Rainwater Harvesting Facility Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JI -8 35:06 SENATE Senate Bill No. Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA AN ACT MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RAINWATER HARVESTING FACILITY FOR THE MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE, REGULATION, AND UTILIZATION OF RAINWATER RUNOFF, IMPROVEMENT OF ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CATCHMENTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Rainwater harvesting systems provide a sustainable approach to addressing the dual challenges of water scarcity and flooding around the world. By collecting and storing rainwater from roofs, roads, or other catchment areas, these systems reduce pressure on conventional water sources while also helping to manage runoff. Additionally, they play a key role in mitigating the effects of climate change, such as droughts and extreme weather events, by offering decentralized water supply.I Many countries have successfully implemented rainwater harvesting programs, proving their practical benefits on a national scale. Singapore, for instance, has made rainwater harvesting a key component of its water management strategy through the "Four National Taps" approach. This involves a comprehensive network of drains, canals, and rivers that collects rainwater and directs it to reservoirs for treatment to become potable water, greatly contributing to Singapore's water self-sufficiency.2 Similarly, in Australia, many households use rainwater tanks to supply water for supering futing tile i and even drinking, reducing reliance on municipal wate The Renewable Energy Hub UK. Benefits of Rainwater Collection. 04 September 2024. Available at https://www.renewableenergyhub.co.uk/main/rainwater-harvesting-information/benefits-of-rainwater- collection (Accessed on 25 June 2025). 2 Public Utilities Board (PUB), Singapore's National Water Agency. Singapore Water Story - Water from Local Catchment. Available at https://www.pub.gov.sg/Public/WaterLoop/OurWaterStory/Local-Catchment-Water# (Accessed on 25 June 2025). 3 Australian Government - Your Home. Rainwater. Available at https://www.yourhome.gov.au/water/rainwater (Accessed on 25 June 2025).

Drawing from the experience of these countries, the Philippines can also adopt proven rainwater harvesting practices as a strategic response to its ongoing struggles with flooding and water insecurity. The country experiences intense rains and over 20 typhoons annually, with an average annual rainfall of 2,348 millimeters.* However, poor urban drainage, deforestation, and unregulated development contribute to flooding in many areas, affecting transportation, health, and livelihoods. By collecting and treating rainwater before it overwhelms drainage systems, communities can reduce the risk of floods and simultaneously secure a reliable water source, as according to the United Nations, 53% of households in the Philippines lack access to clean water and 39% do not have safe sanitation. 5 This measure seeks to achieve that as well as address the critical issue of ecological sustainability in the country, particularly in Metro Manila. By mandating the construction of rainwater harvesting facilities in new developments, this bill promotes the efficient use of rainwater for non-potable purposes such as irrigation, firefighting, and construction, while also allowing for technological innovations to make rainwater potable. Furthermore, this measure establishes clear guidelines, technical standards, and responsibilities for both developers and government agencies, ensuring that rainwater harvesting systems are properly designed, constructed, and maintained. It also includes incentives for retrofitting existing structures and investing in innovative technologies, encouraging wider adoption of sustainable practices. Ultimately, this bill is envisioned to offer a solution to two pressing national issues: flooding and water scarcity. With proper implementation, rainwater harvesting systems can help mitigate flood risks, conserve water resources, and ensure reliable access to water in both urban and rural areas, turning a natural hazard into an opportunity for resilience and sustainability. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 4 World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Philippines Country Profile. https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/philipines/climate-data-historical (Accessed on 25 June 2025). Planet Water Foundation, citing UN data. Water and Sanitation Issues in the Philippines. Available a ittps://planet-water.org/where-we-operate/philippines (Accessed on 25 June 2025)

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES JIL -8 35:06 First Regular Session SENATE Senate Bill No. Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA AN ACT MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RAINWATER HARVESTING FACILITY FOR THE MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE, REGULATION, AND UTILIZATION OF RAINWATER RUNOFF, IMPROVEMENT OF ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CATCHMENTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 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 "Rainwater Harvesting

Facility Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to protect

4 the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology and advance the health and welfare of its citizens in accordance with the rhythm and harmony of nature. 6 Pursuant thereto, the government and all its instrumentalities shall systematically 7 integrate the concept of climate change in the various phases of policy formulation, & development planning, and in drawing up and implementing poverty reduction strategies and innovations that provide beneficial effects to the greatest number of people with the least cost and negative externalities. In this light, and given the demands of a growing population, the State shall adopt measures and strategies in order to efficiently conserve water and help attain water security. Among other strategies for water conservation, rainwater harvesting facilities shall be established not only to conserve the supply of potable faucet water

