University of the Cordilleras

Department of Political Science

MODEL SENATE
Baguio City

SECOND CONGRESS
Regular Session

AGENDA
Session No. 01
Saturday, May 21, 2022, | 8:00AM – 12:00PM
Venue: N4003, University of the Cordilleras

I. NATIONAL ANTHEM and PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

II. PRAYER/ INVOCATION
Lead by Senator EMERSON JOCSI
III. CALL TO ORDER
IV. ROLL CALL
V. ADOPTION OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
VI. ADOPTION OF THE CALENDAR OF BUSINESS
VII. PRIVILEGE HOUR
VIII. ELECTION OF SENATE LEADERS
A. PRO-TEMPORE
B. MAJORITY LEADER
C. MINORITY LEADER
IX. AGENDA FOR THE DAY
A. Bill
1. Senate Bill No. 01 entitled National Water Desalination Act by
Senator Gherald P. Edaño
X. ANNOUNCEMENT
XI. ADJOURNMENT

*******

MEMBERS AVAILING THE PRIVILEGE HOUR

Senator JOSHUA CADIOGAN

 SECOND CONGRESS OF THE ]
UC MODEL SENATE ]
First Regular Session ]

UC MODEL SENATE

S.B. No. 01

Introduced by SENATOR GHERALD P. EDAÑO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING WATER DESALINATION AND TREATMENT PLANTS,
AUTHORIZING RESEARCH AND STUDIES FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT,
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The United Nations has declared and explicitly recognized water

(including sanitation) as basic and primary human right 1. It stands in our
survival in terms of human consumption, agriculture and food production,
sanitation, industries and businesses, and among other things. According to
water.org, a global nonprofit organization, seven million Filipinos live without
or with lack of access to safe water and another 24 million people with poor
access to improved sanitation2 which basically requires water. The congress
has enacted several water laws in the past including emergency powers for
water crisis. Water, as an element does not stand a chance in a crisis without
embracing the advancements of technology. In basic terms, water as a
primary element for public welfare towards development requires innovative
utility which is only possible through scientific and technological innovation.

The Philippine archipelago being surrounded by bodies of water and

yet frequently pillaged by water crisis is a disappointing irony – it’s already
the 21st century and it would be a greater sin without unboxing the gifts of
science, innovation and technology to bring and even water supply across the
country – from the cities to the rural areas, especially that the only material

1 1
UN General Assembly Resolution 64/292, 28 July 2010.
2
Philippine Water and Sanitation Crisis. https://water.org/our-impact/philippines/
that is standing between our access to clean and safe water and our bodies of
water is salt or saline.

The COVID-19 pandemic tested our water security, with handwashing

as a key practice in fighting viruses and infection, access to clean and safe
water being scarced hampers our fighting chance. Every year, our country
also faces an average of twenty (20) tropical storms which further limits our
supply for clean and safe household water.

Thus, there is no better solution to water shortages and crises during

calamities than institutionalizing and framing this embrace to scientific and
technological innovation into law and assuring ample, clean, and safe water
to every Filipino household.

In view of the foregoing, approval and enactment of this bill is

earnestly sought. In science and technology, we shall trust!

SENATOR GHERALD P. EDAÑO

 SECOND CONGRESS OF THE ]
UC MODEL SENATE ]
First Regular Session ]

UC MODEL SENATE

S.B. No. 001

Introduced by SENATOR GHERALD P. EDAÑO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING WATER DESALINATION AND TREATMENT PLANTS,
AUTHORIZING RESEARCH AND STUDIES FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT,
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the UC Model Senate in assembly:

1 SECTION 1. Short Title – This Act shall be cited and known as the ‘National Water
2 Desalination Act of 2020’.
3
4 SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy – It shall be the policy of the State to
5 recognize and adopt science, innovation and technology in asserting ‘water’ as a
6 basic and primary human right of every Filipino and ensuring optimal access and
7 even distribution of clean and safe water supply for every Filipino household.
8
9 SECTION 3. Definition of Terms:
10
11 For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as:
12
13 a) Desalination or desalting – shall be referred to the use of any process or
14 methods for the removal and, when feasible, adaptation to beneficial use, of
15 organic and inorganic materials, elements or compounds from saltwater or
16 biologically impaired waters.
17 b) Islands – shall refer to the main islands of the Philippines (Luzon, Palawan,
18 Visayas, and Mindanao) and other inhabited islands and territories of the
19 Philippines including those at West Philippine Sea and the Philippine Rise and
20 among other territories that are covered by jurisdiction of the Philippine State
21 as provided by the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Page 4 of 7
22 c) Saline of Saltwater – shall mean sea water, brackish water, and other
23 mineralized or chemically impaired water.
24 d) Sustainable or Sustainability – the term ‘sustainable’ or ‘sustainability’ in this
25 Act shall refer to cost-effectiveness and optimal usage or utility with
26 producing the least amount of wastes and charging costs over long-period of
27 time.
28
29 SECTION 4. Research and Development
30
31 a) For the purposes of this Act, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB)
32 together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
33 shall conduct a preliminary study and investigation to determine the strategic
34 areas for construction of the desalination plants where the supply and even
35 distribution to the islands is at its optimal viability.
36
37 b) Design and Proposal – the Department of Sciences and Technology (DOST)
38 together with DENR are mandated to initiate awards and grants or contracts
39 commencing through a competitive and merit-reviewed procedures. The
40 awardee of the grant or contract shall be authorized to study the desalination
41 process but are not limited with the following topics:
42 a. Investigation of the Desalination process;
43 b. Optimization of operations and costs;
44 c. Determination of best and optimal designs for different conditions of
45 operations;
46 d. Investigating methods of increasing the economic efficiency of
47 desalination processes;
48 e. Conducting or contracting for technical work, including the design,
49 construction, and testing of pilot systems and test beds, to develop
50 desalting processes and concepts; and
51 f. Study viable methods for the recovery of byproducts resulting from
52 desalination and determining their possible beneficial uses and offset
53 costs of treatment and reduce environmental impacts.
54
55 c) Foreigners or non-citizens can participate in the submission and application
56 for design and proposals provided that the team shall consist of at least three
57 (3) Filipino scientists, engineer or experts for the matter.
58
59 SECTION 5. Implementation, Operations and Management – All Desalination
60 plants shall be constructed and built subject to existing and pertinent construction,
61 building and project implementation laws without prejudice to the proposed designs.
62 The plan and design shall aim optimal and sustainable utilization of the desalination
63 plant.

Page 5 of 7
 64
65 DOST and DENR are authorized to employ other technologies or designs to maximize
66 the technological and innovative capacities of the plant not limited to producing
67 clean water but also for clean and renewable energy subject to existing and
68 pertinent energy laws.
69
70 DOST and DENR are also authorized to establish separate processing facilities for the
71 byproducts of the desalination plant and adopt proposed designs or innovation for
72 their beneficial use, otherwise, shall determine proper disposal of their wastes in
73 accordance of existing and pertinent environmental laws.
74
75 The operations and management of all desalination plants shall be under the
76 jurisdiction and powers of the State through the Department of Environment and
77 Natural Resources (DENR).
78
79 NWRB, DENR in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local
80 Government (DILG) and Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and all water
81 distributors in the country shall determine mechanisms for even distribution of water
82 supply to the islands.
83
84 SECTION 6. Respect of Minorities - Acquisition and development of lands and
85 properties for the implementation of this Act shall aim towards respect and
86 recognition of ancestral lands, indigenous people’s rights and cultural rights of the
87 concerned community/ies, agrarian rights of dwelling farmers, and sanctity of
88 natural resources and local environment withstanding existing and other pertinent
89 laws. Should the chosen location or area for the implementation of this Act is highly
90 contested for the abovementioned matters, NEDA and DENR is hereby mandated to
91 find an alternative location without compromising the strategic viability of the
92 project.
93
94 SECTION 7. Appropriations – The amount necessary to establish, operate and
95 manage the desalination plant and their facilities shall be included in the annual
96 General Appropriations Act.
97
98 SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations – Within forty (40) days
99 from the approval of this Act, the NWRB, DENR, DOST, DILG and LWUA in
100 consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall issue the implementing rules and
101 regulations of this Act.
102
103 SECTION 9. Repealing Clause – All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other
104 issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed
105 or modified accordingly.

Page 6 of 7
106
107 SECTION XX. Separability Clause –
108
109 SECTION 10. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect upon its publication in the
110 Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
111
112 Approved,

Page 7 of 7