EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPLBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
(S ltitf of li.-f sif'1 
‘ ti*'P
SENATE
S.B. NO. 
1013
'19 
SEP-4  
P 2 '-4 ^ '
R EC El. • I 3V
INTRODUCED BY: SENATOR EMMANUEL D. PACQUIAO
AN ACT
TO PROMOTE RURAL HEALTH BY MANDATING THE NATIONAL 
GOV ERNMENT TO CONSTRUCT POTABLE WATER SUPPLV SV STEM IN 
EVERY BAR.\NGAY IN THE COUNTRY AND ALLOCATE FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them. Pursuant to this, the State is mandated to adopt an 
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make 
essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at an affordable cost.
While the Philippines has made a good progress towards achieving its Millennium 
Development Goal for water and sanitation as reported by the World Health Organization, 9 
million Filipinos still lack access to safe and sustainable water sources.
The lack of access to sanitation and potable water have been linked with water-related 
diseases and even death. The Department of Health even reported that diarrhea and other 
waterborne diseases remain among the top causes of mortality and morbidity in the Philippines.
This bill seeks to address the need of providing sustainable and safe water supply in all 
parts of the country to reduce, if not eliminate, the problem on sanitation and water-related 
problems and to emphasize the State’s recognition of every Filipino’s right to water and 
sanitation.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought
EMMANUEL^rrTACQUIAO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
l irst Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1 0 1 3
•If 
SEP- 4
¥
RECti;.C.>
INTRODUCED BY: SENATOR EMMANUEL D. PACQLIIAO * 1 1
AN ACT
TO PROMOTE RURAL HEALTH BY MANDATING THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TO 
CONSTRUCT POTABLE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM IN EVERY BARANGAY IN THE 
COUNTRY AND ALLOCATE FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Fhilippiites in Congress 
assembled:
1 
SECTION \. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Potable Water Act of 2019.”
2 
SEC 2. Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote the quality of health of
3 
every Filipino through the provision of adequate social service including, but not limited to,
4 
the provision of an adequate potable water supply system to minimize the exposure of water
5 
borne diseases
6 
SEC. 3. Lead Agencies. The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), Department of
7 
Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of
8 
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall undertake a three-year program for the
9 
construction of potable water supply system in every barangay throughout the country. The
10 
program shall give priority to areas with social and health problems brought about by water-
11 
borne diseases taking into consideration population, area served, project cost and other
12 
economic, social and environmental factors as may be deemed necessary in undertaking the
13 
program within the context of the national development plans. The lead agencies concerned,
14 
in consultation with the provincial and municipal development councils, shall determine the
15 
areas that shall be given priority.
16 
SEC. 4. Program (iuidelines. -  The lead agencies concerned shall observe the following
17 
priorities and guidelines in the planning, construction and management of potable water supply
18 
project:


1 
(a) Funds provided for in this Act shall be used only for the construction of the new potable
2 
water supply system;
3 
(b) Priority shall be given to the construction of communal water supply;
4 
(c) The potable water supply projects must be equitably distributed among the provinces
5 
and municipalities, giving priority to those provinces and municipalities having
6 
inadequate supply of potable water,
7 
(d) The local government unit concerned shall participate in the planning, identification,
8 
design, construction and monitoring of all projects;
9 
(e) The potable water supply system shall be managed and maintained by the local
10 
government unit concerned;
11 
(f) fhe provincial officers of the LWUA, DILG, DOH, and DPWH, shall be responsible
12 
in the preparation of feasibility studies and design of communal water supply projects.
13
14 
SFC, 5. Appropriation. The sum of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000 00) is hereby
15 
appropriated for the initial implementation of the provision of this Act. Thereafter, the
16 
succeeding appropriation for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual
17 
General Appropriations Act until the program shall have been completed.
18 
SEC. 6. Separability Clause. -  If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional, other parts
19 
or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in force and effect.
20 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, presidential decrees, issuances, orders, rules and
21 
regulation and inconsistent with the provision of this Act are hereby amended, repealed or
22 
modified accordingly
23 
SEC. 8. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the
24 
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation
25
26 
Approved.