Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House sino. 1850

Introduced by Hon. Jerry P. Trefias and Hon. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Decisive action is needed in order to abate the incessant floods in Metro Manila and in
the various flood-prone areas all over the country. The government must be empowered to create
and implement an effective and comprehensive flood management program which is supported
by sufficient funding, This proposed measure aims to provide a lasting solution to the flood
problems of the National Capital Region, its adjacent regions and the rest of the country by
providing the needed appropriations to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
for the implementation of a nationwide flood management system.

This House Bill was originally filed by the late Congressman Erico B. Aumentado in the
15" Congress as HB 6469. The late Representative Aumentado filed the bill in response to the
massive flooding experienced by Metro Manila and the rest of the country caused by Ondoy,
Pepeng and the Habagay monsoon rains. He observed that “the country becomes vulnerable to
massive flooding during typhoons, monsoon rains and occurrence of low pressure areas. These
floods have caused tremendous loses of lives and properties wasting billions of pesos worth of
destruction, and more so, in economic loses.”

The 1987 Constitution provides that appropriation bills and legislative measures
authorizing the increase of public debt must originate fom the House of Representatives, to wit:

“All appropriation, revenue or tariff bills, bills authorizing increase of the public
debt, bills of local application, and private bills, shall originate exclusively in the
House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose or concur with
amendments.”*

The DPWH was created in its present form by Executive Order No. 124? of President
Corazon C, Aquino while exercising her legislative powers under the Freedom Constitution. The
DPWH was mandated to be the State’s engineering and construction arm, with the responsibility

* section 24, Article VI. 1987 Philippine Constitution
2 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 124 - REORGANIZING THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS, REDEFINING ITS
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (January 30, 1987)


of handling the planning, design, construction and maintenance of infrastructure facilities,
including flood control systems.” The DPWH is therefore the appropriate government agency to
implement the nationwide flood control program.

Massive flooding has already been accepted by most Filipinos as a fact of life. This
mindset must be changed in order to find a lasting solution to this grave problem. This massive
undertaking will require a substantial amount of money to be implemented. However, billions of
losses will continue to hamper our economic growth every year if we do not have the political
will to invest in a comprehensive flood mitigation program. The financial cost of the incessant
flooding is staggering, and the loss of lives, cancellation of classes, disruption of commercial
activity and severe traffic conditions caused by floods must also be taken into account.

We must act decisively in order to address this national problem. Otherwise, we will
perpetually live below wate) ing the rainy season and occurrences of severe weather
conditions. The apprgvalk is therefore highly recommended.

JERRY ENAS

* Section 3, EO 124.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNo.___ 1859

Introduced by Hon. Jerry P. Trefias and Hon. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS MULTI-YEAR
FLOOD CONTROL PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title. This act shall be known as the “Public Works Flood Control Act of 2013”,

Section 2, The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is hereby mandated to
operate and maintain the flood control facilities in Metro Manila and the entire Philippines.

Section 3. The DPWH shall prepare a master plan for effective and comprehensive flood
management in the entire country up to the year 2040, The plan shall start for Metro Manila,
Central Luzon, and the CALABARZON region.

Section 4, The DPWH shall also craft a master plan of flood controls for the rest of Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao.

Section 5. The amount of Six Hundred Billion Pesos (P600,000,000,000.00) is hereby
appropriated for the Public Works nationwide Public Works flood control program to be
implemented on a multi year basis. The funds shall be incorporated in the General
‘Appropriations Act annually, and as a complementary source, the DPWH shall tap the Official
Development Assistance (ODA) of the Philippines’ donor countries and institutions for
concessional loans on long term repayment basis,

Section 6. The DPWH shall begin at the soonest possible time its program to develop a safe
society that is resilient to floods and, with the approval of the ‘National Economic and
Development Authority Board, shall proceed forthwith to start sourcing funding for the
preparatory task of the design and implementation of the priority projects with a total cost of
Three Hundred Fifty Two Billion Pesos (P352,000,000,000.00) in Metro Manila, Central Luzon
and CALABARZON region listed as follows:


a, Marikina Large Dam plus improvements in the Pasig River, Napindan River and
Marikina River embankments,

b. The ring-road dike on the rim of Laguna de Bay, embankments and catch basins in
the Marikina River watershed and an 8-kilometer dike and pumping stations in the
CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela) area;

c. West Laguna Lake shore land raising;

d. Manila core area drainage improvements;

e. East Manggahan floodway and improvements in the Cainta and Taytay Rivers;

£ Malabon-Tullahan River improvements;

g. Meycauayan River improvements;

h. Valenzuela-Obando-Meycauayan River improvements,

i. Land raising for small cities around Laguna Lake and improvements of inflow rivers
to Laguna Lake;

j. South Parafiaque-Las Pifias River improvements,

k. West Manggahan area drainage improvements,

Section 7. The Department of Public Works and Highways shall also prioritize the flood control
projects for the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, giving priority to the flood prone areas
therein.

Section 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette
or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,