Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

Second Regular Session

House Bill No, 4966

Introduced by Hon. Rodolfo G. Biazon
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EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill aims to improve the plight of one of the unsung heroes of our country — the
farmers. It seeks to ease their burden by stopping the collection of irrigation service fees
(ISFs) and such other similar or related fees from them. According to the National Irrigation
Administration, it collected around P1.3 Billion in 2011, P14 Billion in 2012 and P1.6
Billion in 2013 in irrigation service fees. The NIA further reports that for 2013, its collection
efficiency in the collection of ISFs is only around sixty-five percent (65%).

Obviously, our farmers are having a hard time paying these fees being charged from
them because many of them remain shackled by poverty as they fall prey to the heartless
activities of loan sharks, otherwise known as “5-6 operators” in the local parlance. They are
ims of these “5-6 operators” in every step of the production process. Our farmers run to
them when they need money to buy seeds, fertilizers or pesticides and even money to pay for
the irrigation services that they receive. This results in their being heavily-indebted to these
Joan sharks. They, who produce the food we eat, end up with almost nothing to eat as their
products have already been promised to the loan sharks as payment for their debts even
before they are harvested. It is an irony that is unconscionable and must therefore stop.

Our farmers play a very important role in the security of this nation as they provide
‘our basic food requirements. However, despite their crucial role to our national survival, they
remain to be one of the most neglected sectors of our society. The assistance that this bill
Would offer our farmers is an affirmation that we acknowledge their situation and ready to act
to alleviate their plight.

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

RODOLFO G. BIAZON
Representative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

Second Regular Session

4966

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon. Rodolfo G. Biazon

AN ACT
TO STOP THE COLLECTION OF IRRIGATION SERVICE FEES AND SUCH
OTHER SIMILAR OR RELATED FEES FROM BENEFICIARIES OF IRRIGATION
SYTEMS FUNDED AND CONSTRUCTED BY, OR UNDER THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION

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

Section 1, Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
protect and promote the welfare of farmers in the country. Towards this end, it shall endeavor
to undertake efforts geared towards providing them the necessary assistance to increase the
yield of their farms such as inputs to production, post-production facilities and irrigation.

Sec. 2. Stoppage of the Collection of Fees. ~ The collection of irrigation service fees
(ISFs) and such other similar or related fees from beneficiaries of irrigation systems funded
and construeted by, or under the administration of the National Irrigation Administration
(NIA), shall be stopped after the enactment of the General Appropriations Act in the
succeeding year following the approval of this Act.

Sec. 3. Repair and Maintenance of National Irrigation Systems. — In order to ensure
the repair and maintenance of these irrigation systems, the NIA shall include the necessary
amounts for the repair and maintenance of such irrigation systems as a specific item in its
budget for the succeeding year following the approval of this Act. Henceforth, the repair and
maintenance of irrigation systems constructed by, or under the administration of the NIA,
shall be treated in the same manner as the repair and maintenance of roads which is included
as a specific item in the annual budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days after the
effectivity of this Act, the Administrator of the NIA, in consultation with other government
agencies and stakeholders, shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act to be published in at least two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.


Sec. 5. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act or any part hereof is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected
shall remain valid and subsisting.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules
and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

See. 7. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
‘a newspaper of nationwide circulation,

Approved,