1 but also to prevent flooding in communities that sometimes result in devastating 2 effects on human life and property. Both the public and private sectors are urged to 3 actively participate in flood mitigating efforts and initiatives of the government. The State recognizes Metro Manila as one of the densest areas in the country. 5 To mitigate the adverse effects of continuing growth in population and human 6 settlements, the State shall ensure that Metro Manila local governments are 7 capacitated to respond to threats brought by natural calamities and disasters such as 8 massive flooding. Towards this end, the State shall mandate the construction of rainwater harvesting facilities in all new public and private commercial, institutional, 10 industrial, and residential developments in Metro Manila which will serve as a pilot area from which other similar areas can learn. Pursuant thereto, owners and developers of all new public and private realty development projects in Metro Manila requiring the issuance of building permits are mandated to design and construct a rainwater harvesting facility to prevent or delay the release of rainwater and runoff water into the public drainage systems, creeks, and natural waterways.

Sec. 3. Purpose, - This Act seeks to establish minimum rainwater management

requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the public. This Act pursues the following objectives: a) Minimize increase in rainwater runoff from any development, both existing and proposed, in order to reduce flooding, siltation, increases in stream temperature, and stream bank erosion and maintain the integrity of stream channels; b) Minimize increase in non-point source pollution caused by rainwater runoff developments which would otherwise degrade local water quality; C) Minimize the annual volume of surface water runoff that flows from any specific site during and following development to not exceed the pre-development hydrologic regime to the maximum extent practicable; and d) Reduce rainwater runoff rates and volumes, soil erosion, and non-point source pollution, wherever possible, through rainwater management controls and ensure that these management controls are properly maintained and pose no threat to public safety.

Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a) Applicant- refers to a property owner or agent who has filed an application for a rainwater management permit; b) Building - refers to any structure built for the support, shelter, or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or moveable property of any kind and which is permanently affixed to the land; c) Building Official - refers to a local building official as appointed or designated pursuant to Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1096 or the National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP); d) Certificate of Occupancy - refers to the permit issued by the zoning officer indicating that the use of the building or land is in conformity with the zoning ordinance or that there has been a legal variance therefrom; e) Channel - refers to a natural or artificial watercourse with definite bed and banks that conducts flowing water continuously or periodically; f) Contour interval - refers to the vertical distance between the elevations represented by adjacent contour lines on a map; Contour line - refers to a line on a map or chart connecting all points of the same elevation or depth in a particular area; h) Dedication - refers to the deliberate appropriation of property by its owner for general public use; i) Detention - refers to a rainwater management practice of temporarily storing rainwater runoff to control the peak discharge rate and to induce settling of pollutants through gravity; j) Developer - refers to a person or entity who undertakes land disturbance or development activities. A developer may only be contracted to develop and may or may not be the owner of the development, such as a building structure being built; k) Development - refers to any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, or drilling operation; Flood frequency - refers to a record of past flood events or occurrences that yield flood data estimates used principally to compare expected changes in flood

damage with economic and social costs or benefits guiding a contemplated action; m) Hotspot - refers to an area where land use or activities generate highly contaminated runoff, with concentrations of pollutants in excess of those typically found in rainwater; n) Hydrologic regime - refers to the quantity and dynamics of water flow or the variations in the state and characteristics of a water body depending on location and time of the year, which may occur in regular patterns; 0) Infiltration- refers to the process of percolating or gradually filtering rainwater into the subsoil; Infiltration facility - refers to any structure or device designed to infiltrate water into the subsurface. These facilities may be above ground or below ground; Land disturbance - refers to any activity which changes the volume or peak flow discharge rate of rainfall from the land surface. This may include grading, digging, cutting, scraping, or excavating of soil, placement of fill materials, paving, construction, substantial removal of vegetation, or any activity which bares soil or rock or involves the diversion or piping of any natural or man-made watercourse; Landowner- refers to the legal or beneficial owner of the land, including those holding the right to purchase or lease the land, or any other person holding proprietary rights over the land; S) Offsite facility - refers to a rainwater management installation located outside the subject property boundary described in the permit application for land development activity; Onsite facility - refers to a rainwater management installation located within the subject property boundary described in the permit application for land development activity; u) Rainwater Design Manual - refers to the Planning and Design Manual for the Control of Erosion, Sediment, and Rainwater written by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);

V) Rainwater Harvesting Facility - refers to a flood control structure such as vertical detention tank, horizontal water tank, open retarding basin, and multi- water catchment area or an onsite regulation pond used to prevent or delay the release of rainwater into the public drainage system; w) Rainwater management - refers to the use of structural or non-structural practices that are designed to reduce rainwater runoff pollutant loads and discharge volumes and/or peak flow discharge rates; Rainwater retrofit - refers to a rainwater management practice designed for an existing development site that had not implemented rainwater management measures, or had previously implemented measures that were inadequate to meet the rainwater management requirements of the site; Y) Rainwater runoff- refers to water flow on the surface of the ground, resulting from precipitation; Rainwater treatment - refers to a process by which collected rainwater is filtered or cleaned through either structural or non-structural means to prevent or reduce point source or non-point source pollution inputs to rainwater runoff and water bodies, as well as to upgrade rainwater for reuse; aa) Recharge - refers to the replenishment of underground water reserves; bb) Redevelopment - refers to any construction, alteration, or improvement exceeding one hundred (100) square meters in high-density areas where existing land use is for commercial, industrial, institutional, or multi-family residential purposes; cc) Stop Work Order - refers to an issuance that requires the discontinuance or stoppage, in part or whole, of the construction activity on a site due to a violation of the; and dd) Watercourse - refers to a permanent or intermittent stream or other body of water, either natural or man-made, which gathers or carries surface.

Sec. 5. Rainwater Harvesting Facility Requirement. - A project owner or

developer of a new commercial, institutional, industrial, or residential development project in Metro Manila, with a building footprint area of at least one hundred (100) square meters that requires the issuance of a building permit, shall reserve, develop,

1 and maintain a rainwater harvesting facility with a minimum storage tank size in cubic meters calculated by dividing the building footprint area by 75. The owner or developer of an ongoing development project in Metro Manila that has no existing provision for rainwater harvesting shall build a facility within a period 5 of three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act, or suffer the penalty imposed in 6 Section 13 hereof. When additions, alterations, conversions, and renovations of an existing building constructed after the effectivity of this Act fit within the minimum building footprint, the whole building shall be subject to the applicable provisions of this Act. To conserve potable water, rainwater collected by a harvesting facility may be used for non-potable and suitable purposes, such as gardening and air-cooling processes, provided through a distinct and separate piping system from the potable water supply system. The landowner or developer may opt to utilize a system or technology that can recycle collected rainwater for potable uses such as bathing, dishwashing, or cooking, provided it meets the water quality standard of any government water agency or duly accredited water testing center.

Sec. 6. Requirements for Rainwater Management Plan. - All landowners

or developers of proposed commercial, industrial, or residential development or any residential multi-dwelling units of more than one thousand (1,000) square meters land area must submit a Rainwater Management Plan (RMP) as part of the site development application and approval process. The RMP shall include the following information: a) Description of Existing Conditions. - The description of existing conditions in the location of the development site shall be shown on a map. It shall include: (1) Topographic map with 1.0-meter minimum contour line or an appropriate contour interval of the land proposed for development or redevelopment; (2) Location natural waterways including banks and centerline of streams and channels; (3) Normal shoreline, coastlines, outline of lakes, natural depressions, and ponds, including drainage flow lines; and (4) Quantification of flows (discharge and volume) in their natural condition.

b) Proposed Site Development Plan (SDP). - The proponent shall provide a SDP in an appropriate scale and size showing the following: (1) Retention/detention basins and lines of inflow and outflow; (2) The location, size, and slope of rainwater conduits and drainage swales; (3) Rain, sanitary, and combined sewer outfalls; (4) Delineation of upstream and downstream drainage features and watersheds which might be affected by the development; and (5) Other environmental features including limits of wetland areas, green buffers, planting strips, and any designated natural areas for rainwater management. 11 c Description of the Proposed Rainwater Management System (RMS). - The proposed RMS shall be designed to safely and completely manage rainwater runoff onsite or offsite, provide facility to regulate the increased rainwater runoff, and help maintain the natural hydrologic cycle and condition of flow in a locality. The purpose of the RMS is to reduce the risk of downstream flooding by reducing the amount of runoff and regulating the discharge release at a given time. The proposed RMS shall be accompanied by hydrologic and hydraulic calculations to adequately demonstrate the effectiveness of the plan. It shall be designed to meet the desired flood frequency which is designated to a particular drainage structure as stated in the Rainwater Design Manual of the DPWH: Provided, That a 25-year flood frequency or higher may be required for major rivers and waterways, subject to the design criteria in Section 9 of this Act. The RMP shall be accompanied by relevant information such as rainfall data in a locality, maps, and other descriptive material to include the following: (1) The extent of catchment and drainage channels onsite, and direction of the flow of the channels including the final outfall of the discharge from the site; (2) Hydrologic and hydraulic design calculations for the pre-development and post-development conditions of a RMS as required under Section 9 hereof. The calculations for determining peak flows include a description of storm frequency, intensity, duration, time of concentration, soil curve number or runoff coefficients, peak runoff rates and total runoff volumes, infiltration

rates, culvert capacities, flow velocities, data on the increase in rate, and volume of runoff for the design storm; and (3) Technical specifications of the Proposed RMS, providing descriptions of proposed rainwater conveyance practices onsite, existing offsite rainwater conveyance systems including receiving streams, channels, and outfall and inlet locations, and elevations of locations and high-water elevations.

Sec. 7. Chemicals, Effluents, and Other Contaminants. - Prior to the

issuance of a building permit for their development or re-development, all industrial plants and estates shall secure the appropriate certification from the Department of 10 Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that all chemicals used in their operations, their by-products, effluents, and other operational discharges do not contain harmful contaminants that can be washed by or into the rainwater. The type of roofing must also be identified and assessed if used for collecting rainwater as some roofing materials may seep chemicals that can cause adverse effects if ingested, used in irrigation, fishponds, and groundwater recharge, among others.

Sec. 8. Utilization of Rainwater. - Rainwater shall be harvested for the

following uses: a) Rainwater for rural irrigation. - Agriculture in the Philippines is predominantly rainfed. Rainwater catchments thus hold significant potential for improvement of rainwater use efficiency and sustainment of rainfed and upland agriculture in the country. b) Rainwater for urban irrigation. - Most of the urban centers are currently dependent on Class A water quality for irrigation supply which is costly and environmentally unsustainable. Utilization of Class A water for yard irrigation shall be minimized if not prohibited. Instead, rainwater shall be utilized for such purposes. The irrigation water shall come from the rainwater detention system. Rainwater as a source for urban irrigation and/or watering of lawns shall be indicated in all development plans. A secondary source of water for irrigation may also come from treated greywater from the effluent of the treatment facility. Rainwater for groundwater recharge. - The RMS is intended mainly to ensure the natural balance of the hydrologic cycle by allowing rainwater to recharge the

groundwater table that sustains the yield and production of deep wells. Groundwater table recharging may be in the form of the following management systems: (1) Lagoon or retention pond that allows for natural seepage to the groundwater aquifer; (2) Swales and depression storage; (3) Porous or paver blocks on some developed areas; and (4) Retention channels. The sizes and dimensions of any of the above facilities shall be dependent on the rainfall intensity and the size of the development. d) Rainwater for firefighting. - Rainwater may substitute or augment the firefighting requirement, subject to health and corrosion standards. A separate storage tank for the fire water reserve shall be constructed. Other laws concerning the requirement of water for firefighting shall be considered. e) Rainwater for construction. - Simple filtration systems and other applicable methods to remove suspended solids and other coarse materials may be employed to improve water quality and avert adverse effects on construction equipment and the environment. f) Rainwater for other non-potable water supply. - Rainwater shall be subjected to primary and secondary treatment to make it a viable secondary source for the following purposes: (1) Washing of cars, floor yards; (2) Flushing of the toilet (water quality shall meet certain standards to avoid discoloration of fixtures); and (3) Fishponds, aquariums, and the like. Rainwater for potable uses. - To make it potable, rainwater may be collected, processed, subjected to filtering innovations or technological interventions, and used for drinking, cooking, dishwashing, and bathing, subject to water standards. Potable water quality shall at all times comply with the requirements and standards of the Philippine National Standard for Drinking Water (PNSDW). h) Rainwater for ecological requirements. - Seasonal fluctuation of rainfall affects the rain flora and fauna of waterways. Rainwater runoff shall therefore be

managed properly to allow the steady release of water to waterways, ensuring the continued supply of water.

