Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
 EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Act No. 4007 which was enacted in 1932 abolished the position of Attorney 
General. His functions were taken over by the Secretary of Justice. The Act also 
named the Solicitor General as the head of the Bureau of Justice. The Assistant 
Solicitor General, a position created by Act No. 683 of 1903, became second in 
command of the Bureau. 
As a result of the rapidly burgeoning number of cases involving the Government, 
the Solicitor General after independence was constrained to concentrate on 
advocacy and court appearances. The functions which the Bureau of Justice 
used to have been gradually transferred to newly created offices and divisions of 
the Department of Justice. 
Executive Order No. 94 of 1947 renamed the Bureau of Justice as the Office of 
the Solicitor General. Subsequently, the legislature passed R. A. No. 335 in 
1948 to confirm this change and to provide for a First Assistant Solicitor General 
who would be the second highest official in the Office. 
A succession of laws relieved the Office of the Solicitor General of some of its 
burdens. Section 1660 of the old Administrative Code previously provided that 
the head of the Bureau of Justice "shall have general supervision and control 
over provincial and city fiscals (now prosecutors) and attorneys and over other 
prosecuting officer throughout the Philippines." The Office of Special 
Prosecutors, which the Solicitor General formerly headed, was later converted 
into a Division of Special Attorneys by R.A. No. 311 of 1948. The Office of the 
Government Corporate Counsel, which was headed by the Solicitor General 
under Executive Order No. 392 of 1950, became a separate office in the 
Department of Justice by virtue of R.A. No. 2327. 
October 10, 2022
3:09 pm
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From a motley staff of one Solicitor General, an Assistant Solicitor General and 
a handful of assistant attorneys in the 1900's, the Office of the Solicitor General 
has grown throughout the years. In accordance with E.O No. 292, the 
Administrative Code of 1987, the Solicitor General was assisted by fifteen 
Assistant Solicitors General and more than a hundred Solicitors and Associate 
Solicitors, who are divided into fifteen divisions. In 2006, with the passing of 
Republic Act 9417 or the OSG Law, the Office has expanded to thirty (30) legal 
divisions with a corresponding increase in the general and administrative 
support personnel and provision for ample office space. 
 
 
This House Bill seeks to provide Modernization Funding to the Office of the 
Solicitor General (OSG), to ensure that the country fulfills its commitments to 
provide and deliver the agency’s mandate with efficiency, competence, and above 
all, integrity. For the love of their country and of God, trust that the OSG will 
adhere to its mission to promote and protect the interest of the Republic of the 
Philippines. 
 
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.  
MICHAEL L. ROMERO  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR MODERNIZATION FUNDINGFOR THE OFFICE 
OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL (OSG), INCREASING AND 
REORGANIZING ITS ADMINISTRATION, SECURING JUSTICE FOR 
THE NATION THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN LEGAL ADVOCACY AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 
1. 
DECLARATION OF POLICY – It shall hereby be a declared 
policy of the State to serve as the Republic Defender and People's Tribune 
securing justice for the nation through excellence in legal advocacy. 
The state shall continuously provide excellent legal services to the Republic of 
the Philippines and its people. 
The state shall formulate policies for the efficient and effective administration 
and management of all manpower, skills and competencies to ensure 
compliance. 
SECTION 
2. 
MODERNIZATION FUNDING. – The amount of Five Hundred 
Million Pesos (Php 500,000,000.00) for the operation and administration of the 
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Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) shall be chargeable against funds for the 
purpose and other sources recommended by the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM). Thereafter, appropriations for the Office of the Solicitor 
General (OSG) shall be included in the budget proposals under the Department 
of Justice (DOJ). 
 
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall rationalize the existing 
organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Office of the Solicitor 
General (OSG) in accordance with the provisions of this Act and relevant 
compensation and position classification laws, rules and regulations. 
Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of the 
modernization program, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act (GAA). 
SECTION 
3. 
OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL (OSG) 
MODERNIZATION FUND – There is hereby created the (OSG) Modernization 
Fund to be used exclusively for the (OSG) Modernization Program. 
The (OSG) Modernization Fund shall be administered by the Secretary of the DOJ 
in accordance with existing government budgeting, accounting and auditing 
rules and regulations. 
SECTION 
4. 
PROGRESS REPORT – The Secretary of DOJ shall 
prepare an annual report on the status of the implementation of the (OSG) 
Modernization Programs which shall be submitted, to the Office of the President 
and to the Chairpersons of the Committee on Justice of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives. 
SECTION 
5. 
PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION – The modernization 
program under this Act shall be implemented for an initial period of two (2) 
years:  


