Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2002

Introduced by Honorable EULOGIO “LEO” R. RODRIGUEZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The island province of Catanduanes sits idly off the shores of its nearest
neighboring provinces. Its people need to travel far just to avail of the usual
government services like NBI Clearance, Passport, Birth Certificate and other similar
matters. As such, this representation seeks to have a one-stop shop for the People of
Catanduanes, to be situated in the Municipality Virac, Catanduanes. This one-stop shop
shall be called the Catanduanes People Center (CPC).

Aside from the usual needs of the people, the CPC will also house the provincial
offices of national government offices like the prosecutorial arm of the Department of
Justice and the like. The CPC will be located in the capital town of Virac, Catanduanes
because part of its territory sits in the middle of the province of Catanduanes.

This representation finds justification for the creation of the CPC in Section 9,
Article II of the Constitution which states that: "The State shall promote a just and
dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and
free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services,
promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for
all.”

For the people of Catanduanes, the passage of the proposed law is earnestly
being sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 200 2

Introduced by Honorable EULOGIO “LEO” R. RODRIGUEZ

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CATANDUANES PEOPLE CENTER
AND CREATING THE CATANDUANES PEOPLE CENTER AUTHORITY,
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF VIRAC, PROVINCE OF CATANDUANES,
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Catanduanes People Center Act.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. The State shall endeavor the promotion of policies
that will ensure the quick and easy access to government service for the people, which
will equate to improving the quality of life for all Filipinos.

Section 3. Establishment of the Catanduanes People Center. The Catanduanes People
Center (CPC) is hereby established in the capital town of Virac, Catanduanes. The
building and property where the CPC will be located is a donation either by Municipality
of Virac or Province of Catanduanes. The CPC shall house Regional and/or Provincial
offices of national government agencies and offices, including but not limited to the
following: Presidential Action Center, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine
Statistics Authority, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Professional Regulation
Commission.

Section 4. Catanduanes People Center Authority. The management of the
Catanduanes People Center shall be handled by the Catanduanes People Center
Authority Board (CPCAB), which is hereby created. The CPCAB shall operate the
following principles:


1) The CPCAB shall act work on giving convenience and ease to the clientele
availing government services in the CPC.

2) The CPCAB shall be composed of the following: a) Representative from the Office
of the President; b) Member of the House of Representatives of the Province of
Catanduanes; c) Governor of the Province of Catanduanes; d) Mayor of the
Municipality of Virac; and e) one member from the business community in the
Province of Catanduanes, who shall be appointed by the Chairman.

3) The Chairman of the CPCAB shall rotate every two (2) years among its five (5)
members.

4) The CPC shall have a transportation system that will shuttle people of
Catanduanes for free to and from the different towns in the province.

5) The personnel and staff, who will be hired to work in CPC, as far as practicable,
must be residents of Catanduanes.

Section 5. Supervision by the Office of the President. The Office of the President shall
exercise direct supervision and control over the CPC and CPCAB.

Section 6. Funding for CPC. The Office of the President shail include in its budget the
construction of the building for the CPC and other necessary expenses for the operation
and management of CPC in the annual General Appropriations Act. The local
government of the Province of Catanduanes shall also set aside funds from any
available local revenue in an amount deemed appropriate for the operations of the CPC.

Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days from the
approval of this Act, the Office of the President, in coordination with the House of
Representatives, Province of Catanduanes, and Municipality of Virac shall come-up with
the Implementing Rules and Regulations for this Act.

Section 8. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in
full force and effect.

Section 9. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
or parts thereof, as are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

Section 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,