Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Constitution Hills, Quezon City 12 JAN 2015
5

SIXTEENTH (16") CONGRESS an PM
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 5318

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is regularly hit by typhoons all year round.

All throughout these years, we are witnesses to the extent of
devastation these typhoons and other natural calamities can
cause to our nation. Just a year ago, typhoon Yolanda left
hundreds of our fellow Filipinos homeless and thousands of them
dead. It took a considerable number of months before the whole
affected community regained an ounce of strength to start
recovering. During a state of calamity, every Filipino family
becomes vulnerable to countless problems entailed a strong
typhoon and/or other natural disasters. Each person needs to
start from scratch to get back a little of what they used to have.

In a state of calamity, it is therefore understandable for
those affected people to prioritize obligations and responsibilities
one by one. The need to eat and find shelter after a typhoon or an
earthquake wiped out everything a person or a family has, is of
course always the main concern. Then the other responsibilities
follow after that.

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During these moments, it is hard enough for the head of the
family, or a person living alone, to recover from their loss. And it
is the obligation of the State to help each and every one affected
by such calamities and to lessen their burdens as much as
possible.

One of the ways this can be done is to allow the affected
people and/or families a grace period for paying up utility bills
until such time that the situation has stabilized in the areas hit
by such calamities.

Through this measure, the victims of typhoons and other
fortuitous events will be able to focus on securing their basic and
primary needs first before anything else. They will not have to
worry about the due bills which they have to pay and so they can
make use of their money, or what’s remaining thereof- wisely.

ou 6. O~”,
ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 5318

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT GIVING THE PERSONS AFFECTED BY TYPHOONS
AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS IN AREAS DECLARED TO
BE IN A STATE OF CALAMITY MORATORIUM,
FORBEARANCE OR GRACE PERIOD IN THE PAYMENT OF
UTILITY BILLS

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the
Delayed Payment of Bills for Persons Affected by a State of
Calamity Act of 2015.

Section 2. Coverage. This Act shall cover all natural
persons residing or operating any business in a certain area
declared to be in a State of Calamity, and who have utility
payment obligations in the said affected locality.

Section 3. Limitation. Natural disasters shall include
typhoons, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and their analogous
events. Provided, that the area affected by such disasters is
declared to be in a State of Calamity by the proper authorities.
Moreover, utility bills covered under this act shall include water,
electricity, telephone, internet, cable and other similar bills.

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Section 4. Authorized Delayed Payment. All persons
covered under this Act shall be allowed a grace period of sixty
(60) days from the cessation of the natural disaster or until the
situation has stabilized in the areas declared to be in a state of
calamity, whichever is later, to pay utility bills which have fallen
due during the time the area has been hit by a natural disaster
or declared to be in a state of calamity.

Section 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The
Department of Energy (DOE), National Telecommunication
Commission (NTC) and the Department of Interior and Local
Government in coordination with the concerned local government
unit shall issue and promulgate the Implementing Rules and
Regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. Such rules
and regulations shall take effect upon their publication in three
(3) newspapers of general circulation.

Section 10. Repealing Clause.- All laws, presidential
decrees, letters of instructions, executive orders, rules and
regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this Act, are
hereby repealed or amended as the case may be.

Section 11. Separability Clause. - In the event that any
provision of this Act or any portion thereof is declared
unconstitutional by a competent court, the other provisions shall
not be affected thereby and shall remain valid and enforceable.

Section 12. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect
after its complete publication in at least three (3) newspapers of
general circulation.

APPROVED.

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