Sec. 9. Preparation of the Rainwater Design Manual. - The DPWH shall

prepare the Rainwater Design Manual (RDM) which must provide, among others, information on the following: (1) conveyance systems of the rainwater harvesting 6 facility; (2) make of the rainwater retention facility; (3) management of rainwater 7 discharge to control flooding; (4) protection of the local water bodies from pollution 8 through rainwater discharge treatment; (5) dike or bank protection for water bodies 9 receiving rainwater discharge; and (6) utilization options for collected rainwater. The RDM shall contain the following guidelines: a) All sites shall establish a RMS to control the peak flow rates of rainwater discharge and to allow the RMS facility to treat collected rainwater for both water quality and quantity. Peak post-construction rainwater runoff shall not exceed peak pre-construction rainwater runoff from the site to the greatest extent possible; b) All rainwater runoff generated from any development shall not discharge untreated rainwater directly into a jurisdictional wetland or local water body without adequate treatment; Structural and non-structural Rainwater Treatment System (RTS) shall be designed to treat the first 20 millimeters of rainwater runoff. Thus, for every one (1) hectare of new development, a 200 cubic meter detention or retention tank shall be constructed to minimize flooding and improve water quality. Sanitary wastewater treatment facilities shall be designed and installed to comply with existing health regulations and meet the effluent standard of the DENR; Untreated sanitary waste shall not be discharged to waterways and land surfaces without proper treatment and shall not come in contact with rainwater runoff. The discharge of treated effluent to water bodies shall be in accordance with the river classification. For unclassified rivers and watercourses, effluents shall meet the Class C water category. To be discharged to an urban drainage system, effluents shall meet the Class D water category. In all cases, the prescription by the DENR shall be followed;

e) To protect stream channels from degradation, the velocity of runoff water shall be limited to less than 1.0 m/s, otherwise, bank protection shall be provided; Rainwater discharges to critical areas with sensitive resources, including shellfish beds, swimming areas, water supply reservoirs, and groundwater recharge areas, may be subject to additional performance criteria and management restrictions; Rainwater discharges from land uses or activities with higher potential pollutant loadings, known as "hotspots," must be in accordance with the specific structural and pollution prevention practices; h) Rainwater storage and drainage systems must be secured from mosquito breeding and those of other similar insects that may endanger public health; Prior to design, applicants must consult with the Building Official to determine if they are subject to additional rainwater design requirements; and j) For existing development or developed areas, the RMS requirement may be imposed on the following conditions: (1) The owners of existing or old developments shall submit to the concerned Building Official the technical design of existing RMS to demonstrate its contribution to flood control and mitigation and the rainwater management program; (2) The total required storage volume of rainwater may be the cumulative volume stored from various sources such as cistern, lagoon onsite or offsite, and depression storage; and (3) At least 50% of the required volume shall be met within five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act. The DPWH, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), DENR, and local government units (LGUs) shall require the incorporation of a RMS in the design of all new commercial, institutional, industrial, and residential development projects in Metro Manila. The LGUs shall ensure that these facilities are built during the construction phase of the projects. In formulating the Design Manual, the DPWH shall consult the experts or the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and DENR on requirements that entail scientific bases or study.

Sec. 10. Construction Inspection. -

a) The applicant must notify the concerned Building Official in advance before the commencement of construction; b) All applicants for commercial and multi-family residential buildings over four (4) units are required to submit actual drawings of rainwater management facilities located onsite after final construction is completed. The rainwater facility plan must show the final design specification for all rainwater management facilities and must be certified by a licensed engineer. A final inspection is required before the release of any performance security, performance bond, or guarantee between the owner or developer and the contractor or builder; 11 c) The City or Municipal Engineer shall inspect all drainage facilities while under construction. When facilities are not constructed according to approved plans, the LGU shall require the project owner or developer to make the necessary corrections. All drainage facilities located on private property, whether dedicated to the LGU or not, shall be accessible at all times for inspection by the City or Municipal Engineer or other responsible public official; and d) The City or Municipal Engineer shall inspect all sanitary waste treatment facilities while under construction and upon completion to ensure proper installation and connection to wastewater collection systems when applicable. Proper function of sanitary waste treatment facilities is required prior to final approval and issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. Any contracted architect or civil engineer employed by the owner or developer to plan and supervise the construction of the facility shall not be precluded from inspecting the construction work to check and determine compliance with the plans and specifications of the building, pursuant to the provisions under Inspection and Supervision of Work or Section 308 of the NBCP.

