RECEIVED
pare: 04 JUL 2016

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVE!
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
31

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by HON. RODEL M. BATOCABE, HON. ALFREDO A, GARBIN, Jr. and
HON. CHRISTOPHER S, CO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to repeal Section 11 (a) of Republic Act No. 7836 or National Shelter
Program providing that ten percent (10%) of the mandatory annual contributions by the
PCSO to the charity fund shall be chanelled to socialized and low-cost housing.

Under PCSO’s Charter, (Batas Pambansa Blg. 42 as amended by BP 622), PCSO is
the principal agency for rising and providing funds for health programs, medical
assistance and services, and charities of national character. It holds and conducts
charity sweepstakes, races, and lotteries and engages in health and welfare-related
investments, projects, and activities to provide for permanent and continuing sources of
funds for its programs. It provides for the permanent and continuing sources of funds for
health programs, including the expansion of existing ones, medical assistance and
services, and/or charitable grants.

In 2012, the National Shelter Program received from PCSO approximately Six Hundred
Ninety One Million Pesos (PhP 691,000,000) under the latter's mandatory contributions.
The policy and objectives of the National Shelter Program are notable and should
properly be supported through government funding as it provides, at affordable cost,
decent housing and basic services to underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban
centers and resettlement areas.

However, the mandatory contribution of the PCSO in this program is beyond its
mandate and charter. The status of medical and charity services and infrastructure in
the Philippines still require improvement and further development. Health care facilities
lack medicines, health care professionals, equipment, and infrastructure. Poor
households are still not able to access quality outpatient and inpatient care from health
care facilities. Rural Health Units and City Health Units, district and provincial hospitals,
even DOH-retained regional hospitals and medical centers do-not have the necessary
provisions to meet the needs of poor families.

PCSO should abide by its original mandate and charter. The funds for mandatory
contributions should be redirected towards the improvement and development of the
country's health and charity services.

In igh circumstances, the swift passa bill is earnestly Sought.

Sa

ODEL M. BATOCABE ALFREDO GARBIN, Jr. CHRISTOPHER S. CO

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES


Page 2 of 2

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by HON. RODEL M. BATOCABE, HON. ALFREDO A. GARBIN, Jr, and
HON. CHRISTOPHER S. CO

AN ACT
ABOLISHING REGULAR MANDATORY CONTRIBUTIONS IMPOSED ON THE
PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE (PCSO), MODIFYING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTION 11 (a) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7835

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

SECTION 1. Statement of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
guarantee that the Charity Fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)
shall achive its maximum potentional to better serve its intended beneficiaries.

SECTION 2. Abolition of Regular Mandatory Contributions of PCSO. The
mandatory contributions of PCSO as found in Section 11 (a) of Republic Act Np. 7835
or “The Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Financing Act of 1994” described
specifically as “Ten percent (10%) of the mandatory annual contributions by Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes office to the charity fund as provided for in Section 6 of R.A. No.
1169 shall be channeled to socialized and low-cost housing’ is hereinafter abolished.

Section 3. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after is complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved.