. , .  . .  
.
,
 
'$-Jf;Fl{ 
<.,# ' ,  
.i.'..P{i. 
',<.,~,!V 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
8 NIB 25 /\IC 29 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article I1 Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution'provides: "The State 
recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect 
their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. I t  shall inculcate 
in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public 
and civic aflairs. " 
The Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) is one of the existing 
organizations in the Philippines today that effectively promotes the objectives 
embodied in this Constitutional policy. The GSP mission is to help girls and 
young women realize the ideals of womanhood and prepare them for their roles and 
responsibilities in the home and in nation-building. As one of the 144 National 
Associations affiliated with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl 
Scouts (WAGGGS), the GSP also helps promote and strengthen global unity 
and cooperation by participating in activities undertaken by WAGGGS and 
the United Nations. Further, it establishes open communications among girls 
and young women all over the world through correspondence and cultural 
exchanges and visits. 
The GSP was created on 26 May 1940 under C.A. 542, as amended. On 
December 
6, 
1991, consistent with the Government's 
Corporate 
Rationalization Program, Pres. Corazon C. Aquino issued E.O. 495 repealing 
C.A. 542 together with the charters of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and 
the Philippine Shippers Council. E.O. 495 mandated each of the governing 
bodies of the three entities to convert their organizations into private 
corporations and register themselves with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission. 
Privatization of the GSP, however, will lead to the erosion of the 
special status and support it has gained as a uniquely chartered organization 
dedicated to serving the youth of the country for almost 68 years. If it is 
converted into an ordinary corporation, its continued existence may be 
threatened, as it will be relatively easier to dissolve a private corporation than 
an organization mandated by law. Further, officials like those in educational 
institutions and local government units, upon whom the GSP has relied for 
support and cooperation in implementing its Girl Scouting programs, may 
not be as supportive once the GSP becomes an ordinary corporation. 


This bill is actually a version of Senate Bill Nos. 532 and 1111 filed by 
Senator Rad S. Roc0 in the Eleventh Congress and Senator Franklin M. Drilon 
in the Thirteenth Congress, respectively. 
In view of the foregoing, and to effectively strengthen the role of the 
youth in nation-building, passage of this bill is earnestly recommended. 
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
c
.
 
g:@[;c <){. ': ;-,! 
-:FCt(i ? t$!.$k 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
m 25 /\IC :& 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING 
THE 
GIRL 
SCOUTS 
OF 
TH[E 
PHILIPPINES CHARTER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as the "Girl 
Scouts of the Philippines Charter of 2008." 
SEC. 2. 
Incorporation. - The "Girl Scouts of the Philippines," 
hereinafter called the "Corporation", with principal office in Metropolitan 
Manila, Philippines, is hereby recognized and known as a juridical entity as 
originally and duly organized and incorporated by Concepcion R. Gonzalez, 
Trinidad F. Legarda, Emilia Q. Lim, Concepcion M. Gil, Marina Y. Vargas, Pilar 
Hidalgo Lim, Josefa Llanes Escoda, Helena Z .  Benitez, Maria Aurora Quezon, 
Lulu Reyes, Lily de las Alas, Leni Alano, Erlinda Kalaw, Betty Magalona, 
Lourdes Ledesma, Minerva G. Laudico, all of Manila, Philippines, their 
associates and successors, 
SEC. 3. 
Corporate powers. - The said Corporation shall have 
perpetual succession, with power to sue and be sued; to acquire, hold, and 
convey such real and personal estate, rights and choses in action as shall be 
necessary for corporate purposes, and to receive funds, real and personal 
property by gift, devise, bequest or other means; to adopt a seal; to have offices 
1 


1 
and conduct its business and affairs in the Metropolitan Manila area and in the 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
1 1  
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays of the Philippines; to make and 
adopt By-laws, and generally do all acts and exercise all powers of a corporation 
under existing pertinent laws as may be necessary to carry into effect the 
provisions of this Act and promote the purpose of said Corporation. 
SEC. 4. 
Vision and Mission. - The Corporation envisions the Filipino 
girl and young woman as God-loving, patriotic, progressive, dynamic, and pro- 
active. The mission of this Corporation is to help girls and young women realize 
the ideals of womanhood and prepare themselves for their responsibilities in the 
home, the nation, and the world community. To carry out the mission, the 
Corporation shall be the directing and coordinating head of the Girl Scout 
Movement in the Philippines, and shall fix and maintain standards which will 
inspire every generation with the highest ideals of citizenship, character, 
conduct, attainment, and international understanding. 
SEC. 5. 
Nature and Purpose. - The Girl Scouts of the Philippines is 
non-stock, non-profit, non-sectarian, non-political, independent, and voluntary 
but it shall willingly cooperate with other entities, public and private, whose 
ideals and procedures are in accord with those conferred or authorized by this 
Act. 
SEC. 6. 
Central Board. - (a) The governing body of the Corporation 
shall be vested in a Central Board composed of at least thirty-seven (37) 
members, but not more than forty-seven (47) members, as prescribed in the By- 
laws, as follows: 
(1) eight (8) Charter/Life members; 
(2) the Regional Chairpersons of the Girl Scout 
Regions of the Philippines who shall be elected 
by their respective Regions; 
2 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
(3) the National President of the Boy Scouts of the 
Philippines; 
(4) the Immediate Past National President of the Girl 
Scouts of the Philippines; 
(5) one S e ~ o r  
Girl Scout/Cadet or young adult from 
each Girl Scout Region to represent the girl 
membership, who shall be elected by the Girl 
Scouts of each region; 
(6) the remaining members shall be the members-at- 
large, who shall be elected by the National 
Council 
from 
a 
list submitted by the 
Nominating Committee from nominees from 
Provincial/City 
, Councils, 
Regional 
Committees and National Committees. 
The Central Board shall have the power to make and 
to amend the 
Constitution and By-laws of the Girl 
Scouts of 
the 
Philippines subject to ratification by the National Council, create standing 
and special committees and provide policies and procedures as may be 
necessary to carry out the business of the Corporation. 
. .  
It shall meet regularly at least twice a year. The number 
necessary to constitute a quorum, which number may be less than a majority 
of the whole number of the Board, shall be fixed by the By-laws. 
The members of the Central Board shall serve for a 
term of three (3) years or until their successors shall have been elected and 
qualified. In case of inability of a member to assume officeor when any 
vacancy occurs by reason of death, resignation, or incapacity, the position 
3 


1 
shall be filled by the candidate who received the next highest number of 
2 
3 
The Central Board shall elect from among themselves 
4 
the National Officers of 
the Corporation, to wit: the National President, 
5 
the First National Vice-president, the Second National Vice-president, the 
votes in the preceding election. 
6 
National 
Secretary, 
the 
National Treasurer, the Assistant 
National 
7 
Secretary, the Assistant National Treasurer, and such other officers as the 
8 
9 
(b) A woman President of the Philippines or the First 
Lady of the Philippines shall be the Chief Girl Scout of the Girl Scouts of the 
Central Board may deem necessary. 
10 
11 
Philippines. 
12 
SEC. 7. 
National Executive Committee. - There shall be a National 
13 
Executive Committee composed of all the officers and chairpersons of Standing 
14 
15 
16 
Committees which shall be responsible for implementing the policies and 
decisions of the National Council and.the Central Board. 
SEC. 8. 
National Council. - There shall be a 'National Council which 
17 
shall serve as a forum for guidelines, directions and evaluation of the Girl Scout 
18 
19 
20 
Movement. It shall be composed of the members of the Central Board and the 
Presidents of the Girl Scout Councils or their duly designated representatives, 
and such number of elected delegates from each Council as may be prescribed in 
21 
the By-laws. 
22 
23 
24 
25 
The National.Counci1 shall convene once every three (3) years in 
a convention assembled for the purpose. Special conventions may be called. The 
number of delegates to constitute a quorum in both conventions, as well as the 
time, place, and manner of holding the same shall be prescribed in the By-Laws. 
26 
27 
The National Council shall elect the Members-at-Large of the 
Central Board; ratify amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Girl 
4 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
I 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
Scouts of the Philippines by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of its members present and 
voting; serve as a forum for guidelines, policies, and directions; and consider 
such matters as may come before the convention. 
SEC. 9. 
Girl Scouts Symbolsflrademarks. - The Corporation shall 
adopt distinctive badges, uniforms, insignia, and other equipment which shall 
be made available to and used only by registered Girl Scouts or officials who 
have satisfactorily complied with the international requirements prescribed 
by the World Bureau of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl 
Scouts (WAGGGS) and whichthe 
Girl Scouts of 
the Philippines shall 
use in carrying outits program in accordance with the purpose of 
this 
Act. The Corporation shall cause the registration of said badges, uniforms, 
insignias, and other equipment in accordance with the provisions of 
Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the 
Intellectual 
Property 
Code of the Philippines, as amended. 
The 
Intellectual Property Office 
is hereby directed to cause said registration free of charge. 
SEC. 10. Fiscal Incentizles. - The Corporation'shall be entitled to the 
following tax incentives, duty privileges, and exemptions: 
(a) Exemption from income tax pursuant to Section 
30 (e), (g) and (h) of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended; and 
(b) Tax 
and/or 
duty 
exemption 
ofdonations 
21 
from foreign countries as provided under relevant laws such as, but not 
22 
limited to, 
Section 105 of the Tariff 
and 
Customs 
' Code of the 
23 
Philippines, as amended, and Section 109 (q) of 
the National Internal 
24 
Revenue Code, as amended. 
25 
Likewise, all donations, legacies, and gifts 
to 
the 
26 
Girl 
Scouts 
of 
the Philippines to support its purposes and objectives as 
27 
embodied in 
this Act shall, subject to the limitations and conditions 
5 


