Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon

FIFTEENTH (15TH) CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6578

House Bill No.

Introduced by: Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is a water rich country, yet despite an overflowing capital, many
Filipinos experience deprivation from affordable, safe drinking water and a working
sanitation system. ‘This perennial problem has seriously affected the lives of our citizens in
terms of health, sanitation, food security, and livelihood, in addition to negatively
impacting the environment.

As noted at the 6” World Water Forum,' the lack of sufficient, safe, acceptable,
accessible, affordable drinking water and sanitation is not a problem unique to the
Philippines, but it is incumbent on each country to push for strong standards within its
government and to contribute to global governance on the issues of water and sanitation.

‘The Philippines is lacking a strong liquid in-liquid out system, meaning that even if
households are serviced with clean drinking water, a minute number receive adequate
sanitation and sewerage services, leading to severe cases of leptospirosis, dengue, typhoid,
and related tropical and water-borne illnesses. This year alone there has been a 16%
increase in cases of dengue fever over the same period last year. Moreover. 31% of
illnesses in the country are water-related

' Held at Marseille, France. See hitpy/vvww.worldwaterforum6 orgien!


This bill seeks to rationalize the resource management of water, sewage, and
sanitation through the creation of the Department of Water, Sewage, and Sanitation
(“Department”). Among its functions, the Department shall (1) set the policy for water
supply and sewage and septage management, (2) manage the country’s water resources to
ensure optimal use, including the preservation of land and water, (3) build, maintain,
and/or monitor water-related infrastructure to ensure quality and accessibility; and (4)
contribute to international dialogue around, and push for domestic adoption of, policies to
achieve universal access to water and sanitation.

To live in a community that is clean, free from human waste, and abundant with
safe and affordable drinking water is an utmost human right, so much so that 189 states
recognized the Right to Water and Sanitation at the United Nations in 2011, according to
the World Water Forum.? In step with the international movement, through this bill the
Philippines is declaring a primary political priority the universal access to water and
sanitation and sustainable management of water resources, forming an indispensible basis
for social and economic improvement and basic health and prosperity. The Philippines is
also committing to meeting and exceeding the Millennium Development Goals for water
and sanitation. To ensure Filipinos the benefit of this most fundamental human right, the
urgent approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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* See About page. 6" World Water Forum, http://www. worldwaterforum6 org/en/the-forum/about/



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

fH (ISTH) CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6578

House Bill No.

Introduced by: Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy

AN ACT CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER, SEWAGE, AND
SANITATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC.1, Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “DWSS Act of 201_”.

SEC.2, Declaration of National Policy. ~ \t is hereby declared the policy of the
State to recognize, protect, realize, and enhance the right of all Filipinos to safe, clean,
affordable, and accessible drinking water and sanitation as essential to the full enjoyment
of life and all human rights and the protection and sustainability of the environment.

In the pursuit of this Policy, this Act shall have the following objectives:

a) To prioritize and seek the immediate attainment of universal access to safe,
adequate, affordable, and sustainable water supply and sanitation services for all
Filipinos, in particular the ignored populations such as homeless and transient
persons, and adopt all necessary measures directed towards the realization of the
human right to water and sanitation;


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2 b) To encourage State participation in and information sharing and education
3 around best practices in the international movement to achieve universal access
4 to water and sanitation and the integration of water, energy, environment, and
5 food security;
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c) To strengthen and coordinate water resource planning and policy making to
ensure sustainable and fair allocation and efficient use of water resources

) between competing water uses and users, including but not limited to domestic
10 and municipal use, irrigation, power generation, farming, fisheries, commercial,
i and industrial use,

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13 d) To coordinate and strengthen policy and planning in relation to flood control and
14 flood risk management in order to plan against, prevent, and reduce the
15 detrimental and catastrophic effects of flood waters; and

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17 ¢) To secure for all public works the highest efficiency and the most appropriate
18 quality in construction and to plan, design, construct, and maintain infrastructure
19 facilities in accordance with national development objectives.
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21 SEC. 3, Definition of Terms. — As used under this Act, the following words or
22 terms shall have the foliowing meanings
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24 a) “Department” shall mean the Department of Water, Sewage. and Sanitation
25 b) “Flood Control” refers to methods, acts and protocols to be observed in order to
26 prevent and reduce the detrimental and catastrophic effects of flood waters:
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28 . ¢) “Flood Risk Management” refers to such acts of defining and determining the
29 appropriate methods, acts and protocols aimed at preventing and reducing the risk
30 of incurring loss of both life and property due to flood waters. It also includes, but
31 is not limited to, the implementation of precautionary measures, as well as the
32 installation of infrastructures and the determination of post-flood clean-up activities
33 in order to arrest the residual effects of flood waters,
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35 d) “Sanitation” as used under this Act refers only to sewage, sanitation, and septage
36 management
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38 ¢) "Sewerage" shali refer to any system or network of sanitary pipelines, ditches,
39 channels, or conduits including pumping stations, lift stations, and force mains,
40 service connections including other constructions, devices, or appliances


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appurtenant thereof, which includes the collection, sanitary piping transport,
pumping, and treatment of water-bome human or animal waste removed from
residences, buildings, institutions, and industrial and commercial establishments to
point of sewage treatment plant disposal

f) “Sewage” shall refer to water-carried waste in solution or suspension, including
sanitary waste (waste products of normal living), commercial waste, industrial
waste, agricultural waste, and surface runoff, conveyed by a sewerage system for

treatment or disposal. For purposes of this Act, the definition of septage shall be
included in the use of sewage

2) “Septage” shall refer to sludge produced on individual onsite wastewater disposal
systems, principally septic tanks and cesspools

h) “WRC” shall mean the Water Regulatory Commission’ or to any present or future
water regulatory body with quasi-judicial powers and tasked to provide economic
and administrative regulation of water utilities.

The terms “infrastructure” and “public works” as used in this Act should be read to apply
only to wholly or primarily water-related projects and shal! not be read to incorporate
projects which would not otherwise fall within the purview of the objectives, power. and
duties of the Department

CHAPTER 2 - ORGANIZATION

SEC. 4, The Department of Water, Sewage, and Sanitation. — There is hereby
created and established the Department of Water, Sewage, and Sanitation, hereinafter
teferred to as the “Department”, which shall be organized within one hundred twenty.
(120) days after the effectivity of this Act. The Department shali be tasked with
developing and implementing a comprehensive water, sewage, and sanitation program
for the Philippines including, but not limited to: (a) implementing necessary policy and
resource reforms with respect to the management of water, sewage, and sanitation; (b)
monitoring and evaluating compliance with the Social Contract of the President and the
Millennium Development Goals as they relate to water, sewage, and sanitation; (c)
formulating a national updated road map to address the water, sewage, and sanitation

requirements of the State, and (d) improving conservation of water and increasing
system efficiencies,

SEC. 5. Powers and Duties of the Department. ‘Yhe Department shall have the
following powers and duties, among others
4 Pending under HB 4137, “The Water Regulatory Act of 201,” 2o-authored by Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy
and Rep. Sonny Angata and certified as a priority measure by President Benigno S. Aquino IIL


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d)

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b)

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Develop policies to promote universal access to safe, adequate, affordable, and
sustainable water supply, sewage, and sanitation services for all Filipinos,

Coordinate with the WRC and other relevant entities to provide policy directions,
strategies, and targets to meet the goals and objectives for water supply, sewage,
and sanitation. Such policies shall, among other things, integrate the issues of
water, sewer, energy, environment, and food security;

Manage and protect the country’s water resources to ensure the optimal use
thereof for domestic water supply, sewage, sanitation, irrigation, hydropower,
navigation, flood control, and recreation, including the enhancement and
maintenance of water quality, conservation of watersheds, control of water
pollution, and environmental restoration, without compromising the natural
ecosystem functions and services:

Manage the ownership, appropriation, utilization, exploitation, development,
conservation, and protection of water resources and rights to land related thereto
and their competing demands,

Undertake and coordinate with other agencies and government entities in data
gathering, scientific research, and studies on water resources management and
development, and conduct nationwide hydrologic surveys to determine the annual
renewable water available per water region.

Formulate and enforce rules and regulation in the administration and management
of the country’s water resources and implement rules and guidelines for the
enforcement of water-related laws;

Conduct continuing surveys and studies of the country’s renewable water supply
with a view towards formulating long-term policies to balance the sustainability
and optimal use of water resources, defining the hydrologic boundaries of basins
of the existing water supply sources, and creating and implementing countrywide
masterplans for water resources management and development:

Coordinate with and assist other government agencies in all aspects of data
gathering, conduct studies and research, and classify and establish water quality
standards for surface and ground water, including national standards for drinking
water and wastewater effluence in coordination with relevant agencies:

Coordinate with other relevant agencies to engage in flood control and flood risk



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management, formulate integrated water resources management (IWRM) policies
and plans, and coordinate the implementation, promotion, revision, and
enhancement of IWRM plans;

j) Effect and compel inter-sectoral, inter-agency, and _inter-departmental
coordination on water, sewage, and sanitation resources development planning
with the aim of operationalizing the integrated approach to water resources
management,

k) Regulate and control the utilization, exploitation, abstraction, diversion, and
development of water resources, taking into consideration its equitable
distribution, and determine the standards of beneficial and priority uses of water in
times of crisis and national emergencies;

1) Assist and provide the National Eeonomic Development Authority (NEDA) with
required data and inputs from and for the water sector in the formulation of the
country’s short-term and long-term strategic development plans and actions,

m) Coordinate with other relevant agencies and develop policies and plans in respect
of water resources used for farming, including sustainable mechanisms for
irrigation;

n) Pass upon, approve, or disapprove all plans, programs, or development projects of
private individuals, corporations, and government agencies, whether national or
local, that affect water resources, its diversion or abstraction, and the construction
of hydraulic facilities, including but not limited to plans and projects in watershed
or basin areas of water supply sources, which have direct or indirect impact on the
affected locality’s water resources,

0) Review from time to time regulations prescribed by any government agency
pertaining to water use, exploitation, development, conservation, or protection of
waters, water resources, and watershed or basin areas;

p) Authorize its representatives or any deputized agent to enter any property of public
dominion or any private land, building, or enclave, whether inhabited or not, for
the purpose of conducting hydrologic surveys and investigations, including
assessing and evaluating the conditions of water facilities installed and
determining compliance with water laws and standards;

q) Require Local Government Units (LGUs) and national agencies to submit zoning
and land use management plans to ensure the integration of water resource


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management plans; provided, that no zoning and land use plan shall become
effective and enforceable unless and until a certification of integration of water,
sewage, and sanitation resource management plan has been issued by the
Department. Should the Department have serious concerns affecting conservation
and sustainability of water supply, such concerns must first be resolved by the
Department and the concerned LGU and/or national agency. However, in the
absence of such concerns, the concerned LGU and/or government agency may,
within ninety (90) days from the submission of its zoning and land use plan and
after submitting to the Department a written notice of compliance with this
provision, proceed with the implementation of its zoning and land use plan

without prejudice to later integration of the water resource management plan for
the locality;

1) Provide technical assistance to water, sewer. and sanitation users including, but
not limited to, farmers and LGUs, whether directly or in coordination with other
agencies, to assist them in applying for water permits and providing data on water,
sewage, and sanitation resource usage;

5) Plan, design, construct, and maintain infrastructure facilities, flood control, and
water resource development systems and provide technical services for the
planning, design, construction, maintenance, and/or operation of the same;

t) In coordination with other relevant agencies, develop and implement effective
codes, standards, and reasonable guidelines to ensure the safety of all public and
private structures in the country and assure efficiency and proper quality in the
construction of water, sewage, and sanitation infrastructure;

u) Coordinate with relevant agencies, including the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources and the WRC, to ensure that the agencies’ respective standards
complement each other when taken as part of a larger whole,

y) In coordination with other relevant agencies, ascertain that all plans and project
implementation designs are consistent with current standards and guidelines,

Ww) Provide the works supervision function for all public works construction and
ensure that actual construction is done in accordance with approved government
plans and specifications;

x) Assist other agencies, including LGUs, in determining the most suitable entity to
undertake the actual construction of water, sewage, and sanitation projects,


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y) Maintain or cause to be maintained all flood control, water resource development
systems, and other public works throughout the country except those that are the
responsibility of other agencies as directed by the President of the Philippines or
as provided by law;

2) Provide integrated planning for flood control, flood risk management, and water
tesource development and management systems, and other public works,

aa) Issue and promulgate rules, regulations, and guidelines as may be necessary {0
implement and enforce its powers and functions under this Act,

bb) Determine and require the monitoring and submission of such data, statistics, and
other information as may be necessary for the effective and efficient exercise of its
duties, functions, powers, and responsibilities:

ce) Respond to consumer complaints and ensure the adequate promotion of consumer
interests;

dd) Deputize agents, whether from the public or private sector, to assis
performance of any of the powers and functions of the Department;

in the

ee) Appoint, hire, and maintain adequate staif and personnel, advisers, and/or
consultants, with suitable qualifications and experience, as necessary;

ff) Exercise such other powers and functions necessary or incidental to the effective
administration and management of the country’s water, sewer, and sanitation
resources,

gg) Exercise such other incidental powers and functions as may be necessary to attain
the objectives of this Act; and

hh) Carry out such other functions as the President may from time to time assign to the
Department consistent with the aims and provisions of this Act

