Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

a
H. B. No.

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The proposed measure seeks to amend the Charter of the National Irrigation
Administration as provided under Republic Act No. 3601, as amended, in order to institutionalize
the representation of farmers in the governing board of the said agency. Under the present law,
{pe NIA Boar! is composed of six members, which include one private Sector representative,

Under R.A. No. 3601, small farmers are not assured of representation on the said Board
since the law does not expressly or specifically provide for such representative. Considering that
irrigation services have a vital and direct impact on agricultural production, their efficient
management and delivery is the foremost concern of small farmers. Thus, the said sector
should be given adequate representation in the NIA Board

Moreover, irrigation services should not be limited to rice and corn lands but should
include other crops, To stress this policy, we must not limit private sector representation in the
NIA Board to the rice and com sector.

Article Xi!, Section 16 of the Constitution mandates that, “the right of the people and their
organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, political and
economic decision-making shall not be abridged.” The bill seeks to implement this policy by
providing for one small farmers’ representative for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao

The bill also aims to complement and reiterate the policy of equitable distribution of
benefits and opportunities in agricultural development and empowerment of small farmers, as
enunciated in Republic Act No. 7607 (The Magna Carta of Small Farmers). Under the said law,
the farmers’ representative chosen by their national organizations shall sit in the governing
boards of government agencies, which include the NIA.

Although the said provision allows small farmers to participate in the NIA Board,
experience has shown that such participation is most effective and empowering if the farmers’
representatives are adequate in number.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is strongly recommended.

On” :
JUAN EDGARDO “gp. ANGARA
Representative

Lone District, Province of Aurora


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

H.B.No.__

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THREE SMALL FARMERS’ REPRESENTATIVES IN THE
NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (NIA) BOARD BY AMENDING
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3601, AS AMENDED BY PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 552
AND FURTHER AMENDED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER 292, DATED JULY 25,1987
ENTITLED, "AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION"

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1, Section 4 of Republic Act No. 3601 as amended by Presidential Decree
“No, 552 and further ‘amended by Executive Order No. 292, dated July 25, 1987 is hereby
amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 4. Board of Directors - The powers and functions of the National Irrigation
Administration (NIA) shall be exercised by the Board of Directors composed of [six (6)]
EIGHT (8) members, to wit:

The Secretary of Agriculture, who shall be the Vice-chairman; the Director-
Genera( of the National Economic and Development Authority, the Secretary of
Public Works and Highways, the General Manager of the National Power
Corporation, and [one (1) member] THREE (3) MEMBERS REPRESENTING
THE SMALL FARMERS OF LUZON, VISAYAS AND MINDANAO,
RESPECTIVELY, who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines
upon due notice to and on recommendation of any national rice and corn}
SMALL FARMERS organization of good standing and who shall serve fora term
of four (4) years unless sooner remove.”

SEC. 2. Repeal. All laws, rules and issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 3. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the date of

its complete publication in the Official Gazeffe or, in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,