The House Committee on Ways and Means unanimously approved yesterday the House-leadership backed bills creating the Department of Water Resources and Department of Disaster Resilience that would prevent water crisis and strengthen the country’s disaster preparedness, respectively.
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.
During his fourth State-of-the-Nation Address last July 22, Duterte asked Congress to pass measures creating the two new departments.
Batangas Rep. Mario Vittorio “Marvey” Mariño, chairman of the House Committee on Government 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 are “carefully scrutinized and reviewed.”
Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing, vice chairperson of the panel, who moved for the approval of both bills.
Salceda clarified that under the bill, no taxes will be imposed after House Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. asked if the bill would “tax” the water consumers.
Under Section 8 of the proposed National Water Act, the DWR shall impose fees or charges, as may be deemed necessary, for water resources conservation and protections. These include polluter’s fee, which shall be based on the net waste load depending in on wastewater charge formula pursuant to Republic Act 9275, and raw water price, which shall take into account, among others, the scarcity of water. (Charissa L. Atienza)