SEC. 6. Secretary of the Department of Water, Sewage, and Sanitation. — The
authority and responsibility for the exercise of the mandate of the Department and for
the discharge of its powers and functions shall be vested in the Secretary of the
Department of Water. Sewage, and Sanitation, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary,
who shall have supervision and control over the Department and shall be appointed by
the President. For such purposes, the Secretary shall



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a) Advise the President on the promulgation of executive or administrative orders,
regulations, proclamations, and other issuances relative to matters under the
jurisdiction of the Department;

b) Establish the policies and standards for the operation of the Department
pursuant to the President’s guidelines;

c) Promulgate rules and regulations nece
policies and functions,

sary 10 carry out Department objectives,

d) Exercise supervision and control over all Bureaus and Offices under the
Department;

¢) Supervise all attached agencies and corporations in accordance with law:

f) As deemed appropriate by the Secretary, delegate authority for the performance
of any power or function, as defined herein or as delegated by the President, to
officers and employees under his direction: and

8) Pesform such other duties and responsibilities as may be provided by law.

No person shall be appointed Secretary unless he possesses extensive knowledge of
public administration and has a minimum of ten (10) years experience in the

administration of water, sewage, or sanitation programs, preferably in a public agency

SEC. 7. Office of the Secretary. — The Office of the Secretary shall be composed of
the Secretary and his immediate staff.

SEC. 8. Undersecretaries. — The Secretary shall be assisted by not more than five (5)
Undersecretaries, including the Undersecretary for Global and Holistic Planning noted
below, who shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary.
The Secretary is hereby authorized to delineate and assign the respective functional areas
of responsibility of the Undersecretaries, provided, that such responsibility shall be with
respect to the mandate and objectives of the Department, and provided, further, that no
Undersecretary shall be assigned primarily administrative responsibilities. Within his
functional area of responsibility, an Undersecretary shall have the following functions

a) Advise and assist the Secretary in the formulation and implementation of
Department policies, plans, programs, and projects:

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b) Supervise all the operational activities of the units assigned to him, for which he is
responsible to the Secretary; and

c) Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or delegated by
the Secretary to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of public
services or as may be required by law

The Undersecretary for Global and Holistic Planning shall have primary responsibility,
with the support of and in coordination with the Planning Service, for participating in
international dialogue to learn from and contribute to, and for advancing domestic
efforts in the pursuit of, the ultimate goal of universal access to water supply, sewerage,
and sanitation systems and sustainable management of water resources. He shall also
have primary responsibility for knowledge sharing and advancement of efforts around
the integration of water, energy, environment, and food security

No person shall be appointed Undersecretary unless he possesses a working knowledge
‘of public administration and has a minimum of seven (7) years experience in the
administration of water, sewage, or sanitation programs, preferably in a public agency ot
with legal or financial knowledge of such programs.

SEC. 9. Assistant Secretaries. — ‘The Secretary shall also be assisted by six (6)
Assistant Secretaries appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the
recommendation of the Secretary: one to be responsible for the Internal Audit Services,
one for the Monitoring and Information Service: one for the Planning Service; one for the
Comptrollership and Financial Management Service; one for the Legal Service; and one
for the Administrative and Manpower Management Service.

No person shall be appointed Assistant Secretary unless he possesses a working,
knowledge of public administration and has a minimum of five (5) years experience in

the administration of water, sewage, or sanitation programs, or other public works
programs

SEC. 10. Organizational Structure. — The Department shall be composed of the
following organizational units

“a) Department Proper consisting of the Office of the Secretary, the Offices of the
Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, the Internal Audit Service, Monitoring,
and Information Service, Planning Service, Comptrollership and Financial
Management Service, Legal Service, and the Administrative Service;



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b) Bureau of Research and Standards, Bureau of Design, Bureau of Construction,
Bureau of Maintenance, and Bureau of Equipment; and

©) Regional Offices, as deemed appropriate and necessary by the Secretary
SEC. 11. Internal Audit Service. The Internal Audit Service is hereby created for

the purpose of conducting comprehensive audit of various Department activities.
Specifically, it shall have the following functions:

a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to management control and operations
audit:

b) Conduct management and operations performance audit of Department activities
and units and determine as to the degree of compliance with established objectives,
policies, methods and procedures, government regulations, and contractual
obligations of the Department;

c) Review and appraise systems and procedures, organizational structure, assets
management practices, accounting, and other records, reports, and performance
standards (such as budgets and standard costs) of the Department Proper, Bureaus,
and Regional Offices;

d) Analyze and evaluate management deficiencies and assist top management to
solve problems by recommending realistic courses of action; and

¢) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

. 12. Monitoring and Information Service. The Monitoring and Information
Service is hereby created to provide the Secretary timely reports on the status of various
Department projects and activities and develop and implement information programs for
mass dissemination in coordination with the appropriate government agencies. The
Monitoring and Information Service shall have the following functions

a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to monitoring and public information,

b) Develop and maintain a system for tettieving and processing monitoring
information on all projects and activities of concem to the Secretary:

©) Provide accurate ané timely status and exception reports to the Secretary,


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d) Generate monitoring reports for the President, the Cabinet, or for any other
purpose as required by the Secretary:

e) Develop and supervise the implementation of communications programs to have
relevant policies, programs, and plans of the Department understood by the public;

f) Produce and supervise the dissemination of media materials in line with national
government public information programs;

2) Coordinate with the appropriate national government agencies tasked with public
information affairs; and

h) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law

SEC. 13. Planning Service. — The Planning Service is hereby created to provide the

Department with the capability to undertake infrastructure development planning and
programming. For this purpose,

it shall have the following functions:
a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to infrastructure planning,

b) Assist the Undersecretary for Global and Holistic Planning on all matters related to
the specific functions of his position detailed in Section 8;

©) Formulate strategies and priorities for infrastructure development consistent with
national development objectives and initiate or undertake relevant surveys for
development planning:

d) Formulate long-range, medium-term, and annual development plans and programs
for infrastructure, including flood control. water resource development systems,
and other public works projects, including phasing of implementation and review
and integrate land use plans with these water development plans;

€) Identify priority packages for infrastructure development, including flood control,
water resource development systems, and other public works projects, and
undertake or supervise and evaluate the conduct of feasibility studies and project
preparation thereof,

f) Prioritize project implementation and the allocation of funds and other resources
and package project proposals for funding and implementation:



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g) Evaluate and appraise all regional interregional infrastructure development plans
and programs as to their feasibility and consistency with approved strategies and
Jong and medium-term plans;

h) Initiate regular Department-wide planning exercises and act as the secretariat
thereof,

i) Gather, analyze, and organize needed statistical data and information;

j) Provide technical assistance related to its functions to the other Services, Bureaus,
and the Regional Offices as needed; and

k) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

SEC. 14. Comptrollership and Financial Management Service. The
Comptrollership and Financial Management Service is hereby created to provide the
Department with coordinated services relating to financial systems and procedures, budget,
cash, accounting, and all financial housekeeping matters. For such purposes, it shall have
the following functions:

a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to the accounting of government
expenditures and receipts, budgeting and cash management, project finances, and
financial systems and procedures:

b) Prepare budget proposals and pursue formal budget authorizations, undertake

budget execution, and prepare and submit all appropriate reports to the proper
offices;

©) Develop and maintain accounting, financial, and assets management systems,

procedures, and practices in the Department Proper, Bureaus, and Regional
Offices;

d) Provide assistance in its area of specialization to any unit of the Department and,

when requested, to government corporations and councils attached to the
Department; and

e) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.


SEC. 15. Legal Service. . The Leyal Service is hereby created to provide the
Department with services on such legal aflairs as contract letting and litigation, legal and
legislative research, complaints and investigation, legal counseling, and other matters of
law. For such purposes, it shall have the following functions:

a) Advise the Secretary on all matters relating to legal affai

b) Prepare Department contracts and legal instruments, review and interpret all
contracts and agreements entered into by the Department, and evaluate all legal
proposals,

c) Conduct administrative investigation as well as the review of administrative
charges against officers and employees of the Department,

4) Exercise functional jurisdiction over the legal staffs of Regional Offices:

e) Provide legal assistance to the Department Proper, the Bureaus, and Regional
Offices and, when requested, the attached corporations, and

1) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

RES SeGaaeBbaSowi]4VEVne

2B SEC. 16. Administrative Service. — The Administrative Service is hereby created to
24 provide the Department with services relating to human resources development, personnel,
25 records, facilities maintenance, medical and dental, security, and property and procurement
26 services. For such purposes, it shall have the following, functions:

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28 a) Advise the Secretary, on all matters relating {o internal administration and human
29 resources management,

