Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 8348

Introduced by Representative MARLYN PRIMICIAS-AGABAS _

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is well-entrenched that laws are essential for men to live in a civilized
The re-codification of these laws into a systemized body of rules is
ily crucial in order for the people to be properly informed and guided by

them.

However, it is a fact that our civil laws need to be revisited, reviewed, and re-
codified for them to be more responsive to the rapidly changing modern times.
‘Through the creation of a Civil Code Commission, the proponent believes that this is

an opportune time for us to re-codify all our substantive civil laws after several
decades since their codification.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

MARLY! pel, ae
6" District, Pangasjhan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 33

Introduced by Representative MARLYN PRIMICIAS-AGABAS

AN ACT
CREATING A CIVIL CODE COMMISSION TO REVIEW AND RE-CODIFY
ALL EXISTING SUBSTANTIVE CIVIL LAWS OF THE PHILIPPINES,
DEFINING ITS COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE

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

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Civil Code Re-
codification Act of 2010.”

SECTION 2. Objective. - There is an urgent need for the review, revision, and
te-codification of all the existing substantive civil laws of the Philippines in order for
the country to have a compiled and systematic Civil Code attuned to the present
times, in conformity with the customs, traditions and idiosyncrasies of the Filipino
people and modern trends in legislation and the progressive principles of law.

SECTION 3. Creation. — There shall be created a Civil Code Commission to
review, revise and re-codify all existing substantive civil laws of the Philippines.

SECTION 4. Composition and Structure. ~ The Chairman of the Civil Code
Commission shall be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The Vice-Chairman
shall be a representative from the Philippine Judiciary Academy. The University of
the Philippines (UP) Law Center shall serve as the Secretariat. The Civil Code
Commission shall be composed of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, the Secretariat,
and the following Members:

a) Two (2) retired Justices of the Supreme Cou:

b) A representative from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP);

c) A representative from the Association of Law Deans of the
Philippines;

d) The Solicitor General or his representative;

e) Chief of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) or his representative;
and

f) A member of the academe who is an expert in Civil Law,
practitioner and/or professor of Civil Law for at least ten (10)
years.

With the exception of Chairman and Vice-Chairman who shall be appointed
by their respective agencies in their ex-officio capacity, the Members shall be
appointed by the President of the Philippines.


SECTION 5. Functions. — The Civil Code Commission shall have the
following powers and functions:

a) To review and revise all the existing substantive civil laws of the
P Philippines and to re-codify them;

b) To call on any official or employce of any branch, department,

bureau, office, subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the

government to assist or otherwise extend his cooperation to the
Commission in connection with the performance of its functions to
carry out the provisions of this Act;
To complete its work not later than one (1) year from the date of
the composition of the Commission;
d) To submit to the President of the Philippines a report of the work
undertaken by it together with the corresponding drafts of the Civil
Code for submission to the Congress of the Philippines; and
Perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the
objectives of this Act.

iS

°

SECTION 6. Secretariat. - The Commission shall organize a Secretariat
tasked to provide administrative and technical support to the Commi in. The
Commission shall fix its staffing pattern, determine the duties, qualifications, and
functions, as well as the compensation of the positions to be created. The staffing
pattern shall be submitted for approval of the Commission within thirty (30) days
from the date of the composition of the Commission.

The Secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Director coming from the UP
Law Center and who shall be appointed by the Chairman. He shall execute and
administer policies and decisions of the Commission, attend to its meetings and
deliberations, monitor the implementation of the programs thereof, and manage the
operations thereof.

SECTION 7. Existence. ~ Upon the completion of its work and the submission
of its report, the Civil Code Commission shall cease to exist and the services of the
Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the Members of the same, including, all employees
working under it shall terminate. All records and documents and proceedings of the
Civil Code Commission shall be delivered to the National Library for preservation
and disposition by the latter. The other properties shall be disposed of in accordance
with existing auditing and accounting rules and regulations. The unexpended
balances of its appropriations shall revert to the unappropriated general fund.

SECTION 8. Compensation. - The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Members of
the Civil Code Commission shall 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,

SECTION 9. Office. - The Civil Code Commission shall 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.

SECTION 10. Approval. ~ The completed work of the Civil Code
Commission shall be subject to the approval of Congress.

SECTION 11. Appropriations. — The sum of ten million pesos
(P10,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the necessary expenses of the Civil Code
Commission.


SECTION 12. Separubility Clause. ~ If any provision or part hereof is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 13. Fffctivity. - This act shall take effect immediately after its
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,