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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 
P 
Submitted by the Committee on Local Government on 
MAY 2 5 2009 
Re 
: 
Senate Bill No. 
Recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill No. 6014, taking into consideration 
Senate Bill No. 2993. 
Sponsors : 
Senators Aquino 111 and Escudero. 
MR. PRESIDENT: 
The Committee on Local Government, to which were referred House Bill No. 6014, 
introduced by Representative Antonino-Custodio, entitled: 
“AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5412, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE CITY OF GENERAL SANTOS” 
and Senate Bill No. 2993, introduced by Senator Escudero, entitled: 
“AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5412, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF GENERAL SANTOS” 
has considered the same and has the honor to report the bills back to the Senate with the 
recommendation that the attached substitute bill, Senate Bill No. 
, prepared by 
the Committee, entitled: 
“AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5412, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF GENERAL SANTOS” 
be approved without amendment with Senators Escudero and Aquino 111 as authors thereof. 


COMMITTEE REPORT on HBN 6014 and SEN 2993 (Amendments to the Charter of the City of General Santos) 
2 
Respectfully submitted: 
A 
Chairman 
FRANCIS “CHIZ” G. ESCUDERO 
Vice-chairman 
Members: 
A ~ T ~ I O  
“SONNY” F. TRILLANES IV 
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J KER P. ARROYO 
- 
RODOLFO G.-BIAZON 
ALAN PETER “COMPA~ERO s. CAYETANO 
MANNY VILLAR 


Ex-Officio Members: 
AQUlLlNO Q. PIMENTEL JR. 
Minority Leader 
Hon. JUAN PONCE ENRILE 
President 
Senate of the Philippines 
Pasay City 


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&iw.k. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
Second Regular Session 
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1 
1 
OFTHE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
S. NO. 
(In substitution of HBN 6014, taking into c o n s i d e r p ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . 8 ~ ~ ~ 3 ) .  
_.. 
Prepared by the Committee on Local Government 
with Senators Escudero and Aquino 111 as authors thereof 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5412, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CHARTER 
OF THE CITY OF GENERAL SANTOS 
Be it enocted by the Senate and the House of Representotives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Sections 98 and 101 of Republic Act No. 5412, as amended, are hereby 
further amended t o  read as follows: 
“Section 98. ALL LANDS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN HAVING BEEN 
CEDED BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TO THE CITY OF GENERAL SANTOS, 
THE CITY SHALL EXERCISE THE RIGHTS AND PREROGATIVES OVER SUCH 
LANDS IN THE CONCEPT OF A BENEFICIAL OWNER. The disposition of all 
lands of the public domain in the city shall be in accordance with the 
provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 141, as amended, AND ALL OTHER 
PERTINENT LAWS, EXECUTIVE ISSUANCES, RULES AND REGULATIONS: 
Provided, That all incomes and receipts derived from such disposition, 
ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ALL LANDS OF THE PUBLIC 
DOMAIN shall accrue exclusively AND TO BE TURNED OVER IMMEDIATELY . 
WITHOUT NEED OF DEMAND to the city as provided in this Act: PROVIDED 


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FURTHER, 
THAT THE CITY GOVERNMENT SHALL AT ALL TIMES BE 
CONSULTED AND INFORMED OF SUCH DISPOSITION, ADMINISTRATION 
AND MANAGEMENT: PROVIDED NNALLY, THAT THE CITY GOVERNMENT 
SHALL CONCUR PRIOR TO ANY DISPOSITION, ADMINISTRATION AND 
MANAGEMENT OF SUCH PUBLIC LANDS.” 
“Section 101. Ownership of waterworks, electric light and power and 
telephone systems, roads, streets, etc. - Any provisions of law to the contrary 
notwithstanding, all existing waterworks, electric light and power, and/or 
telephone systems presently operated by the Municipality of General Santos 
shall be owned by the city, and revenues therefrom shall accrue to the 
general fund of the city. 
All existing municipal and provincial roads, streets, bridges, docks, 
piers, 
wharves, 
machineries, 
equipment 
and 
other 
public 
works 
improvements shall be owned by the city, and all the funds and assets of the 
Municipality of General Santos shall be owned by the city and its liabilities 
shall be assumed by the city, any provision of law to the contrary 
notwithstanding. 
NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NOS. 8371, 
7916 AND 6657, AS AMENDED, THE CITY GOVERNMENT SHALL BE 
INFORMED AND ITS CONCURRENCE SHALL BE SOUGHT ON ALL MATTERS 
RELATING TO LANDS BY AGENCIES OF GOVERNMENT CONCERNED, WHICH 
THE CITY COUNCIL DETERMINES FOR THE USE OF THE CITY.” 


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SEC. 2. 
Within Sixty (60) days from the date of the effectivity of this Act, all 
concerned agencies of government shall submit a comprehensive and detailed report of all 
dispositions of public lands in the city to the City Government. 
SEC. 3. The provisions of this Act rendered ineffective by virtue of Republic Act No. 
7160 or the Local Government Code, as amended, specifically paragraph (f), Section 534 
thereof, are hereby deemed repealed and superseded accordingly. 
SEC. 4. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this Act shall, in addition to 
the administrative, civil or criminal liability imposable under other existing laws, suffer the 
penalty of six (6) months imprisonment: Provided, That in the case of a government official 
or personnel, he/she shall likewise suffer the penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold 
public office. 
SEC. 5. If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, the 
remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and 
subsisting. 
SEC. 6. 
All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, proclamations and/or 
administrative regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
amended, modified, superseded or repealed accordingly. 
SEC. 7. To effectively implement the provision of this Act, the City Council of General 
Santos City in coordination with the agencies of government concerned shall promulgate 
the necessary implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from the date of the 
effectivity of this Act. 


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SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication in at least two 
(2) newspapers of national circulation. 
Approved, 


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HOU§E OF REPRESENJ'ATIVES 
H. No. 6014 
AN ACT AMENDING mpumrc ACT NO. 5412, AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CHARTER OF THE crm OF 
GENERAL SANTOS 
Be it enacted by the Senute undHuuse of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I .  Section 98 of Republic Act No, 5412, as amended, 
otherwise known as the Charter oftlie City of General Saritos, is hereby further 
amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 98r OWNERSHJP OF LANDS OF THE PUBLIC 
DOMAIN WITHIN THE Ciru. - TIIE OWNERSHIP OF ALL LANDS 
Qii THE PUBLIC DOMAIN WI'I'NIN 'IHE CITY OF GENERAL 
SANTOS DEEiONGS TO THE CITY. AS SIICH, [T]~he disposition 
of all lands of the public domain within the city shall be in 
accordance with the provisions of Commonwealth Act 
Numbered One hundred and forty-one, as amended, ANTI 
OTHER PER TINE^ r,Aws, EXECUTNE ISSUANCES, Hums AND 


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REG[JW'I'IONS: Provided, That all incomes and receipts derived 
from such disposition, ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF 
AIA, LANDS OP m-IE PUBLIC DOMAIN shall accrue exclusively 
AND BE 'ITJltNEII OVER JMMJ5I)IA'I'ELY WITHOUT NEED OF 
DEMAND lo the city as provided in this Act[.]: 
PROVLDED, 
FURTILER, 
?%A'J' 
1'1113 CITY GOVLCRNMENT SHALI, AT ALL 
TIMDS B'E, CONSTILTED AND 1NPORMIT.l~ Oig SUCH DlSPOSI'I'lON, 
ADMINIS?'RATION AND MANAGF;:MEWX': PROVZDED, FINALLY, 
THAI' 'TIIIC APYROVAI, ON' 'I'lIE CITY GOVE'ERNMENT S1XAI.L RE A 
MANDATOIIY 
C0NI)ITION 
PRIOR 
1'0 ANY 
DISPOSl'HON, 
ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SUClX PUBLIC LANDS. 
"NOTWI'J'IISTAND~N~: 
THE PROVISIONS OF ml'UBLIC 
ACl. NOS. 8371 AND 6657, AS AMENDED, 
TIIE CITY 
GOVERNMENI' SHALL BE INNFORMED AND 'ITS APPROVAL SHALL 
BE SOUGHT ON ALL MA'I"I'EBS KELATlNG TO LANDS BY 
AGENCIES OF GOVERNMENT CONCERNED? 
SEC. 2. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR) shall, within sixty (60) days from the date of the effectivity of this 
Act, submit a comprehensive and detailed report of all dispositions of public 
lands .in General Santos City to the city government. 
SE!c. 3, Any person who shalI violate the provisions ofthis Act shall, in 
addition to the administrative, civil or criminal liability imposable under 
existing laws, suffer the penalty of six (6) months imprisonment: Provided, 
That in the case of a governinent official or personnel, he shall, in additlon to 
the penalty herein imposed, suffor the penalty of perpetual disqualification to 
hold public office. 
SRC. 4. Section 534, paragraph (9 of Republic Act No. 7160, 
otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, as amonded, insofar 
as the Charter of tho City or General Santos and alf laws, presidential decrees, 


