13" Congress of the Republic 
) 
of the Philippines 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
131 
Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr, 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The constitution, under Sec. 7, art. 111, guarantees "The right of tlie people 
to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official 
records, and to documents, and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or 
decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy 
development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be 
provided by law". 
This bill seeks to require full disclosure of the identity, nature of work, 
and compensation of foreign consultants hired or retained by the Government, 
its agencies, instrumentalities, including Government-owned or-controlled 
corporations. 
There are three main objectives of this bill. 
First, that the public be informed of how much money is being used to 
pay consultants hired by the Government. 
Transparency in this regard is needed so that the public will know 
whether or not tlie consultancy fees paid these consultants are commensurate 
with the benefits that the Government is supposed to get from such consultancy 
contracts. 
Second, that our people be appraised whether or not the services of these 
consultants are indispensable and cannot be rendered by our local experts. 
Third, that the people's basic right to know who are providing expert 
advice and support to the Government be fully accorded them. 
In fine, this bill is accordance with the constitutional mandate to make 
available to the people all information on matters of public concern. 
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


13k11 Congress of the Republic 
) 
of the Philippines 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
1 
Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pirnentel, Jr. 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL BRANCHES, SUBDIVISIONS, INSTRUMENTALITIES, 
AND AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT- 
OWNED OR-CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS OR THEIR SUBSIDIARIES 
TO DIVULGE THE IDENTITY OF HIRED FOREIGN CONSULTANTS, THE 
NATURE OF THEIR WORK AND THEIR COMPENSATION, PERKS, AND 
OTHER PRIVILEGES, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES IN CASE OF 
VIOLATION THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Plzilippines in 
Conzress assem 27 1 ed: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the 
State to adopt and implement full public disclosure of all its transactions, 
pursuant to the principle of transparency in public office and the constitutional 
mandate to make available to the people all information on matters of public 
concern. 
SECTION 2. Definition. - Foreign consultants refers to a national of 
another State who renders certain services to the Government. 
SECTION 3. Disclosure 
Requirement. - All 
heads 
of 
branches, 
subdivisions, instrumentalities, and agencies of the Government, including 


goveriunent-owned or-controlled corporations 
six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, 
under oath the following: 
or their subsidiaries shall, within 
provide Congress in writing and 
A. The identity of any foreign consultant hired or retained by their 
respective offices; 
B. The foreign consultant’s nature of work including the compensation, 
honoraria, fees, financial or other benefits or remuneration received by 
the said foreign consultant; and 
C. The terms and conditions of the consultancy agreement entered into 
by the Goverimient office, specifying therein the particular services 
that the consultant is expected to perform. 
SECTION 4. Publication. - The Office of the Executive Secretary shall 
maintain a centralized data-file of all foreign consultants hired by the 
government, its agencies, bureaus, instrumentalities, including government- 
owned or-controlled corporations. In January of every year, the Office of the 
Executive Secretary shall cause the publication of the list of foreign consultants 
hired or retained by the Government, whether for the full year or for only a part 
thereof, in at least two newspapers of general circulation. 
SECTION 5. Penal Clause. - The head of any branch, subdivision, 
iiistrumentality, and agency of the government, including a government-owned 
or-controlled corporation or its subsidiary that violates section 3 and 5 of this Act 
shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifteen Thousand Pesos (4215,000.00) 


but not more than Sixty Thousand Pesos (F60,000.00) and imprisonment of not 
less than six (6) years or both at the discretion of the court. Those convicted shall 
be perpetually disqualified from holding public office. Upon conviction by the 
proper regional trial court, the official convicted shall likewise be suspended 
immediately from office and shall remain suspended pending the final outcome 
of any appeal he or she shall have taken in the case, 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - A11 laws, executive orders, rules and 
regulations contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Sepavability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
uiiconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
SECTION 8. Ejffecfiuity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediateIy 
foIlowing its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation or 
in the Official Gazette, whichever takes place earlier. 
Approved,