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Republic of the Philippines |_BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

1197

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Roy M. Loyola

EXPLANATORY NO1

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is a government-owned and
controlled corporation primarily responsible for irrigation development and
management. The NIA’s functions include the planning, designing, construction,
and improvement of all types of irrigation projects. It is also tasked to operate,
maintain, and administer all national irrigation systems

Under its Charter, the NIA is allowed to charge Irrigation Service Fees or
ISFs in exchange for providing irrigation to farmers, depending on the size of
their farmlands. The ISFs were abolished by then President Joseph Estrada when
he delivered his first State of the Nation Address in 1998 but were reinstated
when NIA sought the adoption of a socialized irrigation fee system, as mandated
by Administrative Order No. 17 of August 1998. The ISPs are intermittently
suspended, especially in times of calamities when it was unreasonable to impose
additional fees on farmers.

However, there is a need to revisit the status quo. Irrigation is a very basic
governmental function that can very easily be shouldered by the State. it does
not have to be passed on to farmers. Considering that it is a key factor in
increasing agricultural productivity, having the State subsidize it will go a long
way in ensuring adequate food supply and the early recovery of the principal
means of livelihood of people in disaster-hit and poverty-stricken areas. Thus, it
is the intention of this bill to revoke the ISF and to make irrigation services fi
for all farmers.



It is for this reason that the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested

YY M. LOYOLA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

1197

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Roy M. Loyola

AN ACT
REVOKING THE IRRIGATION SERVICE FEES (ISFs) IMPOSED ON FARMERS
BY THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3601,
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 552 AND PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1702

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines

in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1.Short Title. “This Act shall be known as the

ree Irrigation

2 Services Act.”

Q SECTION 2, Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the
4 State to adhere to the principle of integrated and holistic program of support
5 services that will alleviate the situation of farmers to enable them to attain their
6 full potentials as productive forces of society.

7 The State adheres to the promotion of a comprehensive rural
8 development program through increased agricultural production and the
9 adoption of necessary and sound measures to accelerate the achievement of self
10 sufficiency in food, equitable access to opportunities and sustained
11 productivity as_—_—key strategies to raise the quality of life in rural areas and

12 overall national development.


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Toward this objective, it shall endeavor to provide the necessary and vital
Support services and assistance to farmers, including but not limited to inputs to

Production, production support, post-harvest facilities and irrigation services

SECTION 3. Revocation of the Irrigation Service Fees (ISF)- Upon “he
Passage of this Act, all farmer beneficiaries shall be exempt from the payment of
the Irrigation Service Fees (ISFs) and the collection thereof, including the
collection of back accounts and the corresponding penalties therefore from
Irrigation systems constructed, funded, and/or managed by the National
Irrigation Administration, shall be revoked immediately, In this regard, Section

and Section

2(c) of Republic Act 3601, Section 1(b) of Presidential Decree 55
1(b) of Presidential Decree 1702 are hereby repealed accordingly.

SECTION 4. Construction, Repair and Maintenance of National
Irrigation Systems. -For the purpose of ensuring the continuity of the necessary

construction, repair and maintenance of irrigation systems administered by the

National Irrigation Administration, the required amounts for the same shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA)

SECTION 5. Government Subsidy for the Management of Irrigation
System. - The State shall provide the necessary subsidies to farmers and
irrigators associations and cooperatives to ensure the effective and grassroots-
based management of irrigation systems, the funding of which shall likewise be

included in the annual GAA.


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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees or
issuances, executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules or
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with this Act, or which may be construed,
either expressly or impliedly, to grant the National Irrigation Administration the
Power to levy any kind of irrigation fee or other kind of monetary imposition, are

hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the

n or circumstance is declared invalid,

application of such provision to any pers
the remainder of the Act or the application of such provision to other persons or
circumstances shall not be affected by such declaration,

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)

days after its publication in the Official Gazette and newspaper of general

circulation.

Approved,