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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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Introduced __ 
by Senator - 
Antonio "Sonny" 
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F. Trillanes 
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.- IV 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Through the years the function of the Congress has evolved from just plenary 
work alone, it now also includes the conduct of committee hearings and 
legislative inquiries on various socio-economic and political issues. Legislative 
research, bill drafting and administrative management are also additional roles 
that must be performed efficiently in order to complement the lawmaking 
functions of our legislators. 
In this manner, there is a need to ensure that the people employed in Congress 
are able to provide administrative and technical support to our legislators. There 
now arises a need to set qualification standards for legislative personnel that 
must conform not only to Civil service rules but to parliamentary rules, 
precedents, practices, and traditions as well. 
This proposed measure seeks to establish a Legislative Career Service that 
would allow the admission and training of competent and qualified civil servants 
in Congress. It also seeks to create a Legislative Career Service Board and a 
Legislative Academy that would ensure the recruitment and training of a pool of 
properly selected and development-oriented legislative personnel. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
Senator 
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- 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
i 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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S. NO. 232i 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING AND RATIONALIZING THE CAREER SERVICE OF THE 
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES BY ESTABLISHING A LEGISLATIVE 
CAREER SERVICE AND A LEGISLATIVE ACADEMY AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled. 
Section 1. Legislative Career Service. There shall be established a 
Legislative Career Service (LCS) for the Congress of the Philippines composed 
of: (a) The Legislative Career Service Officers (LCSO) -to include the positions 
of Deputy Secretary of the Senate, Deputy Secretary General of the House of 
Representatives, Deputy Secretary of the Commission on Appointments, and 
their equivalents, Executive Director, Bureau Director, Assistant Bureau Director, 
Service Chief, down to Director I Level, and equivalent levels which involve 
professional and technical work in a supervisory capacity; 
(b) The Legislative Career Service Employees (LCSE) - to include Legislative 
Staff Officer positions which involve professional and technical work in a non- 
supervisory capacity; 
(c) The Legislative Sub-career Service (LSCS) - to include Legislative Staff 
Assistant Employee positions which involve clerical, trades, crafts and custodial 
services in a non-supervisory capacity. 
Sec. 2. Coverage. The Legislative Career Service (LCS) shall include the 
career officers and employees of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and 
the Commission on Appointments. 
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Sec. 3. Objective. This act aims to professionalize, upgrade and 
strengthen the work force of the Legislative Branch to ensure that Congress and 
its members shall be provided with qualified, efficient and effective legislative, 
administrative and security support services. Towards this end, a continuing pool 
of competent and development-oriented legislative career service officers and 
employees shall be maintained. 
Sec. 4. Legislative Career Service Board. - There shall be a Legislative 
Career Service Board hereinafter referred to as the Board, to be composed of the 
Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary General of the House, as Co- 
Chairpersons; one (1) Career Official to be designated by the President of the 
Senate, one (1) Career Official to be designated by the Speaker of the House, 
and the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission. The two (2) Career 
Officials for both Houses shall serve for a term of three (3) years. 
Sec. 5. Functions of the Board. -The Board shall: 
(a) 
Determine and evaluate the qualification of the applicants for LCSO 
positions; 
(b) 
Prepare the examination questions for LCSO positions and conduct the 
examination, correct and rate examinations papers in coordination with the Civil 
Service Commission and submit the results to the President of the Senate and 
Speaker of the House; 
(c) 
deserving officers for appointment to the rank of LCSO; 
(d) 
(e) 
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Senate of the Speaker of the House pursuant to its mandate. 
Conduct an annual review of the qualifications of LCSO and recommend 
Establish and conduct a performance evaluation system for LCSOs; 
Keep a roster of those who have passed the LCSO examinations; and 
Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the President of the 
Sec. 6. Legislative Career Service Officers’ (LCSO) Eligibility. - LCSO 
eligibility shall be conferred by the Board to any person who meets such 
managerial and legislative experience and competence, leadership qualities and 
other relevant qualifications, and who passes the examination prescribed by the 
Board. The examination shall consist of two stages: (a) Legislative/ Management 
Aptitude Test; and (b) Assessment of managerial capability and competence. 
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Those who pass the managerial assessment will be subject to a validation 
process involving their superiors in order to ascertain their on-the-job 
performance. Successful completion of the managerial assessment and 
favorable results of the validation process and a final interview by the Board shall 
qualify the candidate for the grant of LCSO eligibility. An incumbent officer or 
employee who is a holder of a Career Executive Service (CES) eligibility prior to 
the effectivity of this Act shall automatically be conferred LCSO eligibility. 
Sec. 7. Qualification Requirements, - An applicant for LCSO 
(a) Holder of at least a Bachelor’s degree; 
(b) Must have had at least three (3) years of supervisory work experience; 
(c) Must be a citizen of the Philippines; and 
(d) Must not have been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of a 
examination must possess the following minimum qualifications: 
crime involving moral aptitude. 
Sec. 8. Appointments. - Appointments to appropriate positions in the 
Legislative Career Service shall be made by the President of the Senate, the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Commission on 
Appointments, as the case may be. No person shall be eligible for appointment to 
any position in the Legislative Career Service unless he/ she meets the 
qualification standards approved by the Legislative Career Service Board (LCSB) 
which shall at least be at par with the standards set by the Civil Service 
Commission. 
Sec. 9. Incumbents. - Upon approval of this Act, all incumbent officers 
and employees who hold permanent regular positions shall continue to hold such 
positions in a permanent capacity and receive the corresponding salary grade of 
the positions including their salary step level. 
Sec. I O .  Legislative Academy. - There shall be established a Legislative 
Academy, hereinafter referred to as the Academy, which shall be a separate 
component unit of the Congress of the Philippines and shall operate under the 
administrative control and supervision of both the Senate, House of 
Representatives and the Commission on Appointments. 
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Sec. 11. Functions of the Academy. - The Academy shall serve as a 
training school for legislators, legislative staff officers and employees and other 
aspirants for legislative positions. For this purpose, it shall provide and implement 
a curriculum for legislative education and shall conduct seminars, workshops and 
other training programs designed to upgrade legislative knowledge, moral fitness, 
efficiency and capability. It shall perform such other functions and duties as may 
be necessary in carrying out its mandate. 
Sec. 12. Board of Trustees. - The Academy shall have a Board of 
Trustees to be composed of the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission as 
Chairman, the Secretary of the Senate, the Secretary General of the House of 
Representatives, the Secretary of the Commission on Appointments, one Deputy 
Secretary of the Senate to be designated by the Senate President, one Deputy 
Secretary General of the House of Representatives to be designated by the 
Speaker of the House, and the Chancellor of the Academy as members. 
Sec. 13. Special Fund. - All legacies, gifts, and donations to the 
Academy shall constitute a special fund to be known as the Legislative Academy 
Fund which shall be administered by the Board of Trustees exclusively for the 
use of Academy. All legacies, gifts, donations for the benefit of the Academy 
shall be exempt from donor’s tax as provided for under the National internal 
Revenue Code, as amended. 
Sec. 14. Appropriations, - The amount necessary for the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s 
appropriations of the Congress. The President of the Senate, with respect to the 
Senate and the Commission on Appointments, and the Speaker, with respect to 
the House of Representatives, are hereby authorized to realign any portion of 
their respective appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
Sec. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The President of the 
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall jointly promulgate 
such rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act. 
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Sec. 16. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provision of this Act that 
may be declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other 
portions or provisions thereof as long as such remaining portions can still subsist 
and be given effect in their entirety. 
Sec. 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, decrees, rules and 
regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent herewith, are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
Sec. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
from its publication in the Official Gazette. 
Approved, 
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