EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriquez aus
House Bill No. 2753
EXPLANATORY NOTE

The basic requisite in the pursuit of national development is a prudent use of land
resource. Only through a comprehensive land use plan can we efficiently use our resources
to propel the country towards economic and social development

However efforts are being hampered by the lack of available information related to
land resources which are necessary for efficient land use. The data available are either
inadequate or grossly outdated

In order to respond to the challenges of development, there is an urgent need to
modernize the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA). The
NAMRIA, in fulfiling its mandate of supplying all necessary information on land resource
matters, must be at the forefront of national planning and development

This bill seeks to establish a modemization program for the NAMRIA in order to
effectively fulfill its mandate. This modernization program shall undertake the following
programs:

2. National Mapping Program which aims to accelerate the production of
digital base maps and information for environmental planning and development
within a geographic information system environment

b information Technology Strategic Pian, which seeks to develop and
define an over-all medium-term information technology structure for NAMRIA to
include proposed technology, data application and service models in order to
address the agency's information needs at both management and operational
levels:

c. _ Data acquisition from satellite missions through the establishment of a
multi-satellite, multi-purpose ground receiving station, the development of
Hydrographic, Oceanographics Surveys and Nautical Charting of the Exclusive
Economic Zone and the development of innovative techniques in generating
geographic information

The modemization program shall benefit not only our local government units and the
various national planning agencies but also the private sector as well. The following benefits
and assistance are foreseen to be derived upon the completion of the “NAMRIA
Modernization Program’.

1 Local Government Sector. Regional, provincial, municipal, and integrated
area development planning: zoning and control of land use: establishment of boundaries of
focal government units (LGUs), barangay roads, and water systems, classification of LGUs
according to levels of development, effective implementation of the Local Government Code.
provision of a stable base of information for tax mapping operations and efficient real estate
tax collection system; litigation of land cases and processing of applications for certificates of
land titles. assessment of taxes and other revenue generating programs


2. Economic Sector. Physical framework planning, monitoring and evaluation
cof geographic locations: planning of urban, regional, and economic growth centers and
countryside development

2 Agriculture Sector. Planning geographic locations of agricultural support
services: identification of areas suitable for agriculture, formulation of food security measures
and prediction of food yields; Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Monitoring:
integrated forestry programs

4 Environment and Natural Resources Sector. Reguiation and disposition of
publicfforest lands: monitoring the exploitation and depletion of natural resources; resources
development and conservation planning: environmental and forest protection; watershed
management, and resource policy formulation: support to legislation such as ‘Irrigation Crisis
Act, Forestry Code. Mining Law, National Land Use Code. Land Code, National integrated
Protected Areas System Law. among others

5. Public Works Sector. Infrastructure planning, design and development: facilites
planning and management; location of facilities including but not limited to water pipes.
electrical. and telephone lines for proper repair. maintenance. building, and evacuation
scheduling: formulation and utilization of long term programs of disaster prevention through
preventive infrastructure

6. National Defense Sector. Pianning strategic and intelligence operations;
mapping out territorial limits of the country for security purposes

7 Transportation, Communications, and Tourism. Development of effective
traffic management system: efficient road planning, alternative route management. and other
areas of concer for public transport needs, road condition monitoring, railroad planning
navigable river and coastal shipping reference for the development of a feasible alternative
passenger system

8 Health and Social Welfare Sector. Physical planning of health support
services and surveys; relief operations planning: disaster management guide. hazard and
risk evaluation, formulation of disaster preventive programs,

9. Education Sector. Update reference materials.

10. Private Sector. Thematic mapping, selection and development of sites for
real estate and other development; efficient delivery of services, and to furnish, at minimal
cost. integrated and comprehensive land database

In view of the foregoing considerations. immediate passage of this bill is eamestly

sought.

RUFPSA. RODRIGUEZ


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 2753

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE NATIONAL MAPPING AND
RESOURCE INFORMATION AUTHORITY (NAMRIA)

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembied:

SECTION 1 Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "NAMRIA Modernization
Act’

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. itis hereby deciared policy of the state to promote a
just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation
and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services
promote full employment, a rising standard of living and an improved quality of life for all
However. national development and policies must be based on current information on land
resources. The National Mapping and Resources Information Agency (NAMRIA), as sole
custodian of ali land-resource-related information, shall therefore be a prime mover of
national development planning. Towards this end, the State shall promote and pursue the
Modernization of National Mapping and Resource information Authority (NAMRIA) to a level
where it can effectively and fully perform its mandate to act as the central surveying and
mapping agency of the Republic of the Philippines

SEC 3. Objectives of the NAMRIA Modernization Program.

(a) To promote the conservation and management of the country’s natural
resources by assisting the various agencies of government in their efforts
toward the proper determination of the country’s land boundaries and land
use pattems, forest lands, ancestral domains, maritime boundaries and
other related physical, geographic demographic and socio-economic
characteristics.

To develop its present capabilities as the central surveying and mapping
agency of the government by implementing equipment acquisition
program consonant with technological advances to hasten the conduct of
needed nationwide geodetic, topographic. hydrographic and
oceanographic survey.

(c) To establish a one-stop shop of geographically referred database and

elated information.

(b

SEC 4, General Mandate and Responsibilities. The NAMRIA shail have the
following general mandate and responsibilities

(a) To act as the Government's central surveying and mapping agency providing
map making and related services to government instrumentaiities

{b) To be the official depository and distributon agency of land and natural
resources database


(c) To conduct land and natural resources classification surveys, inclusive of all
marine resources within the maritime zones;

(d) To undertake continuing ocean and land research and natural resources
database development activities; and

(e) To upgrade, modernize and acquire appropriate surveying and map making
technology and equipment

SEC 5 Components of the NAMRIA Modernization Program. The NAMRIA
Modernization Program shall consist of the following components

(a) RESTRUCTURING AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Aims to
effectively and efficiently carryout the nationwide coordination of geographic
information development activities and to strengthen research and development
program.

(b) TECHNOLOGY AND STRATEGIES SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT. Aims to
provide a mechanism for the acquisition and installation of appropriate systems
and technology to improve the delivery of its products and services

(c) HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOMENT. Aims to upgrade the skills of its
personnel: develop, implement and institutionalize a program designed to
optimize personnel capabilities through @ sustainable training and development
strategies in improving the quality of work as well as the standard of living of its
personnel.

SEC 6. Development of NAMRIA Capabilities. The modernization of NAMRIA
shall be geared towards the development of the following capabilities

(a) ENHANCEMENT OF MAPPING CAPABILITIES - The NAMRIA. being the
central mapping agency of the government, shall develop and upgrade its map
production capability to digital technology. To this end, it shall

(1) Provide updated water and land-based information in the form of digital
basemaps and charts within geographic information environment;

(2) Provide nationwide coverage of updated large scale maps in graphic and
digital format of urban areas, centers of population and development
areas:

(3) Conduct periodic integrated resource and environment survey for the
generation of updated, standardized and reliable geographic and
Tesource information, and.

(4) Serve the various mapping needs of government agencies and the
private sector

(b) DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITY — The
NAMRIA. shall develop its technology structure by establishing one-stop source
of geographically referenced ocean, land and resource database information. To
this end, it shail

(1) Eliminate data duplication and provide a mechanism for data sharing with
other government agencies and instrumentalities:

(2) Provide a rapid response system to generate maps and charts to disaster
management in coordination with concerned agencies and for high
priority planning in development areas:

(3) Keep up with the demand for complete and updated land, water and
natural resources data bases, land use classification maps, inclusive of
microfilm and microfiche processes:

(4) Provide better access to its products and services. and


(5) Speed up its base mapping, revision and technological programs

(c) IMPROVEMENT OF DATA ACQUISITION CAPABILITY — The following
programs shall be implemented to enhance the data acquisition capability of
NAMRIA

(1) Establishment of Ground Receiving Station - The NAMRIA shall develop
its data acquisition capability by operating  multi-satellite, mutti-purpose
ground station in order to

1.2. establish and develop its capabilities for real or near data
acquisition

1b. conduct disaster monitoring and damage assessment, detect
potential environmental hazard and near real time inventory of
resources in coordination with other government agencies:

1.¢. serve as user service unit

(2) Upgrading of Surveys and Charting Capabilities — The NAMRIA shail
increase its capabilities for hydrographic, oceanographic and geographic
surveys and nautical charting capabilities. To this end, it shall

2a. produce up-to-date nautical charts of the Exclusive Economic
Zones to ensure safety of navigation and provide basic reference in
planning and executing all marine activities in the country

2b. delineate the different maritime zones of the country in
coordination with other government agencies

2c. provide technical data needed in the judicious delimitation of
‘overtapping international boundaries:

2d. generate marine scientific information for assessment and
efficient management of living and non-living ocean resources for both
government and non-government units

2e. intensify existing geographic network, integrate existing cadastral
and control data into Philippine Resources System, establishment of a
network maintenance system and modernization of survey practices
24. initiate the delineation of administrative boundaries throughout the
country in coordination with the Land Management Bureau and other
government agencies

(d) IMPROVEMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CAPABILITY -
NAMRIA shali undertake researches in order to develop new techniques in
generating geographic information. To this end, it shall

4. engage in exploratory projects which can improve capabilities in
information science.

2. acquire expertise in servicing the geographic information requirements of
ail sectors in the country:

3. establish standards and procedures in geographic information system
(GIS), remote sensing, mapping and surveying

SEC 7. Period of Implementation — The modernization program under this Act shall
be implemented over a period of ten (10) years; Provided, however. that payments for
amortization of outstanding multi-year contract obligations incurred under this Act. may
extend beyond this period


SEC 8. Appropriation for the NAMRIA Modernization Program — The annual
appropriation for the NAMRIA Modernization Program ‘shail include the amounts necessary
to support the funding requirements for all modemization projects approved by Congress.

SEC 9. Multi-Year Contracts and Other Contractual Arrangements.

(a) The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, pursuant to the NAMRIA
Modernization Program projects and appropriations approved by Congress, may.
subject to the approval of the President, and consistent with the provisions of existing
jaws and requiations including those of the Commission on Audit and under such
terms and conditions most favorable to the government, enter into multi-year
contracts and other contractual arrangements.

(b) For multi-year contracts, Congress shall upon certification by the President, make
the corresponding appropriation for the ensuing fiscal year’ Provided, that Congress
shall appropriate only such funds as may be necessary to pay an unpaid amount
where the funds appropriated, for the current fiscal year snot sufficient or available
to meet such payment in full or in part

(c) The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall submit to the
Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Environment and Finance and the Chairmen
of the House Committee on Environment and Appropriations copies of this multi-year
contracts and other agreements to enable Congress to appropriate funds.

SEC 10. Procurement System. In addition to the provisions of existing laws. rules
and regulations regarding procurement acquisition of equipment, the DENR and NAMRIA
shall strengthen said system and procedures taking into account new requirement under the
NAMRIA modernization program. The NAMRIA is hereby given the authority to strengthen
its system and procedures for equipment acquisition, taking into account new requirements
under the NAMRIA modernization program

SEC 11. Tax Exemption. The importation by NAMRIA of mapping and surveying
materials such as photogrammetic, eartographic, survey. data processing, remote sensing
equipment and material supplies, and spare parts which will be used actually, directly and
exclusively. in its operations shall be exempted from all forms of taxes. duties and other
fees

SEC 12. Annual Reports. The Administrator of the NAMRIA through the Secretary
of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), shall submit to the
President and Congress, not later than the end of the first quarter of the succeeding year, an
annual report containing the progress of the implementation of the modemization program
under this Act

SEC 13. Austerity and Use of Savings. Upon approval of this act, the Secretary of
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the NAMRIA
Administrator, shall submit to Congress, within the first quarter of the succeeding year and
every year thereafter a report on:

(a) The amount of all unused and undisbursed funds remaining from previous DENR:
and NAMRIA appropriations; and

(b) The amount of savings from austerity measures generated in the previous fiscal
year

The savings generated under this section are hereby authorized to be used to
augment funds for the NAMRIA Modernization Program


SEC 14. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full
force and effect.

SEC 15. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders rules and regulations
inconsistent with or contrary to this Act. are hereby deemed repealed or amended
accordinaly.

SEC 16. Effectivity Clause. This act shall take effect after fifteen days (15) from its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved.