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BillSBN-76920th Congress

Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan Act

In committee Filed Jul 29, 2025
◷ Where it standsIn Committee
FiledCommittee2nd Reading3rd ReadingBicamEnacted

Filed on July 29, 2025, and referred to the Committees on Public Works, Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking, and Finance; it has been pending in committee since August 20, 2025, with no recorded action since then.

Should you care?
Relevance to you
Broad

The bill addresses critical infrastructure needs in Metro Manila, impacting a large population.

Residents of Metro ManilaLocal government officialsPublic infrastructure agencies
Timeliness
Timely

The bill responds to ongoing flooding issues in Metro Manila, which have been exacerbated by climate change and urbanization.

Affects you ifMetro Manila residentsLocal government unitsPublic works agenciesEnvironmental groups
Impact assessment
AI read — verify with source
Overall impact
6.5/ 10
Long title

Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan Act

Plain-language summary
AI Summary

Senate Bill No. 769 aims to institutionalize the Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan, creating a comprehensive framework for drainage infrastructure development in Metro Manila and establishing an Inter-Agency Drainage Management Council to oversee its implementation.

What this bill actually requires
RequiresLocal government units must align their drainage plans with the Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan.
RequiresThe Inter-Agency Drainage Management Council must submit annual reports on the implementation status to the Office of the President and Congress.
FundsInitial implementation costs will be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
FundsSubsequent funding will be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
DeadlineThe Inter-Agency Drainage Management Council must develop a Drainage Compatibility Manual within one year of the Act's effectivity.
DeadlineImplementing rules and regulations must be formulated within 30 days from the approval of the Act.
ⓘ AI-generated — verify with the source.↗ Official Senate PDF
What changes from current law

Compared with current law:

Today

Metro Manila has fragmented drainage systems leading to flooding.

This bill

The bill will create a unified Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan to streamline drainage efforts.

Today

Local government units operate independently in drainage planning.

This bill

The bill mandates local government units to align their plans with the Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan.

ⓘ AI-generated comparison — verify against the bill and the cited law.
Ask this bill

The Act aims to institutionalize a comprehensive drainage plan for Metro Manila, ensuring safety and resilience against flooding by coordinating efforts among local government units and national agencies.

Source · full text
Issue areas
InfrastructureFinance & BudgetSocial WelfareInfrastructure DevelopmentPublic WorksLocal Government UnitsMetro ManilaFlood control

✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.

Legislative history
Jul 29, 2025Senate
Introduced by Senator ERWIN T. TULFO;
Aug 20, 2025Senate
Read on First Reading and Referred to the Committees on PUBLIC WORKS; SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, INNOVATION AND FUTURES THINKING and FINANCE;
✦ AI insight

Stalled: the bill has been pending in committee for over two months with no action since it was referred on August 20, 2025.

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Floor activity

No floor deliberations yet — this measure has not reached plenary. Its committee-stage actions appear under Legislative history above.

Full text
SBN-769 — verbatim textAs filed

Office si ) TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 29 P2:53 SENATE RECENED 3! Senate Bill No. Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE METRO MANILA DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Sections 16, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that the state shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. A single typhoon can submerge cities, displace thousands, halt economies, and claim lives. A future where homes, businesses, hospitals, and schools remain dry, accessible, and safe even during the heaviest of rains begins with one urgent necessity: Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan. Metro Manila has no unified drainage framework. Each city builds independently, one project unaware of the other. National agencies implement drainage works that don't match roadworks of local government units. This fragmented approach leads to chaos, flooding, and waste of public funds. This representation believes that floods are not natural disasters, they are governance failures. It is the result of outdated, disconnected, and piecemeal drainage system. Metro Manila has grown but our drainage systems have not.

This bill seeks to institutionalize Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan as an enhanced 50-year strategic framework for Metro Manila's long-term strategy for drainage infrastructure development. It will create Inter-Agency Drainage Management Council that will monitor, review, and streamline existing policies to avoid duplication of functions, ensure effective use of resources, and harmonize and complement all governmental efforts. The measure also aims to mandate local government units within Metro Manila to align their drainage development plans with the Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan. In view of the foregoing, the passage of the measure is earnestly sought. ERWIN T. TULFO

- EMire at T TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES JUL 29 P2:53 First Regular Session RECEND 57 SENATE Senate Bill No. 769 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE METRO MANILA DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Metro

2 Manila Drainage Master Plan Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the the

5 policy of the State to ensure the safety, sustainability, and resilience of 6 all urban drainage and flood control systems in Metro Manila. It is likewise the policy of the State to recognize the urgent need to modernize existing drainage infrastructure and harmonize inter-agency flood mitigation efforts through a long-term and science-based approach.

SEC. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are:

(a) Institutionalize a comprehensive, integrated, and adaptive Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan; (b) Establish a sustainable drainage standards;

(c) Ensure disaster resilience through proactive infrastructure development; and (d) Align drainage efforts with resettlement, land use, environmental, and solid waste management program.

SEC. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to drainage plans of

local government units (LGUs) comprising Metropolitan Manila, embracing the cities of Caloocan, Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Malabon, Marikina, 12 Navotas, Paranaque, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela.

SEC. 5. Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan. - The Metro

Manila Drainage Master Plan is hereby institutionalized as an enhanced 50-year strategic framework which shall set forth Metro Manila's long- term vision, goals, and strategy for drainage infrastructure development. The Inter-Agency Drainage Management Council created under

Section 6 of this Act shall formulate the Metro Manila Drainage Master

Plan which shall include: a) Sustainable drainage system standards; b) Drainage System Rehabilitation; c) Construction and modernization of pumping stations; d) River and Estero Clean-Up; and e) Effective flood control infrastructure.

SEC. 6. Inter-Agency Drainage Management Council (IADMC).

- This Inter-Agency Drainage Management Council is hereby created, which shall be composed of:

a) Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as Chairperson; b) Chairperson of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, as Vice-Chairperson; c) Secretary of Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), as Member; d) Secretary of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as Member; e) Secretary of Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), as Member; f) Secretary of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), as Member; and g) The Local Chief Executives of the concerned LGUs, as Members. The IADMC shall meet at least every quarter or as often as may be necessary. The Secretariat of the IADMC shall be composed of dedicated personnel from DepDev which shall provide administrative, operational, and technical support to IDMC.

SEC. 7 Powers and Functions of the Inter-Agency Drainage

Management Council. - The IADMC shall have the following powers and functions: a) Formulate the Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan; b) Monitor, review, evaluate, and update, as necessary, the Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan, its implementation and accomplishments, identify the gaps in execution, and

recommend improvements every five (5) years or earlier as the need arises; c) Streamline all existing policies, plans, programs, projects, and all existing inter-agency councils, and provide directions for the alignment of their efforts with the Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan to avoid duplication of functions, ensure effective use of resources, and harmonize and complement all governmental eftorts; d) Assist concerned LGUs in planning, devising, and implementing drainage development plans and programs within their localities, and ensure their alignment with the Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan; and e) Perform such other functions that may be related to the implementation of the Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan.

SEC. 8. Local Drainage Integration. -All local government

units within Metro Manila shall align their drainage development plans, subdivision permits, and building applications with the Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan. The MMDA and IDMC shall develop a Drainage Compatibility Manual within one (1) year of effectivity this Act.

SEC. 9. Reporting Requirement. - The Inter-Agency Drainage

Management Council shall submit annual reports to the Office of the President, Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives on the status of implementation and accomplishments of each action component in the Metro Manila Drainage Master Plan.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty

(30) days from approval of this Act, the DPWH, MMDA and Inter- Agency Drainage Management Council, in consultation with the concerned local government units, shall formulate the rules and regulations necessary in the proper implementation of this Act.

SEC. 11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial

implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the DPWH and MMDA. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of

this Act be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions and parts hereof, insofar as they are separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances,

rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,

Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.