A LAWMAKER has recently filed a bill requiring subdivision and condominium owners, and developers to provide rainwater-storage wells and collectors in their subdivision or condominium projects as part of a flood-mitigation measure.
House Bill 5038, authored by Liberal Party Rep. Rosenda Ann Ocampo of Manila, seeks to prevent direct rainwater discharge into drainages or sewers in order to mitigate, if not, prevent, flooding in low-lying areas.
Under the measure, rainwater wells and collectors refer to structures or receptacles that would harvest, collect and store rainwater, and prevent the direct discharge of rainwater into drainages or sewers which cause flooding in low-lying areas.
The bill mandates all subdivision and condominium owners and developers to build rainwater wells and collectors in their subdivision or condominium projects as a requirement before being issued licenses, permits, clearances and other documents by government offices or government regulatory agencies.
The same license and permit shall not be renewed if the subdivision or condominium owners and developers fail to construct the rainwater wells and collectors, it added.
The bill said that in order to ensure that owners or developers of subdivision or condominium projects follow this requirement, violators would be punished with a fine of P2,000 or with imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, at the discretion of the court.
If the offender is a foreigner, the offender should be deported immediately without further proceedings at the Bureau of Immigration, the measure said.
On the other hand, government officials, employees and agents who should approve the issuance of licenses or permits in violation of the bill should be suspended for not more than 30 days.
Under the measure, the Department of Public Works and Highways, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and the Local Government, and Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board are mandated to promulgate the rules and regulations of the act.
In filing the bill, Ocampo said it is the duty of the government to encourage the participation of the private sector in its effort to implement and find new ways to control floods.
“Natural calamities and freak weather phenomena cannot be prevented. But there are creative and effective ways to minimize the effects caused by typhoons and monsoon rains,” Ocampo said.
She said as a tropical country, the Philippines frequently experiences typhoons and monsoon rains that bring heavy rainfall. These heavy rainfalls, coupled with the devastating effects of climate change, result in the loss of lives and damage to properties, she said.
“One way is to provide for rainwater wells and collectors that will harvest, collect and store rainwater to prevent flooding,” Ocampo added.
Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz