FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES =)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 1045
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to mandate each city or municipality to create, within its
jurisdiction, a River Development Authority to preserve, protect and develop the
rivers, river systems and natural waterways.

The Philippines has numerous principal rivers and river systems from
Batanes to Tawi-Tawi. Many are vanishing or dying, however, due to deadly
chemicals or non-biodegradable waste being dumped on these rivers or
waterways. Thus, the threat of extinction and degradation.

While a number of laws for the preservation and rehabilitation of rivers
have been enacted, enforcement by local government units is weak. The
government must concentrate its resources and capabilities on creating a
central agency in each local government unit to implement the laws and
promote the development of rivers, river systems and natural waterways.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

RUFGS'B. RODRIGUEZ

Mh

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

1045

House Bill No.

AN ACT

MANDATING EACH CITY OR MUNICIPALITY TO CREATE A RIVER
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE PRESERVATION, PROTECTION
AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL RIVERS, RIVERSYSTEMS AND NATURAL
WATERWAYS WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

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

SECTION 1. Each city or municipality is hereby mandated to create a
River Development Authority, hereinafter referred to as the Authority, for the
preservation, protection and development of alll rivers, river systems and

natural waterways within its jurisdiction.

SEC. 2. The Authority shall execute the powers and functions herein
vested and conferred upon it in such manner as will, in its judgment, aid to the
fullest possible extent in carrying out the purposes set forth in this Act. The

Authority shall have the following functions:

a) Prepare a master plan to preserve, protect, develop and exploit all

rivers, river systems and natural waterways;


b) Conduct engineering surveys of rivers, river systems and natural
waterways, assessing and monitoring water quality, pinpointing pollution
sources and identifying the rivers that need to be developed for exploitation

and rehabilitation;

©) Initiate and facilitate planning, implementation, monitoring and
evaluation of pertinent projects with positive impact on environment and
development, including dredging, widening and deepening of river channels

and improvement of river alignments;

d) Prioritize rivers positively identified for development and
rehabilitation, and on the basis thereof, prepare a river-specific plan of
operation for the improvement, development and rehabilitation of

environmentally degraded rivers;

€) Initiate funding arrangements with local and foreign donors, to
finance priority development projects and provide direct funding of minor
initiatives expected to create a positive impact on the environment in the

projected area;

f) Develop information materials to ensure a high decree of
environmental awareness in government agencies, organizations and the
general public;

9) Make recommendations to the proper agencies offering financial
Support, technical and physical assistance about the level of priority to be

accorded river systems development and rehabilitation projects;


h) Coordinate and integrate such projects or operations of local
government, agencies, public corporations and, where clearly necessary and
feasible, those of private entities, as will bear directly upon the plans and
activities of the Authority so as to make possible an intensive development and
rehabilitation of the rivers, river systems and natural waterways in the country

within the context of the master plan;

i) Set up a compact and well-trained staff for effective liaison and
consultation or joint planning and implementation with government and private

entities;

j) Make an annual report to the Secretary of the Interior and Local
Government of its activities, including those done in collaboration with the
various government and private entities engaged in the implementation of the
projects and programs, which shall include, among others, a comparison of the
development and rehabilitation targets as set for the year ending and the extent
to which actual accomplishments measure up to such targets, and the

appropriate administrative and legislative recommendations.

SEC. 3. The Authority shall have a Board Directors composed of eleven
(11) members as follows:

a. City or municipal council majority floor leader, as Chairman;

b. City or municipal council minority floor leader;

¢. Chairman of the city or municipal council Committee on Public

Works;

d. Chairman of the city or municipal council Committee on

Appropriations;


e. City or municipal engineer;

{City or municipal and development officer;

g. City or municipal administrator;

h. DENR representatives; and

i. Three (3) members representing the private sector to be appointed

by the city or municipal mayor.

No member of the Board shall, during his term, be financially interested,
directly or indirectly, in any contract entered into by the Authority or in any
special privileges granted by the Authority. All contracts entered into in violation

of this provision shall be null and void.
SEC. 4. The Board shall exercise the following powers and functions:

a) Formulate, prescribe, amend and repeal rules and regulations to

govern the conduct of operation of the Authority;

b) Appoint the necessary staff of the Authority and to fix their

compensation in accordance with the existing laws;

©) Suspend, remove or otherwise discipline for just cause any staff

member appointed by the Board;
4) Recommend the annual and supplemental budgets of the Authority:

@) Render annual reports to the Secretary of the Interior and Local

Government and to the city or municipal mayor and such special reports as

may be requested; and


f) Do such other acts and perform and such other functions as may be

necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 5. The Secretary of the Interior and Local Government shall issue

the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 6. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall
be charged to the appropriations of the Department of Interior and Local
Government. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its continued

operation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 7. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended

accordingly.

SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in

at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.