jSIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
SENATE 
SENATE BILCNO. 71 
'13 
.JUL -1 
All :14 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G."EJERCITO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution states that the "State \ 
shall 
encourage 
non-governmental, 
community-based, 
sectoral 
organizations that promote the welfare of the nation." This is further 
asserted in Article XIII, Sections 15 and 16 that the State shall respect 
the role and rights of independent people's organizations in the pursuit 
of their collective interests and aspirations and ensure their effective and 
reasonable participation at all levels of social, political and economic 
decision-making. 
This participation was institutionalized so that socio-economic and 
political structures may be moved by the efforts of people together with 
the government. And through people's organizations those who have no 
wealth or political influence can empower themselves. 
By far, the most concrete expression of people's participation in 
governance is the role played by the non-government organizations 
(NGOs) and people's organizations (POs) in the so-called local special 
bodies, such as the local development council (LDC), which according to 
the Local Government Code, should be constituted from the barangay 
level up to the regional level. The LDC has a crucial role: it formulates 
plans that would determine what development projects should be 
pursued and how these would be financed, among others. 
However, based on DILG monitoring reports, it was found out that 
development councils are not effectively functioning, much less serve its 
real purpose. Even the DILG sponsored study on People's Participation 
on LDC concludes that after 10 years of operations, compliance is limited 
and many of these are simply rubber stamps for plans prepared by the 
local planning office or consultants. 
The 
proposed measure therefore seeks to strengthen the 
participation of the public through NGOs and POs and thereby establish 
a bottom-to-top formulation of development plans, which will ensure that 
development plans are reflective of what is the real need of the people. 


In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
JOSEPH V;CT~~RCITO 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
TJ 
JUL -1 
[\11 :14 
SENATE 
SENATE BILe NO. 71 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
,;,v·E 
"0-
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PARTICIPATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY 
ORGANIZATIONS (CSOs) IN THE FORMULATION OF NATIONAL, 
REGIONAL AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Participatory 
Governance Through CSOs Empowerment Act of 2013". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -
It is hereby declared the 
policy of the State to respect and strengthen the role and rights of civil 
society organizations (CSOs) in the pursuit of their collective interests 
and aspirations and ensure their effective and reasonable participation at 
all levels of social, political and economic decision-making. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act: 
(a) Accreditation refers to the process by which the Medium-
Term 
Philippine Development Plan Planning Committees (MTPDP-PC) and 
development councils shall recognize, register and allow the CSOs to 
participate in the formulation of national, regional and local development 
plans. 
(b) Civil society organizations refer to organized citizens' groups including 
people's organizations (POs) and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) 
such as community groups, labor unions, indigenous groups, charitable 
organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations and 
foundations. 


(c) Local plan refers to the comprehensive development plan which 
contains the proposed public policy in terms of economic and social 
interventions relative to the goals and objectives of a particular local 
government unit (LGU). 
(d) Regional plan refers to the regional development plan which contains 
proposed policies, programs, projects and activities for the organization 
and improvement of a region's economic and administrative development. 
(e) National plan refers to the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan 
(MTPDP) or the country's socioeconomic development blueprint for 
themedium-term or for six (6) years. 
SECTION 4. Coverage. -
This Act shall apply to all national 
government agencies (NGAs) 
involved in planning, the regional 
development councils (RDCs) of all regions of the Philippines, and the 
development councils of all barangays, municipalities, cities and 
provinces of the country. 
SECTION 5. Accreditation of CSOs. -
CSOs shall be accredited 
prior to their participation in the formulation of national, regional or local 
plans. 
The application for accreditation shall be filed with the National 
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) by those who intend to 
participate in national and regional development planning and with the 
secretary of the sanggunian or the local development council (LDC) 
secretariat by those who intend to participate in local development 
planning. 
In their application, CSOs shall be required to submit the following 
documents to the NEDA, the secretary of the sanggunian, or the LDC 
secretariats: 
(a) Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws; 
(b) Certificate of Registration with a government accrediting agency; 
(c) List of officers and members; and 
(d)Annual accomplishment report for the immediately preceding year. 
The offices of the Director General of the NEDA and the secretary of the 
concerned sanggunian shall prescribe the specific rules for this purpose. 


SECTION 6. Strengthened Mandatory Participation of CSOs in 
the Formulation of Development Plans. - All MTPDP-PC, regional and 
local development councils shall, in formulating the MTPDP and the 
development plan of any region or LGU, take all measures to ensure the 
participation of accredited CSOs through the mechanisms set forth in \ 
this Act: Provided, That this shall be in addition to the existing rights of 
NGOs and POs granted under Section 107 of Republic Act No. 7160, 
otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991", and other 
laws. 
SECTION 7. Mandatory Public Notice Inviting the Submission of 
Written Proposals by CSOs for National, Regional and Local 
Planning. - The NEDA and the barangay secretary of each barangay 
development council, 
and the 
local planning and 
development 
coordinator of the province, city or municipality shall issue a notice 
inviting the submission in writing of proposals and comments from 
accredited CSOs for the formulation of the MTPDP and the development 
plan of each region or LGU. The notice shall indicate the exact date of the 
start of the deliberation of the development plan and shall be in a 
language understood by the community. 
The notice for written submissions shall be posted in the NEDA 
website and at any prominent place in the provincial capitol, city, 
municipal or barangay hall, for a minimum period of three (3) 
consecutive weeks. Such notice shall also be published in a local 
newspaper, where available, within the territorial jurisdiction of the 
LGU: Provided, That such pUblication requirement shall not be mandated 
in the case of barangay. The notice may also be posted in the website of 
LGUs, if any: Provided, further, That the notice shall be posted or 
published at least thirty (30) days prior to the deliberations on the 
development plan for the ensuing year. 
During this period, any accredited CSO may submit to the MTPDP-
PC or the development council secretariat written proposals for the 
development plan: Provided, however, That all submissions must be 
made ten (10) days prior to the commencement of the deliberations on \ 
the development plan. 
All submissions made by the accredited CSOs shall be part of the 
official records of the deliberations on the MTPDP, the regional and the 


local development plans and shall be considered as public documents, 
which may be accessed by any person upon request. 
SECTION 8. Designated Posting Area in LGUs. - Each LOU shall 
designate a portion of their bulIetin board or other public posting areas 
for dissemination of information relevant to CSOs such as, but not 
limited to, activities and programs where they can participate, possible 
sources of funding for their activities, and such other significant 
information that may be used by the CSOs. 
SECTION 9. Responses to Submissions. -
The NEDA and the 
regional and local development councils shall prepare the guidelines for 
the submission and collation of proposals. All submissions shall be 
properly received by the NEDA and the development council concerned 
and entered into a database created for such purpose. The provincial 
councils shall collate the submissions made in their respective areas and 
shall furnish the NEDA with copies of all the submissions they have 
received, including a summary of such submissions. 
Upon closure of the period for submission, the MTPDP-PC, the 
regional and the local development councils shall carefully consider and 
analyze all submissions, taking them into consideration in formulating 
the development plan. The actions taken by the NEDA and the 
development councils shall be relayed to the appropriate CSOs as soon 
as practicable. 
SECTION 
Development 
10. Transparency in the 
Council. -
The 
deliberations 
Deliberations of the 
of all MTPDP-PC and 
development councils 'shall be open to the pUblic. The accredited CSOs 
which submitted the proposals shall be invited during the deliberations 
on the development plans to clarify and answer any concerns raised in 
their proposals: Provided, That this shall not apply to matters of public 
security. 
SECTION 11. Presentation of the Proposed Development Plan 
Prior to its Submission for Approval. - The MTPDP-PC, the respective 
regional and the local development councils of the region or LOU 
concerned shall present the proposed development plan to all concerned 
stakeholders, prior to its submission to the MTPDP-Plan Steering 
Committee, or the sanggunian, as the case may be, for approval. A copy 


of the approved regional and local development plan shall be submitted 
to the NEDA and the Department of the Interior and Local Government 
(DILG). 
SECTION 12. Use of Publicly-Owned Structures in LGUs. -
All 
accredited e80s in the LGUs shall have the right to use pUblicly-
owned structures such as multi-purposehalls, plazas, people's parks, 
&uditoriums or similar structures located in said LGUs, for purposes of 
their meetings and other activities. The officials of the e80s shall notify 
the local government official who is tasked to m&nage the use of afore-
stated government facilities: Provided, That such official shall not deny 
the use of any of the said government facilities except for a 
legitimate previously-scheduled use: Provided, further, That the right to 
access to publicly-owned structures by the e80s shall be subject to 
regulations imposed by the LGUs. 
SECTION 13. Monitoring and ~eedback Mechanism. - The DILG 
and the NEDA shall be tasked to monitor and evaluate the accreditation 
and participation mechanisms of e80s and establish an effective 
monitoring and evaluation system that can provide adequate, timely and 
relevant feedback on the progress and status of the accreditation and the 
participation of e80s in development planning. 
SECTION 14. NGA-LGU Performance Incentive. - The DILG shall 
recognize LGUs which promote the participation of e80s in regional and 
local development planning by giving government awards and incentives 
through the Performance Challenge Fund (PC-Fund) for LGUs program of 
the DILG to these LGUs. To qualify, an LGU should demonstrate that it 
has prepared, updated and approved a comprehensive development plan 
with the participation of accredited e80s. 
SECTION 15. Penal Provisions. - (a) Failure to Publish the Notice 
for 8ubmission of Written Proposals or Refusal to Acknowledge Receipt of 
8ubmissions or Failure to Invite e80s to the Deliberations. - Any public 
official or employee who shall fail to publish the notice for written 
submissions, or shall refuse to acknowledge receipt of any submission 
made by accredited e80s, or shall fail to invite them to the deliberations 
on local and regional plans, shall suffer a penalty of suspension of six (6) 
months to one (1) year and a fine not exceeding Twenty thousand pesos 
(PhP20,OOO.OO): 
Provided, That this shall be without prejudice to 


administrative charges which the public official or employee may be held 
liable under existing laws. 
(b) Violations of Other Provisions of this Act. - Any person who shall 
violate any of the provisions of this Act, which are not covered by the 
immediately preceding paragraph, shall suffer a penalty of suspension of 
two (2) months to six (6) months and a fine not exceeding Ten thousand 
pesos (PhplO,OOO.OO): Provided, That this shall be without prejudice to 
administrative charges which the public official or employee may be held 
liable under existing laws. 
SECTION 16. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this 
Act is held unconstitutional or -invalid, other parts or provisions hereof 
I 
which are not affected, shall continue to remain in full force and effect. 
SECTION 17. Repealing Clause. -
All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with or 
contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SECTION 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days following completion of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers 
of general circulation. 
Approved,