THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
- 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
- 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
R.A. No. 1827, passed in 1957, regulates lobbying in Congress and in the Commission on 
Appointments only. E.O. 292, also known as the Administrative Code of 1987, Book V, Title I, 
Subtitle A, Chapter 7 subjects civil service officers and employees to disciplinary action when 
found guilty oflobbying. 
These laws have not curtailed efforts of highly paid lobbyists to influence the decision- 
niaking process in both the executive and legislative branches. This is due to the ambiguous 
statutory language, weak administrative and enforcement provisions, and the absence of c lear 
rules on lobbying. 
This bill pro\ ---s for registration o 
lists, submission of semi-annual reports by 
registered lobbyists, enforcement of mechanisms, penalties, and tax deductions for bona fide 
lobbying expenses. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
r-i :i . , ” 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
”i]!i 
flui:, 11 
{ . I /  
. i  * 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N  AT@ 
L J  
S.B.No.- lyiG 
!i~;;;~’?Jii.L.l 
i3-d 
_:.- _I_ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
ANACT . 
PROVIDING FOR DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES TO INFLUENCE THE 
GOVERNMENT 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1, Short Title. - 
This Act shall be known as the “Lobbying Disclosure Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - 
It is the policy of the State to implement full 
disclosure of all of its transactions involving public interest for the purpose of maintaining 
honesty and integrity in the public service. Towards this end, the State shall take positive and 
effective measures against graft and corruption. 
SECTION 3. Definitions. -For purposes oithis Act: 
(1) “Agency of the Government” refers to any of the various units of the Government, 
including a department, bureau, office, instrumentality, or government-owned or controlled 
corporation; 
(2) “Client” means any person or entity that employs or retains another person for 
financial or other compensation to conduct lobbying activities on behalf of that person or entity. 
A person or entity whose employees act as lobbyists on its own behalf is both a client and an 
employer o f s uch employees. In the c ase o f a  c oalition or association that employs or retains 
other persons to conduct lobbying activities, the client is the coalition or association and not its 
individual members. 
(3) “Covered executive branch official” means (A) the President; (B) the Vice-president; 
(C) any officer or employee, or any other individual functioning in the capacity of such an 
officer or employee in the Executive Office of the President; (D) any member of the uniformed 


services of such grade or level as specified by law; and (E) any officer or employee serving in a 
position of confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character as 
described by law. 
(4) “Covered legislative branch official” means (A) a Member of Congress; (B) an 
elected officer of either House of Congress; (C) any employee of, or any other individual 
functioning in the capacity o f a n  employee o f (i) a Member o f C ongress; (ii) a committee of 
either House of Congress; (iii) the leadership staff of the House of Representatives or the 
leadership staff of the Senate; (iv) a joint committee of Congress; and (v) a working group or 
caucus organized to provide legislative services or other assistance to Members of Congress; and 
(D) any other legislative branch employee serving in a position of a confidential, policy- 
determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character described by law. 
(5) “Employee” is any individual who is an officer, employee, director or proprietor of a 
person or entity, but does not include (A) independent contractors; or (B) volunteers who receive 
no financial or other compensation from the person or entity for their services. 
(6) “Foreign Entity”- a foreign principal including - (A) a government of a foreign 
country and a foreign political party; (B) a person outside of the Philippines, unless it is 
established that such person is an individual and a citizen domiciled within the Philippines, or 
that such person is not an individual and is organized under or created by the laws of the 
Philippines or of any of its territorial divisions or any other place subject to the jurisdiction of the 
Philippines and has its principal place of business within the Philippines; and (C) a partnership, 
association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons organized under the laws 
of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country. 
(7) “Lobbying Activities” means lobbying contacts and efforts in support of such 
contacts, including preparation and planning activities, research, and other background work that 
is intended, at the time it is performed, for use in contacts, and coordination with the lobbying 
activities of others. 
(8) “Lobbying contact” - (A) In General - is any oral or written communication 
(including an electronic communication) to a covered executive branch official or a covered 
legislative branch official that is made on behalf of a client with regard to - 


(i) the formulation, modification, or adoption of legislation (including legislative 
proposals); 
(ii) the formulation, modification, or adoption of a rule, regulation, executive 
order, or any other program, policy or position of the Philippine Government; 
(iii) the administration or execution of a program or policy (including the 
negotiation, award or administration of a contract, grant, loan, permit or license); or 
(iv) 
the nomination or confirmation of a person for a position subject to 
confirmation by the Senate. 
(B) Exceptions - “lobbying contact” does not include a communication that is- 
(i) made by a public official acting in the public official’s official capacity; 
(ii) made by a representative of a media organization if the purpose of the 
communication is gathering and disseminating news and information to the public; 
(iii) made in a speech, article, publication, or other material that is distributed and 
made available to the public, or through radio, television, cable television, or other 
medium of mass communication; 
(iv) made on behalf of a government of a foreign country or a foreign political 
party which fact is disclosed; 
(v) a request for a meeting, a request for a status of an action, or any other similar 
administrative request, if the request does not include any attempt to influence a covered 
executive branch official or a covered legislative branch official; 
(vi) m ade in the c ourse o f p articipation in an advisory c ommittee to a c overed 
executive or legislative official; 
(vii) testimony given before a committee, subcommittee, or task force of the 
Congress, or submitted for inclusion in the public record of a hearing conducted by such 
committee, snbcommittee, or task force; 
(viii) information provided in writing in response to an oral or written request by a 
covered executive branch official or a covered legislative branch official for specific 
information; 


(ix) required by subpoena or otherwise compelled by law, regulation, or other 
action of the Congress or an agency; 
(x) made in response to a notice in a government publication or any other similar 
publication soliciting communications from the public and directed to the agency official 
specifically designated in the notice to receive such communications; 
(xi) not possible to report without disclosing information, the unauthorized 
disclosure of which is prohibited by law; 
(xii) made to an official in an agency with regard to - (a) a judicial proceeding or 
a criminal or civil law enforcement inquiry, investigation, or proceeding; or (b) a filing or 
proceeding that the government is specifically required by law or regulation to maintain 
or conduct on a confidential basis, if that agency is charged with responsibility for such 
proceeding, inquiry, investigation, or filing; 
(xiii) made in compliance with written agency procedures regarding an 
adjudication or hearing conducted by the agency; 
(xiv) a written comment filed in the course of a public proceeding or any other 
communication that is made on the record in a public proceeding; 
(xv) a petition for agency action made in writing and required to be a matter of 
public record pursuant to established agency procedures; 
(xvi) m ade on b ehalf o f a n  individual with regard to that individual’s benefits, 
employment, or other personal matters involving only that individual, except that this 
clause does not apply to any commnnication with (a) a covered executive branch official; 
or (b) a covered legislative branch official (other than the individual’s elected Members 
of Congress, or employees who work under such members’ direct supervisions), with 
respect to the formulation, modification, or adoption of private legislation for the relief of 
that individual; 
(xvii) a disclosure by an individual that is protected under provision of law; made 
by (a) a church, is integrated auxiliary, or a convention or association of churches that is 
exempt from filing an income tax return in accordance with the provisions of the Internal 
Revenue Code; or (b) a religious order that is exempt from filing an income tax return in 


accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code; and between-(c) 
officials 
of a self-regulatory organization registered with, or established by, the Securities and 
Exchange Commission or established by law; (d) the Securities and Exchange 
Commission and any other self-regulatory organization established by law as regards its 
regulatov responsibilities. 
(9) “Lobbying firm” means a person or entity that has one (1) or more employees who are 
lobbyists on behalf of a client other than that person or entity. The term also includes a self- 
employed individual who is a lobbyist. 
(IO) Lobbyist - any individual who is employed or retained by a client for financial or 
other compensation or services that include more than one (1) lobbying contact, other than an 
individual whose lobbying activities constitute less than twenty percent (20%) of the time 
engaged in the services provided by such individual to that client over a six (6) month period. 
(1 1) Media Organization - a person or entity engaged in disseminating information to 
the general public through a newspaper, magazine, other publication, radio, television, cable 
television, or other medium of mass communication. 
(12) 
Member of Congress - a Senator or a Representative in the House of 
Representatives. 
(13) Organization -person or entity other than an individual. 
(14) Person or Entity - any individual, corporation, company, foundation, association, 
labor organization, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company, group of organizations, or 
local government. 
(15) Public Official - any elected official, appointed official, or employee of the national 
government or a local government unit other than (A) a college or university; (B) a 
government owned or controlled corporation; (C) an organization of elected or appointed 
officials of the national government or local government units; (D) a national, regional, 
or local unit of any foreign government. 
SECTION 4. Registration of Lobbyist. - 
(1) Registration 


(A) General rule -Not later than forty-five (45) days after a lobbyist first make a 
lobbying contact, or is employed or retained to make a lobbying contact, whichever is earlier, 
such lobbyist or the organization employing such lobbyist, shall register with the Secretary of the 
Senate and the Secretary-General of the House of Representatives. 
(B) Employer filing ~ Any organization that has one (1) or more employees who 
are lobbyists shall file a single registration under this section on behalf of such employees for 
each client on whose behalf the employees act as lobbyist. 
(2) Exemption - 
(A) General rule - Notwithstanding paragraphs (A) and (B), a person or entity 
whose - 
(i) total income for matters related to lobbying activities on behalf of a 
particular client (in the case of a lobbying firm) does not exceed and is not 
expected to exceed Five Thousand Pesos (P5,OOO.OO); or 
(ii) t otal expenses in connection with lobbying activities (in case of an 
organization whose employees engage in lobbying activities on its own behalf) do 
not exceed or are not expected to exceed Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,OOO.OO) 
(as estimated under Section 5 in the semi-annual period described in Section 5(1) 
during which the registration would be made is not required to register under 
subsection (1) with respect to such client. 
(B) Adjustment - The amounts in subparagraph (A)(i) shall be adjusted by 
Congress to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the proper 
government agency. 
(C) Contents of Registration - Each registration under this section shall contain 
(i) the name, address, business telephone number, and principal place OF 
business ofthe registrant, and a general description of its business or activities; 
(ii) the name, address, and principal place of business of the registrant’s 
client, and a general description of its business or activities (if different from 
paragraph (i); 


(iii) 
the name, address, and principal place of business o f  any 
organization, other than the client, that - 
(aa) contributes more than Ten Thousand Pesos (Pl0,OOO.OO) 
toward the lobbying activities of the registrant in a semi-annual period 
described in section 5(1); and 
(b) in whole or in major part plans, supervises, or controls such 
lobbying activities. 
(D) the name, address, principal place of business, amount of any contribution of 
more than Ten Thousand pesos (Pl0,OOO.OO) to the lobbying activities of the registrant, 
and approximate percentage of equitable ownership in the client (if any) of any foreign 
entity that - 
(i) holds at least twenty percent (20%) equitable ownership in the client or 
any organization identified under subsection (3); 
(ii) directly or indirectly, in whole or in major part, plans, supervises, 
controls, directs, finances; or subsidizes the activities of the client or any 
organization identified under subsection (3); or 
(iii) is an affiliate of the client or any organization identified under 
subsection (3) and has a direct interest in the outcome of the lobbying activity; 
(a)the general issue areas in which the registrant expects to engage in 
lobbying activities on behalf of the client; and 
(b) to the extent practicable, specific issues that have (as of the date of 
the registration) already been addressed or are likely to b e addressed in 
lobbying activities; and 
(c) the name of each employee of the registrant who has acted or whom 
the registrant expects to act as a lobbyist on behalf of the client and, if any 
such employee has served as a covered legislative branch official in the 
two (2) years before the date on which such employee first acted (after the 
date of enactment of this Act) as a lobbyist on b ehalf o f t he client, the 
position in which such employee served. 


(3) Guidelines for Registration - 
(A) M ultiple clients - In the case of a registrant making lobbying contacts on 
behalf of more than one (1) client, a separate registration under this section shall be filed 
for each such client. 
(B) Multiple contacts - In the case of a registrant making lobbying contacts on 
behalf of more than one (1) client, a separate registration under this section shall be filed 
for each such client. 
(4) Termination of Registration - A registrant who after registration - 
(A) is no longer employed or retained by a client to conduct lobbying activities; 
and 
(B) does not anticipate any additional lobbymg activities for such client, may so 
notify the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary-General of the House of 
Representatives and determine its registration. 
SECTION 5. Reports by Registered Lobbyists. - 
(1) Semi-annual Report - Not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of the semi- 
annual period beginning on the first day of January and the first day of July of each year in 
which a registrant is registered under Section 4, each registrant shall file a report with the 
Secretaries of the Senate and the House of Representatives on its lobbying activities during such 
semi-anma1 period. 
A separate report shall be filed for each client of the registrant. 
(2) Contents of Report - Each semi-annual report filed under subsection (1) shall contain- 
(A) the name of the registrant, the name of the client, and any changes or updates 
to the information provided in the initial registration; 
(B) for each general issue area in which the registrant engaged in lobbying 
activities on behalf of the client during the semiannual filing period - 
(i) a list of the specific issues upon which a lobbyist employed by the 
registrant engaged in lobbying activities, including, to the maximum extent 


practicable, a list of bill numbers and references to specific executive branch 
actions; 
(ii) a statement of the Houses of Congress and the agencies contacted by 
lobbyists employed by the registrant on behalf of the client; 
(iii) a list of the employees of the registrant who acted as lobbyists on 
behalf of the client; and 
(iv) a description of the interest, if any, of the foreign entity identified 
under Section 4(2)@) in the specific issues listed under subparagraph (i). 
(C) in the case of a lobbying firm, a good faith estimate of the total amount of all 
income from the client (including any payments to the registrant by any other person for 
lobbying activities on behalf of the client) during the semi-annual period, other than 
income for matters that are unrelated to lobbying activities; and 
(D) in the case of a registrant engaged in lobbying activities on its own behalf, a 
good faith estimate of the total expenses that the registrant and its employees incurred in 
connection with lobbying activities during the semi-annual filing period. 
(3) Estimates of Income or Expenses - For purposes of this Section, estimates of income 
or expenses shall be made as follows: 
(A) Estimates of amounts in excess of Ten Thousand Pesos (PlO,OOO.OO) shall be 
rounded to the nearest Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,OOO.OO); 
(B) In the event income or expenses do not exceed Ten Thousand Pesos 
(PlO,OOO.OO), the registrant shall include a statement that income or expenses totaled less 
than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,OOO.OO) for the reporting period. 
(c) A registrant that reports lobbying expenditures pursuant to rules and 
regulations of the Bureau of Internal Revenue may satisfy the requirement to report 
income or expenses by filing with the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary General 
of the House of Representatives a copy of the form filed in accordance with said rules 
and regulations. 


SECTION 6. Disclosure and Enforcement. - The Secretary of the Senate and the 
Secretary General of the House of Representatives shall - 
(1) provide guidance and assistance on the registration and reporting requirements of this 
Act and develop common standards, d e s ,  and procedures for compliance with this Act; 
(2) review, and, where necessary, verify and inquire to ensure the accuracy, 
completeness, and timeliness of registration and reports; 
(3) develop filing, coding, and cross-indexing systems to carry out the purpose of this 
Act, including - 
(A) a publicly available list of all registered lobbyists, lobbying firms, and their 
clients; and 
(B) a computerized system designed to minimize the burden of filing and 
maximize public access to materials filed under this Act; 
(4) make available for public inspection and copying at reasonable times the registration 
and reports filed under this Act; 
(5) retain registrations for a period of at least six (6) years after they are terminated and 
reports for a period of at least six (6) years after they are filed; 
(6) compile and summarize, with respect to each semi-annual period, the information 
contained in registrations and reports filed with respect to such period in a clear and complete 
manner; 
(7) notify any lobbyist or lobbying firm in writing that may be noncompliance with this 
Act; and 
(8) notify the Secretary of Justice that a lobbyist or lobbying firm may be in non- 
compliance with this Act, if the registrant has been notified in writing and has failed to provide 
an appropriate response within sixty (60) days after notice was given page under subsection(6). 
SECTION 7. Penalties. - Whoever knowingly fails to - 
(1) remedy a defective filling within sixty (60) days after notice of such a defect by the 
Secretary of the Senate or the Secretary General of the House of Representatives; or 


(2) comply with any other provision of this Act; shall, upon proof of such knowing 
violation by a preponderance of the evidence, be subject to a civil fine of not more than Fifty 
Thousand Pesos (PSO,OOO.OO), depending on the extent and gravity of the violation. 
SECTION 8. Rules of Construction. (1) Constitutional Rights - Nothing in this Act shall 
be construed to prohibit or interfere with - 
(A) the right to petition the government for the redress of grievances; 
(B) the right to express a personal opinion; 
(C) the right of association; 
(2) Prohibition of Activities - Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit, or to 
authorize any court to prohibit, lobbying activities or lobbying contacts by any person, or entity, 
regardless of whether such person, or entity is in compliance with the requirements of this Act. 
(3) Audit and Investigation - Nothing in this Act shall bi: construed to grant general audit 
or investigative authority to the Secretary of the Senate or the Secretary General of the House of 
Representatives. 
SECTION 9. Identification of Clients and Covered Ofjcials. - 
(1) Oral Lobbying Contracts - Any person or entity that makes an oral lobbying contact 
with a covered legislative branch official or a covered executive branch official shall, on the 
request of the official at the time of the lobbying contact - 
(A) state whether the person or entity is registered under this Act and identify the 
client on whose behalf the lobbying contact is made; and 
(B) state whether such client is a foreign entity and identify any foreign entity 
required to be disclosed under Section 4(2)(D) that has a direct interest in the outcome of 
the lobbying activity. 
(2) Written Lobbying Contacts - Any person or entity registered under this Act that 
makes a written lobbying contact (including an electronic communication) with a covered 
legislative branch official or a covered executive branch official shall - 


(A) if the client on whose behalf the lobbying contact was made is a foreign 
entity, identify such client, state that the client is considered a foreign entity under this 
Act, and state whether the person making the lobbying contact is registered on behalf of 
that client under Section 4; and 
(B) identify any other foreign entity identified pursuant to section 4(2) (D) that 
has a direct interest in the outcome of the lobbying activity. 
(3) Identification as Covered Official - Upon request by a person or entity malting a 
lobbying contact, the individual who is contacted or the office employing that individual shall 
indicate whether or not the individual is a covered executive branch official. 
SECTION 10. Lobbying Expenses Deductible. - Lobbying expenses of individual 
taxpayers shall be tax deductible except for individual taxpayers. 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions ofthis Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SE,CTION 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
FN: 320