a measure that would enable the LGUs
to  attain  effective and  sustainable management of water resources and would help  address
concerns of water scarcity most especially during drought season.
SEcrJOIV3. DeJ3#I.#.o" a/rer#rs.-As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:
Small Water Impounding Projects-a structure constructed across a narrow
depression or valley to hold back water and develop a reservoir that will store
rainfall and run-off during the rainy season for immediate or future use.


SEcrroIV 4. SWTPAct-It shall be mandatory for each barangay to reserve, develop,
and maintain a SWIP which will be utilized for agriculture,  irrigation, livestock and fishery
production and other environmental uses. It must have a sufficient storage capacity in order to
ensure whole-year-round agricultural production, and for soil and water conservation in areas
with   distinct   wet   and   dry   seasons   to   increase   cropping   intensity   and   enhance   crop
diversification.
In this matter, all Local Government Units, with the technical assistance of Bureau of
Soils and Water Management and the DPWII shall identify suitable sites for the establishment
of SWITs in every barangay within their respective jurisdiction.
SECTION S. Designing and Planning Of the SWIPs.-The Lcros. in coordimndion and
supervision of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management a3SWM) shall conduct feasibility
studies and program of works of feasible sites of SWIPs based on the guidelines to be issued
by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
In addition, the implementation procedures of the establishment of SWIPs shall comply
with the requirements of the Philippine Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Standards for
irrigation and other related standards laid down by law.
SECTION   6.   Mandatory  Right-of-Way  Acquisition   for   SWIfs-  It  shall   be
mandatory  for  the   SWIPs  sites  to  be  free  from  RIght  of  Way  disputes  prior  to  their
implementation.  In  such cases,  the LGU concerned  shall  conduct the acquisition of the real
propertyindisputeeitherthroughsale,expropriation,oranyothermodeofacquisitionpursuant
to existing laws. The cost of such acquisition shall form part of the project cost.
SECTION 7. Operation, Management, and Maintenance Of the SWIPs .-It she;Xl be
mandatory that the SWIPs be officially turned-over to the farmer beneficiaries who shall be
responsible for the operation and management of the SWIPs. The DA, BSWM, TESDA shall


provide  the  necessary  assistance,  training,  and  programs  that  would  equip  the  farmer-
beneficiaries with the necessary skills to operate and manage the SWIPs.
The DA and BSWM shall also assist the farmer beneficiaries to establish Small Water
Impounding Projects Associations (SWPAs) and conduct institutional developmental training
such as Technical Skills Training, Leadership Skills Training etc to these associations.
In order to ensure the effective implementation of the SWIP, the SwnAs shall submit
accomplishment reports every six (6) months to the BSWM of the performance of the SWIP
such as information on the total volume of retained water and its utilization.
SECTION  8.  Research  and Developnent Of SWIPs.-The BSINM a;nd its FLegjiona.1
Offices shall develop a unified information system that would serve as the server that aims to
store,analyzeandtransmitdataandinformationregardingtheexistingSWIPsinordertoassist
the farmer-beneficiaries in managing the same.
Moreover,  the BSWM  in coordination with DOST  and DA-Bureau  of Agricultural
Research,  shall  conduct research  and developmental  studies that would aim to  improve and
expand the SWPs in the country.
SEcrJOv 9. 4xproprl.¢f}.oHs- The necessary funding for the construction, operation,
management,   and  maintenance  of  the   SWIPs  shall  be  included  in  the  annual  funding
appropriations of the DA, BSWM, DPWH, DOST, and other concerned government agencies.
SECTION 10. Implemeuting Rules and Regulations-W.Tlhim stxrty (60) days a:ftel the
effectivity of this Act the DA, BSWM, DPWII and other concerned national agencies shall
promulgate the rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.
SEcrJOIV JJ.  RepeaJI.#g  C/¢wsci- All  laws,  executive  orders,  presidential  decrees,
rulesandregulations,andotherissuancescontrarytoorinconsistentwiththeprovisionsofthis
Act are hereby repealed, modified, superseded, or amended accordingly.


SEcrJOIV J2.  Sep¢r¢bjJjfy  C7¢wse-If any  portion  or provision  of this Act shall be
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in force
and effect.
SECTION 13. Effectivity.-This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,