9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
under the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, be exempt 
from the donor’s tax and shall be deductible from the gross income of the 
donor for income tax purposes, and such donations, legacies, and gifts shall 
be expended by the Central Board in pursuance of this Act. 
The Corporation shall likewise be exempt from payment of all 
other taxes, duties, imposts, and other charges. 
(c) Exemption from real property taxes. 
Penal Clause. - Upon the efictivify of this Act, it shall be 
SEC.ll. 
unlawful for any person within the jurisdiction of the Philippines to falsely 
and fraudulently call herseIf as or represent herself to be a member of, or 
an agent for, the Girl Scouts of the Philippines; and any person who violates 
any of the provisions of this Act shall be punished by prision correccional in 
its minimum period or a fine 
not 
exceeding 
Twenty 
Thousand 
Pesos (P20,OOO.OO) or both, at the discretion of the court. 
. .  
It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, 
sell, distribute, use, apply, feature, 
portray 
or 
cause 
to 
be 
manufactured, 
sold, 
distributed, 
applied, featured 
or 
portrayed 
fraudulently or without the 
official 
knowledge and written approval of 
the Central Board of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines badges, uniforms, 
insignia, or scouting paraphernalia or the photos or visuals of a Girl 
Scout or Girl Scouts 
in uniform, or the logo, seal or corporate name of 
the Girl Scouts of the 
Philippines in any 
print and radio or television 
commercial, billboard, collateral 
material, 
or 
any 
form 
of 
advertisement; or to use the name of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines 
in 
any illegal purpose or personal gain. 
Any 
violation of the provisions of Section 9 and this 
section shall be punished by prision correccional 
in 
its medium period to 
6 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
prision mayor 
in its minimum period or 
a fine of not less than Fifty 
Thousand Pesos (P50,OOO.OO) nor more 
than Five 
Hundred Thousand 
Pesos (P500,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court; provided, that in 
case of corporations, partnerships, associations, societies 
or companies, 
the 
President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Managing Partner, the Chairman of 
the Board, the General Manager, the Administrator, or the pers,on in charge 
of 
the management or administration 
of 
the 
business 
shall 
be 
criminally 
responsible for any such violation. These penalties shall be without 
prejudice to the proper civil action for recovery of civil damages, which may 
be instituted together with or independently of the criminal prosecution. 
SEC. 12. 
Transitory Provision. - Until such time as the reorganization 
and restructuring of the Central Board in accordance with Section 6 herein is 
effected, the present administrative set-up shall be maintained to conduct the 
affairs of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines and to take the necessary steps to 
effect the reorganization within six (6) months from the eflectivify of this Act. 
SEC. 13. 
Dissolution. - In the event that the Girl Scouts of the 
Philippines is dissolved in any manner provided for by law, the 
properties 
and 
assets thereof shall be conveyed and transferred to a Girl Scouts of the 
Philippines Foundation organized for the purpose consistent with this Act and to 
be formed by the members of the Central Boardincumbent at the timeof 
such dissolution. 
SEC. 14. 
Repenling Clause. - All other laws, decrees, presidential 
issuances, proclamations, and administrative regulations inconsistent with or 
contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified or repealed 
accordingly, specifically, among others, Executive Order No. 495 dated 06 
December 1992. 
7 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
circulation. 
7 
Approved, 
SEC. 15. 
Separability Clause. - In the event that any provision of this 
Act is declared void or unconstitutional such declaration shall not affect the 
validity of the unaffected provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 16. 
Efjectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
8