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executive orders, proclarncltlons and administrative regulations which are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
SEC. 5. ‘The City Council of General. Santos City, in coordination with 
the DENR, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations 
within sixty (GO) days from the date ofthe effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 6. This Act shaH take effect fifteen (1s) days afier its publication 
in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
0 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
9 Ji\M 20 '5 ' ':6 
SENATE 
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Introduced by Seiiator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill is filed consistent with the policy on local government 
autonomy and empowerment. 
The General Santos City, given its potential for growth, apart from 
having been placed in the world map so to speak by our "pambansang 
kamao," should be given the appropriate authority and resources to chart its 
own development. 
Skdly, the current disposition of its public lands has left the City no 
realizable inconie despite the clear provisions of its charter that it is the 
beneficial owner of such lands. 
Moreover, its desire to grow is unreasonably being hampered by 
certain agencies of government due to vagueness of certain laws and the 
absence of an unequivocal mandate. 
Hence, khis bill seeks to rectify and make clear the provisions found in 
the charter of General Santos City if only to address the foregoing and to keep 
it updated especially with the enactment of the Local Government Code 
which dates way back 1992. 
Immediate passage of this bill is thus requested. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRES OF THE 
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9 
JAN 20 
: , f ;  : .!6 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
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S. No. -9 
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Introduced by Seuator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5412, AS AMENDER, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF 
GENERAL SANTOS 
Be it enncted by tlze Senate a7zd the House of Representatives of tl7e Plzilipyines itz 
Cotrgms nsseiabled: 
SECTION1. Sections 98 and 101 of Republic Act No. 5422, as 
amended, are hereby fiirther amended to read as follows: 
"Section 98. 
THE OWNERSHIP OF ALL LANDS OF 
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN WITHIN THE CITY OF GENERAL 
SANTOS BELONGS TO THE CITY. AS SUCH, IT] The 
disposition of all lands of the public domain in the city shall be 
in accordance with the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 
141, as amended, AND ALL OTHER PERTINENT LAWS, 
EXECUTIVE ISSUANCES, RULES AND REGULATIONS: 
Provided, That all incomes and receipts derived from such 
disposition, ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF 
ALL LANDS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN shall accrue 
exclusively AND TO BE TURNED OVER IMMEDIATELY 
WlTliOIJT NEED OF DEMAND to the city as provided in 
Ilus Act; 
PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT THE CITY 
GOVERNMENT SHALL AT ALL TIMES BE CONSULTED 
AND 
INFORMED 
OF 
SUCH 
DISE'OSITION, 
ADMINISTRATION 
AND 
MANAGEMENT; 
AND 
PXC?YIDED FINALLY, THAT THE APPROVAL OF THE 
CITY GOVERNMENT SHALL BE A MANDATORY 


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CONDITION 
PRIOR 
TO 
ANY 
DISPOSITION, 
ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SUCH 
PUBLIC LANDS.” 
”Section 101. Ownership uf wn~wzumis, electric light mid 
power nrrd teleplione systeenis, uonds, streets, etc. - Any provisions 
of 
law to the contrary notwithstanding, 
all existing 
waterworlts, electric light and power, and/or telephone 
systems presently operated by the Municipality of General 
Santos shall be owned by the city, and revenues therefrom 
shall accrue to the general fund of the city. 
All existing municipal and provincial roads, streets, 
bridges, docks, piers, wharves, machineries, equipment and 
olher public works improvements shall be owned by the city, 
and all the fiinds and assets of the Municipality of General 
Santos shall be owned by the city and its liabilities shall be 
assumed by the city, any provision of law to the contrary 
notwithstanding. 
NOTWITHSTANDING 
THE 
PROVISIONS 
OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NOS. 8371 AND 6657, AS AMENDED, THE 
CITY GOVERNMENT 
SHALL BE INFORMED AND ITS 
APPROVAL SHALL BE SOUGHT ON ALL MATTERS 
RELATING 
TO 
LANDS 
BY 
AGENCIES 
OF 
GOVERNMENT CONCERNED WHICH 
THE 
CITY 
COUNCIL DETERMINES FOR THE: USE OF THE CITY.” 
SEC 2. Within Sixly (60) days from the date of the effectivity of this 
Act, all concerned agencies of government shall submit a comprehensive and 
detailed report of all dispositions of public lands in the city to the City 
Government. 
SEC. 3. The provisions of this Act rendered ineffective by virtue of 
Rennhlic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code, as amended, 
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specifically paragraph (0, 
Sectioa 534 thereof, are hereby deemed repealed 
and superseded accordingly. 
SEC 4. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this Act shall, in 
addition to the administrative, civil or crirninal liability imposable under 
other existing laws, suffer the penalty of six (6) months imprisonment 
Provided, That in the case of a government official or personnel, he/she shall 
likewise suffer the penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office. 
SEC. 5. If any p~ovision or part hereof is held invalid or 
uncbnstitutiona!, tlie remainder of the law or tlie provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 6. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, proclamations 
and/or administrative regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby amended, modified, superseded or repealed 
accordingly. 
SEC 7. To effectively implement the provision of this Act, the City 
Council of General Santos City in coordination with the agencies of 
government concerned shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules 
and regulations within sixty (60) days from the date of the effectivity of this 
act. 
SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation. 
Approved,