SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ~EPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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169 
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Introduced by Senator Sergio Osmeiia "I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In todEiy's knowledge-based global village, the capability to maximize the use of 
information technology is critical to the competitiveness of business enterprises. Many 
countries have realized the value of building up their business databanks as a national 
priority. These databanks provide information for economic development, facilitating 
the integration of local business into the world market. Developed and developing 
countries have channeled significant resources to ensure that their business 
communities are connected electronically to the global information superhighway. 
The Philippines has no mechanism for generating and maintaining a high 
integrity and sustainable business database that is truly national in scope. There have 
been, efforts to address this need, but they are fragmented, and suffer from 
unsustainable programs, formats and integrity. Thus, there is a need fo establish a 
unified, reliable and sustainable mechanism in the form of a Philippine Business 
Registry Databank (PBRD). 
This bill seeks to create the PBRD as the main repository of information on 
business enterprises in the Philippines. In essence, the PBRD shall promote and 
expand trade and investment through electronic information networking. It shall 
facilitate the establishment of business partnerships between Filipino entrepreneurs 
and foreign counterparts. Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs) are expected to be 
the main beneficiaries of the PBRD. 
The PBRD shall be a collaborative effort between the government and the 
private sector. The collection of business data shall be done through a joint effort of 
the local government units and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry 
(PCCI) through its local chambers. The data shall be generated through a special 
PBRD form attached to the Mayor's Permit form, when business enterprises apply 
annually for their business permits. The local chambers of the PCCI will ensure that 
the data is collected, encoded and transmittM to the PBRD. 
The endeavor will strengthen the advocacy roles and service capabilities of 
local chambers, particularly in the area of ir'IVestmerlt promotioils, consultancy 
services and business matching. The pcel has a vast global reach and national 
network opportunities to be made available for the Ppilippine SME's nationwide. 
Hence through ,the PBRD, the proJincial and local bUSinesS commur'1ities and country 
in general will be moving faster in lhe path of economic develbpment. 


In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly urged. 
;(J juwAr-v 
'E~GIO OSMENA III 
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
J 
'13 
JUL - i P 4 :03 
SENATE 
S. B.No. 169 
Introduced by Senator Sergio Osmefia III 
AN ACT 
AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PHILIPPINE BUSINESS REGISTRY 
DATABANK 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines In Congress assembled: 
I 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - Title. - This Act shall be known and may be 
2 
cited as "The Philippine Business Registry Databank (PBRD) Act." 
3 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared policy of the State 
4 
to maximize the capacity of Philippine business enterprises in the use of 
5 
information technology tools so that through electronic communications, they 
6 
may compete successfully in the global market. Moreover, through electronic 
7 
networking, trade and investments will be promoted and business partnerships 
8 
among Philippine entrepreneurs and their foreign counterparts may be 
9 
facilitated. For this purposes. It is necessary to create a mechanism for 
10 
generating and maintaining a high-integrity and sustainable national business 
II 
database. 
12 
SECTION 3. Creation of Philippine Business Registry Databank. -
13 
There is hereby created a Philippine Business Registry Databank (PBRD) an 
14 
agency attached to the Department of Trade and Industry, which shall be the 
15 
main repository of information on business enterprises in the Philippines and 
16 
which shall provide business information and training services in support of 
2 


1 
business development and capabilities and skills training, especially among 
2 
medium, small and micro enterprises. 
3 
SECTION 4. PBRD National Coordinating Board. - The PBRD shall be 
4 
governed by a national coordinating board headed by the Secretary of the 
5 
Department of Trade and Industry as Chairman, and the Department of Interior 
6 
and Local Governments as Vice-Chairman, and the following members: 
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a) representatives from the public sector as follows: the Securities and 
8 
Exchange Commission; The National Statistics Office; the President of the 
9 
League of Cities; and the President of the League of Municipalities; and 
10 
b) representative from the private sector, as follows: the President of the 
11 
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI); five (5) PCCI Area 
12 
Vice-Presidents; and three (3) representatives from other 
business 
13 
organizations with country-wide network or membership, who shall be 
14 
appointed by the President of the Philippines for a term of three (3) years. 
15 
The PCCI, through its President or its duly designated representative, 
16 
shall be the National Coordinator and shall recommend the appropriate plans, 
17 
programs and policies for approval by the board. The National Coordinator shall 
18 
also be responsible for the implementation of the same plans, programs and 
19 
policies. 
20 
SECTION 5. Local Government Units. - The information necessary for 
21 
the PBRD shall be generated and collected through the Business Permits 
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issued by cities and municipalities. The mayors of cities and municipalities shall 
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assist the local chambers of the PCCI in collecting the information necessary for 
24 
the PBRD. 
25 
SECTION 6. Local Chambers. - The PCCI through the local chambers 
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shall work with the mayor's office of each city and municipality, and the latter 
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shall cooperate with and extend support to the former, to establish and maintain 
28 
a Local Business Registry Databank (LBRD). 
3 


I 
SECTION 7. Appropriations. - There is hereby appropriated initially for 
2 
the first year the sum of Five Hundred Million Pesos (P500,000,000.00) from 
3 
any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated for the implementation of 
4 
this Act. The initial appropriations shall constitute a special fund to be expended 
5 
solely to finance the computer hardware and software requirements of the 
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PBRD. 
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An additional fee of P100 shall be collected from business permits to be 
8 
issued by the city or municipality and remitted to the PBRD National 
9 
Coordinating Board, in order to cover the expenses for systems maintenance, 
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promotions and consultancy and training for the advancement and growth of 
II 
micro, small and medium enterprises in the respective provinces. 
12 
SECTION 8. Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Trade and 
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Industry, in consultation with the Department of Interior and Local Government, 
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and the Philippine chamber of Commerce and Industry shall promulgate the 
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implementing rules and regulations for this Act within nine (90) days from its 
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effectivity. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
19 
Approved, 
4