EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
I No. 4573

House
EXPLANATORY NOTE

Since 2015, the Philippine GDP Annual Growth Rate has been anywhere from 5.5 to
7.2. However, we are still very much focused in Metro Manila as shown by the fact that, as
per data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, around 40% of business establishments with
a total employment of 20 and over in the formal sector of the economy are in NCR; majority
of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are also in NCR with 192,316
establishments.

This has resulted in overcrowding in Metro Manila and a very, very bad traffic
situation. There is therefore a need to spread the attention to the different parts of country,
especially in Mindanao.

Hence this bill which is aimed at creating a more progressive Philippines for every
Filipino through

1. Conducting periodic comprehensive studies on focusing on challenges and
‘opportunities for regional economic development;

2. Ensure quality health and education facilities in all regions;

3. Establishment of Regional Centers of Excellence;

4. Determine the appropriate region and specific location to transfer selected
National Government Agencies (NGA) including the transfer of the various NGAs;
and

5. Establish mechanisms of decentralization including procurement procedures
implemented at a regional level, among others.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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RUFI }. RODRIGUEZ


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
4573

House Bill No.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL ECONOMIC DECENTRALIZATION PLAN TO FACILITATE
FURTHER GROWTH IN ALL REGIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “The Progresibong Pilipinas Para
sa Lahat ng Pilipino Act’.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to ensure the equitable
distribution of wealth and opportunity to each Filipino through good governance in
conjunction with consistent national policies, coordinated regional strategies, and a clear
blueprint towards a progressive Philippines for every Filipino.

Section 3. Philippine Decentralization Committee. — There is hereby created a Philippine
Decentralization Committee (PDC) to be chaired by the Executive Secretary with the
following members

Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);
Secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF);

Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM);

Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr);

Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA);
Representative from the League of Governors;

Representative from the League of Cities; and

Experts from the private sector and the academe in the following, but not limited
to, fields of expertise: urban planning and management, supply chain
management, and agro-business, and industrial growth.

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Section 4. Philippine Decentralization Plan. - The PDC shall formulate a 5 year midterm,
and a 10 year long-term plan within One Hundred Eighty (180) days from the effectivity of
this Act, containing the following:

a. Comprehensive studies focusing on the challenges and opportunities for regional
economic development; and

b. Assessment of possible relocation sites for government offices and employees
and provision of incentives and benefits therefor.

Section 5. Relocation of National Government Agencies (NGA). - The PDC shall
conduct a comprehensive feasibility study on the possibility of transferring or relocating
NGAs, which will include the necessary infrastructure, technology, equipment, and other
facilities to ensure effective and efficient communication and coordination between and
among the various NGAs with the end view of enhancing the delivery of public goods and


services in the regions/countryside. As far as practicable, each region must have at least
one major NGA.

Section 6. Philippine Healthcare Development Program. - There is hereby established a
Philippine Healthcare Development Program, which provides for an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development by ensuring adequate health facilities to
Support the improvement and sustainability of the healthcare system with the goal of
providing effective and affordable services for the entire Philippine population and improving
health outcomes. The program shall also provide for the establishment of specialty hospitals
within Northern and Southem Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao similar to those currently
existing in Metro Manila such as the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines,
National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and Philippine Orthopedic Center.

Section 7. Regional Centers for Excellence Development Program. — There is hereby
established Regional Centers for Excellence Development Program, which provides assured
funding in the amount of 100 Billion Philippine Pesos (Php 100 Billion) for the establishment
and development of Regional Centers for Excellence outside of Metro Manila focusing on
education and skills development to be determined by the Secretary of the Department of
Education (DepEd), the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and
the Director General Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA).

Section 8. Decentralization of Procurement Procedures for Major NGA Projects. For
major NGA projects located in areas outside Metro Manila, bidding and procurement
mechanisms must be established to allow the aforementioned procedures to take place in
the region/s involved.

Section 9. Provision of Tax Incentives for Industries Locating Outside NCR. - With
purposes of attracting investments and dispersing industries to all regions outside NCR, the
DOF shall be responsible for providing appropriate incentives to locators and investors who
situate or relocate their businesses or enterprises outside Metro Manila.

Section 10. Appropriations and Period of Implementation. - The PDP under this Act
shall be implemented over a period of ten (10) years. Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, and every year thereafter, the President, upon the recommendation of
the PDC, shall prepare the list of specific priority programs, projects and activities that need
to be funded for the year, and submit the same to Congress for its consideration and
approval in a joint resolution of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The annual appropriations for the PDP shall be included in the National Expenditure
Program which reflects the amounts necessary to support the funding requirements for all
programs, activities and projects approved by Congress under the preceding paragraph. The
funds to be appropriated by Congress under this Act shall be treated as a distinct and
separate budget item from the regular appropriation of the implementing agencies and shall
be administered by the heads thereof. For the next five (5) years, there shall be a periodic
review of funding requirements to determine the need for adjustments as necessary.

The PDC shall have an initial funding of 100 Million Philippine Pesos (Php 100
Million) to conduct a comprehensive study referred to in Section 4 of this Act.

Section 11. Annual Reports. - The PDC shall coordinate with the relevant national
government agencies and local government units and prepare a consolidated progress
report of the implementation of all priority programs, projects and activities funded under this
Act

Within the first quarter of the succeeding year, the PDC shall submit an annual report
to the Office of the President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. Such report
shall be made available to the public for scrutiny, copying, and reproduction, and shall also
be uploaded in the PDC’s website.


Section 12, Congressional Oversight Committee. - There is hereby created a
Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor and oversee the implementation of the
provisions of this Act. The Committee shall be composed of six (6) members from the
Senate and six (6) members from the House of Representatives with the Chairpersons of the
Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation of the
Senate and the Committee on Government Reorganization of the House of Representatives
as joint Chairpersons of this Committee. The five (5) other members from each Chamber are
to be designated by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
respectively. The minority shall be entitled to pro rata representation but shall have at least
two (2) representatives from each Chamber.

Section 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional,
the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions hereof.

Section 14. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, orders, issuances or portion thereof,
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

Section 15. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two
(2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,