MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a new law providing free irrigation service to all farmers with landholdings of 8 hectares and below.

Duterte last February 2 signed Republic Act No. 10969, or the “Free Irrigation Service Act,” which lapsed into law last month.

Under the Constitution, a bill ratified by Congress automatically becomes a law when the president does not sign or veto it within 30 days of receipt. The Free Irrigation Service bill was passed by both chambers of Congress on Nov. 20, 2017.

READ: Farmers demand IRR for free irrigation law

Farmers covered by RA 10969 are now exempt from paying irrigation service fees for water derived from national and communal irrigation systems.

Their unpaid irrigation service fees and loans are also condoned.

Meanwhile, farmers with more than 8 hectares of land, as well as corporate farms, plantations, fish ponds, and persons using irrigation systems as drainage are not covered by the fresh law.

“Towards this end, the State affirms its commitment to contribute to the lowering of the cost of production through the provision of free irrigation service, and further relieve the farmers and their irrigators associations from the burden and consequence of unpaid irrigation service fees,” the new law read in part.

During his campaign, Duterte promised free irrigation for rice farmers.

RA 10969 will take effect 15 days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of general circulation.

Meanwhile, the implementing rules and regulations of the act will be enforced three months from the start of the new law’s effectivity.