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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES A RECEIVED, |
Quezon City, Metro Manila rq, AUG

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

, 4014
House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. HENRY R. VILLARICA
4" District, Bulacan

Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies should be provided for all Filipino
citizens. Adequate legal assistance should be granted to all those in need. Based on these
constitutional principles the Public Attorney’s Office was established to represent all indigent
persons in civil, administrative and criminal cases.

To enable the PAO to function pursuant to its mandate, it qualified “indigent” using the
following parameters: 1.) residents of Metro Manila whose family income does not exceed
P14,000.00 a month; 2.) residents of other cities whose family income does not exceed
13,000.00 a month; and, 3.) residents of all other places whose family income does not exceed
P12,000 a month.

Considering that the these parameters are no longer realistic and practicable under the
present circumstances as these were based on poverty threshold data culled years ago, this bill
seeks to re-define “indigent”persons for purposes of the PAO.

This bill was filed during the 17" Congress but due to time constraints no further action
was taken on it. This is re-filed for the consideration of the 18" Congress.

‘Support for the enactment of this proposed measure is earnestly requested.

REP. HENRY. R- LARICA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4014

Introduced by HON. HENRY R. VILLARICA
4" District, Bulacan

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL INDIGENT FILIPINOS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CHAPTER 5, TITLE II, BOOK IV OF EXECUTIVE
ORDER No. 292, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987”
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Hustisya para sa Lahat Act”.

SEC. 2. A new section 14-B is hereby inserted in Chapter 5, Title III, Book IV of

Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the “Administrative Code of 1987” which shall
tead as follows:

“SEC. 14-B. INDIGENT DEFINED. ~ FOR THE PURPOSE OF
THIS ACT, “INDIGENT” SHALL REFER TO ANY INDIVIDUAL
WHO FALLS INTO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

A.) THOSE WHOSE NET INCOME FALLS BELOW THE
MOST RECENT OFFICIAL CITY, MUNICIPAL OR
PROVINCIAL POVERTY THRESHOLD PUBLISHED BY
‘THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY (PSA);

B.) THOSE IDENTIFIED AS POOR AND NEAR POOR
BASED ON THE NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD
TARGETING SYSTEM (NHTS) OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD);
OR


C.) THOSE VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE.
LIVING UNDER PRECARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES,
SUCH AS THOSE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE.
INFORMAL ECONOMY, INFORMAL SECTORS,
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, AND THOSE LIVING IN
GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED AND
DISADVANTAGED AREAS.

OWNERSHIP OF LAND SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE.
A GROUND FOR DISQUALIFICATION OF AN
APPLICANT FOR FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE.

SEC. 3. A new Section 14-C is inserted in Chapter 5, Title II, Book IV of Executive
Order No. 292, otherwise known as the “Administrative Code of 1987” which shall read as
follows:

“SEC. 14-C. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS. - TO
ENSURE THAT ONLY QUALIFIED BENEFICIARIES SHALL
BENEFIT FROM THIS ACT, THE APPLICANT SHALL BE
REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
DOCUMENTS:

A.) CERTIFICATION OF INDIGENCY FROM THE DSWD,
ITS LOCAL DISTTRICR OFFICE OR THE MUNICIPAL,
SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE RESIDENCE OF
THE APPLICANT; OR

B,) CERTIFICATE OF INDIGENCY FROM THE
BARANGAY CHAIRMAN HAVING JURISDICTION
OVER THE RESIDENCE OF THE APPLICANT.”

SEC. 4. Appropriations. — The amounts necessary for the effective implementation of this
Act shall be included under the appropriations of the Public Attomey’s Office (PAO) under the
annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations, — Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the PAO in coordination with the DSWD and the PSA shall promulgate
the implementing rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act.



SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and
regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act, including Section 3, Article Il of PAO Memorandum Circular No. 18, s. 2002, as
amended, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. — If for any reason, any section or provision of this Act is
declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions thereof which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or a newspaper of national circulation.

Approved,