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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session we

HOUSE BILL NO. 7106

? RECEIVED ©

FF ove. 05, Pati
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INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH STO. NINO B. BERNOS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Province of Abra faces an odd situation. Geographically, it is nearer to La Union,
where most government offices are located in the regional center of San Fernando
City. Politically, Abra is subsumed under the Cordillera Administrative Region that
has its regional center in Baguio City. The problem of proximity to government
centers poses a problem for Abrefios who are in need of quick solutions for their
documentary requirements for work, school, or personal uses. They would have to
travel to San Fernando City or Baguio City, or as far as Metro Manila, just to be able
to get their needed government-issued documents. Moreover, government agencies
with offices in Abra are not located close to each other — a situation that incurs both
tangible and intangible costs for the people.

‘There is a need to create a Government Service Center in Abra where relevant
government offices are all located for the convenience of both the government
agencies and the people. This Government Service Center shall be a complex where
inter-agential concerns related to their functions can be harmonized. Furthermore,
the people coming in from Abra, and even from adjacent provinces like Apayao and
Kalinga, will benefit with the clustering of government offices in one venue. In
addition, it will create jobs for many Abrefios, especially those well-versed in clerical
operations and information technology.

In the light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this Bill is earnestly
sought.



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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7106

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH STO. NINO B. BERNOS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT SERVICE CENTER (GSC) HOUSING
SATELLITE OFFICES OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF BANGUED IN THE PROVINCE OF ABRA

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

SECTION 1. Policy Objective. It shall be the policy of the State to protect and
promote the welfare of Filipinos by streamlining the delivery of government services
and providing access to these basic services, especially to regions that are
geographically distant from regional urban centers where most government offices
are located and government-issued documents are processed. To this end, the State
shall endeavor to empower communities with access to these basic government
services and to free the People from the unnecessary burdens stemming from
bureaucratic inefficiency.

Sec. 2. Establishment of a Government Service Center in Abra. There shall
be established a Government Service Center (GSC) in the Province of Abra that shall
house satellite offices of various national government agencies involved in the
processing and issuance of common documentary requirements for whatever
legitimate purpose or activity, as needed by the people.


Sec. 3. Satellite Offices Housed in the Government Service Center. The
satellite offices of government agencies housed in the GSC shall include, but not
limited to, the following:

a. Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for verification and authentication
of school credentials, and for the processing and issuance of other
documentary permits and requirements, including the issuance of other
necessary authentication/certification, if there any be needed;

b. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for all passport services and other
consular concerns, including the issuance of other necessary
authentication/certification, if there any be needed;

¢. Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the processing and
issuance of other documentary permits and requirements, including the
issuance of other necessary authentication/certification, if there any be
needed;

d. Land Transportation Office (LTO) for the processing of documentations
related to the registration of vehicles and to the issuance of driver's licenses,
including the issuance of other necessary authentication/certification, if there
any be needed;

e. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the processing and issuance of an
NBI clearance, and other documentary permits and requirements, and the
issuance of other necessary authentication/certification, if there any be
needed;

f. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for the processing of
OWWA membership/Renewal of Membership, and other documentary
permits and requirements, and the issuance of other necessary
authentication/certification, if there any be needed;

g. Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for the processing and
issuance of other documentary permits and requirements, including the


issuance of other necessary authentication/certification, if there any be
needed;

h. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for the
documentation/registration of workers, verification/certification of OFW
records, processing and issuance of other documentary permits and
requirements, including the issuance of other _necessary
authentication/certification, if there any be needed;

i. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for processing and issuance of civil
registry documents, including the issuance of other necessary
authentication/certification, if there any be needed; and

j. Social Security System (SSS) for the processing and issuance of other
documentary permits and requirements, including the issuance of other
necessary authentication certification, if there any be needed;

Sec. 4. Manpower Requirements. All government agencies in the GSC shall be
required to assign qualified personnel in these satellite offices. The assigned
personnel for each government agency must have no less than six (6) months of
experience of work in their respective agencies, and shall oversee the day-to-day
operations of the satellite offices and the conduct of the necessary coordination with
their respective regional and central offices. The Provincial Government of Abra,
upon the request of the concerned government agency, shall contractual workers to
their satellite offices.

Sec. 5. Office Facilities. All government agencies in the GSC shall required to
provide their satellite offices at least two (2) sets of computer units, with all the
required accessories, including scanners and printers. For purposes of uniformity,
the Provincial Government of Abra shall install/provide the necessary office tables,
chairs, and the telephone and Internet facility to the GSC.

Sec. 6, Accessibility of the GSC. The GSC shall be located in a place within the
Municipality of Bangued in the Province of Abra that is strategically important and is
easily accessible by the people.


Sec. 7. Funding. The funds for the establishment, development, and the day-to-day
operations of the GSC offices shall be provided for in the annual General
Appropriations Act; however, the maintenance of these offices shall be on the
account of the Provincial Government of Abra.

Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Heads and/or Directors of
the agencies mentioned in Section 3 of this Act shall formulate and issue the
necessary guidelines for the proper implementation of this Act.

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Justice, in cooperation with the
Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, and
Department of Information and Communications Technology, shall promulgate the
rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act.

Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. Any law, decree, ordinance or administrative circular
not consistent with any provision of this Act is hereby amended, repealed or
modified accordingly.

Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved.