EXPLANATORY NOTE
This  bill  seeks  to  establish  a  Philippine  Business  Registry  Databank  (PBRD) which
shall    assist    in    the    facilitation    of    business    transactions    among    local    and    foreign
entrepreneurs.
In  the  age  of Globalization,  business  transactions  cross  geographical  borders  in  a
short period of time. Vital and comprehensive information should be available within a matter
of seconds  to  ensure  the  success  of the  dealings.  The  less  challenges  the  investors  and
entrepreneurs face,  the  higher the  success  rate which will  translate to the development of
the country's economy.
The  local  government  of  Quezon  City  recognizes  the  need  to  create  a  business
comprehensive  database  in  order  to  facilitate  the  business  transactions  in  the  city.  The
Quezon  City  Business  Registry  contains  important  information  like  business  demographics
and  premium  brands.  Such  program  lives  up  to  the  city's  tags  as  the  "ICT  Capital  of the
Philippines"  and  "Most  Business  Friendly  City."  The  city  of  Naga  enacted  Ordinance  No.
2005-0008  on  January  24,  2005  which  mandated  the  creation  of the  Naga  City  Business
Registry  Databank.   Clearly  then,   there   is  a   need  to   create  a   comprehensive   national
business database to collate, merge and make available on a national level such data.
The measure provides for the creation of the Philippine Business Registry Databank
which  shall  serve  as  the  main  repository  of  business  data  in  the  country.  It  shall  provide
business information and  other services through electronic networking.  The speedy access
to  important  information  shall  facilitate  business  transactions  and  partnerships.  In  order to
coordinate  the  activities  of the  PBRD,  a  national  coordinating  board  shall  be  established.
Representatives from various departments and  agencies such as the  Department of Trade
and   Industry  (DTl),   the   Department  of  Interior  and   Local   Government  (DILG)  and   the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (SEC)  shall  serve  as  members  of  the  board.  The
President of the  Philippines shall appoint three representatives from  business organizations
to the board for a term of three years.
The   information   to   be   utilized   by  the   PBRD   shall   come  from   the   consolidated
business permits issued by the cities,  municipalities and the ones gathered by the SEC and
DTl.  For  its  first  year,  the  amount  of ten  million  pesos  shall  be  appropriated  to  ensure  its
proper establishment and implementation.
For these reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS                  )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
First Regular session                            )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
___                                Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
House Bill No. E71
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE BUSINESS REGISTRY DATABANK, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
B_e  it  enacted   by.th.e  Senate  and  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Philippines  in
Congress assembled:
SECTION  1.  Title,  -    This  act  shall  be  known  as  "The  PAi./i-ppr'ne  Busi.ness  Regi.stry
Databank Act".
SEC.  2.  Creation  of  Philippine  Business  Registry  Databank.  - There  is  hereby  created  a
Philippine   Business   Registry  Databank   (PBRD),   which   shall   be  the   main   repository  of
information on  business enterprises  in the Philippines.   It shall  provide business information
and training support services,  promote trade and investments through electronic networking,
as  well  as  facilitate  business  partnerships  among  local  entrepreneurs  and  their  foreign
counterparts.
SEC. 3. PBRD National Coordinating  Board. -   For the purpose of coordinating the activities
of the  PBRD,  a  national  coordinating  board  shall  be  established,  to  be  composed  of the
representatives from the  Department of Trade and  Industry,  the  Department of the  Interior
and   Local   Government,   the   Securities   and   Exchange   Commission,   and   the   National
Statistics  Office;  the  President  of  the  League  of  Cities;  the  President  of  the  League  of
Municipalities;  the  President of the  Philippine  Chamber of Commerce and  Industry (Pccl),
five  (5)  Pccl  area  Vice  Presidents;  and  three  (3)  representatives  from  other  business
organizations  with  countrywide  network  or  membership,  who  shall  be  appointed  by  the
President of the Philippines for a term of three (3) years.
The  Pccl,  through  its  President or its duly designated  Representative,  shall  be the
National  Coordinator  and  shall  recommend  to  the  board  the  appropriate  programs  and
policies to be formulated in the lmplementing Rules and Regulations (lRR).
SEC. 4.  Role of Government Agencies and the  Local  Government Units.  -   The information
necessary  for  the  PBRD  shall  be  generated  and  collected  through  the  business  permits
issued by cities and municipalities as well as those gathered by the Securities and Exchange
Commission  and  the  Department of Trade and  Industry.   The  heads  of the  Department of
Trade  and  Industry,  the  Department of  Interior and  Local  Government,  the  Securities  and
Exchange   Commission,   the   National   Statistics   Office,   and   the   mayors   of   cities   and
municipalities  shall  assist  the  local   chambers  of  the   PCCI   in   collecting  the  information
necessary  for  the  PBRD.    The  local  chambers  of  the  Pccl  will  ensure  that  the  data  is
collected, encoded and transmitted to the PBRD.
SEC. 5. Role of the Local Chambers. -The Pccl through the local chambers shall work and
coordinate with the heads of the Securities and  Exchange Commission and the Department
of Trade and  Industry, as well as the mayor's office of each city and municipality to establish
and maintain a Local Business Registry Databank (LBRD).


r
SEC.  6.  Appropriations.   There  js  hereby appropriated  initially for the first year the  sum  of
Ten   Million   pesos  from   any  funds   in  the  Treasury  not  othen^/ise  appropriated  for  the
implementation of this Act.
An  additional  amount shall  be determined  by the  PBRD  National  Coordinating  Board
and  shall  be collected for each  business  permit to be  issued  by the city or municipality and
remitted to the expended solely to finance the computer hardware and software.
The additional amount from the mayor's permit shall be for the systems maintenance,
promotions,  and  consultancy and  training for the  advancement and  growth  of micro,  small
and medium enterprises in the respective provinces.
SEC.  7.  Rules and  Regulations.   The  PBWD  National  Coordinating  Board  shall  promulgate
the implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.
SEC.  8.  Repealing  Clause.    - All  laws,  presidential  decrees,  executive  orders,  rules  and
regulations which are contrary to the provision of this Act are hereby repealed, amended and
modified accordingly.
SEC. 9.  Separability Clause.  -  lf any part of this Act shall  be  held  to  be  unconstitutional  or
invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in
full force and effect.
SEC.  10.  Effectivity.  -This  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  after  its  publication  in
English  or  Filipino   in  the  official  Gazette  or  in  at  least  two  (2)  newspapers  of  general
circulation, whichever comes first.
Approved,