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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENAT.EO'/(2 
S. 8. No, 
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Introduced by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Central Visayas is considered a valuable asset of the country being one of the vital 
contributors to our economy especially in terms of toudsm, Apart from its world-renowned 
tourist destinations and its famous historical landmarks and picturesque attractions such as the 
Chocolate Hills and the centuries-old cllurches built out of rocks and limestone, it is a symbol of 
the Philippines' rich and colorful historical and strong religious foundation. 
Almost this entire national heritag" was toppled down by a 7,2 magnitude quake that hit 
the region at eight o'clock in the morning of October 15, 2013, Tuesday, particularly in the 
Province of Bohol. Over a hundred and ninety lives were lost. Millions of pesos worth of 
properties, such us school buildings, government infrastmcture, business and public 
establishments like hospitals were destroyed and declared uninhabitable and no longer fit for 
further use due to the ~amages ,incurred during the ,said quake and because of possible collapse 
that might come up as major tremors and aftershocks are still being felt days after the major 
calamity transpired. Moreover, the celebrated historical churches and tourist attractions, most of 
which are declared national historical landmarks like the Loboc Church and Baclayon Church in 
Bohol and even the bell-tower of the Sto. Nino Basilica of Cebu were brought down into mbbles. 
This unfortunate event really had a great impact not only on the lives of the victims 
themselves but that of the whole country as well. Certainly, the rehabilitation and reconstmction 
would take time more so with the moral and emotional recovery of the people who really 
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experienced great losses brought about by one of the mos\ unpredictable and catastrophic natural 
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disasters that often hit the country. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval ofthis bill is earnestly sought. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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OCT 22 n :13 
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15, 
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SENATE 
S.B.No. 
1872 
Introduced by Se~lator Juan Ponce Enrile 
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AN ACT APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF TEN BILLION PESOS FOR THE AID, 
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RELIEF, RESETTLEMENT, REHABILITATION AND LIVELIHOOD SERVICES AS 
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WELL AS INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE 
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EARTHQUAKE IN CENTRAL VISAYAS, CREATING THE CENTRAL VISAYAS 
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ASSISTANCE, RESETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, AND FOR 
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OTHER PURPOSES 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall ,be known as the" Central Visayas Assistance, 
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Resettlement and Development Fund." 
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Section 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to assist 
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the victims in the communities damaged or destroyed or adversely afIected by the 7.2 magnitude 
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earthquake and its afterefIects by extending to them aid, relief, resettlement, rehabilitation or 
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repair and reconstruction of infrastructure to the end that life may retum to normalcy at the 
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earliest possible time and the development of Central Visayas may be accelerated. 
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It is hereby further declared the policy of the State to restore the living conditions of the 
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Boholanos, Cebuanos and other members of the communities in the region to their productive 
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pre-emihquake conditions, with the settlement being chosen according to its suitability as 
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permanent abodes thereby ensuring the improvement of these communities. 


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Countless individuals, organizations and financial institutions here and abroad, as well as 
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foreign governments, have spontaneously and unselfishly contributed their time, effOli and 
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resources which the State acknowledges with gratitude . 
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Section 3. Statement of Objectives and Guidelines. - This Act is intended to help the 
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victims of the earthquake in Central Visayas and its after-effects. It aims to provide additional 
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funds for the immediate relief of the v.ictim·s; t6 establish resettlement centers, homesites and 
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townsites for displaced families; to provide livelihood and employment opportunities; to repair, 
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reconstruct or replace government infrastructure damaged or destroyed by said disaster whenever 
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economically, socially and technically advisable; and to construct new infrastructure facilities by 
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the community. 
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The term "victims" when used for purposes of this Act refers to the following: 
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(a) Individuals who have died or disappeared as a result of the aforementione 
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earthquake; 
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(b) Individuals who were displaced and/or who sustained injury or suffered death in the 
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family as a result ofthe aforementioned earthquake who need and deserve assistance; and 
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(c) Individuals whose homes have.been or are threatened to be destroyed or rendered 
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uninhabitable and those who have lost pemlanently their livelihood as a direct result of 
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the earthquake who similarly need and deserve assistance. 
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Section 4. Guidelines in the Allocation o.lFullds. - The government funds and resources 
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herein appropriated shall be spent judiciously and effectively in consonance with the principle of 
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providing the greatest good for the greatest number. Accordingly, the following guidelines shall 
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be observed in allocating the funds made available under this Act; 
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(a) Priority shall be given to roads and bridges, communications and power lines, 
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hospitals, 
school buildings, water and irrigation systems, 
churches, business 
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establishments and the repau and reconstruction of government infrastructure and 
facilities such as drainage works, resettlement centers and home sites, and the like; 
(b) Aid, relief, resettlement, rehabilitation and livelihood services shall be equitably 
extended to all victims, irrespective of political or party affiliation, sex, creed, religious 
belief, or ethnic origin, giving emphasis to livelihood and employment opportunities; 
(c) Funds shall be allocated in the first year for the acquisition by appropriate government 
agencies of special equipment, such as amphibians and other equipment designed for use 
in the affected areas in an amount not to exceed Fifty million pesos (PSO,OOO,OOO); and 
(d) No money shall be released without any identified program and project nor shall it be 
used to pay obligations incurred before the approval of this Act. 
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Section 5. Appropriations Clause. - To carry out the purposes of this Act, the sum of 
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Ten billion pesos (PIO,OOO,OOO,OOO) is hereby appropriated out of any available funds in the 
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National Treasury not otherwise appropriated. 
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The amount shall cover the rehabilitation, repair and reconstruction of roads, bridg , 
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school buildings, government buildings, Department of Health and regional hospitals, hospital 
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equipment, supplies .and medicines and .other infrastructures; purchase of school desks; purchase 
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of relocation sites and construction of housing units; and funding for the Comprehensive 
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Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS) under the Department of Social Welfare and 
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Development, livelihood programs and SUPPOli to those who have lost their jobs. 
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Section 6. Creation of the Central Visayas Assistance, Resettlement and Development 
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COlllmission. - For purposes of this Act, there is hereby created the Central Visayas Assistance, 
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Resettlement and Development Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission. 
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It shall be organized within thirty (30) days after the approval of this Act. It shall have a 
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term of six (6) years from its organization: provided, that the President by proclamation may, 
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within six (6) months prior to the expiration of the term, extend the period of its existence once 
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for not more than three (3) years. 
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For administrative purposes, the Commission shall be attached to the Office of the 
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President. 
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Section 7. Powers of the Commissioll. - To can:y out its objectives under this Act, the 
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Commission shall have the following powers: 
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(a) To formulate policies and' plans for the relief, rehabilitation, resettlement and 
livelihood services as well as intrastructure suppOli in harmony with the other plans and 
policies of the National Government and other agencies snch as the National Disaster 
Risk Reduction and Management Council; 
(b) To make a determination of the areas and infrastructure which need retro-fitting, 
rehabilitation and reconstruction to spare communities and/or minimize damage to lives, 
habitation, infrastructure, agricultural and other resources; 
(c) To prioritize and coordinate the implementation of the various programs and projects 
of the Commission; 
(d) To sue and be sued in its name, and to adopt, alter and use a seal; 
(e) To enter into, make, perform flnd carry out contracts of every class, kind and 
description which are necessary to the realization of its purposes with any person, firm or 
corporation, private or public, and, upon consultation with the President, with foreign 
government entities, subject to the usual accounting and auditing requirements; 
(f) To apply tor, receive and accept grants and donation of funds, equipment, materials 
and services needed for the development of the area, within and outside the Philippines; 
(g) To monit?r the progress of the relief, rehabilitation, resettlement and livelihood as 
well as infrastructure snpport programs and projects; 
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(h) To coordinate and consult with concerned national and local officials, both elective 
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and appointive, as well as accredited non-government organizations (NGOs) in the 
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prioritization and prosecution ofthe programs and projects; 
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(i) To call upon any depatiment, office, instrumentality, agency, or any political 
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subdivision of the Government for such assistance as may be necessary for the attainment 
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of the objectives of the Commission; and 
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(j) In general, to perform such other powers as may be necessary and proper to carry out 
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the purposes of this Act. 
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Section 8. Compositioll of the Commissioll. - The Commission shall be composed of 
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members to be appointed by the President: the Secretaries of the Department of Public Works 
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and Highways (DPWH), Depatiment of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), 
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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), two (2) from the private sector, the 
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Administrator of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), 
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the Director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PhiIVolcs), and the 
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Commissioner of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as ex officio 
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members. The members of the Commission shall serve for six (6) years unless sooner removed 
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fpr cause. The President ,shall designate from among: the members of the Commission the 
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Chairman thereof. 
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Section 9. Executive Directo/'; Power;" and Respo/Jsibilities. - The President shall 
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appoint a professional manager as the Executive Director of the Commission, who shall serve as 
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the chief executive officer. He shall serve until such time as the Commission is dissolved or 
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unless sooner removed from office by the President. He shall have the following powers and 
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functions: 
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(a) Execute and administer the policies and deci'sions of the Commission; 
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(b) Directly coordinate the activities of all agencies and instlUmentalities of the 
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Government in the planning and implementation of projects on site; 
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(c) Monitor the programs al~d projects and . evaluate . the effects of execution by these 
agencies and instrumentalities and submit to the Commission periodic reports relating to 
the development of the areas; and 
(d) Perform such other functions as are inherently necessary in the operational 
nlanagement of the areas developed in accordance with the policies and guidelines 
formulated by the Commission. 
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Section 10. Quorum. - Six (6) members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum to 
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transact business. The decision of the majority of the members constituting a quorum shall be 
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carried. 
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Section 11. Secretariat of the Commissioll. - The Secretariat of the Commission shall 
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be the Regional Development Councii of the Region 7. 
The Secretariat shall assist he 
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Commission in carrying out its functions. 
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Section 12. Administrative FUlld of the Commissioll. - An amount of Ten 
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Pesos (Php 10,000,000.00) from the Fund is hereby allocated for the administrative expenses of 
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the Commission. 
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Section 13. Su;bmissioll to C;ongress. -The Commission shall submit to the Congress of 
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the Philippines, through the Chairmen of the Committee on Appropriations, in the case of the 
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House of Representatives, and Committee on Finance, in the case of the Senate, an itemized list 
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of projects to be funded under the Fund within thirty days from the approval of the President. 
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No funding for specific project shall be released unless the project has been submitted to 
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the Congress of the Philippines. 
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Section 14. Implementation. - The survey, construction or repair and reconstruction of 
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damaged, destroyed, required or alternate government infrastructure and facilities shall be 
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undertaken by the implementing government agencies concerned by public bidding, 
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administration or through negotiated contracts, subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules 
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and regulations. However, in case of negotiated contracts as of the approval of this Act can be 
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awarded such contracts. Whenever suitable, labor-based technology shall be used in the 
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implementation ofthe programs and projccts. 
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With respect to aid, relief, resettlement, rehabilitation and livelihood services to 
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individual beneficiaries, the Commission may seek the assistance and use the services of the 
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Philippine National Red Cross and all other relief agencies and volunteer organizations with 
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l)roveh record in providing relief work. 
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The departments and agencies of the Government involved with the 
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resettlement, rehabilitation and livelihood serVices as well as infrastructure support shall 
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continue to be the implementing agencies of the Commission and shall submit to the 
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Commission every quarter the data and information required under Section 16 hereof. 
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Section 15. Preference for Local Residents. - Residents in the affected areas, especially 
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the victims, shall be given preference in hiring or employment in the construction or repair and 
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reconstruction of da111aged or destroyed government infrastructure and facilities and other labor 
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requirements in all other projects. 
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Section 16. Report to Congress. - The Commission shall submit to the President and to 
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Congress a detailed quarterly report on the funds allocated indicating the amount released, 
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obligated and disbursed for: 
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(a) Aid, relief, resettlement, rehabilitation and livelihood services, including the list of 
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names of approved individual beneficiaries and contractors and the evaluation of the 
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effectiveness of the delivery systems of such services; and 
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(b) Construction or repair and reconstruction of infrastructure projects, including the list 
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of contractors and projects being financed, and the accomplishments for the expended 
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appropriations, including the percentage of completion. 
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The Commission shall cause to be disseminated in the community the list of beneficiaries 
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and contractors mentioned above. 
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The Commission shall also submit as part of the quarterly report a list of 10 
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foreign donors and the nature o'f their donations. 
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Section 17. Punishable Acts. ~ Any person who takes advantage of the ca 
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buying and selling relief goods which he knows or should be known to him as intended for 
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donation, or misrepresenting the source of relief goods, or submitting or approving a false or 
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inflated claim shall be prosecuted and, upon conviction, suffer a fine of not less than Fifty 
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thousand pesos (Php50,000.00) nor more than One million pesos (PI,OOO,OOO.OO) or 
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imprisonment for not less than six (6) years nor more than fifteen (15) years, or both, at the 
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discretion of the cOUli, including perpetual disqualification from public office if he is a public 
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officer, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the Government of any prohibited interest. If 
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the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or other juridical entity, the penalty shall 
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be imposed upon the .officer or officers of the corporation, partnership, association, or entity 
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responsible for the violation and, if such an alien, he shall, in addition to the penalties prescribed, 
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be deported without further proceedings after service of sentence. 
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Section 18. Rules and Regulations. - The President shall, within ten (l0) days after the 
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organization of the Commission, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
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implementation of this Act. 
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Section 19. Separability Clause. -
If any provision of this Act shall be held 
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions nol otherwise affected shall remain in full force 
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and effect. 
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Section 20. Repealing Clause. - Any law, decree, or rules and regulations which are 
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inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or repealed. 
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Section 21. E.tfectivity Clause. - This Act shall·take effect upon its publication in at Ie 
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two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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