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31 b) Prepare and implement an integrated personnel plan that shall include provisions
32 on merit promotions, performance evaluation, job rotation, suggestions and
33 incentive awards systems, and health and welfare services,

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35 €) Provide services related to human resources training, education, and development,
36 including manpower, career planning and forecasting, and development of
37 indigenous training materials,

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39 d) Develop, establish, and maintain an efficient and cost-effective property
46 procurement sysicm and facilities and coordinate or otherwise interface with

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relevant agencies, whether government or private, for the purpose of developing or
upgrading the system;

e) Secure and maintain necessary Department facilities, and develop, establish, and
maintain an efficient and effective security system covering, among others,
personnel, physical installations, equipment, documents, and materials, including
the conduct of security investigations:

) Coordinate with the appropriate government agencies for a more efficient conduct
of administrative processes,

g) Develop, establish, and maintain an efficient records system;
h) Provide assistance in its area of specialization to the Department Proper Bureaus,

and Regional Offices and, when requested, the government agencies and
corporations attached to the Department, and

i) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

SEC, 17, Bureau Head. — Viach Bureau shall be headed by a Bureau Director who
shall be responsible for efficiently and effectively carrying out the functions of the Bureau
concerned.

SEC, (8. Bureau of Research and Standards. The Bureau of Research and
Standards is hereby created to develop and set tfective standards and reasonable
guidelines to ensure the safety of all infrastructure facilities in the country and vw a:
efficiency and proper quality in the construction of government public works. fn pursuit of
this task, the Bureau shall engage m research and development on all major areas pertinent
to infrastructure development. For such purposes, it shall have the following functions:

a) Study, on a continuing basis, and formulate and recommend guidelines, siandurds,
criteria, and systems for the survey and design, construction, rehabilitation,
maintenance, and improvement of all public work:

b) Conduct of sponsor research on construction materials and formulate and
recommend policies, standards, and guidelines on materials and quality control,

¢) Undertake or cause to be undertaken specialized technical studies to advance the
in-house technology of the Deparment and secure the most complete information
for project development and implementation purpo



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d) Oversee the development and continuous updating of water resource management,
computerized decision support systems that incorporates data management system
(acquisition and database}, model base (physical, design, planning and decision
models), and user-friendly interface (graphical and visualization tools),

¢) Handle infrastructure and program development including planning, assessment,
and value-engineering studies of water infrastructure (structural) projects and
program (non-structural) developments as well as the strategic development of
water facilities and operations which shall cover special studies and development
of operating strategies, procedures, and protocols and accompanying computerized
decision tools for normal and emergency operations of major water facilities;

f) Formulate technical training programs for Department technical personnel,
including the identification of appropriate local and foreign training programs, and
recommend the selection of Department personnel for such programs:

g) Review and study for the purpose of recognizing new technologies, especially
those utilizing indigenous resources, current national infrastrucwure development
standards and procedures, and make appropriate recommendations thereon

h) Promote, publish, and disseminate technical publications,

i) Provide technical assistance to the Department Proper, other Bureaus, Regional
Offices, and other agencies on matters within its competence;

J) Cooperate or coordinate with other established research, development, and
engineering centers in areas of common or national interest; and

k) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

SEC. 19, Bureau of Design. The Bureau of Design is hereby created to ascertain

that all government infrastructure project impiementation plans and designs are consistent
with current standards and guidelines. For this purpose, it shall have the following duties
and responsibilities

a) Conduct or initiate, supervise, and/or review the results of field surveys for flood
control, water resource development systems. and other public works projects.
including aerial, hydrologic, hydrographic, topographic, geotechnical, and other
investigations;



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b) Conduct or initiate, supervise, and/or review the preparation of schemes, designs,
specifications, and estimates and tender and contract documents covering the
architectural, structural, mechanical, clectrica!, and other technical design aspects
of flood control, water resource development systems, and other projects of the
Department or of other departments upon request or agreement and in accordance
with current standards and guidelines,

c) Provide technical assistance in the selection of firms or entities that shall undertake
actual construction of public works projects via participation in the technical
evaluation aspect of the bidding/award process; and

d) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law

SEC. 20, Bureau of Construction. — The Bureau of Construction is hereby created to

provide technical services on construction works for infrastructure projects and facilities
For this purpose, it shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

a) Formulate policies relating to construction management and contract
administration,

b) Review and evaluate construction programs and estimates and tender and contract
documents;

©) Inspect, check, and monitor construction and works supervision activities of field
implementing offices for the purpose of ensuring that such activities are being
conducted in accordance with the current standards and guidelines of the
Department;

d) Provide specialist support to implementing field offices on construction
management and contract administration; and