Sec. 11. Maintenance and Repair of Rainwater Facilities. - The owner or

developer is expected to perform regular maintenance and repair of the rainwater facility whenever necessary to ensure that it is in working condition and safe for public use and the environment. At the minimum, the following must be undertaken: (1) visual inspection and cleaning of the facility after major rain events; (2) regular

clearing of all sediments, silts, and debris; (3) drainage cleanup; and (4) replacement of filters and insect screens as necessary. In addition, the owner or developer shall comply with the following requirements: a) All rainwater management facilities must undergo a yearly or regular inspection process at a frequency sufficient to determine the functioning ability of the conveyance system and any repair needs. This shall include inspection prior to the beginning of typhoon season or prior to any forecasted major rains that may equal the design requirements, and after any major rain events; b) All drainage and sanitary waste treatment facilities located on private property, whether dedicated to the LGU or not, shall be accessible at all times for inspection by the City or Municipal Engineer or other responsible public officials, especially when there is reason to suspect that a malfunction has resulted in rainwater runoff pollution by unsanitary waste; Depending on the type of facility, mosquito or insect screens must be replaced as necessary to avoid infestation or breeding ground for pathogens; d) Parties responsible for the operation and maintenance of a rainwater management facility shall make records of the installation, maintenance, and repairs and shall retain these records for at least five years. These records shall be made available to the city or municipality during inspection of the facility and other reasonable times upon request; and e) The Building Official shall notify the owner of a rainwater facility in writing that maintenance work is required. The owner shall have sixty (60) days from the receipt of such written notice to bring the facility into proper working order.

Sec. 12. Reportorial Requirements. - The DPWH shall require the owner or

developer of all new commercial, institutional, industrial, and residential development projects to submit a compliance report within twelve (12) months from the date of the completion of the project. The DPWH shall henceforth require the building owners covered under Sections 5 and 6 of this Act to submit an annual report of the performance of such rainwater retention facility which may include information on the total volume of retained rainwater and its utilization.

Sec. 13. Enforcement and Penalties. -

a) Any person found to be in violation of any of the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be penalized with a fine not to exceed Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or imprisonment of no more than ninety (90) days, or both. A continuance of a violation without reasonable effort on the part of the violator to correct the same shall constitute a new and separate offense each day. b) In the case of a partnership, association, corporation, or any juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president, treasurer, or any other officer or person responsible for the violation. 10 c) If the offender is a foreigner, the foreigner shall be deported immediately without further proceedings after payment of the fine. 12 d) If the concerned Building Official shall find that any provision of this Act is violated, the person responsible for such violation shall be notified in writing, indicating the nature of the violation and ordering the action necessary to correct it. Among those actions which he/she may be ordered is discontinuance of any construction on site.

Sec. 14. Incentives. - Landowners or developers of existing structures built

prior to the implementation of this Act who shall opt to install a rainwater harvesting system or a rainwater retrofit in accordance with this Act shall receive a realty tax incentive from the LGU concerned which may be in the form of a tax discount of not less than three percent (3%) per annum over and above the regular discount provided by the LGU. An additional two percent (2%) tax discount per annum shall be granted to those who invest in any innovation or technology that recycles collected rainwater for potable uses within the standards prescribed by law.

Sec. 15. Obligation of the Regulatory Agencies. - The DPWH, DENR,

DOST, LGUs, their sub-agencies, and subsidiaries are mandated to provide full assistance to every project owner or developer covered under this Act in order that the requirements and standards prescribed herein may be properly executed in the design and construction of rainwater harvesting facilities. Agency assistance shall include proper advice, technical guidance, provision for needed data, and facilitation of required documents. As much as practicable, all technical and documentation

1 requirements must be at zero to minimal cost to the applicant project owner or 2 developer who shall establish, manage, and maintain a rainwater harvesting facility.

Sec. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days

from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Public Works and Highways shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of the Interior and Local 6 Government, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Secretary of Human 7 Settlements and Urban Development, and Secretary of Science and Technology, promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the effective 9 implementation of this Act. The IRR shall include the standards and guidelines for the 10 design, construction, installation, materials, site selection and planning, site-specific considerations, and maintenance of the rainwater harvesting facility. Failure of the relevant government agencies to promulgate the IRR within the specified period shall subject the heads of these government agencies to administrative penalties under applicable civil service laws. Should the IRR contain provisions that are contrary to this Act, the heads of the government agencies responsible for such provision, when done in bad faith or with gross negligence, shall be held administratively liable.

SEC. 17. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is

declared unconstitutional, the remainder hereof or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,

executive order, letter of instruction, rule, or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 19. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,