HOUSE oF REPRESENTATIVES

RECEIVED
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS ) pan 30 AUG 2016
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES } DATE: —__

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY: ma Ph

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House Bill No. 3373 res nov Mie

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create the Code Commission of the Philippines to review and codify
all existing laws.

Laws are important elements in the promotion and protection of the rights and
interests of our people. However, while our country has sufficient laws, they are not fully
implemented, and are often violated because many of our fellowmen are not aware of the
existence of certain laws. The need for an orderly arrangement, convenience of
ascertainment and publicity of these laws cannot be overemphasized. A perfect and
complete compilation of all our laws should be institutionalized. Hence, this bill

The Code Commission being proposed under this Act shall be tasked to codify all
Philippine laws. It shall publish in systematic form the whole mass of existing laws according
to topic or subject. The laws shall be made easily accessible to all, allowing everyone to
consult the law any time.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly recommended

My

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS __)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

~ Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. -
House Bill No. 337 3

AN ACT
CREATING THE CODE COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES TO REVIEW AND CODIFY
PHILIPPINE LAWS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
Assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title.- This act shall be known as the “Code Commission Act of
the Philippines.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to promote
and protect the rights of the people. Towards this end, a code commission shall be created
to review and codify all laws to make them easily accessible to everyone.

SEC. 3. Objective. — The main objective of this Act is to establish a systematic form
of arranging, compiling and publishing the whole mass of existing laws that will enable
everyone to consult the law easily and conveniently any time.

SEC. 4. Creation. — The Code of Commission of the Philippines is hereby created,
hereinafter referred to as the Code Commission, to review and codify all Philippine laws,

SEC. . Composition. - The Code Commission shall be composed of the following

a) Chairman — representative of the Philippine Judicial Academy;
b) Vice Chairman — representative of the Department of Justice;
c) Members:

1) One (1) representative from the University of the Philippines Law Center ;

2) One (1) representative from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines;

3) Two 2) representatives from the Association of Law Deans of the

Philippines; and

Seven (7) reputable practicing lawyers or professors with extensive
knowledge, training or expertise, respectively, in Civil, Corporation,
Criminal, Labor, Political, Remedial, and Tax Laws

With the exception of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and representative from the
University of the Philippines Law Center who shall be appointed by their respective agencies
in their ex-officio capacity, the other members shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines.

4

SEC. 6. Functions. — The Commission shall have the following functions:

a) Compile all existing laws;

b) Arrange the statutes relating to each subject in a logical sequence;

c) Bring together statutes and parts of statutes which, because of similarity of
subject matter, properly belong together:

d) Recommend modification, amendment or repeal of a law when necessary;

) Codify the laws;


f) Publish the laws in the most convenient and usable form, using such aids as
numbering, cross referencing, tabling, indexing and sub-indexing consistently as
will best facilitate locating the law on any subject:

g) Perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of
this Act

SEC. 7. Term of Office. - The Commission shall complete its work and shall submit
the drafts of the codes with its recommendations to the Congress of the Philippines not later
than five (5) years from its full organization.

SEC. 8. Compensation. - The Chairman shall received a compensation equal to
that of a Department Secretary while the members shall receive a compensation equal to
that of an official next in rank to a Department Secretary.

The Chairman and members of the Code Commission may receive per diem for
every meeting actually attended at such amount to be fixed by the Commission but not to
exceed Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) per meeting.

SEC. 9. Office, - The Code Commission shail have its office in Metro Manila and
may hold meetings at such time and place within the Philippines, as the Chairman may order
in writing

SEC. 10. Appointment of Officials, Employees, etc. — The Chairman shall appoint
the personnel and fix their salaries or compensation in accordance with existing laws, as he
may deem necessary in the exercise and performance of his duties. The Chairman may
contract consultants or local experts: Provided, That may consultant or local expert whose
services was contracted by the Chairman to provide technical and necessary assistance or
conduct seminar and trainings relative to codification of laws shall be entitled to reasonable
emoluments for their services as may be determined by the Code Commission.

SEC. 11. Other Bureaus, Offices or Agencies. - The Code Commission is
empowered to call on officials or employees of any bureau, office, agency or instrumentality
of the government to assist or otherwise extend their cooperation to the Commission in
connection with the performance of its functions to carry out the provisions of this Act

SEC. 12. Termination. — Upon completion of its work and the submission of its
report not later than five (5) years from the date of its organization, the Code Commission
shall cease to exist and the services of the Chairman and the members of the same and all
of the employees working under it shall terminate

SEC. 13. Records and Documents. - All records and documents and proceedings
of the Code Commission shall be delivered to the National Library for preservation or
disposition by the latter. The other properties of the Code Commission shall be disposed of
in accordance with existing auditing and accounting rules and regulations,

SEC. 14. Appropriation. - The sum of Ten Million (P10,000,000.00) Pesos is
hereby appropriated for the initial organization and operation of the Commission. Thereafter,
such amount as may be necessary for its continued operation shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved