Declaration of Policy
- Promotes rural development, food self-sufficiency, equitable access, and sustained productivity.
- Ensures availability of vital support services, particularly irrigation.
- State commits to lowering production costs by providing free irrigation services.
- Relieves farmers and irrigators associations from unpaid irrigation service fee burdens.
Scope of Free Irrigation Service
- Exempts farmers with landholdings of 8 hectares and below from paying irrigation service fees (ISF).
- Applies to water from national irrigation systems (NIS) and communal irrigation systems (CIS) funded or administered by NIA and other government agencies.
- Farmers with more than 8 hectares, corporate farms, plantations, fishponds, and non-agricultural users remain liable for ISF.
Condonation and Writing Off of Loans, Past Due Accounts, and Penalties
- Unpaid ISF and penalties of farmers with 8 hectares and below to NIA are condoned and written off.
- Loans, past due accounts, interests, and penalties of irrigators associations (IAs) to NIA are also condoned and written off.
Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of National Irrigation Systems
- NIA continues to develop, operate, and maintain NIS.
- May delegate O&M of secondary and tertiary canals and farm ditches to capable IAs.
- NIA funds the O&M of these delegated facilities.
- NIA issues policies and criteria to determine IA capability for O&M responsibilities.
Operation and Maintenance of Communal Irrigation Systems
- IAs continue operation and maintenance of CIS.
- National government provides funds equivalent to the forgone ISF for O&M of CIS.
Collection and Use of Irrigation Service Fees (ISF)
- NIA issues guidelines on collection and use of ISF from non-exempt entities.
- Includes management of unpaid ISF.
- National government funds supplement O&M besides collected ISF.
Technical Assistance to Irrigators Associations
- NIA and other government agencies provide technical assistance in O&M of irrigation systems and farm enterprise management.
Appropriations
- Funds necessary for Act implementation included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Implementing Rules and Regulations
- NIA to promulgate implementing rules within 3 months after effectivity.
- Consultations involve government agencies, farmers, IAs, cooperatives, and stakeholders.
Separability Clause
- If any provision is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act remains effective.
Repealing Clause
- Amends Republic Act No. 3601 and related laws inconsistent with this Act.
- Repeals or modifies contrary laws, decrees, orders, or regulations accordingly.
Effectivity
- Takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or two newspapers of general circulation.