Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

612

H. B. No.

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill seeks to require full disclosure of the identity, nature of work, and compensation
of foreign consultants hired or retained by the Government, its agencies, instrumentalities,
including Government-owned or controlled corporations.
The main objectives of this bill are as follows:

First, that the public be informed of how much money is being used to pay consultants
hired by the Goverment.

‘Transparency in this regard is needed so that the public will know whether or not the
consultancy fees paid these consultants are commensurate benefits that the Government is
supposed to get from such consultancy contracts. :

Second, that our people be appraised whether or not the services of these consultants
are indispensable and cannot be rendered by our local experts.

Third, that the people's basic right to know who are providing expert advice and support
to the Government be fully accorded them.

In fine, this bill is in accordance with the constitutional mandate to make available to the
people all information on matters of public concern.

The immediate passage of this bill is eamestly sought.



FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE +)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
First Regular Session )

612

H.B.No. ©

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL BRANCHES, SUBDIVISIONS, INSTRUMENTALITIES, AND
AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR-
CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS OR THEIR SUBSIDIARIES TO DIVULGE THE
IDENTITY OF HIRED FOREIGN CONSULTANTS, THE NATURE OF THEIR WORK
AND THEIR COMPENSATION, PERKS, AND OTHER PRIVILEGES, AND
PROVIDING PENALTIES IN CASE OF VIOLATION THEREOF

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby deciared a policy of the State to adopt
and implement full public disclosure of all its transactions, pursuant to the principle of
transparency in public office and the constitutional mandate to make available to the people all
information on matters of public concern.

SEC. 2. Definition. Foreign consultants refers to a national or another State who
renders certain services to the Government.

SEC. 3. Disclosure Requirement. All heads of branches, subdivisions,
instrumentalities, and agencies of the government, including govemment-owned or-controlled
corporations or their subsidiaries shall, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act,
provide Congress in writing and under oath the following:

A. The identity of any foreign consultant hired or retained by their respective offices;

B. The foreign consultant's nature of work including the compensation, honoraria, fees,
financial or other benefits or remuneration received by the said foreign consultant; and

C. The terms and conditions of the consultancy agreement entered into by the Government
office, specifying therein the particular services that the consultant is expected to
perform.

SEC. 4. Publication. The Office of the Executive Secretary shall maintain a centralized
data-file of all foreign consultants hired by the govemmen

instrumentalities, including government-owned or-controlled corporations. In January of every

its agencies, bureaus,

4


year, the Office of the Executive Secretary shall clause the publication of the list of foreign
consultants hired or retained by the government, whether for the full year or for only a part
thereof, in a least two newspapers of general circulation.

SEC. 5. Penal Clause. The head of any branch, subdivision, instrumentality, and
agency of the govemment, including a government-owned or controlled corporation or its
subsidiary that violates section 3 and 5 of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less than
Fifteen Thousand Pesos (P15,000.00) but not more than Sixty Thousand Pesos (60,000.00)
and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years or both at the discretion of the court. Those
convicted shall be perpetually disqualified from holding public office. Upon conviction by the
proper regional trial court, the official convicted shall likewise be suspended immediately from
office and shall remain suspended pending the final outcome of any appeal he or she shall have
taken in the case

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations contrary
to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. |f any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or
invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect immediately following its
Publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette,
whichever takes place earlier.

Approved,