€) Perform, such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law

SEC, 21. Bureau of Maintenance. — The Bureau of Maintenance is hereby created to

provide technical services on the maintenance and repair of infrastructure projects and
facilities. For this purpose, it shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

a) Formulate policies relating to maintenance of infrastructure projects and facilities,

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2 b) Review and evaluate maintenance programs, estimates, and tender and contract
3 documents,
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c) Inspect, check, and monitor maintenance activities of implementing field offices

6 for the purpose of ensuring that such activities are being conducted in accordance
7 with the current standards and policies of the Department;

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9 d) Provide specialist support to implementing field offices on the maintenance of
10 infrastructure projects and facilities, and

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12 e) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
B delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

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15 SEC. 22. Bureau of Equipment, — The Bureau of Equipment is hereby created to

16 provide technical services on the management of construction and maintenance equipment
17 and ancillary facilities. For this purpose, it shall have the foilowing duties and
18 responsibilities

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20 a) Formulate policies relating to the management of infrastructure equipment and
2 ancillary facilities,

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23 b) Review and evaluate programs, estimates, and tender and contract documents for
24 ‘equipment;

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26 ¢) Inspect, check, and monitor the management of equipment by regional equipment
1 services and area shops for the purpose of ensuring that such activities are being
28 conducted in accordance with the current standards and policies of the
29 Department;

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31 d) Provide specialist support to implementing field offices on equipment
32 management:

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34 ¢) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
35 delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law.

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SEC, 23. Regional Office. —- Regional Offices shall be responsible for flood control,
38 water resource development systems, and other public works within the region, For this
39 purpose, their duties and responsibilities shall be as follows

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a) Undertake and evaluate the pianning, design, construction, and works supervision
functions of the Department for the abovementioned infrastructure within the
region

b) Undertake the maintenance of the abovementioned infrastructure within the region
and supervise the maintenance of such local infrastructure receiving national
government financial assistance as the Secretary may determine,

c) Ensure the implementation of laws, policies, programs, rules, and regulations
regarding the abovementioned infrastructure as well as all public and private
physical structures;

d) Provide technical assistance related fo their functions to other agencies within the
region especially the local government;

¢) Coordinate with other departments, agencies, institutions, and organizations,
especially local government units within the region, in the planning and
implementation of infrastructure projects,

f) Conduct continuing consultations with the local communities, take appropriate
measures to make the services of the Department responsive to the needs of the
general public, compile and submit such information to the central office, and
tecommend such appropriate actions as may be necessary; and

g) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law

The Department shall retain and have such Project Management Offices as may be
required, which shall be under the supervision and control of the appropriate Regional
Director, unless otherwise determined by the Secretary for reasons of supra-regional scope,
magnitude, and multi-functional coverage

SEC, 24, Regional Director. — The Regional Oifice shall be headed by a Regional
Director who shall be responsible for efficiently and effectively carrying out the duties and
responsibilities of the Regional Office. Towards this end he shall, within his defined
powers, exercise functional and administrative supervision over District Offices within the
Fegion including the authority to commit their resources and personnel to integrated
regional water management and flood controi and flood risk management initiatives. He
shall also perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law:

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The Regional Director shall be assisted by two (2) Assistant Regional Directors who shall
exercise supervision respectively over (1) the construction, maintenance, and works
supervision functions in the region, and (2) the planning, project design, evaluation, and
technical assistance functions of the Regional Office.

SEC. 25. District Office. — There shall be a District Office in each of the provinces
and cities throughout the country to be headed by a District Engineer appointed by the
Secretary, A province of city may, however, be divided into two (2) or more engineering
districts, upon determination and issuance of an administrative order by the Secretary. The
District Office shall be responsible for all flood control, water resource development
systems, and other public works within the district. For this purpose, it shall have the
following duties and responsibilities

a) Undertake and evaluate the planning, design, construction, and works supervision
funetions of the Department for the abovementioned infrastructure in the district;

b) Undertake the maintenance of the abovementioned infrastructure within the district
and supervise the maintenance of local infrastructure receiving national
government financial assistance as the Secretary may determine:

c) Coordinate with other departments, agencies, institutions, and organizations,
especially local government units within the district in the planning and
implementation of infrastructure projects,

d) Provide technical assistance to other agencies at the local level on public works
planning, design, construction, maintenance, and other engineering matters
including securing assistance from the Regional Office or, through the same
Office, assistance from the Depariment Proper or Bureaus,

