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6 First Regular Session INDEX
7
8 HOUSE BILL No. “9 *9_ 3943
9
10 Introduced by: HON. DORIS E. MANIQUIZ
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2 EXPLANATORY NOTE

14 Paralegals are not lawyers, but they are the individuals who can make or break a good
15 lawyer. The legal profession is not limited only to the counsels actively handling
16 numerous cases, but also to the paralegals who are considered legal assistants and
17 knowledgeable in specialized aspects of the law. Paralegals often work on the
18 documentation and address any course of action as suggested by the lawyer. Legal
19 _ services by paralegals are often overlooked and not recognized in our country because
20 of the lack of representation in the national governing body of professionals. Unlike in
21 other countries like the UK, US, Japan, and South Korea to name a few, wherein the
22 paralegal profession is regulated through an examination rendered by a competent
23 authority distinguishing them from other professionals. Paralegals are essential to the
24 administration of legal matters and to ensure the speedy disposition of justice in the
25 country.

26

27 This bill seeks to establish and set the baseline for the paralegal profession through the
28 creation of a Regulatory Board for Paralegals, as well as set in place a Licensure
29 Examination that would be overseen by the Board to ensure the security of this
30 profession.

31

32 _ In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

34 .
6 oo
36 REP. IS E. MANIQUIZ


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

~ 3943
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Doris E. Maniquiz

AN ACT PROFESSIONALIZING PARALEGAL PRACTICE IN THE PHILIPPINES,
CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE A PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF
PARALEGALS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

ARTICLE 1
TITLE, DECLARATION OF POLICY, AND OBJECTIVES
SEC. 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Paralegal Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. The State recognizes the importance of
professional paralegals in nation-building and development and their importance in aid of
the rule of law and the administration of justice. Hence, it shall develop and nurture a
corps of professional, technically competent, efficient, and ethical paralegals through
proper and effective regulation of its standards of practice, employment, education, and
training, and through honest and credible national licensure examinations for paralegals
as a distinct group of professionals and a crucial sector in the delivery of paralegal
services.

SEC. 3. Objectives. This Act shall govern the following:

a) National licensure examination, registration of paralegals, and issuance of
certificates of registration and professional identification cards;
b) Supervision, control, and regulation of paralegal practice;


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¢) __ Integration of paralegals under one national organization;

d) Development of professional competence of paralegals; and

e) Protection of the public against the unauthorized and unscrupulous practice
of law by persons claiming to be paralegals or who have not otherwise been
qualified and licensed as paralegals under this Act.

ARTICLE I
DEFINITION OF TERMS, AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE
‘SEC. 4 Definition of terms. As used in this Act:

a) Attorney or interchangeably, lawyer, refers to a person who has obtained the
necessary academic degree in the study of law and has successfully passed the
bar examination, has been duly admitted as a member of the bar by the Supreme
Court of the Philippines, and who is in good and regular standing, and therefore,
with all the qualifications to practice law anywhere in the Philippines.

b) Paralegal refers to a person, qualified by education, training, or work experience,
who has been licensed as a professional paralegal under the provisions herein,
who works independently or contracts with, is employed, or retained by a lawyer,
law office, corporation, governmental agency, non-government organizations, civil
society organizations, trade unions, and labor organizations, or any other entity in
the private sector, to perform specifically substantive paralegal work or render
paralegal services as defined herein. A professional paralegal may be an assistant,
associate, specialist, or officer, depending on the type of license issued by the
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

c) Paralegal consultant refers to a paralegal with a specific specialization such as in
alternative dispute resolution, real estate, corporate law, and litigation. intellectual
property, immigration, insurance, and other key areas.

d) Paralegal services refer, in general, to the rendition of substantive paralegal work
by a professional paralegal as defined and authorized by this Act and under such
related laws, rules, and regulations, whether as an independent licensed paralegal


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or in representation or as an agent of a lawyer, law office, corporation, government
agency, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, trade unions,
and labor organizations, or any private sector entity in the delivery of paralegal
services or as an essential tool and important aid in the administration of justice.
‘Such services include those enumerated in Section 5 hereof.

) Practice of law or interchangeably, Law practice, refers to the rendition of legal
services by a lawyer or attorney requiring the knowledge and the application of
legal principles and techniques to serve the interest of another, usually a client,
with his consent. It is not limited to appearing in court, or advising and assisting in
the conduct of litigation, but embraces the preparation of pleadings, and other
Papers incident to actions and special proceedings, conveyancing, the preparation
of legal instruments of all kinds, and the giving of all legal advice to clients. It
embraces alll advice to clients and all actions taken for them in matters connected
with the law.

f) Paralegal Practice or interchangeably, Practice of Paralegal Profession, refers to
the paralegal services rendered by a professional paralegal under this Act either
independently or under the supervision of a lawyer or as a representative of the
lawyer, law office, corporation, government agency, non-government organization,
trade unions, and labor organizations, or any private sector entity in the delivery of
paralegal services or as an essential tool and important aid in the practice of law
or the administration of justice.

SEC. 5. Scope of the Practice of Paralegal Service. A paralegal service shall deal

with the performance of the functions of paralegals, which shall include the following,

a) Preparation and review of legal documents such as affidavits, motions, and
contracts;

Legal research;

Development and review of organizational policies, procedures, programs, and
other legal matters;

b)
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4) Providing immediate legal intervention in emergencies such as during instances of
warrantless arrests, warrantless searches and seizures, extrajudicial detentions of

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alleged crime suspects, environmental law violations such as illegal logging and
illegal poaching, human trafficking, violent crimes and domestic relations, human
rights violations, and other similar analogous instances

e) Coordination with courts, administrative tribunals, and government agencies;

f) Legal support to the public, lawyers, clients, and stakeholders;

g) Case planning, development, and management;

h) Interviewing clients; and/ or otherwise performing useful, preliminary, or
contributory work before the client refers the case to a lawyer;

i) Fact-finding gathering, and retrieving information;

j) Custodianship, archival, and retrieval of evidence;

k) Drafting and analyzing legal forms, papers, deeds, and documents;

1) Collecting, compiling, and utilizing technical information to make an independent
decision and recommendation to the supervising attorney; and

m) Representing clients in appropriate labor cases subject to mandatory mediation
and arbitration before the Department of Labor and Employment, and such other
administrative tribunals in which the representation by a professional paralegal is
allowed and not otherwise prescribed by any statute, court procedure, or
administrative rule or regulation.

ARTICLE Ill
CREATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD FOR PARALEGALS

SEC. 6. Creation and Composition of the Professional Regulatory Board for
Paralegals. There is hereby created a Professional Regulatory Board for Paralegals,
hereinafter called the Board, under the administrative supervision and control of the
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). The Board shall comprise a Chairperson
and four (4) Members of the Board who shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines from among a list of three (3) recommendees for each position submitted by
the PRC from among a list of five (5) nominees for each position submitted by the
Accredited and Integrated Professional Organizational (AIPO) of paralegals who quality
under Section 7 of this Act. The new Board shall be constituted within three (3) months.
from the effectivity of this Act.


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SEC. 7. Qualification of the Chairperson and Members of the Board. The
Chairperson and Members of the Board, at the time of their appointment, shall possess
the following qualifications:

a) Must be a natural-bom citizen and a resident of the Philippines;

b) Must be of good reputation and moral character;

¢) A holder of a bachelor's degree related to paralegal services and the paralegal
profession, including a degree in Juris Doctor (JD);

d) Must be a paralegal as defined in Section 4 hereof, subject only to the provisions
of Sec. 15 of this Act;

e) Neither a member of the faculty of a university, college, school, or institution
conferring the academic degree on legal studies, legal management, paralegal
studies, or any similar analogous academic degrees or with direct or indirect
Pecuniary interests in any institution or association where review classes or
lectures in preparation for the licensure examination being offered; and

f) Must not be an incumbent officer of the AIPO of paralegals; and

g) Must not have been convicted by final judgment by a competent court of a crime
or criminal offense involving moral turpitude.

SEC. 8. Tenure of office for the Chairperson. The Chairperson and the Members
of the Board shall hold office for a term of three (3) years from the date of their
appointment or until their successors shall have been qualified and appointed: Provided,
That the members of the first appointed Board shall hold office for the following terms:
‘one (1) member as Chairperson, to serve for three (3) years; two (2) members, to serve
for two (2) years; and (2) members, to serve for one (1) year. The Chairperson and
Members of the Board may be reappointed for a second term but in no case shall they
serve continuously for more than six (6) years. Any vacancy in the Board shall be filled
for the unexpired portion of the term of the member who vacated the position. On the
constitution of the first board, the Chairperson and the Members of the Board shall
automatically be registered and issued certificates of registration and professional
identification cards. Each member of the Board shall take a proper oath of office before
the assumption of duty.


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SEC. 9. Meetings of the Board. The Board shall have a regular meeting once a
month. Special meetings may also be held upon the call of the Chairperson or by request
of three (3) of its members. Reasonable notice of all meetings shall be given in the manner
prescribed by the rules of the Board.

SEC. 10. Compensation and allowances of the Chairperson and Members of the
Board. The Chairperson and the Members of the Board shall receive compensation and
allowances comparable to the compensation and allowances received by the chairperson
and the members of existing professional regulatory boards under the PRC, as provided
for in the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Powers, Functions, and Duties of the Board. The Board shall exercise
executive, administrative, rule-making, and quasi-judicial powers in carrying out the
provisions of this Act. It shall be vested with the following specific powers, functions,
duties, and responsibilities:

a) Provide comprehensive policy guidelines for the promotion, training,
professionalization, and development of paralegals and paralegal services as an
essential and complementary part of the legal profession and an important sector
of the legal service industry;

b) Conduct licensure examinations for the practice of the paralegal profession and
prescribe the appropriate syllabi of the subjects for examination;

c) The issue, suspend, revoke or reinstate, after due notice and hearing, certificates
of registration or professional identification cards for the practice of the paralegal
profession;

d) Maintain a comprehensive and updated register of professional paralegals;

) Monitor the conditions affecting the rendition of paralegal services and thus, the
practice of the paralegal profession and adopt such measures as may be proper
for the enhancement of the profession and the maintenance of high professional,
technical, and ethical standards in the practice of the paralegal profession;

f) Adopt a national Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibilities to be strictly
observed by all licensed professional paralegals;


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g) Hear or investigate any violation of this Act, its implementing rules and regulations,
and the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibilities for paralegals and issue
subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to secure the appearance of witnesses and
the production of documents in connection therewith;

Safeguard and protect legitimate and licensed professional paralegals and, in
coordination with the AIPO of paralegals, monitor all forms of advertisements,
announcements, signboards, billboards, pamphlets, brochures, and others of
similar nature concerning the rendition of professional paralegal services, where

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necessary, exercise its quasi-judicial and administrative ;

i) Prepare, adopt, issue, or amend the syllabi or terms of specification of subjects for
the paralegal licensure examination consistent with the policies and standards set
by CHED in consultation with the University of the Philippines, Law Center, and
the Legal Education Board (LEB);

j) Promulgate, administer, and enforce rules and regulations necessary to carry out
the provisions of this Act;

k) Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure, and practice of paralegals in the
Philippines;

1) Assess and fix the rate of reasonable regulatory fees;

m) Administer oaths, and issue certificates of registration and the professional
identification card to persons admitted to the practice of the profession of
paralegal;

n) Adopt an official seal of the Board;

0) Evaluate periodically the status of paralegal education, training, and profession,
and recommend and adopt measures to upgrade and maintain its high standard;

p) Evaluate and approve applications for licensure examination;

q) Prescribe guidelines and criteria for the Continuing Professional Development

(CPD) education program for paralegals in consultation with the AIPO of
paralegals;

1) Screen, issue, and monitor permits to organizations of professional paralegals in
the conduct of seminars and accredit such seminars under the CPD education


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program, as well as the instructors or lecturers therein, to upgrade the quality and
knowledge of the profession;

s) Monitor and supervise the activities of AIPO and other associations of real estate
service practitioners;

t) Conduct inspection and monitoring of establishments where paralegal is practiced,
and of higher educational institutions where paralegal courses are being offered,
in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), to ascertain
that professional standards are complied with;

u) Ensure, in coordination with the CHED, and in consultation with the UPLC and LEB
that all institutions offering law, legal management, and paralegal studies comply
with prescribed standards for curriculum, faculty, and facilities;

v) Adopt a program for the full computerization of the licensure examination for
paralegals;

w) The issue, reinstate, suspend, or revoke the certificate of registration and
professional identification card or grant or cancel a temporary/special permit;

x) Issue certificates of recognition for advanced studies, research, and
accomplishment that contribute to the enrichment of the profession;

y) Adopt policies and set the standards for all types of paralegals;

Z) To discharge other powers and duties as the Board may deem necessary for the
paralegals and paralegal education in the Philippines.

As may be required and necessary, the policies, resolutions and rules, and regulations
issued or promulgated by the Board shall be subject to the required consultations with
stakeholders, particularly the University of the Philippines Law Center on the matter of
design, formulation, and conduct of the certificate course, training programs and other
learning strategies and platforms to professionalize the paralegal practice and the corps
of professional paralegals. Additionally, said policies, resolutions, rules, and regulations
shall be subject to the review and approval of the PRC. However, the Board's decisions,
resolutions, or orders which are not interlocutory, rendered in an administrative case, shall
be subject to review by the PRC only on appeal.


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SEC 12. Removal or Suspension of the Chairperson or Members of the Board.
The Chairperson or any Member of the Board may be suspended or removed upon due
notice and hearing by the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the
PRC, for neglect of duty; abuse of power; oppression; incompetence; unprofessional,
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the conduct of examination or tampering of the grades therein, or for any final judgment

unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct; commission or toleration of irregularities in

or conviction of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude. The rights of the
Chairperson and Members to be heard, to defend themselves, and to be assisted by
counsel shall be respected in the proper administrative investigation to be conducted for
the purpose.

SEC. 13. Supervision of the Board, Custodian of the Records, Secretary, and
Support Services. The Board shall be under the general supervision and administrative
control of the PRC. All records of the Board, including applications for examination,
examination papers and results, minutes of deliberations, and administrative, and other
investigative cases involving paralegals, shall be kept by the PRC. The PRC shall
designate the secretary of the Board and shall provide the secretariat and other support
services to implement the provisions of this Act subject to the usual government
accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

SEC 14. Annual Report. The Board shall, at the close of each calendar year, submit
an annual report to the PRC, giving a detailed account of its proceedings and
accomplishments during the year and recommending measures to be adopted with the
end-in-view of upgrading and improving the conditions affecting paralegal practice in the
Philippines.

ARTICLE IV
LICENSURE EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION

SEC. 15. Licensure Examination. The applicants for registration, except those
specifically allowed under Sections 8 and 22 of this Act, shall be required to undergo a
written licensure examination to be given by the Board in such places and dates the PRC
may designate subject to compliance with the requirements prescribed by the PRC.


1 SEC.16. Qualifications for Examination. The applicants for licensure
2. examination must meet the following qualification at the time of filing of application:

3 a) Accitizen and resident of the Philippines;

4 b) A holder of a relevant Bachelor's degree from a state university, recognized and
5 duly accredited by the Commission on Higher Education, and degree leading in
6 Legal or Paralegal Studies, Legal Management, or any such undergraduate
7 degree preparatory to taking the Juris Doctor (JD) degree, or otherwise having
8 completed at least seventy-two (72) academic credit units for a JD degree:

9 c) With at least ten (10) cumulative years of experience as a paralegal retained or

10 under contract by a lawyer, law office, or a relevant government or private sector
1 employment, contract, or consultancy; and

2 d) Of the good moral character, and must not have been convicted by final judgment
3 by a competent court of any crime or criminal offense involving moral turpitude.
14 All applications for examination shall be filed with the Board which shall assess and

15 approve said applications and issue to the qualified examinees the corresponding permits
16 to take such examination.

7 SEC. 17. Scope of Examination. The licensure examination shall include the
18 following subjects:

19 a) Philippine Constitution;

20 b) Administrative Law and Local Government Code;

2 ©) Philippine Judiciary and the Judicial System;

22 ) Judicial and Legal Ethics, and Code of Professional Responsibility for Judges,
23 Lawyers, and Paralegals;

24 e) Persons and Family Relations, including gender issues, women and children's
25 rights;

26 f) Basics of Law on Obligation, and Civil and Commercial Contracts;

27 g) Taxation and other commercials/mercantile laws;

28 h) Labor law and labor relations;

29 i) Pleadings, Civil Procedures, and Trial Practice; and

30 j) Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure

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SEC. 18. Rating in the Examination. To pass the licensure examination, a candidate
must obtain a passing rating of seventy-five percent (75%) in each subject given during
the examination: Provided, However, That an examinee who obtains a passing rating in
the majority of the subjects but obtains a rating in the other subjects below seventy-five
percent (75%) but not lower than sixty percent (60%), shall be allowed to take one
removal examination on the subjects where the passing rating was not obtained:
Provided, finally, That should the examinee fail to obtain a passing rating in the removal
examination, the examinee shall be considered as having failed the entire licensure
examination.

SEC. 19. Report of Results of Examination. The Board shall report to the PRC the
results of the examination and the ratings of the examinees within ten (10) days after the
examination.

SEC. 20. Oath of Profession. All successful examinees qualified for registration and
all qualified applicants for registration without examination shall be required to take an
oath of the profession before any PRC officer, Member of the Board, or any government
official authorized to administer oaths, before entering into paralegal practice in the
Philippines.

SEC. 21. Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification
Card. The PRC, on the recommendation of the Board, shall issue a certificate of
registration and professional identification card to each person who passed the licensure
examination for paralegals and to those who are registered without examination under
this Act and shall enter the name of the registered professional in the Roster of
Paralegals. The certificate of registration shall bear the signature of the Chairperson of
the PRC and the Chairperson and Members of the Board, stamped with official seals of
the Board and PRC indicating that the person named therein is entitled to the practice
profession shall remain in full force and effect until suspended or revoked in accordance
with this Act. A professional Identification card bearing the name and signature of the
registrant, registration number, date of issuance, and expiry date, duly signed by the
Chairperson of the PRC, shall likewise be issued to every registrant who has paid the
prescribed fee.

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1 SEC. 22. Registration Without Examination. Upon application and payment of the

2 required fees, the following shall be registered and shall be issued by the Board and the

3 PRC a Certificate of Registration and a Professional Identification Card without taking the

4 prescribed examination.

5 a) Those who, on the date of the effectivity of this Act, has been issued a certificate

6 of completion of the Paralegal Training Program offered by the University of the

7 Philippines Law Center and been a member of good standing of the Paralegal

8 Training Program Alumni Association, Inc., for at least (two) 2 years;

9 b) Those who, on the date of the effectivity of this Act, have been issued a certificate
10 of completion of the OPLAN Jail Decongestion Project spearheaded by the
rt National Committee on Legal Aid (NCLA) of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines
2 (IBP) and have been providing paralegal services for NCLA -assisted inmates for
13 at least (2) years;

4 c) Those who, on the date of the effectivity of this Act, has been issued a certificate
45 of completion of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) paralegal
16 program and have been BJMP paralegal officers for at least two (2) years; and

7 ) Those who, on the date of the effectivity of this Act, are civil servants or public
18 officers holding permanent appointments, with experience in performing or
19 providing paralegal services to the public for at least two (2) years; and

20 e) Those who, on the date of the effectivity of this Act, are employees of or under
2 contract or otherwise retained in private enterprises or companies, non-
2 goverment organizations, civil society organizations, trade unions, and labor
23 organizations as paralegals or otherwise tasked to render and provide paralegal
24 services to their clients and stakeholder for at least two (2) years, as duly certified
25 by the employer. Those so exempt under the aforementioned categories shall file
26 their application within two (2) years from the effectivity of the implementing rules
27 and regulations: Provided, That the renewal of the professional identification card
28 is subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof.

29 SEC. 23. Refusal to Issue Certificate of Registration and Professional
30 Identification Card. The Board shall not register any successful examinee nor any

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applicant for registration without examination if one has been convicted by a court of
competent jurisdiction of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude or has been found
guilty of immoral and dishonorable conduct after investigation of the Board, or has been
declared to be unsound mind. The reason for the refusal shall be outlined in writing.

SEC. 24, Revocation and Suspension of Certification of Registration and
Professional Identification Card or Cancellation of Temporary/Special Permit. The
Board has the power, after due notice and hearing, to revoke or suspend the certificate
of registration or cancel a temporary or special permit of any paralegal on any ground
stated under Section 23 of this Act, or for any of the following: unprofessional or
dishonorable conduct in paralegal practice; fraud; deceit or falsification in obtaining a
certificate of registration, professional identification card, or temporary or special permit;
abatement of illegal practice by allowing illegal use of one's certificate of registration, or
professional identification card, or temporary or special permit; the practice of profession
during the period of suspension; or any violation of this Act, its Implementing Rules and
Regulations the Code Ethics or the Code of Technical Standards for paralegals, or Board
policies. The respondent may appeal the Board's decision, and order resolution to the
PRC within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof.

SEC. 25. Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration and Replacement of
Lost Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card. The Board after
two (2) years from the date of revocation of the certificate of registration may reissue a
certificate upon proper application. A new certificate of registration and professional
identification card, or temporary or special permit, which has been lost, destroyed, or
mutilated, may be reissued after payment of the required fee prescribed by the PRC.

SEC. 26. Roster of Paralegals. The Board, in coordination with the AIPO of
paralegals, shall maintain an up-to-date, complete, and properly organized Roster
containing the following data:

a) Alphabetical list by surmame of paralegals with their addresses and license
numbers;

b) The list of licensees, numerically arranged by license numbers; and

cc) Such other lists which the Board may deem necessary.

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The copies of the Roster, which shall be provided to the National Library, the Civil
Service Commission, and the AIPO of paralegals, shall be kept as a permanent record.

ARTICLE IV
PARALEGAL PRACTICE

SEC. 27. Prohibitions and Limitations in the Paralegal Practice. No person
shall practice or offer to practice paralegal in the Philippines or offer oneself as a
paralegal, or use the title, word, letter, figure, or any sign tending to convey the impression
that one is a paralegal or advertise or indicate in any manner whatsoever as qualified to
perform the work a paralegal unless the person satisfactorily passed the licensure
examination given by the Board, except as otherwise provided in this Act, and is a holder
of a valid certificate of registration and a valid professional license or a valid temporary
special permit duly issued by the Board and the PRC

SEC. 28. Other Prohibited Acts. No person shall:

a) Represent oneself as a paralegal during the time that the professional license is
not valid, the certificate of registration has been suspended or revoked, or the
temporary special permit is canceled;

b) Allow another person to use one's certificate of registration or professional license
or temporary special permit as a paralegal to enable the person to engage in the
practice of paralegal;

c) Use the certificate of registration or professional license or special temporary
permit of another paralegal

SEC. 29. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program. The CPD
guidelines shall be prescribed and promulgated by the PRC upon consultation with the
Board, which shall consult the AIPO of paralegals, affiliated associations of paralegals,
and other concemed sectors. The Board shall create a CPD Council that shall be
composed of a Chairperson coming from the Board, a member from the AIPO of
paralegal, and a member from the academe.

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SEC. 30. Integration of Paralegals. All paralegals shall be integrated into one (1)
national organization, which shall be recognized by the Board and by the PRC as the only
accredited integrated professional organizations (AIPO) of paralegals. A paralegal duly
registered with the Board shall automatically become a member of the AIPO of
paralegals, and shall receive the benefits and privileges and privileges thereto, upon
payment of the required fees and dues. Membership in the AIPO shall not be a bar to
membership in other associations of paralegals.

SEC. 31. Indication of License and Professional Tax Receipt. A paralegal shall
be required to indicate the registration/professional number and date of issuance, the
duration of validity, including the Professional Tax Receipt number on the documents one
signs, or issues in connection with the practice of the profession.

ARTICLE V
PENAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 32. Penal Provisions. Any violation of this Act, including violations of
implementing Rules and Regulations, shall be meted the penalty of a fine of not less than
Fifty thousand pesos (Php. 50,000.00) but not more than Five hundred thousand pesos
(Php. 500,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than four
(4) years, or both, such fine and imprisonment upon the discretion of the court. In case
the violation is committed by an unlicensed paralegal, the penalty shall be double the
aforesaid fine and imprisonment.

In case the violation is committed by a partnership, corporation, association, or any
other juridical person, the partner, president, director, or manager who has committed or
consented to or knowingly tolerated such violation shall be held directly liable and
responsible for the acts as a principal or a co-principal with the other participants if any.

‘SEC. 33. Appropriations. The Chairperson of the PRC shall immediately include
in the PRC's programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act and thereafter.

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SEC. 34. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within (6) months after the
effectivity of this Act, the Board shall in consultation with the CHED, LEB, and the U.P.
Law Center, and subject only to the approval of the PRC, shall promulgate, adopt, and
issue the implementing rules and regulations of this Act, including the Code of Ethics and
Professional Responsibility for Paralegals. Such implementing rules and regulations and
Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility shall be effective fifteen (15) days
following their publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation.

Sec. 35. Transitory Provision. All incumbent paralegals in both the public and
private sector not otherwise certified as paralegals by virtue of this Act shall be given six
(6) years of temporary certificates from the time the Board is organized within to qualify
as required of this Act in the Roster.

Sec. 36. Separability Clause. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this
Act shall be declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby
shall remain valid and subsisting.

Sec. 37. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive
orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, proclamations, charters, rules or
regulations, and parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of his Act are
hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

Sec. 38. Effectivity Provision. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
its publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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