FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 1004 
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Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Sec. 7, Article III of the 1987 Constitution pro.vides that "The right of the people to 
information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, 
and to documents, and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as 
well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be 
afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law". 
As such, this proposed measure seeks to require full disclosure of the identity, 
nature of work, and compensation of foreign consultants hired or retained by the 
Government, its agencies, instrumentalities, including Government-owned or-controlled 
corporations. 
There are three main objectives of this bill. 
First, that the public be informed of how much money is being used to pay 
consultants hired by the Government. 
Transparency in this regard is needed so that the public will know whether or not 
the consultancy fees paid these consultants are commensurate with the benefits that 
the Government is supposed to get from such consultancy contracts. 
Second, that our people be appraised whether or not the services of these 
consultants are indispensable and cannot be rendered by our local experts. 
Third, that the people's basic right to know who are providing expert advice and 
support to the Government be fully accorded them. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
EL "LITO" M. LAPID 
Senator 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 1004 
) 
) 
) 
',' 
!' 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
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REQUIRING ALL BRANCHES, SUBDIVISIONS, INSTRUMENTALITIES, 
AND AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT; INCLUDING GOVERNMENT-
OWNED OR-CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS OR THEIR SUBSIDIARIES 
TO DIVULGE THE IDENTITY OF HIRED FOREIGN CONSULTANTS, THE 
NATURE OF THEIR WORK AND THEIR COMPENSATION, PERKS, AND 
OTHER PRIVILEGES, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES IN CASE OF 
VIOLATION THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Declaration of Policy. -
It is hereby declared a policy of 
the State to adopt and implement full public disclosure of all its transactions, pursuant to 
the principle of transparency in public office and the constitutional mandate to make 
available to the people all information on matters of public concern. 
SEC. 2. 
Definition. - Foreign consultants refers to a national of another 
State who renders certain services to the Government. 
SEC. 3. 
Disclosure Requirement. - All heads of branches, subdivisions, 
instrumentalities, and agencies of the Government, including government-owned or-
controlled corporations or their subsidiaries shall, within six (6) months from the 
effectivity of this Act, provide Congress in writing an.d under oath the following: 
a) 
The identity of any foreign consultant hired or retained by their respective 
offices; 
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b) 
The foreign consultant's nature of work including the compensation, 
honoraria, fees, financial or other benefits or remuneration received by the 
said foreign consultant; and 
c) 
The terms and conditions of the consultancy agreement entered into by 
the Government office, specifying therein the particular services that the 
consultant is expected to perform. 
SEC. 4. 
Publication. 
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The Office of the Executive Secretary shall 
maintain a centralized data-file of all foreign consultants hired by the government, its 
agencies, 
bureaus, 
instrumentalities, 
including 
government-owned 
or-controlled 
corporations. In January of every year, the Office of. the Executive Secretary shall cause 
the publication. of the list of foreign consultants hired or retained by the Government, 
whether for the full year or for only a part thereof, in at least two newspapers of general 
circulation. 
SEC. 5. 
Penal Clause. 
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The 
head 
of any branch, 
subdivision, 
instrumentality, and agency of the government, ,including a government-owned or-
controlled corporation or its subsidiary that violates section 3 and 5 of this Act shall be 
punished by a fine of not less than Fifteen Thousand Pesos (P15,OOO.OO) but not more 
than Sixty Thousand Pesos (P60,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) 
years or both at the discretion of the court. Those convicted shall be perpetually 
disqualified from holding public office. Upon conviction by the proper regional trial court, 
the official convicted shall likewise be suspended immediately from office and shall 
remain suspended pending the final outcome of any appeal he or she shall have taken 
in the case. 
SEC. 6. 
Repealing Clause. -
All laws, executive orders, rules and 
regulations contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordi ngly. 
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SEC. 7. 
Separability Clause. -
If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not"affected thereby shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
SEC. 8. 
Effectivity Clause. -
This Act shall take effect immediately 
following its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation or in the 
Official Gazette. 
Approved, 
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