ANG problema sa pagbaha na nararanasan hindi lamang sa Metro Manila at Luzon kundi maging sa Visayas at Mindanao ay kasama inaasahang masosolusyunan ng panukalang inaprubahan ng Kamara de Representantes.

Sa botong 254 pabor at tatlong tutol, inaprubahan ng Kamara sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang House Bill 9663 o ang National Water Resources Act na siyang magtatayo sa Department of Water Resources para maglatag ng isang national water resource management framework.

“Preserving water is a priority of the administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. We need to manage our water resources properly,” saad ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez sa panukala na binanggit ng Pang. Ferdinand R. Marcos sa kaniyang State of the Nation Address (SONA) ngayong taon at kabilang sa Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Ang panukalang ahensya ang inatasan na tumukoy at gumawa ng mapa sa lahat ng pinagkukunan tubig ng bansa gayundin ang paglalatag ng plano, polisiya, pagbuo at pamamahala nito.

Ayon kay Speaker Romualdez, lider ng Kamara na may mahigit 300 miyembro, ang pagbuo sa DWR ay makatutulong sa isyu ng urban flooding dahil sa ilalatag na storm water at drainage service framework.

Bubuo rin ng isang National Water Resource Allocation Board.

Babalangkas rin ng isang stormwater management na kauna-unahan sa buong bansa, sa ilalim ng HB 9663.

Para naman kay Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman ng House ways and means committee at isa sa pangunahing nagtulak ng panukala, pag-iisahin nito ang pagbuo ng polisiya, plano at pamamahala sa tubig at septage sa ilalim ng isang ahensya na tatawaging DWR.

“The DWR Secretary is given functions of presidential adviser on all water-related issues,” aniya.

“The measure also unifies regulatory, rate-setting, and licensing functions under the Water Regulatory Commission, a quasi-judicial body similar to the Energy Regulatory Commission. It also fills in policy gaps, including water regulation in provincial areas,” dagdag pa niya.

Binigyang-diin ni Salceda ang kahalagahan ng isang ahensyang nakatutok lang sa usapin ng tubig para maresolba ang dekada nang problema sa water resources na hindi gaano napapansin at kalat na usapin sa pamahalaan.

“It’s not just another new agency. The recurring water crisis calls for creating a department that will complete the circle regarding water management and enshrine the doctrine and policy that the State owns water. Its management is a State duty,” giit pa nito.

Kabilang sa mga pangunahing may akda ng panukala sina Romualdez at Reps. Yedda K. Romualdez, Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos, Jude A. Acidre, Joey Sarte Salceda, Edwin L. Olivarez, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Michael L. Romero, Bernadette “BH” Herrera, Raul “Boboy” C. Tupas, Khymer Adan T. Olaso, Patrick Michael D. Vargas, Ambrosio C. Cruz Jr., Ralph G. Recto, Ron P. Salo, Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan, Wilbert T. Lee, Alfredo D. Marañon III, Juan Carlos “Arjo” C. Atayde, Rosanna “Ria” V. Vergara, Harris Christopher M. Ongchuan, Joseph Stephen “Caraps” S. Paduano, Rufus B. Rodriguez, Wilter Y. Palma, Antonieta R. Eudela, Jaime R. Fresdeni, Ruth Mariano-Hernandez, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Lorenz R. Defensor, Jonathan Keith T. Flores, Paolo Z. Duterte, Eric Go Yap, Noel “Bong” N. Rivera, Florida “Rida” P. Robes, Richard I. Gomez DPA, Edvic G. Yap, Jocelyn P. Tulfo, Jeffrey Soriano, Gus S. Tambunting, Ralph Wendel P. Tulfo, Shernee A. Tan-Tambut, Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica, Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo, Lex Anthony Cris A. Colado, Jefferson F. Khonghun, Princess Rihan M. Sakaluran, JC Abalos, Midy N. Cua, Christopherson “Coco” M. Yap, Charisse Anne C. Hernandez, Carl Nicolas C. Cari, Maria Carmen S. Zamora, Carlito S. Marquez, Ramon Jolo B. Revilla III, Bai Dimple I. Mastura, Dimszar M. Sali, David “Jay-jay” C. Suarez, Mario Vittorio “Marvey” A. Mariño, Luis Raymund “Lray” F. Villafuerte Jr., Laarni Lavin Roque, Emigdio P. Tanjuatco III, Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V, Carmelo “Jon” B. Lazatin II, Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” R. Luistro, Joseph Gilbert F. Violago, Antonio “Tonypet” T. Albano, John Tracy F. Cagas, Divina Grace C. Yu, Faustino “Inno” A. Dy V, Jeyzel Victoria C. Yu, Jose “Bong” Jr. J. Teves, Rudys Caesar I G. Fariñas, Ivan Howard A. Guintu, Reynante U. Arrogancia, Gabriel H. Bordado Jr., Leody “Odie” F. Tarriela, Lordan G. Suan, Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes G. Matibag, Ching B. Bernos, Arthur F. Celeste, Raul Angelo “Jil” D. Bongalon, Rachel Marguerite B. Del Mar, Brian Raymund S. Yamsuan, Julienne “Jam” Baronda, Mary Mitzi L. Cajayon-Uy, Josephine Veronique “Jaye” R. Lacson-Noel, Edsel A. Galeos, Faustino Michael Carlos T. Dy III, Margarita “Atty. Migs” B. Nograles, Wowo Fortes, Aurelio “Dong” Jr. D. Gonzales, Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte, Steve Chiongbian Solon, Marlyn “Len” B. Alonte, Sandro L. Gonzales, Jose Manuel F. Alba, Romeo S. Momo Sr., Jose C. Alvarez, Joseph S. Tan, Loreto B. Acaharon, Maria Angela S. Garcia, Teodorico T. Haresco, Jr., Ricardo S. Cruz, Jr., Arnan C. Panaligan, Salvador A. Pleyto, Augustina Dominique “Ditse Tina” C. Pancho, Alfonso V. Umali, Jr., Alfelito “Alfel” M. Bascug, Eulogio R. Rodriguez, Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano, Eduardo Roa Rama Jr., Ma. Cynthia K. Chan, Celso G. Regencia, Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar, Elizaldy S. Co, Stella Luz A. Quimbo, Ronald V. Singson, Fernando T. Cabredo, Roy M. Loyola, Edgar M. Chatto, Edward Vera Perez Maceda, Sittie Aminah Q. Dimaporo, Sergio C. Dagooc, Danny A. Domingo, Peter B. Miguel, Samier A. Tan, at Eleanor C. Bulut-Begtang.