SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 153 9 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The Constitution provides under Article II, Section 28 that subject to 
reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a 
policy of full disclosure of all its transaction involving public interest. 
Despite the Constitutional guarantee and its affirmation in a number of 
Supreme Court decisions, we are not unaware of the wanton violation by many 
government agencies of the right of Filipinos to information of public interest and 
concern. Allegations of overpricing and speculation in budgetary allocations for 
infrastructure development abound as the General Appropriations Act of 2009 is 
being deliberated in Congress. Among the most controversial items are 
payments for the expropriation of lands for government infrastructure projects. 
Republic Act No, 8974, which provides the guidelines for acquisition of 
right-of-way, site or location for national government infrastructure projects, 
provides no mechanism by which the public may readily acquire information on 
expropriation proceedings. Making available to the public important details such 
as the title and names of the owners of the property being expropriated, the 
valuation of the property as allocated in the government budget, and all 
disbursements, expenditures and utilization of funds for such expropriation, 
including right-of-way payments, would be the first step in combating corruption 
in this sector. 
This bill proposes that every implementing agency in an expropriation 
case, whether it be the Department of Public Works and Highways, a 
government-owned-and-controlled corporation, a local government unit, or a joint 
venture with a government component, be required to post such information in its 
national and regional offices, and submit the same information to the local 
government unit with jurisdiction over the' expropriated property for filing and 
posting in the halls of the LGU. 
To enhance accountability and transparency in public office, the passage 
of this bill is urgently sought. 
Senator 


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1539 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
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SEP -5 P 1 :55 
REQUIRING TRANSPARENCY OF INFORMATION IN EXPROPRIATION 
PROCEEDINGS FOR GOVERNMENT PROJECTS, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
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 as the "Transparency in 
Expropriation Act of 2013". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of , Policy - For accountability and transparency it is 
hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure full disclosure of all its 
transactions involving public interest. Towards this end, the State shall endeavor 
to provide accessible and 
comprehensible 
information concerning the 
disbursement and use of public funds in expropriation proceedings. 
SEC. 3. Publication Requirement. - Every implementing agency in an 
expropriation proceeding shall prepare a detailed summary of proposed 
disbursements pursuant to 
such 
proceeding, 
comprising the following 
information: 
a.) Identification of the land subject of expropriation, including its Original or 
Transfer Certificate of Title Numbers, or other equivalent information; 
b.) Amount of jUst compensation to be made pursuant to the expropriation; 
c.) Complete names and postal addresses of the owner/possessor of the land 
to whom just compensation shall be made. 
The summary of disbursements shall be posted in a public place within the 
premises of the national/principal, and concerned local and regional offices, of 
the appropriate implementing agency not later than fifteen (15) days from the 
initiation of the complaint for expropriation and until the decision in the 
expropriation proceedings shall have become final and executory. The summary 
of disbursements shall likewise be submitted to the local chief executive of the 
local government unit with jurisdiction over the expropriated property, to be 
posted in a public place within the halls of such local government unit for the 
same period. 


Thereafter, the summary of disbursements shall remain available to the 
public upon request from the implementing agency at reasonable hours. 
SEC. 4. Form. - The summary of disbursements referred to in the 
preceding section shall be prepared and signed by the head of office of the 
implementing agency, and by a representative of the Commission on Audit, and 
shall be in such form, style and content and under such regulation as the 
Commission on Audit may prescribe. 
SEC. 5. Penalties. - Noncompliance with the provisions of this Act shall 
subject the erring public official to a fine of at least Thirty thousand pesos 
(P30,OOO.OO) but not exceeding Fifty thousand pesos (P50,OOO.OO), or 
imprisonment of at least one (1) month but not exceeding three (3) months, or 
both, at the discretion of the court. Furthermore, said public official shall be 
subject to temporary disqualification to hold or be a candidate for any public 
office during service of sentence. 
SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 8974 
and all other laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are likewise hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect 15 days following its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,