SIXTEENTII CONRESS OF TilE RFPIJl3L1C 
OF TilE PIIiLlPI'INES 
l,'irs! Negillar ,f..,'esshm 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
"13 
NOV 28 All:O 3 
Damage to public infrastructure, tourist attractions and world heritage sites was 
massive in the wilke of a powerful 7.2 temblor that hit Central Visayas on October 15, 
with epicent"r at Sagbayan in Hohol province. The provinces of Hohol and Cebu-
faml'd for centuries-old churches and major tourism areas-were badly damaged, as 
experts wanwd that rebuilding tourist attractions would take months, if not years. The 
quake was immense that ground shaking was also felt in Siquijor, Negros Oriental and 
provinces in Northern Mindanao. 
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, 
the l'althqtw kc left 222 peopk dead" 976 injured and eight missing. , 
Operations at the Tagbilarun Airport in Bohol have since returned to normal, 
albeit a reported dumage in the uirport terminal due to the quake. Municipal halls of at 
least eight towns, tieveral classrooms and hospitals were partially or totally damaged, 
while roads and bridges were destroyed which rendered them impassable and left 
several areas isolated. A fault line was recently discovered by state scientists which may 
have been the cause of the quake and several sinkholes were reported in Bohol in the 
quake's aftermath. 
This bill seeks to establish the Bakod Central Visayas to assess the extent of the 
damagc of the ljU<lkc in the region, formulate priorities for the relief and rehabilitation 
of the impacted ufeas and carry out the development plan-both short- and long-
range - for Bohol and the rest of Central Visayas. 
The legislation is for the people of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, 
Northern Mindanao, and is a counterpart measure of House Bill No. 3229 filed by Boho! 
Representatives Arthur C. Yap (3cd district), Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado (2nd district) 
and ]{ene R. Rclampagos (1 ,\ district). Early recognition of this Bill is requested. 
~(frJk--
.. rACE POE 


SIXTFLNTII CONRLSS Ol! TIlE REPUBLIC 
OF TilE 1'1 III ,IPI'INI';S 
Fi/~\'f RCKII!al' Sessioll 
Introduccd by Senator Poc 
AN ACT 
'13 
NOV 28 All :03 
ESTABLISHING TIm BAKon CENTRAL VISAYAS COMMISSION FOR THE AID, 
UECONSTRlJCTlON, 
RELIEF, 
REHABILITATION, 
HOME 
REBUILDING 
FINANCING 
SllHSIDY, 
LIVELIHOOD 
GENERATION 
AND 
EMPLOYMENT 
SERVICES, 
l'llHLlC 
INFRASTRACTlJRE 
REBUIL])lNG, 
AND 
HERITAGE 
STRlJCTlJRF,S AND TOlJRISM SITES RESTORATION, FOR THE VICTIMS AND 
AFliECTED 
AIU:AS 
01<' 
THE 
OCTOBER 
15, 
2013 
EARTHQUAKE, 
AI'I'ROPI'IUATING FUNDS 'fIIEREI<'OR, AND }<'OR OTHER l'URI'OSES 
Ile it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
"ssell/hled; 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Bakod Central Visayas Act of 
2013" 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy." It is hereby declared the policy of the State to assist 
the people o[ Central Visayas, particularly Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor in rising 
from the Oc1ober 15, 201:1 earthquake by extending to them aid, relief, rehabilitation, home 
buildingiinancing subsidy, housing resettlement, livelihood ad employment services, public 
inii'astructure rebuilding and heritage structures and tourism sites restoration to the end that life 
may return to normalcy at the earliest possible time and the development of the Central Visayas 
region may be accelcrated. 
Section 3. Statement of Objectives and Guidelines. - This Act is intended to help the 
victims or the Hohol earthquake which greatly affected the Central Visayas. It aims to provide 
funds f(w the immediate relief of the victims; to provide medium to long term medical and 
psychological aid to the physically and psychologically distressed; to subsidize the rebuilding of 
iinnily homes; establishing resettlement centers for displaced families; to provide livelihood and 
employment opportunities; to repair, reconstruct or replace public infrastructure damaged or 
destroyed; to restore heritage churches and other architectural structures and tourism sites; and to 
construct new inlhlstmcture iilcilitics for the community. Moreover, the restoration, 
reconstruction, or rehabilitation of any inhastructure must be in accordance with sound standards 
that will ensure its resilience to earthquakes and dYeets of climate change. 
The term "vict ims" as llsed in this Act refers to the following: 
a) Individuals who have died, sustained injury, disappeared and/or psychologically 
distressed as a result of the aforementioned earthquake, 
b) Individuals who were displaced or suffered death in the family as a result of the 
ailll'Clllentioned earthquake who nced and deserve assistance; and 
c) Individuals whose home have been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable and those who 
have lost permanently their livelihood as a direct result of the Rohol earthquake who 
similarly need and deserve assistance. 


Section 4. Guidelines in the AI/ocation of funds. - The government funds and resources 
herein appropriated shall be spent judiciously and effectively in consonance with the principle of 
providing the greatest good for the greatcst number. Accordingly, the following guidelines shall 
he ohserved in allocating thc Ibnds made available under this Act. 
a) The lIrst priority shall be given to emergency rescue and relief humanitarian efforts, 
including the grant of immcdiatc medical assistancc, food sustenance and emergency 
shelter; 
b) 'J 'he second priority shall be the grant of subsidy for rebuilding of family homes; 
c) In the construction or repair and reconstruction of public infrastructure and facilities, 
priority shall l,e given to the construction of resettlement centers, and such other projects 
as roads, bridges, hospitals, school buildings, c01ll1Ulmication and power lines, irrigation 
and waleI' systems, and the like; 
d) Aid relief, resetllemenl, rehabilitation and livelihood services shall be equitably extended 
to all victims, irrespective of political or party affiliation, sex, creed, religious belief, or 
ethnic origin, giving emphasis to livelihood and employment opportunities; and 
e) No money shall be released without ant identified program and project nor shall it be 
used to pay obligation ineurred before the approval of this Act. 
Section 5. l(stahlishlllcnt of Balmd Central Visayas. - For purposes of this Act, there is 
hereby created lhe Bakod Central Visayas to implement the development program envisioned in 
this Aet 
The L~akod Central Visayas shall be organized within thirty (30) days after the approval of 
this acL It shall have a term of tive (5) years Ii'om its organization: provided, that the President 
by proelmnation may, within six (6) months prior to the expiration or the tern, extend the period 
of its existence once ror not more than three (3) years, 
Such amount as may be necessary ror the initial organization and/or operational expenses of 
the Commission shall be sct aside from the amount herein appropriated. 
For administrative purposes, the Commission shall be attached to the Office of the President 
Section 6. Powers of the COlllmission. - To carry out its objective under this Act, the 
Commission shall have the following powers: 
a,) To filrllll1iale policies and plans for the aid, relict: rehabilitation, rebuilding and 
livelihood and employment services as well as infrastructure support in harmony with the 
other plans and policies ofthe National Government; 
b,) To approve the Jinaneing subsidy to individual family homes rebuilding, up to a 
maximum amount of Filly Thousand Pesos (l'hp 50, 000,(0) per family, 
e,) To make a determination of the permanent dangcr zones, if any, to spare communities 
and/or minimize future damage to lives, habitation, infrastructure, agricultural and other 
resources; 
d) To prioritize and coordinate the implementation or the various programs and project of 
the Commission; 
e,) To inspect the damage oC the heritage structures, cultural treasures, national historical 
landmarks and tourism sites, establish the severity damage, identify property that may 
imlllediately need to be secured, draw up priorities for restoration, estimate the amount of 
human and financial resources necessary and establish important linkages with private 
stakeholders; 
C) To suc and be sued in its name, and to adopt, alter and use a seal; 
g,) '/'0 enter into, make, perform and carry out contracts of every class, kind and description 
whieh arc necessary to the realization of its purposes with any person, firm or 


corporation, private or public, and upon consultation with the President, with foreign 
governmcnt entities, subject to the usual accounting and auditing requirements; 
h.) To apply for, receive and acccpt grants and donation of funds, equipment, materials and 
scrvices needed hn' the development ofthe area, within and outside the Philippines; 
i.) To Illonitor the progress of the relicl~ rehahilitation, rehuilding, restoration, livelihood 
and cmployment as well as infi'astructure support programs and projects; 
j.) To coordinate and consult with conccrned national ancllocal officials, hoth elective ancl 
appointive, as well as accredited non-government organizations (NGOs) in the 
prioritization and prosecution of the programs and projects; 
k.) To call upon any department, otliee, instrunientality, agency, or any political suhdivision 
of the ()overnmcnt for such assistance as may be necessary for the attainment of the 
objectives of the Commission; and 
I.) In general, to PCrilJrlll such other powers as may be necessary and proper to carry out the 
purpose "rthis Act. 
Section 7. Composition of the Commission. 
The Commission shall be composed of 
cleven (\ 1) members to be appointed by the President, six (6) heing ex-officio memhers from the 
public sector and live (5) representatives [rom the private sector, including the: The Secretary of 
Social Welfare and Development, The Secretary of Public Works and Highways, The Secretary 
of llousing and lIrban Development Council, Secretary of Tourism, the Chairman of the 
National COlllmission !lll' Culture and the Arts; two (2) representatives of experts from 
rccogni7.ed associations of land use planners, architects or civil engineers, one (1) heing from 
Central Visayas; two (2) representatives of eminent organizations on heritage and cultural 
landmarks conservation and restoration, one (1) being from Central Visayas; and one (1) 
representative from reeognL',ed non-government organizations with proven record in disaster 
prevention, mitigation, emergency and relief work and rescue operations. The President shall 
designate fi'om among the members of the Cabinet to he the Chairman thereof. 
The members from the private sector of' the Commission shall serve for five (5) years unless 
sooner removed I'll" cause, thc ex-oHicio members shall not be entitled to any eompcnsation 
exeeptf,,,' reasonable per diem for meetings. 
Section S. Executive ])ircctOl'; Powers and Responsibilities. - The President shall appoint 
an Executive I )irector () r the Commissioll, who shall serve as the chief executive officer. He shall 
serve until such time as the Commission is dissolved or unless sooner removed from office by 
the President. J Ie shall have the tlll10wing powers and functions: 
a) Executive and administer the policies and decisions of the Commission; 
b) Directly coordinate the activities of all agencies and instrumentalities of the Government 
in the planning and implementation of the projects on site; 
c) Monitor the programs and projects and evaluate the effects of execution hy these 
agcneics and instrumentalities and submit to the Commission periodic reports relating to 
the development of the areas; and 
d) Perform such other functiolls as are inherently necessary in the operational management 
() I' the areas developed in accordance with the policies and guidelines formulated by the 
Commission. 
Section 9. Implementation. - The survey, construction or repair and reconstruction of 
damaged, destroyed, required or alternate public infrastructure, facilities and tourism sites, and 
heritage structures, as permissihle under pertinent laws, shall be undertaken by the implementing 
government agellcies eOllcerned under the Procurement Reform Law, or Repuhlic Act 9184, 
subject to the lIsual accounting ane! auditing rules and regulations. 
The department and agencies ofthe Government involved with the aid, reconstruction, relief,. 
resettlement, rehabilitation and livelihood services as well as infrastructure support shall submit 
to the Commission every quarter tbe data ane! inJormation required under Section 12 hereof. 


