THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Presidential Decree No. 26 dated 21 OctoQer 1972 extends franking 
privilege to judicial tribunals, one of which were the Courts of Industrial 
Relations (CIR), with respect to papers connected with judicial proceedings in 
order to equip the existing machinery of justice with all the necessary facilities 
which will enable it to act swiftly, since one of the causes for the delay of judicial 
proceedings is the inability of our tribunals to promptly notify the parties of 
scheduled court proceedings for lack of postage stamps. 
Evidently, the primordial consideration in the issuance of the foregoing 
decree does not dwell on the fact that the grantees are part of the Judicial 
Department; rather, it dwells on the fact that they are instrumentalities for the 
redress of the people’s grievances and machineries of justice. 
Two years after, the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) was 
created under I’D 442 on November 1,1974 and, in effect, abolished the Courts of 
lndustrial Relations and the Interim NLRC. However, the NLRC inherited the 
same functions and adjudicatory jurisdiction of the abolished agencies. Thus, it 
has maintained the function as an instrumentality for the redress of the people’s 
grievances and a machinery of justice. Therefore, we find no reason why the 
NLRC should not retain and enjoy the same privilege. 
The foregoing is even bolstered by tlw fact that the abolished CIR which 
was then handling similar cases and exercising similar functions as what the 
NLRC under PD 442 is handling and exercising right now, was categorically 
classified as a ”court of justice” in the landmark case of Metropolitan 
Transportation Service vs. Paredes et al., G.R. No. L-1232, January 12,1948. 
Also, it is worthy to note that in the years 2003 and 2004, Four Million Five 
Hundred Twenty Five Thousand, Four Hundred Forty Nine Pesos and 13/100 
(PHP 4,525,449.13) out of the NLRC‘s Sixty Eight Million One Hundred Fifty 
Nine Thousand pesos (PHP 68,159,000.00) budgetary apprupriation for 
maintenance Operating Expenditures, was disbursed for the purpose of mailing 
its official communications and papers. This is a considerable slice in the meager 
budgetary allocation of the NLRC. 
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Indeed, the grant of fraiiking privilege would be of great help to the 
NLRC considering that its funds basically depend upon the appropriated budget 
and it is not allowed to disburse any part of any income it may earn. Earnings by 
the NLRC automatically revert back to the National Treasury. 
On the basis of the foregoing observation, we firmly stand that the NLRC, 
as one of the administrators and dispensers of justice, falls under these 
government offices/agencies that need the franking privilege in the discharge of 
its public functions. 
Hence, early passage of the bill is hereby earnestly sought. 
EJERCITO ESTRADA 
-Q 
-Senator 
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THIRTEENTH CONGIZESS OF 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 1 
5 SEP 19 ?:I :ot\ 
THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Introdked by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
GRANTING FRANKING PRIVILEGE TO THE NATIONAL LABOR 
RELATIONS COMMISSION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assenzbled: 
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as “An Act Granting Franking 
Privilege to the National Labor Relations Coinmission.” 
SEC. 2. All official communications and papers of the National Labor 
Relations Commission (NLRC) addressed for delivery within the Philippines 
shall be received, transmitted and delivered in the mails of the Philippines free of 
postage: Prouided, that such privilege shall only be utilized to assist and expedite 
the conduct of the official businesses, activities and duties of the National Labor 
Relations Commission and shall not be used for matters which are of a purely 
perscinal nature. 
SEC. 3. All official mail matters availing of this franking privilege must be 
sealed in an official envelope or wrapper indicating therein the name of the 
National Labor Relations Commission with its official seal on the upper left hand 
corner and the printed penalty clause on the lower right hand corner which 


reads: ”Private or unauthorized use to avoid payment of postage is penalizerl by 
fine or imprisonment or both.” 
SEC. 4. There is hereby appropriated annually, out of any funds in the 
National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary to 
carry out the purposes of this Act. 
SEC. 5. The National Ldbor Relatioiis Commission shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act. 
SEC. 6. Penal Puovisioiis. - Any person who shall violate the provisions of 
this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less than Five Thousand Pesos 
(P5,OOO.OO) 
nor more than Ten Thousand Pesos 
(Pl0,OOO.OO) and/or 
imprisonment of not less than One (1) monih nor more than Six (6) Months or 
both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of ere Court. Prosecution 
under this provision shall preclude prosecution for the same act under the 
Revked Penal Code. and vice versa. 
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules 
and regulations, or parts hereof inconsistent with the provision of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or moclified accordingly. 
SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the completion of its publication in the Oficial Gazette or in at least two 
(2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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