House committee approves bills creating 2 departments
The House Committee on Ways and Means unanimously approved on Monday, Nov. 25, the House leadership-backed bills creating the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR).
After more than 30 minutes of deliberations, the House panel, chaired by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda approved the tax provisions of the unnumbered substitute measures, which are President Duterte’s priority measures.
Batangas Rep. Mario Vittorio Mariño, chairman of the House Committee on Gov
ernment Reorganization, asked the Salceda panel to favorably consider the tax provisions of the proposed National Water Act, and the proposed Disaster Resilience Act.
He assured that the tax provisions of the DWR and DDR bills were “carefully scrutinized and reviewed.”
It was Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing, vice chairperson of the panel, who moved for the approval of both bills.
Responding to a query from Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., Salceda stressed that under the bill, no taxes will be imposed on water consumers.
Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing, vice chairperson of the panel, moved for the approval of both bills.
Salceda said under the bill, which is a consolidation of 35 bills, the new department shall be the primary national agency responsible for the comprehensive and integrated planning, policy formulation and management of water resources in the Philippines.
Under the substitute bill, the functions of the following key water agencies will be transferred to the DWR: River Basin Control Office, Manila Bay Coordinating Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Flood Management Planning and Sediment Functions of the DPWH, Water Supply and Sanitation Unit of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Water Quality Management Section of Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-DENR.
Under the bill, the following agencies shall be attached to the new department:
Metro Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) as an infrastructure arm.
Department of Disaster Resilience
The Salceda panel also approved Section 68 of the substitute bill which provides that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) shall create rules which would among others hasten the processing, release of donated goods and equipment to disaster victims and/or affected areas.
It also passed Sections 54, 64, 69 and 88 of the proposed DDR Act.
Under Section 54, “the declaration of a state of calamity shall allow the immediate implementation of any or all of the following remedial measures: [c] grant of tax credits or exemptions by the BIR, upon the recommendation of the President or the Department.”
While, Section 64 authorizes the DDR to receive and manage donations from any persons or entity, whether from local or international sources.
Section 69 of the bill provides that the DDR must consult the Board of Investments under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which formulates the Investment Priorities Plan (IPP). The IPP lists the areas for investments eligible for tax incentives, it said.
Section 88 provides the creation of special courts on disaster resilience matters.
Under unnumbered substitute bill, the DDR is tasked to serve as the primary government agency responsible for leading, organizing and managing the national effort to reduce disaster risk, prepare for and respond to disasters, recover and rehabilitate, and build after the occurrence of disasters.
The DDR is mandated “to oversee and coordinate the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of disaster and climate resilience plans, programs, projects and activities; and provide leadership in the continuous development of strategic and systematic approaches to disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation.”