Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Boy Scout Movement was started by Robert Baden-Powell, the chief scout of the 
world in England in the year 1908. America adopted the scouting by year 1909 and 
brought it to the Philippines as early as 1912. From the first Filipino troop with 26 boys 
formed on November 15, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) was formally 
inaugurated only until January 1, 1938.   
Even a century later, BSP is still recognized to be the most influential, largest, and 
fastest-growing youth organization in the Philippines. As of January 2020, there are 
2,804,227 registered members and adult leaders with a 2% monthly growth rate or 
roughly around 47,000 new scouts per month. The growth of the Scouting movement in 
the Philippines continued from Commonwealth Act No. 111 until subsequent 
amendments under Presidential Decree No. 460 and Republic Act No. 7278 which 
carries its mission to inculcate in scouts the love of God, country, and fellowmen, to 
prepare the youth for responsible leadership, and to contribute to nation-building as 
enshrined to the ideals, principles, and programs for scouting.    
According to the Department of Education (DepEd), the scouting program of the BSP is 
an effective program in the leadership and value-formation of every child. The goals and 
objectives of BSP as well are consistent with the DepEd’s mission to develop boys and 
young men into well-rounded individuals having characters worthy of becoming this 
country’s new breed of responsible and dedicated leaders. The BSP indeed has been 
true to its Scout’s Oath and Law.  
Further, the BSP’s significant role in youth development aids the school system to mold 
pupils and students into responsible citizens of the country. It has an exemplary 
contribution not only in achieving quality education but also in providing a co-curricular 
program that prevents the youth from involving themselves in drugs and other vices. As 
such, membership and participation in Boy Scouting and its programs, projects and 
activities should be encouraged and supported by the schools.  
August 23, 2022
2:00 pm
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With all its insurmountable impact in the society, this bill echoes the ideas of the BSP 
and its objective to redefine the powers, duties and functions of the BSP as an 
independent, voluntary, autonomous, non-government organization auxiliary to the 
Republic of the Philippines and parallel to the Charter of the Philippine Red Cross under 
Republic Act 10072. To add, this bill is consistent with the provisions of the Constitution 
of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), where the BSP maintains 
membership since 1946. This proposed Charter will also pave the way for the 
installation of a more concrete institution for youth development, making BSP more 
attuned to the changing calls of the time and to the growing challenges that our youth 
are facing everyday. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
 MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT 
RECOGNIZING THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE PHILIPPINES AS AN INDEPENDENT, 
VOLUNTARY, AUTONOMOUS, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION, 
INSTITUTING ITS NEW CHARTER, DEFINING ITS OBJECTIVES, POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE, COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 111, 
AS AMENDED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Boy Scouts of the 
Philippines Charter." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of State Policies. — Recognizing the vital role of the youth in 
nation-building, it is therefore the policy of the State to ensure and protect their physical, 
moral, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual growth by promoting Scouting as an 
integral component of the basic education system. 
It shall act in conformity with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the UN 
Convention on the Rights of the Child, and other international laws, protocols and 
statutes relating to the youth and gender-equality, as well as the pertinent provisions of 
the Charter of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), an 
internationally recognized organization of young people, and shall establish and 
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promote the development of a duly recognized independent, voluntary, and autonomous 
non-governmental organization for the young people. 
 
The State shall, at all times, respect the independence, autonomy, neutrality, voluntary 
and non-government nature of the organization. 
 
SECTION 3. Objectives. — The objectives of this Act are: 
a) To promote, through organizations and cooperation with other agencies, the ability 
of the young people and/or the Filipino youth, to do useful things for themselves 
and others; 
b) To train young people and/or the Filipino youth in the attitudes, skills and habits of 
responsive citizenship; 
c) To inculcate in the young people and/or the Filipino youth patriotism, civic 
consciousness and responsibility, environmental protection awareness and 
activities, courage, self reliance, selflessness, discipline and kindred virtues, as 
well as moral and spiritual values, using the method which are in common use by 
Scouts. 
 
SECTION 4. The Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP). — The Boy Scouts of the 
Philippines is an independent, voluntary, non-stock, non-sectarian, non-political, 
autonomous, non-governmental organization which shall willingly co-operate with other 
persons, natural and juridical, public and private, whose ideals and procedures are in 
accord with those conferred or authorized by this Act. 
 
It shall maintain membership with the World Organization of the Scout Movement 
(WOSM). 
 
SECTION 5. Principal Office. — The Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) shall have its 
principal office in Metropolitan Manila. They may establish such other offices, agencies 
or branches anywhere in the Philippines as its operations would require and its National 
Executive Board would determine. 


