Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5987

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Access to safe and potable water is fundamental in every community. It
cannot be emphasized enough that clean water is critical to every man’s survival.

Unfortunately, in the Philippines, only 86% of the 23 million families have
access to safe water supply. The remaining 14% get their water from unsafe
sources, thus, bringing various illnesses and infections into the household.

This bill seeks to address this alarming problem, by seeking to establish a
Potable water supply system in every barangay within three years. This shall be
carried out by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, in collaboration
with the Department of Health and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

This measure also focuses on the priority construction of a communal water
supply system that will be equitably distributed to the provinces and municipalities
that most need them.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

FRED VARt


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5987

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
PROMOTING RURAL HEALTH BY PROVIDING FOR AN ACCELERATED
PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A POTABLE WATER SUPPLY
SYSTEM IN EVERY BARANGAY IN THE COUNTRY WITHIN THREE YEARS

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to promote the quality of health of every Filipino through the provision of
adequate social service including, but not limited to, the provision of an adequate
potable water supply system to minimize the exposure of water borne diseases.

SEC. 2. Legal Agency. The Department of Social Welfare and Development
in cooperation with the Department of Health and Department of Public Works
and Highways shall undertake a three-year program for the construction of
potable water supply system in every barangay throughout the country. The
Program shall give priority to areas with social and health problems brought
about by water-borne diseases taking into consideration population, area served,
Project cost and other economic, social and environmental factors as may be
deemed necessary in undertaking the program within the context of the national
development plans. The lead agencies concerned, in consultation with the
provincial and municipal development councils, shall determine the areas shall
be given priority.

SEC. 3. Program Guidelines. The lead agencies concerned shall observe
the following priorities and guidelines in the planning, construction and
management of potable water supply project:

(a) Funds provided for in this act shall be used only for the construction of the
new potable water supply system;

(b) Priority shall be given to the construction of communal water ‘supply;


(©) The potable water supply projects must be equitably distributed among
the provinces and municipalities, giving priority to those provinces and
municipalities having inadequate supply of potable water.

(d) The local government unit concerned shall participate in the project in the
project planning, identification, design, management of all project funds,
construction and monitoring;

(e) The potable water supply system shall be managed and maintained by the
local government unit concerned;

(O The provincial officers of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development, Department of Health, and Department of Public Works and
Highways, shall be responsible in the preparation of feasibility studies and
design of communal water supply project.

SEC. 4. Appropriation. The sum of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) is
hereby appropriated for the initial implementation of the provision of this act.
Thereafter, the succeeding appropriation for its continued implementation shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act until the program shall
have been completed.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. If any provision of Act is held
unconstitutional, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby
shall continue to be in force and effect.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, issuances, orders,
rule and regulation and inconsistent with the provision of this Act are here
amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,