REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
Nov 13 P257 
SENATE 
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Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is a priority emblazoned by the Constitution to protect the nation's 
marine wealth in its archipelagic waters so that ultimately, the right to use the 
same can be enjoyed by Filipino citizens. 
The call to protect our rivers comes at an even louder voice today. Recent 
studies have shown the Marilao River as among the dirtiest in the world today, 
filled with excess levels of the dangerous heavy metals chromium, cadmium and 
lead. It has also recorded zero dissolve oxygen levels and high levels of organic 
pollution. Not to mention the fact that the Pasig River is still visibly among the 
dirtiest river systems in the country still. 
By mandating each city or municipality that has a river system to create a 
River Development Authority, we can be assured that protection can be given to 
our river systems and ultimately, to our countrymen, as the protection of the river 
entails not only the protection of marine wealth and life, but also the protection of 
a source of livelihood, of food, and even rest and relaxation. Henceforth, the 
passage of this legislation is earnestly sought. 


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
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Second Regular Session, 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
AN ACT 
MANDATING EACH CITY OR MUNICIPALITY TO CREATE A RIVER 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE PRESERVATION, PROTECTION 
AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL RIVERS, RIVER SYSTEMS, AND NATURAL 
WATERWAYS WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Each city or municipality is hereby mandated to create a River 
Development Authority, hereinafter referred to as the Authority, for the 
preservation, protection and development of all rivers, river systems and natural 
waterways within its jurisdiction. 
Section 2. The Authority shall execute the powers and functions herein 
vested and conferred upon it in such manner as will, in its judgment, aid to the 
fullest possible extent in carrying out the process set forth in this Act. The 
Authority shall have the following functions: 
a) Prepare a master plan to preserve, protect, develop and exploit all 
rivers, river systems, and natural waterways; 
b) Conduct engineering surveys of rivers, river systems and natural 
waterways, assessing and monitoring water quality, pinpointing 
pollution sources and identifying the rivers that need to be developed 
for exploitation and rehabilitation; 
c) Initiate and facilitate planning, implementation, monitoring and 
evaluation of pertinent projects with positive impact on environment 
and development, including dredging, widening and deepening of river 
channels and improvement of river alignments; 
d) Prioritize rivers positively identified for development and rehabilitation, 
and on the basis thereof, prepare a river-specific plan of operation for 
the improvement, development and rehabilitation of environmentally 
degraded rivers; 
e) Initiate funding arrangements with local and foreign donors, to finance 
priority development projects and provide direct funding of minor 
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initiatives expected to create a positive impact on the environment in 
the projected area; 
f) Develop information materials to 
ensure a 
high decree of 
environmental awareness in government agencies, organizations and 
the general public; 
g) Make recommendations to the proper agencies offering financial 
support, technical and physical assistance about the level of priority to 
be accorded river systems development and rehabilitation projects; 
h) Coordinate and integrate such projects or operations of local 
governments, agencies, public corporations and, where clearly 
necessary and feasible, those of private entities, as will bear directly 
upon the plans and activities of the Authority so as to make possible an 
intensive development and .rehabilitation of the rivers, river systems 
and natural waterways in the country within the context of the master 
plan. 
i) Set up a compact and well-trained staff for effective liaison and 
consultation or joint planning and implementation with government and 
private entities; 
j) Make an annual report to the Secretary of the Interior and Local 
Government of its activities, including those done in collaboration with 
the various government and private entities engaged in the 
implantation of the projects and programs, which shall include, among 
others, a comparison of the developmental and rehabilitation targets as 
set for the year ending and the extent to which actual accomplishments 
measure up to such targets, and the appropriate administrative and 
legislative recommendations. 
Section 3. The Authority shall have a Board of Directors composed of 
eleven (11) members as follows: 
a) City or municipal council majority floor leader, as Chairman; 
b) City or municipal council minority floor leader; 
c) Chairman of the City or Municipal Council Committee on Public Works; 
d) Chairman of 
the 
City or 
Municipal Council 
Committee on 
Appropriations; 
e) City or municipal engineer; 
f) City or municipal planning and development officer; 
g) City or municipal planning and development officer; 
h) City or municipal administrator; 
i) Three (3) members representing the private sector to be appointed by 
the city or municipal mayor. 
No member of the Board shall, during his term, be financially interested, 
directly or indirectly, in any contract entered into by the Authority or in any special 
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privileges granted by the Authority. All contracts entered into in violation of this 
provision shall be null and void. 
Section 4. The Board shall exercise the following powers and functions: 
a) Formulate, prescribe, amend and repeal rules and regulations to 
govern the conduct of operation of the Authority; 
in accordance with existing laws; 
b) Appoint the necessary staff of Authority and to fix their compensation 
c) Suspend, remove or otherwise discipline for just cause any staff 
member appointed by the Board; 
d) Recommend the annual and supplemental budgets of the Authority; 
e) Render annual reports to the secretary of the Interior and Local 
Government and to the city or municipal mayor and such special 
reports as may be requested; and 
f) Do such other acts and perform such other functions as may be 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
Section 5. The Secretary of the Interior and Local Government shall issue 
. .  
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
Section 6. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall 
be charged to the appropriations of the Department of Interior and Local 
Government, Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its continued 
operation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
Section 7. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly. 
Section 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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