Section 1
SECTION 1. The President is hereby authorized to administer through the Director of Public Works the irrigation systems in the Philippines which were constructed, and those which may hereafter be constructed by the Government, in accordance with the provisions of Act Numbered Twenty-one hundred and fifty-two, as amended. The President may, by executive order, effect such changes and reforms in the administration of the irrigation systems, increase or decrease the irrigable area of any irrigation system or close any or all of those that are already existing, fix the rate of the irrigation charges and the manner of payment thereof, and exempt from the payment of irrigation charges any land or lands included within the irrigation systems which are not benefited by said irrigation annual irrigation systems: Provided, however, That on fixing the annual irrigation charge per hectare, which shall include the cost of operation, maintenance, equipment, insurance and a reasonable amortization on the cost of construction, the President shall take into consideration the economic situation and ability to pay of the persons owning lands within a given irrigation system.