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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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Quezon City, Metro Manila ra Jy
Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session
~~ 1614
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Neptali M. Gonzales II

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EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill provides for the granting of good conduct time allowance to prisoners who
will participate in literacy skills and development programs while inside the penal
institutions amending for the purpose Article 97, Chapter II of the Revised Penal Code.

It is of common knowledge that many prisoners are unschooled or are illiterate
Ignorance is the reason why they usually transgress the law and land in jail.

This bill will give inmates the opportunity to be educated, develop skills and
strengthen their moral values while under detention. Most of all, it will reduce their
sentence and thus shorten their stay in prison.

Hence, the approval of this bill is highly recommended.

NEPTALI M.\GONZALES IL


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 1614

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Introduced by Honorable Neptali M. Gonzales IL
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GRANTING GOOD CONDUCT TIME ALLOWANCE TO PRISONERS WHO
PARTICIPATE IN LITERACY, SKILLS AND VALUES DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
ARTICLE 97 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
REVISED PENAL CODE

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to promote the
correction and rehabilitation of prisoners by providing opportunities for increasing their
literacy skills and strengthening their moral values thereby facilitating their reintegration
into the mainstream of society as reformed and productive citizens. Towards this end, the
State shall recognize efforts of prisoners for self-improvement by granting them good conduct
time allowance as envisioned under Article 97, Chapter II of the Revised Penal Code.

SEC. 2. Coverage - This Act shall cover detention prisoners in detention facilities of
law enforcement agencies and those prisoners serving sentence by virtue of final judgment in
the Bureau of Corrections and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

SEC. 3. Good Conduct Time Allowance ~ Any prisoner who has earned or is
making satisfactory progress towards warning a post-graduate of college degree, high school

or elementary grade diploma, vocational or technical skill or values development certificate

or those who are being utilized to teach subjects or courses in the aforecited programs shall


be granted time credit towards the service of sentence: Provided, That the time credit shall
not exceed fifteen (15) days for every month of study time.

SEC. 4. Program Implementation. ~ The academic, vocational skills and values
development programs for prisoners shall be implemented in coordination with the
Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and
other recognized institutions and organization.

SEC. 5. Authority to Grant Good Conduct Time Allowance. ~ The Director of the
Bureau of Corrections, the Chief of the BJMP, wardens of provincial and sub-provincial jails
and the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation shalll have the authority to assess,
evaluate and grant good time allowances to prisoners, subject to the approval of the
Secretary of Justice, Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
or the Provincial Governor, as the case may be.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Justice and the
Secretary of the DILG shall, within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, shall
promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for its effective implementation.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - In case any provision hereof is declared
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared and affected shall remain in force and
effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. ~ Alll laws, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which
are contrary to or are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation

Approved,