Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congres:
First Regular Session

1655

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Neptali M. Gonzales II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill provides foe the granting of good conduct time allowance to
prisoners who will participate in literacy skills and development programs
while inside the penal institutions amending for the purpose Article 97,
Chapter Il of the Revised Penal Code.

It is of common knowledge that many prisoners are unschooled or are
illiterate. Ignorance is the reason why they usually transgress the law and
land in jail.

This bill will give inmates the opportunity to be educated, develop
skills and strengthen their moral values while under detention, Most of all,
it will reduce their sentence and thus shorten their stay in prison.

Hence, the approval of this bill is highly recommended.

NEPT£ALI M. GONZALES II


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

1055

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Neptali M. Gonzales II

AN ACT
GRANTING GOOD CONDUCT TIME ALLOWANCE TO PRISONERS WHO
PARTICIPATE IN LITERACY, SKILLS AND VALUES DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
ARTICLE 97 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
REVISED PENAL CODE

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to
promote the correction and rehabilitation of prisoners by providing
opportunities for increasing their literacy skills and strengthening their
moral values thereby facilitating their reintegration into the mainstream of
society as reformed and productive citizens. Towards this end, the State
shall recognize efforts of prisoners for self-improvement by granting them
good conduct time allowance as envisioned under Article 97, Chapter II of

the Revised Penal Code.


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SEC, 2. Coverage - This Act shall cover detention prisoners in
detention facilities of law enforcement agencies and those prisoners serving
sentence by virtue of final judgment in the Bureau of Corrections and the

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BUMP).

SEC, 3, Good Conduct Time Allowance ~ Any prisoner who has
earned or is making satisfactory progress towards warning a post-graduate
of college degree, high school or elementary grade diploma, vocational or
technical skill or values development certificate or those who are being
utilized to teach subjects or courses in the aforecited programs shall be
granted time credit towards the service of sentence: Provided, That the time

credit shall not exceed fifteen (15) days for every month of study time.

SEC. 4, Program Implementation. - The academic, vocational skills
and values development programs for prisoners shall be implemented in
coordination with the Department of Education, Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority and other recognized institutions and

organization.

SEC, 5. Authority to Grant Good Conduct Time Allowance. - The

Director of the Bureau of Corrections, the Chief of the BJMP, wardens of

provincial and sub-provincial jails and the Director of the National Bureau
of Investigation shall have the authority to assess, evaluate and grant good
time allowances to prisoners, subject to the approval of the Secretary of
Justice, Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government

(DILG) or the Provincial Governor, as the case may be.


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SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of
Justice and the Secretary of the DILG shall, within sixty (60) days from the
approval of this Act, shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary

for its effective implementation.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - In case any provision hereof is
declared unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared and affected
shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules and regulations or parts
thereof, which are contrary to or are inconsistent with this Act are hereby

repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation

Approved,