Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, _ 2093

Introduced by HON. MA. AMELITA A. CALIMBAS - VILLAROSA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article Il, Section 27 of the Constitution states that, “The state shall
maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and
effective measures against graft and corruption.”

Despite this constitutional mandate, there is still pervasive corruption in
the Government. In a study funded by the Asia Foundation in 1999, roughly
twenty-two percent (22%) of the respondents said that they have been
personally asked for money by a government official at some point to speed up
transaction,

Such occurrences may partly be attributed to the fact that many are not
familiar with the procedures necessary to transact business with government
agencies. To solve this problem, the World Bank through its book Combating
Corruption in the Philippines proposed that all government agencies be
required to post each step of procedure to obtain a particular service; person/s
responsible for each step; maximum time to conclude the process; amount of
fees if necessary; and procedure for filing complaints.

In view thereof, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

MAYAMELITA C. CALIMBAS - VILLAROSA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo, __ 2053

Introduced by HON. MA. AMELITA A. CALIMBAS - VILLAROSA

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE FRONTLINE
SERVICES TO PROVIDE PUBLIC INFORMATION ON HOW TO ACCESS
SUCH SERVICES FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICES.

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State,
consistent with the Constitution, to promote and maintain integrity, competence,
and efficiency in public service and to take positive and effective measures
against graft and corruption.

SECTION 2. Information to Access Government Service. -All units
of the government, including departments, bureaus, offices, instrumentalities,
or government-owned or controlled corporations, or local government or distinct
units therein, that provide frontline services to the public shall put-up
information billboards, and if feasible produce handbooks that detail:

. each step of procedure to obtain a particular service;
employee/officer responsible for each step;
maximum time to conclude the process;

|. document/s to be presented by the requesting party, if necessary;
amount of fees, if necessary, and;
procedure for filing complaints in cases of violations or negligence in the
implementation of this Act.

>@a0T7D

SECTION 3. Language. Information billboards shall be in the
language most commonly used in the area where the government agency is
located and in the English language, at the option of the agency concemed

SECTION 4. Maintenance of Billboards. —Information billboards shall
be updated regularly and maintained in good and readable condition at all
times.


SECTION 5. Location of Billboards. ~Information billboards shall be
posted at the entrance of the government agencies concemed

SECTION 6. Extension of Period to Conclude the Process. Under
unusual circumstances, the maximum time to access government service as
indicated in the billboard or handbook may be extended within a reasonable
period; Provided, that the agencies concerned shall notify the requesting party
of the cause of extension and the final date of release of the document/s
requested.

SECTION 7. Denial of Request for Access to Government Service.
- Any denial of request or access to government service shall be fully
explained in writing, signed by the employee / officer denying such request and
the grounds thereof. Any denial of request is deemed to have been made with
the permission or clearance from the highest authority having jurisdiction over
the government agency concerned.

SECTION 8. Penalties. —Any public officer or employee who violates
or is negligent in the performance of the provisions thereof, shall be punished
by a fine of not less than one hundred pesos nor more than one thousand
pesos, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both, at the discretion of
the Court. The violation of this Act proven in a proper administrative
proceeding shall be sufficient cause for removal or dismissal of a public officer
or employee, even if no criminal prosecution is instituted against the former.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -The
Government agencies concerned shall, within (60) days from the approval
hereof, promulgate the appropriate rules and regulations in implementing the
provisions of this Act

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. -\f, for any reason, any part or
provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, other parts or
provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full
force and effect.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. —All laws, decrees, executive orders,
tules and regulations, issuances or any parts thereof inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are deemed repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity. —This Act shall take effect after fifteen days
following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved