Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7888

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESSING
AND ISSUANCE OF NATIONAL AND LOCAL PERMITS, LICENSES AND
CERTIFICATIONS IN TIMES OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY

The Philippines entered 2020 with strong growth prospects largely owing to the
conservative and responsible fiscal management and tax reform measures. In the
World Bank's 2020 Doing Business Report, Philippines jumped 29 notches, ranking
95th from 124th last year. The Philippines is also a top foreign investment destination
because of sustained efforts to improve infrastructure and information and
communications technology.

These improvements, however, will be put to waste should we fail to recognize the
way that the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting our economic landscape. According to
the Asian Development Bank, the Philippine economy is forecast to contract by 7.3%
in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to the efforts exerted to cushion the impact of COVID-19, this bill seeks to
authorize the President, during the time of national emergency, to suspend the
requirements for national and local permits, licenses and certifications, and to
streamline and expedite the process for the issuance of the same.

This simple proposal is intended to further help ease the already heavy burden of the
businesses that are continuing to navigate their way around the effects of the
pandemic.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is most eamestly sought.

MW prr

LUIS IND “LRA’ . VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 7888
a eee

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.
—————

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESSING
AND ISSUANCE OF NATIONAL AND LOCAL PERMITS, LICENSES AND
CERTIFICATIONS IN TIMES OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY

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

SECTION 1. Coverage. — This Act shall cover all agencies of the Executive branch,
including departments, bureaus, offices, commissions, boards, councils; government
instrumentalities, government-owned and-controlled corporations such as, but not
limited to, the following: Department of Finance (DOF), Bureau of Internal Revenue
(BIR), Bureau of Customs (BOC); Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Environmental Management
Bureau (EMB), Land Management Bureau; Department of Justice (DOJ), Land
Registration Authority (LRA), Bureau of Immigration (BI); Department of
Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board
(LTFRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
(CAAP), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA);
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP); Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Food and Drug Administration (FDA);
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), National
Telecommunications Commission (NTC); Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); Department of Energy (DOE); Energy
Regulatory Commission (ERC); Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Home
Development Mutual Fund (HDMF/PAGIBIG), Human Settlements Adjudication
Commission (HSAC); Social Security System (SSS); Government Service Insurance
System (GSIS); and local government units.

SEC. 2. Authority of the President to Suspend the Requirements for National and Local
Permits, Licenses and Certifications, and to Streamline and Expedite the Process for


the Issuance Thereof. — Notwithstanding any law, decree, order or ordinance to the
contrary, the President, in times of national emergency shall have the authority to:

(a) Accelerate and streamline regulatory processes and procedures for new and
pending applications and renewals of permits, licenses, clearances, certifications or
18 authorizations, including fixing or shortening the periods provided for under existing
laws, regulations, issuances, and ordinances;

(b) Suspend or waive the requirements in securing such permits, licenses, clearances,
certifications or authorizations; and

(c) In consultation with or upon the recommendation of the affected government
agencies, may prescribe to be permanent the streamlined regulatory processes and
procedures, and the suspension or waiver of the requirements in securing permits,
licenses, clearances, and certifications or authorizations: Provided, That the authority
herein granted under subparagraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section shall not be used
to undermine the existing procedures and processes, under applicable laws, rules and
regulations, meant to protect the environment, especially those that aim to safeguard
protected areas and its buffer zones, and environmentally critical areas.

SEC. 3. Power to Suspend or Remove. — Consistent with Article VII Sections 1 and
17 of the Constitution, the Revised Administrative Code, other existing laws, and
jurisprudence, the President shall have the authority to suspend or remove, any
government official or employee performing acts contrary to the preceding section.

SEC. 4. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional
or invalid, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, rules and
regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,