Republic of Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
1* Regular Session

3793

HOUSE BILL. NO.

Introduced by Rep. BERNADETTE HERRERA-DY

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Corruption in the Philippines is perceived to be the worst among South
East Asia's leading economies and had even sunk lower among those seen to
be lagging in governance reforms. ‘In 2015, the World Bank report on
worldwide governance indicators (WGI) for developing countries identified
which countries were doing well in controlling corruption and some even
matched rich-country performance in overall governance measures.
Unfortunately, the Philippines was not among them. The Philippines is Sth to
the bottom of the list of South East Asia's 10 largest economics when it comes
to the control of corruption. Corruption, since then, has long been a hindrance
to the development of this country and has been a threat and discouragement
to prospective foreign as well as domestic investors in the country. Moreover,
this fact does not only worsen the image of the government, but the entire
Filipino race as a whole.

Section 27 of Article Il of the 1987 Constitution states that it is a policy
of the State to maintain honesty and integrity in the public service, and to this
end it shall take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption.
Accordingly, Republic Act No. 9485, otherwise known as the "Anti-Red Tape Act
of 2007," was enacted on 02 July 2007 during the Thirteenth Congress,
primarily to eliminate red tape and improve frontline service delivery, as these
issues had been considered of utmost urgency at that time.

Today, in light of the Duterte Administration's drive to end graft and
corruption in the public service, there is an imperative need to strengthen the


Anti Red Tape Act of 2007 to upgrade its competence in promoting
transparency in government affairs and integrity and honesty among
government servants. This bill therefore seeks to amend Section 1 of the law by
providing more stringent penalties for the violators thereof, which will hopefully
deter further violations and corrupt practices in the future.

In this light, the immediate pfgsage of this bill is earnestly requested.

REP. [ADI y HERRERA-DY

* httpi/ info.worldbank.org/governance/wgi/index.aspxtreports


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Republic of Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
1s* Regular Session

HousE BILL. no, 3793

Introduced by Rep. BERNADETTE HERRERA-DY

AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 12 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9485,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN
THE DELIVERY OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC BY

REDUCING BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE, PREVENTING GRAFT

AND CORRUPTION, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR,

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "ANTI-RED TAPE ACT OF 2016"

AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section I. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to establish an
effective system that will eliminate bureaucratic red tape, avert graft and corrupt
practices and improve the efficiency of delivery of government frontline services.

Section 2. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 9485, otherwise known as the
“anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 is hereby amended as follows:

Section 12. Criminal Liability for fixers - In addition to Section
11 (b), Fixers, as defined in this act, shall suffer the penalty of
imprisonment NOT LESS THAN SIX YEARS BUT NOT
EXCEEDING TWELVE YEARS or a fine not less than Two
Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php200, 000.00) but not more than
One Million Pesos (Php1,000,000.00) or both fine and
imprisonment at the discretion of the court.


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Section 3. The administrative jurisdiction on any violation on any of the
provision of this act shall be vested in either the Civil Service Commission in
coordination with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), the Office
of the Ombudsman, and the Investigative and Adjudicatory Division under Office
of the Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs, as determined by appropriate laws
and issuances

Section 4. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

Section 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,