Provided, that payments for multi-year contract obligations incurred 
under this Act may extend beyond this period:  
Provided, further, That the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) shall 
continue to develop, modernize and constantly update its operational capabilities 
to keep pace with best global practices. 
SECTION 
6. 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS. – The Office of the Solicitor 
General (OSG) shall continue to exercise and uphold the following powers and 
functions; but not limited to: 
The OSG represents the Government of the Philippines, its agencies and 
instrumentalities and its officials and agents in any litigation, proceeding, 
investigation or matter requiring the services of lawyers.  
When authorized by the President or head of the office concerned, it shall also 
represent government owned or controlled corporations.  
The Office of the Solicitor General shall discharge duties requiring the services 
of lawyers. It shall have the following specific powers and functions: 
a) Represent the Government in the Supreme Court and the Court 
of Appeals in all criminal proceedings; represent the Government 
and its officers in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and 
all other courts or tribunals in all civil actions and special 
proceedings in which the Government or any officer thereof in his 
official capacity is a party. 
 
 
b) Investigate, initiate court action, or in any manner proceed 
against any person, corporation or firm for the enforcement of 
any contract, bond, guarantee, mortgage, pledge or other 
collateral executed in favor of the Government. Where 
proceedings are to be conducted outside of the Philippines the 
Solicitor General may employ counsel to assist in the discharge 
of the aforementioned responsibilities. 


c) Appear in any court in any action involving the validity of any 
treaty, law, executive order or proclamation, rule or regulation 
when in his judgment his intervention is necessary or when 
requested by the Court. 
 
 
d) Appear in all proceedings involving the acquisition or loss of 
Philippine citizenship. 
 
 
e) Represent the Government in all land registration and related 
proceedings. 
Institute actions for the reversion to the 
Government of lands of the public domain and improvements 
thereon as well as lands held in violation of the Constitution. 
 
 
f) Prepare, upon request of the President or other proper officer of 
the National Government, rules and guidelines for government 
entities governing the preparation of contracts, making 
investments, undertaking of transactions, and drafting of forms 
or other writings needed for official use, with the end in view of 
facilitating their enforcement and ensuring that they are entered 
into or prepared conformably with law and for the best interests 
of the public. 
 
 
g) Deputize, whenever in the opinion of the Solicitor General the 
public interest requires, any provincial or city fiscal to assist him 
in the performance of any function or discharge of any duty 
incumbent upon him, within the jurisdiction of the aforesaid 
provincial or city fiscal. When so deputized, the fiscal shall be 
under the control and supervision of the Solicitor General with 
regard to the conduct of the proceedings assigned to the fiscal, 
and he may be required to render reports or furnish information 
regarding the assignment. 
 
 


h) Deputize legal officers of government departments, bureaus, 
agencies and offices to assist the Solicitor General and appear or 
represent the Government in cased involving their respective 
offices, brought before the courts and exercise supervision and 
control over such legal Officers with respect to such cases. 
 
 
i) Call on any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality 
of the Government for such service, assistance and cooperation 
as may be necessary in fulfilling its functions and responsibilities 
and for this purpose enlist the services of any government official 
or employee in the pursuit of his tasks. Departments, bureaus, 
agencies, offices, instrumentalities and corporations to whom the 
Office of the Solicitor General renders legal services are 
authorized to disburse funds from their sundry operating and 
other funds for the latter Office. For this purpose, the Solicitor 
General and his staff are specifically authorized to receive 
allowances as may be provided by the Government offices, 
instrumentalities and corporations concerned, in addition to 
their regular compensation. 
 
 
j) Represent, upon the instructions of the President, the Republic 
of the Philippines in international litigations, negotiations or 
conferences where the legal position of the Republic must be 
defended or presented. 
 
 
k) Act and represent the Republic and/or the people before any 
court, tribunal, body or commission in any matter, action or 
proceedings which, in his opinion affects the welfare of the people 
as the ends of justice may require; and - 
 
 
l) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law. 
 


SECTION 
7. 
INCREASE OF PERSONNEL. – The Office of the 
Solicitor General (OSG) shall maintain the sufficient staffing pattern. Hence, it 
is authorized to increase its manpower to meet such required and may continue 
to increase personnel per percentage rate increase of committed mandates 
annually or as the need arises. 
SECTION 
8. 
TRANSITORY 
PROVISION – 
Existing 
industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given 
six (6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other 
period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 
SECTION 
9. 
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. – The 
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act 
shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the 
necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
SECTION 
10. 
REPEALING CLAUSE. – All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 
11. 
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 
12. 
EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. – This Act shall take effect 
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes earlier. 
 
Approved,