FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
~\ 5,15 
No. 2956 
'( '1 
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INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In November of 1991, heavy rainfall roared down the surrounding hills of Ormoc, 
Leyte. 
Heavy floods carrying logs and uprooted trees engulfed Isla Verde, a crowded 
community of about 2,500, as well as the rest of Ormoc. According to reports, only about 
200 people in Isla Verde survived1. The local government of Ormoc reported that 4,875 
died in this tragedy although remains were still recovered after the release of the official 
count. Another similar tragedy happened in September of 2009 where typhoon "Ondoy" 
struck Metro Manila claiming at least 140 lives2. Taking the case of Ormoc, it is located on 
the delta where the Anilao and Malbasag rivers meet, and is surrounded by ills that had 
been cleared of all its vegetation to make way for sugar cane. Manila on the other hand, 
which like most of the country, lies on the Pacific typhoon belt and is bisected by the Pasig 
and Marikina rivers whose waters connect Manila Bay to the west and Laguna de Bay to the 
east. 
The government sites that a major factor which caused the death of thousands 
during heavy flooding is the housing settlement of people in riverbanks, coastal and other 
hazardous areas. Authorities say that people live where they should not have, and that 
obstruction, caused by informal settlers putting up illegal structures or rich landowners 
encroaching on land such as riverbanks that allow natural drainage, should be removed to 
avoid such tragedies. Among the country's worst natural disasters, the tragedies in Ormoc 
and that caused by "Ondoy" have been invoked across the nation as a warning to other 
similarly situated areas. 
This Bill aims to ban the construction of houses along riverbanks, waterways, and 
banks of inland waters in order to prevent the loss of lives and property during heavy storms 
and floods. As such, its immediate passage is earnestly sought. 
1 http://peii.org/stories/1992/ orrnoc. htm I 
, http://www.mb.com.ph/nod e/2 2 2493/p h i I ipp i ne 
o 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2956 
Introduced by SENATOR MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
'1! 
SEP-6 P5:57 
TO BAN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES ALONG RIVER BANKS, WATERWAYS 
AND BANKS OF INLAND WATERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as "The Housing Ban Along Riverbanks 
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Actof2011". 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the State to protect the people 
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from natural and man-made disasters and to implement laws to achieve such purpose. One 
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way to do this is to take the potential victims from harms way by preventing them from 
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subjecting themselves to probable risks such as building their houses along the path of 
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floodwaters. 
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SECTION 3. Ban on the construction of houses along riverbanks, waterways 
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and bodies of inland waters- The construction of houses within 10 meters from the edge 
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of rivers and bodies of inland waters is hereby prohibited. 
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SECTION 4. Penalties -
Barangay Chairmen, Municipal Mayors and Provincial 
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Governors shall be jointly liable to penalties if in their jurisdictions there are houses that are 
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built within 10 meters along riverbanks, banks of waterways and banks of inland waters 
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whether or not they issued construction permits or not. They shall be jointly liable to a fine of 
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Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000) each or an imprisonment of 6 months of both. 
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Repeated violation of this Act shall be ground for their removal from office. 
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SECTION 5. Operation of this Act - This Act shall cover only constructions that are 
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made after the approval of this Act. 
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SECTION 6. Implementing rules and regulations - The Department of Interior and 
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Local Government shall issue within 180 days from the date of approval of this Act, the 
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implementing rules and regulations for this Act. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause - Any portion or provision of this Act which may be 
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declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or 
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provisions hereof. 


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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause - All other laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and 
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other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed 
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or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall lake effect immediately after its 
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publication in two (2) Newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved. 
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