Section \(). Appropriation Clause. -.. To carry out the purpose of this act, the sum of 
Twenty Billion Pe,os (1'20, OO(),OOO,OOO) is hereby appropriated out of any available funds in the 
National Treasury not otherwise appropriated. 
Section 11. ('rcter'cnccs for Local \{csidcnts. -. Residents in the allected areas, especially 
the victims, shall be given preference in hiring or employment in the construction or repair and 
reconstruction or damaged or destroyed public infrastructll1'e in all other projects. 
Section 12. Rcports to Congress. - The Commission shall submit to the President and to 
Congress a detailed quarterly report on the flmds allocated indicating the amount released, 
obligated anel disbmseell(ll': 
a) Aid, relief; medical assistancc, home rebuilding financing, resettlement, rehabilitation 
and livelihood services including the list of name of approved individual beneficiaries 
and contractors and the evaluation of the efTectiveness of the delivery systems of such 
services; and 
b) Construction or repair and reconstruction of infhlstl'llcturc projects, including the list of 
contractors and projects 11eing financed, and the accomplishmcnts [or the expended 
appropriations, including the percentage of completion. 
The COl1lmission shall also submit as part of the quarterly report a list of local and foreign 
donors and the nature of their donations, the projects funded and the list of beneficiaries. 
The Department or Budget and Management shall likewise submit a report of the total 
allotment and cash ancl cash releases to all departments/agencies to the Committee on Finance of 
the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives ten (10) days 
after the end of every month. 
Section 13. Prohibition against Running for Public Office. - An officer or employee of 
thc Commission shall not be qualified to be a candidate for public oUice for the election next 
j()!lowing his resignation or separation. This prohibition docs not apply to the Chairman and ex-
of1icio members oUhc Commission. 
Section 14. l'unishllhlc Acts. - Any person who takes advantage of the calamity by buying 
and selling relief' goods which he knows or should be known to him as intended for donation, or 
misrepresenting the source of relief goods, or submitting or approving a false or inflated claim 
shall he prosccuted und, UPOll eOllviction, sutrer a Jine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos 
(50,()(J0) nor more than Onc hundred thOlisalld pesos (PI 00,000.00) or imprisonment for not less 
than six (Cl) years nor more than Jiftccn (15) years, or both, at the discretion of the court, 
including perpetual disqllaliJicatiouli'om public office of he is a public officer, and confiscation 
or ICllJciture in l'lVOur of the Government of any prohibited interest. If the offender is a 
corporation, partnership or association, or other juridical entity, the penalty shall be imposed 
upon the officer or ollicers of' the corporation, partnership, association, or entity responsible for 
the violation ad, if such is an alien, he shall, in addition to the penalties prescribed, be deported 
without jllrlher procecdings aile I' service of sentence. 
Sectioll 15. Rules and Regulations. - The President shall, within ten (10) days after the 
organization of the Commission, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
Sectioll 16. - Tnmsfcl' of Operating Funds, Records, Assets and Liabilities. - All 
operating limds, records, properties, other assets and liabilities of all government agencies tasked 
with relief and other operations for the October 15, 20J 3 earthquake are hereby transferred to the 
C\HlI111 issiol1. 


Sectinn 17. Scparability Clause. - If any provision of this Act, or any parts thereof, is 
dcclarcd nnconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
pmtions. 
Sectinn Ill. Rcpcaling Cia usc. .. All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, 
proclamations, rules, regulations, issuances and enaCtments of parts thereof inconsistent with this 
Aet arc hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SectinIl 19. Effectivity. This Act Shall take effect l1fteen (IS) days from its complete 
puhlication in the Of[icial Gazette of in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, 
whichever comes earlier. 
Approved.