Republic of the Philippines
House Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No__U403

Introduced by Honorable Josefina Manuel-Joson

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create the Central Luzon Water Council and
prescribe its powers and functions

Article II, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution provides that: “The
State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the
prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from
poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote
full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of
life for all.”

The effects of climate change have caused extreme unpredictable
weather patterns that usually bring about either an exceptional amount of
rainfall or exceptional drought. Recent years had destructive floods and
flood-related disasters in the urban as well as rural areas. Many lives had
been taken and fortunes lost. Experts even forecast increased rainfall in
the coming years.

One of the most typhoon ravaged and flood-prone region in the
country is the Central Luzon, popularly known as the nation’s rice
granary. It suffers from the onslaught of floods due to its natural terrain.
Farmers raise the concem of the extreme realities of flood and drought
that they frequently experience. This region thus deserves the adequate
protection from these natural hazards. Government must hamess its
capability to take advantage of the enormous water resources the region
receives during typhoons into a useful natural resource not only for the
farmers but to other end users.



This bill seeks to create a determined and organized agency that
will consolidate. coordinate and regulate all water related activities in the
region. It also seeks to promote water conservation and protection
through the involvement of all related offices and agencies of
government

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly
sought

JOSEFL



Republic of the Philippines

House Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo, 2403

Introduced by Honorable Josefina Manuel-Joson

AN ACT
CREATING THE CENTRAL LUZON WATER COUNCIL AND
PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

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

‘entral Luzon Water Council Act.”

SEC.2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to
protect the life and property, and promote the general welfare of the
people in Central Luzon, which are essential in the enjoyment of the
blessing of democracy through the conservation and protection of water
resources in the area. The State shall also adopt a continuing and
permanent system of rules, regulations and protocol to protect the water
resources from degradation, depletion, and pollution in order to preserve
flow regimes, biodiversity and cultural heritage as well as to mitigate

water related hazards in Central Luzon. Towards this end, the State shall


ensure a more coordinated, resource and technology-sharing government
structure through the creation of the Central Luzon Water Council.

SEG.3 Central Luzon Water Council. — A Central Luzon
Water Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, is hereby created
for the conservation and protection of water resources and flood
prevention and control in the Central Luzon Region.

The Council shall be the sole policy-making body of the
government within the Central Luzon Region tasked to coordinate,
monitor and evaluate the programs and action plans of the different local
government units in the area. The Council shall also ensure the optimum
utilization, exploitation, development, conservation and protection of the
water resources and the prevention and control of potential damage
brought by natural water hazards in Central Luzon.

SEC. 4. Composition. - The Council shall be composed of the
following Central Luzon and other government and non-government
officials:

a) The Chairman of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council, as Chairperson;

b) The Regional Director of the Department of Public Works
and Highways, as Vice-Chairperson;

c) The Regional Director of the National Water Resources

Board:


d) The Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture;

) The Regional Director of the Department of Energy:

f) The Regional Director of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources;

g) The Regional Director of the Department of Health;

h) The Regional Director of the Department of the Interior and
Local Government;

i) The Regional Director of the Department of Science and
Technology;

j) The Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare
and Development;

k) The Regional Director of the National Economic and
Development Authority;

1) The Regional Director of the National Housing Authority;

m) The Regional Director of the Housing and Land Use
Regulatory Board;

n) The Chairperson of the National Water Review Board
(NWRB);

0) The Head of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA);

p) The Provincial Governors and the City Mayors of Central

Luzon; and


q) _ A representative from non-government organizations each
representing the farmer’s sector, the indigenous community and the
academe, as members.

The Regional Office of the Civil Defense in the Central Luzon
Region shall serve as the secretariat of the Council. The Council shall be
organized within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 5 Powers and Functions, — The Council shall exercise
the following powers and functions:

a) Ensure the mainstreaming of water resource in Central
Luzon, in synergy with disaster risk reduction, into the local development
plans and programs;

b) Coordinate and synchronize water resource programs of all
Region III’s local government units;

c) Formulate a framework of strategy to serve as the basis for a
program for planning, research and development, extension; and
monitoring of activities thereat;

d) Exercise policy coordination to ensure the attainment of
goals set in the framework of strategy and program on water resource;

) Recommend local and national legislation conceming the
policies, strategies, programs on and appropriations for water resource

adaptation and mitigation and other related activities for Central Luzon;


f) Recommend key development investments and infrastructure
in water resource including but not limited to water impoundment to
ensure the achievement of sustainable development goals in Central
Luzon;

g) Create an enabling environment that shall promote broader
multi-stakeholder participation and integrate water resource conservation
and utilization;

h) Coordinate and establish a close partnership with the local
government units in Central Luzon in order to increase efficiency and
effectiveness in reducing the people’s vulnerability to water-related
disasters;

i) Formulate and update guidelines for determining
vulnerability to water resource impacts and adaptation assessments and
facilitate the provision of technical assistance for their implementation
and monitoring;

ij) Facilitate capacity building for local adaptation planning,
implementation and monitoring of water resource initiatives in vulnerable
communities and areas;

k) Promote and provide technical support to local research and
development programs and projects in vulnerable communities and areas;

and


a) Oversee the dissemination of information on water resource,
local vulnerabilities and risks, relevant laws and protocols and water
conservation and utilization measures.

SEC. 6. Meetings. — Regular meetings of the Council shall be
held at least once a month. Special meetings may be held as often as may
be deemed necessary: Provided, That in the absence or incapacity of the
members to attend any regular or special meeting of the Council, the duly
designated representative of the member shall attend and be vested with
the same power and authority as a regular member.

A quorum of the Council shall consist of the majority of the
members holding office at the time of the meeting: Provided, however,
That the chairperson of the Council is among those present in the
meeting.

SEC. 7. Compensation and Remuneration. ~ Members of the
Council shall be entitled to the necessary traveling expenses and
allowances chargeable against the funds of their respective department,
bureau, or office, subject to existing accounting and auditing rules and
regulations.

The Council members representing the non-government
organizations shall also be entitled to reasonable allowances.

SEC.8. Framework Strategy, Master Plan and Program on

Water Resource. — The Council shall, within one (1) year from its

6


organization, formulate a Framework Strategy, Master Plan and Program
on water resource conservation, impoundment and utilization for Central
Luzon. These instruments shall serve as the basis for a uniform program
for water resource planning, research and development to guide the water
resource activities of the Regional Offices of the national government and
the local government units in Central Luzon.

The Framework Strategy shall include, but not limited to, the
following components of the water sector, namely: impoundment,
conservation and utilization of water resources, flood protection and
control, including their impact, vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation
assessments, policy formulation, research and development, database
development and management, advocacy and information dissemination,
monitoring and evaluation.

‘The Framework shall be reviewed every three (3) years, or as may
be deemed necessary.

The Council shall formulate a Central Luzon Water Resource
Master Plan and Program in accordance with the Framework within one
(1) year after the formulation of the latter. The Central Luzon Water
Resource Master Plan and Program shall serve as guide in the
implementation and coordination of all the water resource plans of the
Regional Offices of the national government and the local government

units in Central Luzon.


SEC.9. Funding. — The funds necessary for the operation of
the Council shall be included in the regular budget of the province, city or
municipality under Region III and may be augmented by funds provided
by the regional government, grants or donations.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The National
Water Resources Board in coordination with the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council and the Department of the Interior
and Local Government shall, issue the necessary rules and regulations for
the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive
orders, rules and regulations, parts thereof, inconsistent with or contrary
to the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,