) Conduct continuing consultations with local communities, take appropriate
measures to make the services Department responsive to the needs of the
gencral public, compile and submit such information to the Regional Office, and
recommend such appropriate actions as may be necessary; and

f) Perform such other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or
delegated by the Secretary or as may be required by law

SEC. 26. District Engineer. -— ‘The District Engineer of or within a province or city
shall be accountable for the efficient and effective conduct of the duties and
responsibilities of the District Office of which he ts the head. Within his defined powers,
he shail exercise functional and administrative supervision over district operations


36

including the authority to recommend that field resources and personnel be committed to
integrated district-wide development thrusts. Ue shall also perform such other related
duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or delegated by the Secretary of as may be
required by law

CHAPTER 3 - TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

SE

27, Interface with Other Sector Regulators. —

1) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall continue to have the
primary authority and responsibility for protecting the environment and for the
conservation of water and related natural resources, including protecting water bodies
from waste and pollution, and shall promulgate rules, regulations, and standards in this
regard, The Department shall coordinate with the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources with respect to conservation of water resources, protection from
sewage and septage waste, and restoration {rom environmental damage.

2) The Deparment of Health shall have primary authority and responsibility for
determining and enforcing drinking water quality and sanitation standards, The
Department shall coordinate with the Department of Health to achieve an integrated
approach for sanitation, including toilets, collection, treatment, and evaluation of
wastewater

3) The Department shall subsume responsibility from the Department of Public Works
and Highways for wholly or primarily water-related public works projects including
flood control, water resources development, sewerage, sanitation, and the harnessing
and impounding of water. The Secretaries of each department shall coordinate on the
development of evaluation criteria, as necessary, to determine proper allocation of
public works projects between the two departments.

4) The Department shall coordinate with the Department of Agriculture to ensure
agricultural development that reduces sources of fong (erm pollution for surface water
and groundwater, and agricultural and industrial economic development through water,
recycling, and treating wastewater

5) The Department shall closely coordinate with the WRC to ensure harmonious
standards, knowledge sharing, and effective and efficient allocation of personnel and
resources for the achievement of any similar or overlapping objectives. Nothing in this
Act shall be read to detract from the powers and duties of the WRC.

28. Transfer of Rights and Obligations. ~

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The Department shall, by virtue of this Act, be subrogated to all the rights, and assume all
the obligations, of the relevant parts of any government agencies and units whose powers
and functions have been transferred to the Department, including the Department of Public
Works and Highways and the Metro Manila Development Authority

‘The transfer of powers and functions in Section 27 above, as applicable, and agencies
attached thereto, as herein provided for, shall take effect within one hundred eighty (180)
days after the effectivity of this Act. The foregoing transfer of powers and functions shall
include all applicable funds, personnel, records, property, and equipment, as may be
necessary. All offices shall continue 1 function under theit present mandates. until
transition is effected as provided for under this Act.

All rights and obligations of said government agencies are hereby transferred to and
assumed by the Department and shall be acted upon in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the Commission on Audit and other pertinent laws, rules, and regulations.

SEC. 29. Separation form Service. —

Employees separated from government service as a result of this Act shall be entitled to the
benefits that they may receive under existing laws, rules, and regulations

SEC. 30. Funding. —

The sum of e 00) Pesos shall be set aside from any
available funds of the National Treasury, and is hereby appropriated and authorized to be
released, for the organization of the Department and its initial operations

‘Thereafter, funds sufficient to fully carry out the objectives, powers, and functions of the
Department shall be appropriated every fiscal year in the General Appropriations Act.

The Department shall submit its annual budget, which shall include, among others, detailed
information on the compensation and benefits received by their employees, to the Office of
the President for approval

SEC. 31. Periodic Performance Evaluation. ~- ‘the Department is hereby required to
formulate and enforce a system of measuring and evaluating periodically and objectively
the performance of the Department and submit the same annually to the President.

SEC. 32. Prohibition Against Change. — No change in the organizational structure
herein prescribed shall be valid except upon prior approval of the President for the purpose
of promoting efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of public services


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SEC. 33. Separability Clause. — In the event that any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, invalid, or illegal, the constitutionality, validity, or legality of the
remainder of the provisions of this Act shall not be affected thereby

SE

"34, Repealing Clause. —

All laws, presidential decrees, letters of instructions, executive orders, administrative
orders, rules, regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby revoked, repealed, amended, or
modified accordingly

SEC. 35. Effectivi
completion of its publ

This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the
ation in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,...

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