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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
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First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
S.B.No. 
595 
Introduced by Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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 i s  being used to pay consultants 
hired by the Government. 
Transparency in this regard is needed so that the public will know whether or not the 
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. 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
-t 
,jU' -2 :'; ' , 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING 
ALL 
BRANCHES, 
SUBDIVISIONS, 
INSTRUMENTALITIES, 
AND 
AGENCIES 
OF 
THE 
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 
GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR- 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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. 
SEC. 2. 
Definition. - Foreign consultants refers to a national of another State who 
renders certain services to the Government. 
SEC. 3. 
Disclosure Requirement. - All heads of branches, subdivisions, 
instrumentalities, and agencies of the Government, including government-owned or-controlled 
corporations or their subsidiaries shall, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, 
provide Congress in writing and under oath the foIlowing: 
a) 
The identity of any foreign consultant hired or retained by their respective offices; 


tJ) 
I ne roreign consultant’s nature or worK inciuaing tne compensation, honoraria, 
fees, financial or other benefits or remuneration received by the said foreign 
consultant; and 
The terms and conditions of the consultancy agreement entered into by the 
Government office, specifying therein the particular services that the consultant is 
expected to perform. 
c) 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 5. 
Penal Clause. -The head of any branch, subdivision, instrumentality, 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 he punished by a fine of not less than 
Fifteen Thousand Pesos (Pl5,OOO.OO) but not more than Sixty Thousand Pesos (e60,OOO.OO) 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 he suspended immediately from office 
and shall remain suspended pending the final outcome of any appeal he or she shall have taken in 
the case. 
SEC. 6. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations 
contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 7. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force 
and effect. 
SEC. 8. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately following its 
publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette, 
whichever takes place earlier. 
Approved,