 
SECTION 6. Powers. — As a juridical entity, the BSP shall have perpetual succession 
and shall have the following powers: 
a) To sue and be sued; 
b) To acquire, hold and convey such real and personal properties, rights and choses 
in action as shall be deemed necessary and desirable for its purposes as 
hereinafter set forth or other means, to do business in whatever form and to 
conduct fund-raising activities; 
c) To receive funds, real and personal properties by gift, devise and donation, 
contribution or other means and accept bequests of all classes; 
d) To adapt a seal and to alter and destroy the same at pleasure; 
e) To have offices and conduct its business and affairs in the Metropolitan 
f) 
Manila area and in the provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays in the 
Philippines; 
g) Enter into agreements with public authorities, international and local organizations, 
private corporations and non-government organizations, as well as other entities 
and accept provisions for the cost of any service or activity which may be 
entrusted to it or which it may render, within the scope of its object and functions, 
pursuant to such agreements; 
h) To make and adopt its own By-laws, rules and regulations consistent with the 
provisions of this Act and the laws of the Philippines and generally do such acts 
and things, including the establishment of regulations for the election of its 
successors, as may be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Act and 
to promote the purposes of the said organization: Provided, that the said 
organization shall have no power to issue certificates of stock or to declare or pay 
dividends, its objectives and purposes being solely of benevolent character and 
not for the pecuniary profit of its members; and, 
i) 
Generally, to exercise all the powers of a corporation and do all such acts and 
things as may be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Act and 
promote the purposes of said organization. 
 


SECTION 7. Chief Scout. — The President of the Republic of the Philippines shall be 
the Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. 
 
SECTION 8. Vice Chief Scout. — The Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines 
shall be the Vice Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. 
 
SECTION 9. Authority of the Chief Scout and Vice Chief Scout. — The Chief Scout 
and Vice Chief Scout are honorary members of the BSP but are not deemed to be 
members of the National Executive Board unless they are duly elected as members 
thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Act and its By-laws. 
 
SECTION 10. National Executive Board. — The governing body of the BSP shall 
consist of a National Executive Board, the members of which shall be Filipino citizens of 
good moral character. The Board shall be composed of the following: 
a) Secretary of the Department of Education; 
b) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government; 
c) National President of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines; 
d) Regular Chairmen of the geographical regions to be known as Scout Regions who 
shall be elected by the representatives of all the chartered Provincial, City or 
conglomerate of cities and municipalities to be known as Local Councils within the 
region during its meeting called for this purpose; 
e) One Senior/Rover Scout each from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao areas, to be 
elected during the conference of Scouts ages 13-26 known as the Scout Youth 
Forum in their respective geographical areas; 
f) 
Twelve (12) regular members to be elected by the members of the National 
Council in its meeting called for this purpose; 
g) Fifteen (15) additional members from the private sector; and 
h) The immediate past president of the Board as ex-officio member. 
Thereafter, the National Executive Board, as herein fully constituted, shall elect from 
among themselves the following officers of the BSP: 
a) 
President; 


b) 
Senior Vice President; 
c) 
One (1) Vice President each from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao areas; 
d) 
Treasurer 
e) 
Chief National Commissioner; 
f) 
International Commissioner; and 
g) 
Such other officers as the Board may deem necessary. 
The numerical composition as well as the qualifications and manner of electing the 
abovementioned members of the National Executive Board shall also be provided for in 
the By-Laws. 
 
The term of office of the members of the Board shall be one (1) year, except for the 
regular members elected by the National Council whose terms shall be three (3) years. 
However, all incumbent elective officers of the BSP whose terms have not yet expired at 
the effectivity of this Act shall be allowed to serve the unexpired portion of their terms as 
herein provided for and the President shall be eligible for reelection. 
 
Vacancies in the National Executive Board shall be filled by a majority vote of the 
remaining members and a member thus elected shall serve only for the unexpired term. 
 
Owing to the voluntary nature of their services and involvement in the organization, the 
officers and members of the National Executive Board shall serve without any kind of 
compensation, allowances or emoluments. 
 
SECTION 11. Powers and Functions of the National Executive Board. — The 
National Executive Board shall exercise the following powers and functions: 
a) To make and to amend the By-Laws subject to the ratification by a majority vote of 
the members present at a meeting of the National Council or at special meeting 
called for this purpose; 
b) To authorize and cause to be executed mortgages and liens upon the property of 
the BSP by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the whole Board in a meeting called for this 
purpose; 


c) To designate five (5) or more of their members to constitute an executive or 
governing committee, of which a majority shall constitute a quorum, through a 
resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board. Such Committee, to the extent 
provided in said resolution or in the By-Laws shall have, and exercise, the powers 
of the National Executive Board in the management of the business affairs of the 
BSP, and may have the power to authorize the seal of the BSP to be affixed to all 
papers which may require it; 
d) To create standing and special committees and appoint the chairmen and 
members thereof from among themselves by an affirmative vote of a majority of 
the whole Board. Such standing committees shall exercise such powers as may 
be authorized by the By-Laws; 
e) To dispose of, in any manner, a part or the whole property of the BSP with the 
consent in writing and pursuant to an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the 
members of the National Council; and, 
f) 
To hold regular meetings at a time and place to be designated in the By-Laws. 
Special meetings of the Board may be called by the National President or upon 
such notice as may be prescribed in the By-Laws; 
g) Appoint and/or remove its officers in accordance with the By-Laws; 
 
SECTION 12. The President. — The President, as voted by the National Executive 
Board, shall have the following powers and functions: 
a) Exercise general supervision and authority over the regular course of business, 
affairs, and property of the BSP, and over its employees and officers; 
b) Ensure that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect; 
c) Submit to the Board as soon as possible, after the close of each fiscal year, at the 
annual meeting, if applicable, a complete report of the operations of the BSP for 
the preceding year, and the state of its affairs; 
d) Report to the Board from time to time all matters which the interest of the BSP 
may require to be brought to its notice; and 
e) Perform such other duties and responsibilities as the Board may require. 
 


SECTION 13. National Council. — The National Council is the highest corporate 
policy-making body of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines that shall manage its affairs and 
business. The National Council shall be composed of the following members: 
a) The members of the National Executive Board; 
b) The Regional Scout Commissioner; 
c) The Regional Scout Commissioner, 
d) A person duly appointed and commissioned by the National Executive 
e) The Chairmen and Commissioners of all Local Councils; and, 
f) 
Other duly accredited delegates of all Local Councils as may be provided in the 
By-Laws. 
 
The qualifications, terms of office, and the manner of electing the abovementioned 
members of the National Council shall be prescribed in the By-Laws. 
The numerical composition of the National Council shall be provided for in the By-
Laws. Provided, that all regions and all local councils shall be duly represented therein 
by at least two (2) duly accredited delegates in addition to those who are members of 
the National Executive Board as provided for under Section 11 of this Act. 
The National Council shall convene annually in a convention assembled for the 
purpose. Special meetings of the National Council may be called upon such notice as 
may be prescribed in the By-laws. One-third (1/3) of the members of the National 
Council shall constitute a quorum to do business during meetings. 
The National Council and the National Executive Board shall have the power to 
hold their meetings and keep the seal, books, documents, and papers of the BSP within 
or outside Metropolitan Manila. 
The National President shall preside over the meetings of the National Council. 
Each local council represented in the annual or special meeting of the National Council 
shall be entitled to four (4) votes plus one (1) vote for every ten thousand (10,000) of 
their scout membership. The members of the National Executive Board and the life 
members shall each be entitled to one (1) vote. 
 


SECTION 14. Powers and Duties of the National Council. — The National Council 
shall exercise the following powers and functions: 
a) To hold an Annual National Council Meeting at a time and place to be designated 
in the By-Laws. The purpose of such meetings is to discuss the national concerns 
and issues of each Local Council for the proper governance of the Boy Scouts of 
the Philippines; 
b) To approve and/or ordain any amendments to the national By-Laws; 
c) To require the majority vote of the National Council before the cause of any lien, 
encumbrance or disposition of any real property; 
d) To propose the creation of any committee either governing or special to govern or 
do any legal task that the Regional or Local Councils may require; and, 
e) All other powers necessary for the effective management of the affairs of the 
Regional and Local Councils as long as they are not inconsistent with the 
decisions and powers of the National Executive Board and the powers and duties 
provided for in the By-Laws. 
 
SECTION 15. Exclusivity Clause. — The Boy Scouts of the Philippines shall adopt 
and shall have the sole and exclusive right to use its own distinctive titles, emblems, 
descriptive or designing marks, words and phrases, badges, uniforms and insignia in 
carrying out its program in accordance with the purposes of this Act, and which shall be 
published in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines. 
a) The BSP shall adopt distinctive emblems, badges, insignias, uniforms and other 
equipment which shall be made available to and used only by registered Scouts or 
officials who have satisfactorily complied with the international requirements and 
which BSP shall use in carrying out its program consistent with purpose of this Act. 
The BSP shall cause the registration of said emblems, badges, insignias, uniforms 
and other equipment in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 8293, 
otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code pf the Philippines, as amended. 
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is hereby directed to cause said registration 
free of charge. 


b) The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Intellectual Property Office 
(IPO) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall refuse the registration 
of associations, the registration of trade names and the filling of trademarks, 
commercial marks and industrial models and designs making use of the emblems, 
badges, insignias, uniforms and other equipment of the Boy Scouts of the 
Philippines or their translation in any official language and dialect in violation of 
this Act. 
 
SECTION 16. Fiscal Incentives. — Any donation or contribution which from time to 
time may be made to the Boy Scouts of the Philippines by the Government or any of its 
subdivisions, branches, offices, agencies or instrumentalities or by a foreign 
government or by private entities and individuals shall be expended by the National 
Executive Board in pursuance of this Act. The BSP shall be entitled to the following tax 
and duty privileges: 
a) Exemption from income tax pursuant to Section 30 (e), (g) and (h) of the National 
Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended; 
b) Tax and/or duty exemption of donations from foreign countries as provided under 
relevant laws such as but not limited to Section 105 of the Tariff and Customs 
Code of the Philippines, as amended, and Section 109 (q) of the National Internal 
Revenue Code of 1997, as amended; 
c) Exemption from all direct and indirect taxes, including value-added tax (VAT), 
capital gains tax, income tax, fees and other charges of all kinds on all income 
derived from its operations, scout shops, and other economic enterprise, including 
the use, lease or sale of its real properties and the provisions of services; 
d) Exemption from the direct and indirect taxes, including VAT, duties, fees and other 
charges on importations and purchases for its exclusive use; 
e) Tax and/or duty exemption of donations from foreign countries as provided under 
relevant laws such as, but not limited to, Section 105 of the Tariff and Customs 
Code of the Philippines, as amended, and Section 109 (K) of the National Internal 
Revenue Code of 1997, as amended; 


f) 
Exemption from payment of any tax or duty for any donation or contribution which 
from time to time may be made to the Boy Scouts of the Philippines by the national 
or local government or any of its subdivisions, branches, offices, agencies or 
instrumentalities or by foreign governments or international scout organizations, 
foundations, private corporations or entities and individuals which shall be used by 
the organization in accordance with the provisions of this Act; 
g) Exemption from payment of real property taxes on all real properties owned by it; 
and, 
h) The BSP shall like wise be exempt from payment from all other taxes, duties, 
imposts, and charges. 
 
Likewise, all donations, legacies and gifts made to the Boy Scout of the Philippines to 
support its purposes and objectives shall be exempt from the donor's tax and shall be 
deductible from the gross income of the donor for income tax purposes or from the 
computation of the donor-decedent's net estate as a transfer for public use for estate 
tax purposes. 
 
SECTION 17. Prohibited Acts. — From and after the passage of this Act, it shall be 
unlawful for any person within the jurisdiction of the Philippines: 
a) to falsely and fraudulently wear the Boy Scouts of the Philippines uniform, call 
himself as, or represent himself to be a member of, or an agent for, the Boy 
Scouts of the Philippines; 
b) to manufacture, sell or distribute or cause to be manufactured, sold or distributed 
fraudulently or without the official knowledge and written approval of the National 
Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines badges, uniforms, insignia, 
or Scouting paraphernalia or the photos or visuals of a Scout or Scouts in uniform, 
or the logo, seal, motto, slogan, Scout Oath and law, neckerchief, badge, emblem, 
or corporate name of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, in any print ad, radio or 
television commercial, billboard, collateral material or any form of advertisement, 
including the internet, or on any clothing material, polo, polo shirt, jackets and the 


likes, pen, ball pen, pencils, book, notebook or any writing material and other 
similar items goods and clothing; 
c) to use the name of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines in any illegal purpose or 
personal or economic gain. 
 
Any violation of the provisions of this Act shall be punished by prision correccional in its 
maximum period to prision mayor in its medium period and fine of not less than Five 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 500,000.00) nor more than One Million (Php 
1,000,000.00). Provided, that in case of corporations, partnerships, associations, 
societies or companies, the manager, administrator or the person in charge of the 
management or administration of the business shall be criminally responsible for any 
such violation. 
 
This shall be without prejudice to the applicable penalties for violations of the intellectual 
property rights of the BSP under the Intellectual Code of the Philippines, as amended, 
as well as other applicable laws. 
 
SECTION 18. Transitory Clause. — Until such time that the organization and 
restructuring of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines in accordance with this Act is effected, 
the incumbent officers and members of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts 
of the Philippines shall conduct the affairs of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and take 
the necessary steps to effect such reorganization until a new set of national officers 
shall have been elected within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
 
SECTION 19. Repealing Clause. — Commonwealth Act. No. 111, Presidential Decree 
No. 460, Republic Act No. 7278, and Executive Order 509 (series of 1992) are hereby 
repealed and/or amended accordingly. All other laws, orders and proclamations, rules 
and regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this 
Act or its purposes are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 


SECTION 20. Separability Clause. — If for any reason, any provision of this Act or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remaining 
provisions not affected thereby shall be in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 21. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,