FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regular Session 
) 
, 
SENATE 
S. NO. _=2~5:.>:!3,-
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II, Section 9 of the Constitution affinns that the State shall promote a just and 
dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and 
free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, 
promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for 
all. 
The present socio-economic condition of our country, however, runs counter to the 
aforesaid policy of the State. The Philippines has one of the highest levels of income 
inequality in Asia, with the poorest twenty percent (20%) of the population accounting 
for only five percent (5%) of total income or consumption. I Poverty is most severe and 
most widespread in rural areas, where almost eighty percent (80%) of the country's poor 
people live. Most of them depend for a livelihood on subsistence farming and fishing. 
This unrelenting rise of poverty incidence coupled with the low economic growth in the 
countryside have resulted to migration to urban areas. Urban poverty in the Philippines, 
especially in Metro Manila, l1as increased over the past three (3) years from 17.9% to 
20.4%.' 
Although there have been efforts to address the crisis of poverty through livelihood 
programs, with the direct involvement of government agencies and institutions, many 
problems persist. Lack of coordination among these agencies and wasteful dUplication of 
efforts and initiatives are the most prominent of these problems. 
In lieu of this, this bill seeks to establish a National Livelihood Development Council 
which is tasked to fonnulate a comprehensive and integrated livelihood development 
program for the country. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
~'-+"--++-\\ -
-J \\ 
---
o "SONNY" F. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
t Information retrieved from' htt.u;ll\Wffi'..J!!Wid.K,Qv.au!country/couttlIYJ;fu1?Countrvllr-31. Retrieved on 22 July 2008. 
2 Information retrieved from: hlln;LLWJY1YAldb . .QrglNGOs/an_nexI009.aw. Retrieved on 22 July 2008, 
1 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
;"11"3 
s. Nb. _..:::';;:....:'V",-",-_ 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. TrilIanes IV 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE NATIONAL LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 
THEREBY INSTITUTIONALIZING THE LIVELIHOOD MOVEMENT OF THE 
PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives (?f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
I 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Livelihood 
2 
Development Act of 20 10". 
3 
4 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
5 
free poor Filipinos from the bondage of poverty, improve their living conditions, and 
6 
them the opportnnity to increase their productive and income-earning capabilities through 
7 
a comprehensive, integrated and effective national development program. 
8 
The State shaH pursue a comprehensive national deVelopment program for the 
9 
socio-economic upliftment of the poorest sector of our population in order to integrate 
10 
them into the mainstream of society, promote social justice and hasten the development 
II 
and industrialization of the countryside. 
12 
13 
SEC. 3. Creation. - There is hereby created a National Livelihood development 
14 
Council (NLDC), under the Office of the President of the livelihood-generating activities 
15 
of all government agencies including government-owned and controlled corporations 
16 
(GOCCs). 
17 
18 
SEC. 4. Purpose. - The Council shall fonnulate a comprehensive and integrated 
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National Livelihood Development program and oversee bits implementation. It shaH also 
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:7 


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create mechanisms and stmctures to integrate all livelihood initiatives particularly within 
2 
the government sector. 
3 
4 
SEC. 5. Powers alld FUllctiolls. - The Council shall have the following powers 
.5 
and functions: 
6 
a. To fonnulate, III accordance with the bottom-up planning approach and in 
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consultation with the concerned sectors, an integrated and comprehensive national 
8 
livelihood development program; 
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b. 
To fonnulate, in consultation with the concerned sectors, policies, standards, and 
10 
guidelines which shall govern the implementation of livelihood programs and 
I J 
projects, including the identification and coordination of various types of assistance 
12 
that should be provided to ensure their effective implementation; 
!3 
c. To review, amend, modifY, and approves all livelihood programs submitted by 
14 
implementing agencies including GOCCs, and to evaluate and recommend the 
15 
budgetary allocations of resources for all livelihood programs and projects through 
16 
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), as well as review and endorse to 
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the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) all requests for foreign 
18 
financing whether in the fonn of grants, donations, or loans; 
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d. To monitor and evaluate the implementation of livelihood programs and projects and 
20 
institute measures to address identified gaps, as well as decide on whether or not a 
21 
certain livelihood program or project based on monitoring and evaluation results; 
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e. To establish effective unified mechanisms for program planning and implementation; 
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f. To review, amend, modifY, and approve all provincial/city livelihood development 
24 
programs with national funding to ensure that these confonn and are consistent with 
25 
the various agencies plans and programs; 
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g. To provide and disseminate information and data on livelihood projects initiatives 
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and concerns to agencies concerned and point out actual or possible duplication 
28 
among livelihood projects; 
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h. To authorize expenditures of the Council as may be necessary for the proper, efficient 
2 
and effective administration of the National Livelihood Development Program; 
3 
1. 
To promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary for the effective exercise of 
4 
the powers and functions of the Council; 
5 
J. 
To improve and recommend to the Department of Budget and Management the 
6 
annual and supplemental budgets for the Council; 
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k. To create form among themselves such working committees necessary for the 
8 
efficient and effective operation of the Council; 
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I. To .support the promotion and marketing of livelihood enterprises; and 
10m. To provide a continuing education and information dissemination program on 
II 
enterprise management. 
12 
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SEC. 6. Composition of the Council. - The Council shall be composed of a 
14 
ChaiIman to be appointed by the President of the Philippines and the following as 
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members: 
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a. The most senior official directly responsible for the overall management of livelihood 
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programs and projects of the following agencies: the Department of Social Welfare 
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and Development (DSWD), the Department of Trade and Indnstry (DTI), the 
19 
Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Agrarian reform 
20 
(DAR); and the Department of Environment and natnral Resources (DENR). 
21 
b. Heads of the Livelihood Corporation and the Technology and Livelihood Resource 
22 
Center; 
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c. The most semor official of each Government Financing Institntions directly 
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responsible for the overall management of the agency's livelihood assistance program 
25 
and/or lending window; 
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d. Head of the NEDA Social Development Committee; 
27 
e. Two (2) non-governnIental organization representatives involved in livelihood 
, 
28 
programs, to be chosen by the same sector through a process desigued by them; 
3 


I 
f. 
Five (5) private sector representatives designated by the private sector representatives 
2 
designated by the Council coming from any of following sectors: agricultnre, 
3 
industry, youth and finance/banking; and 
4 
g. Two (2) representatives of people's organization to be chosen by the same sector 
5 
through a process designated by them. 
6 
SEC. 7. Secretariat. -
To render technical and administrative support, the 
7 
Livelihood Corporation, created under the Executive Order No. 866, shall provide the 
8 
Secretariat which shall be headed by an Executive Director to be appointed by the 
9 
Chairman of the Council. 
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The Secretariat shall work closely with the provincial/city livelihood committees 
lIon the aspects of monitoring and evaluating the implementation of livelihood programs. 
12 
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SEC. 8. Local Livelihood Committees. -
The Provincial/City Livelihood 
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Committee shall be composed of the provincial/city representatives of the member 
15 
government agencies of the Council. The Committees shall report to the Secretariat with 
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respect to'the implementation of livelihood programs of the respective agencies in line 
17 
with policies of the Council. The PLC shall be responsible for preparing a provincial/city 
18 
livelihood development plan for submission to and approval by the Council. The 
19 
provincial/city livelihood development plan shall be formulated and implemented with 
20 
maximum participation and involvement of NGOs and POs in the concerned 
21 
province/city. 
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SEC. 9. Implementing Guidelines. -
The Council shall formulate and issue 
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within six (6) months after the approval of this Act the necessary implementing 
25 
guidelines which shall include but not limited to the following: 
26 
a. Definition of Livelihood Programs and Projects 
4 


1 
b. Livelihood programs and projects shall include all those activities and schemes 
2 
involving govermnent funds that are allocated to non-government recipients in order 
3 
to generate income and employment; and 
4 
c. Eligibility Criteria 
5 
To be qualified for appropriate assistance, an individual or group proponent must belong 
6 
to any of the following categories: 
7 
I. Those who are barely able to survive because of severe material and/or social 
8 
deprivation and with no regular sufficient income; 
9 
2. Those with regular but low income (i.e., minimum wage); 
10 
3. Micro entrepreneurs and wage earners with regular income above the minimum 
11 
wage but not sufficient to maintain a family life; and 
12 
4. Small and starting entrepreneurs and professionals, farmers and fishermen with 
13 
viable operations and projects needing some assistance to stabilize or expand their 
14 
enterprises. 
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The Council shall adopt a framework that recognizes the developmental stages inherent 
16 
in the objective of graduating as many of the poor outside of the poverty continuum. In 
17 
this regard, the Council is empowered to identifY and/or specifY the roles of each 
18 
government financial institutions. 
19 
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SEC. 10. Powers and Functions of the Council Chairman. - The Chairman shall 
21 
have the following powers and functions: 
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a. To preside over all meetings of the Council; 
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b. To exercise overall supervision of the activities of the Council; and 
24 
c. To execute in behalf of the Council any contract or agreement as may be necessary 
25 
for proper, efficient and effective administration ofthe Council. 
26 
27 
SEC. 11. Powers and Duties of Executive Director. - The Executive Director 
28 
shall exercise the following powers and duties: 
5 


.' . 
1 
a. To execute the policies, guidelines and programs approved by the COlmcil and to be 
2 
responsible for the efficient discharge of management and operational functions of 
3 
the Council; 
4 
b. To recommend the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Secretariat to 
5 
the Council; 
6 
c. 
To review and submit for the consideration and approval of the Council proposed 
7 
measures, policies, guidelines, and programs, as slhe may deem necessary for the 
8 
effective implementation of this Act; 
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d. To direct and supervise the day to day operations of the Secretariat; and 
10 
e. To exercise such powers and functions and perform such other duties as may be 
II 
vested or imposed upon him by the Council. 
12 
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SEC. 12. Appropriatiolls. - Such sums as may be necessary to canoy out the 
14 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year 
15 
following its enactment into law and thereafter. 
16 
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SEC. 13. Allllual Report. - The Council shall submit to the President of the 
18 
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives an annual report on its operations 
19 
and accomplishments. 
20 
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SEC. 14. Repealillg Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations or 
22 
parts thereof, inconsistent with this Acvt are hereby repealed, amended, modified 
23 
accordingly. The provisions of this Act shall not be repealed, amended or modified, 
24 
nnless expressly so provided in subsequent general or special laws. 
25 
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SEC. 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
27 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
28 
circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved, 
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