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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No, 348
25 JUL 10 PI T8
Rf.CtlV£D lit
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK ON WATER SUSTAINABILITY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 2024, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 
estimated that 40 million Filipinos still do not have access to a public water system 
and rely on rainwater, rivers, or creeks to meet their daily needs. Many regions in the 
Philippines still lack the infrastructure to deliver safe drinking water to underserved 
communities. This is largely due to the substantial investment required, with the DENR 
estimating that around Php 250 billion is needed to ensure basic water access 
nationwide.1
The Philippines, highly vulnerable to climate change, has experienced extreme 
and unusual droughts and floods caused by the El Nino and La Nina phenomena. El 
Nino often leads to reduced rainfall and elevated temperatures, resulting in drought 
conditions, increased risk of wildfires, and water shortages. On the other hand. La 
Nina typically brings above-average rainfall, increasing the likelihood of flooding, 
landslides, and the spread of waterborne diseases.2 These recurring climate extremes 
underscore the urgent need for comprehensive water sustainability strategies that 
include efficient water resource management, climate-resilient infrastructure.
1 Zaldarriaga, J. (2025, February 25). Ensuring Water Access. 
https://www.pna.gov.ph/opinion/pieces/1018-ensuring-water-access
2 Resilient.PH. (2024, June 20). Navigating El Nino and La Nina: Safe Guarding Your Famiiy and 
Environment https://resilient.ph/2024/06/navigating-el-nino-and-la-nina-safeguarding-your-family-and- 
environment/#:~:text=EI%20Ni%C3%B1o%20and%20La%20Ni%C3%B1a%20are%20phases°/o20of 
%20the%20EI,at%20home%20and%20in%20gardens.


watershed protection, and community education to ensure reliable and safe water 
access amid a changing climate.
As a signatory to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 
the country is committed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 
including SDG 6, which focuses on ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for 
all. This goal plays a critical role in advancing health, reducing inequalities, and 
supporting sustainable livelihoods, particularly in marginalized and water-scarce areas.
Despite the principles and policies outlined in the Republic Act No. 9275, or the 
Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, access to safe and sustainable water remains a 
pressing challenge. While various initiatives, such as the Philippine Water Supply and 
Sanitation Master Pian and the Integrated Water Resource Management Plan, have 
been introduced, these efforts must be fully institutionalized to ensure long-term 
continuity, effective implementation, and resilience beyond political and administrative 
changes.3
This bill, which was originally drafted by the undersigned and first filed in the 
19th Congress, recognizes water sustainability and its direct impact on public health 
and quality of life. There is an urgent need to address water sustainability in Metro 
Manila and in the rest of the country to ensure that Filipinos will always have safe and 
clean sources of water. It is also incumbent to guarantee the availability of these 
resources for future generations through their responsible and sustainable 
management. The proposed measure seeks to address these issues through the 
creation of a framework on water sustainability, which institutionalizes SDG 6, provides 
yearly targets, and the corresponding annual budgetary requirements in order to 
achieve them.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
>IA S'. CAYSfTANO
3 DENR. (2024, April 18). Integrated Water Resource Management, https://denr.gov.ph/priority- 
program/integrated-water-resource-management/


!' .1 "i. 
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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 348
'V1 {i'lOffstp o{ twf
25 JULIO PI :18
RECEIVED BY
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK ON WATER SUSTAINABILITY
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Water Sustainability
2 
Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State affirms the declared principles and
4 
policies in Republic Act No. 9275, or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, which
5 
includes pursuing a sustainable development framework for the protection,
6 
preservation, and revival of the quality of our fresh, brackish, and marine waters.
7 
The State also recognizes that water sustainability and the provision of clean
8 
water and sanitation are inseparable from public health and hygiene, and directly
9 
impact the quality of life. It acknowledges their essential role in enabling Filipinos to
10 
live dignified, healthy, and secure lives.
11 
As a party to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
12 
the State remains committed to the seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals
13 
(SDGs), particularly SDG 6, which calls on the State to ensure availability and
14 
sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
15 
It shall be the policy of the State to establish a framework for water
16 
sustainability, which shall be used by the relevant agencies to ensure that Filipinos will
17 
always have safe and clean sources of water, and guarantee the availability of these
18 
resources for future generations through their responsible and sustainable
19 
management.


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lull
1 
Sec. 3. Philippine Water Sustainability Framework. - The Department of
2 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination with the Department of
3 
Economy, Planning, and Development (DEVDep) and Department of Science and
4 
Technology (DOST), and in consultation with other relevant agencies, shall update
5 
and consolidate all existing frameworks prepared by all government agencies for water
6 
management and sustainability into the Philippine Water Sustainability Framework.
7 
The Framework shall provide policies and set annual targets to ensure the availability
8 
and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Filipinos pursuant to SDG
9 
6 under the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It shall also
10 
indicate the necessary annual budgetary requirements to achieve the yearly targets
11 
for every component under Section 4 of this Act.
12 
Sec. 4. Components. - The Framework shall include policies and targets with
13 
specific timelines on the following components, including the roles and responsibilities
14 
of relevant government agencies:
15 
a) Safe and Affordable Drinking Water - The Framework shall ensure
16 
universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water
17 
nationwide.
18 
b) Sanitation and Hygiene - It shall provide steps to achieve access to
19 
adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, and end open
20 
defecation, with special attention to the needs of women and girls and
21 
those in vulnerable situations.
22 
c) Water Quality, Wastewater Treatment, and Safe Reuse - The
23 
Framework shall also include measures to improve water quality,
24 
including reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing
25 
release of hazardous chemicals and materials, as well as dividing the
26 
proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing
27 
recycling and safe reuse.
28 
d) Water-Use Efficiency and Freshwater Supplies - It shall substantially
29 
increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable
30 
withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and
31 
substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.


1 
e) Integrated Water Resources Management- It shall support and facilitate
2 
the implementation of existing integrated water resources management
3 
plans at all levels, including through inter-LGU cooperation, as may be
4 
appropriate and practicable.
5 
f) Water-Related Ecosystems - The Framework shall encompass all water-
6 
related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers,
7 
aquifers, and lakes. It shall prioritize and provide measures for their
8 
protection and restoration while allowing for their use and development
9 
in accordance with existing laws, rules, and regulations.
10 
g) International and Private Linkages and Cooperation - The Framework
11 
shall encourage cooperation and capacity-building support in partnership
12 
with other countries and private stakeholders in water-and sanitation-
13 
related activities and programs, including water harvesting, desalination,
14 
water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling, and reuse
15 
technologies.
16 
h) Local Engagement and Support - It shall likewise encourage, support,
17 
and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water
18 
and sanitation management.
19 
Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders,
20 
presidential issuances, rules and regulations or any part thereof, which are
21 
inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
22 
Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason or reasons, any part or
23 
provisions of this Act shall be declared or held unconstitutional or invalid, other
24 
provision or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in
25 
full force and effect.
26 
Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
27 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
28 
circulation.
Approved,