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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1871

HOUSE BILL NO. _—_

INTRODUCED BY REP. CHING BERNOS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT CENTER FOR SATELLITE OFFICES OF
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LA
PAZ, PROVINCE OF ABRA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In order to be employed for a job that would help support the demands of
daily life, one would be required to submit government documents as supplemen-
tary papers to their employment. Such is the same for the enrollment in schools
and universities to obtain higher education. However, the Province of Abra has al-
ways faced the issue of distance to government centers which would provide quick
solutions for their documentary requirements for work, school, or personal use.
Abrefios would have to travel to nearby provinces such as Benguet and La Union to
reach the nearest government offices located in Baguio City and San Fernando
City. In sme cases, Abrefios are required to travel to as far as Metro Manila, just
to be able to have access to their needed government-issued documents.

‘The establishment of a Government Center in the Province of Abra is essen-
tial for the lives of Abrefios and it could also be beneficial for the people from adja-
cent provinces such as Apayao and Kalinga. The clustering of government offices in
one place permits access to all the agencies without the need to travel far should
the people need to process all of their documents at once. Moreover, having the
Government Center will enable the creation of additional jobs as the satellite offices
of the government agencies will be in need of qualified personnel to perform the
necessary government functions in these offices.

In the light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.



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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1871

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REP. CHING BERNOS.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT CENTER FOR SATELLITE OFFICES OF
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LA
PAZ, PROVINCE OF ABRA

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

SECTION 1. Policy Objective. It shall be the policy of the State to
protect and promote the welfare of Filipinos by streamlining the delivery of
government services and providing access to these basic services, especially
to regions that are geographically distant from regional urban centers where
most government offices are located and government-issued documents are
processed. To this end, the State shall endeavor to empower communities
with access to these basic government services and to free the People from

the unnecessary burdens stemming from bureaucratic inefficiency.

Sec. 2. Establishment of a Government Center in Abra. There shall be

established a Government Center in the Province of Abra that shall house

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satellite offices of various national government agencies involved in the
processing and issuance of common documentary requirements for

whatever legitimate purpose or activity, as needed by the people.

Sec. 3. Satellite Offices Housed in the Government Center. The
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satellite offices of government agencies housed in the Government Center

shall include, but not limited to, the following:

a. Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for verification and
authentication of school credentials, and for the processing and
issuance of other documentary permits and requirements, including

issuance of other necessary authentication/certification, if there

any be needed;

b. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for all passport services and other
consular concerns, including the issuance of other necessary

authentication/certification, if there any be needed;

c. Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the processing and
issuance of other documentary permits and requirements, including
the issuance of other necessary authentication/certification, if there

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any be needed;

d. Land Transportation Office (LTO) for the processing of documentations
related to the registration of vehicles and to the issuance of driver’s
licenses, including the issuance of other necessary authentication/

certification, if there any be needed;



. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the processing and issuance
of an NBI clearance, and other documentary permits and
requirements, and the issuance of other necessary authentication/

certification, if there any be needed:

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for the processing
of OWWA membership/Renewal of Membership, and other
documentary permits and requirements, and the issuance of other

necessary authentication/certification, if there any be needed;

} Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for the processing

and issuance of other documentary permits and requirements,

including the issuance of other necessary authentication /certification,

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if there any be needed;

: Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for the
documentation/registration of workers, verification/certification of
OFW records, processing and issuance of other documentary permits
and requirements, including the issuance of other necessary

authentication/certification, if there any be needed;

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for processing and issuance of civil
registry documents, including the issuance of other necessary

authentication /certification, if there any be needed; and


j. Social Security System (SSS) for the processing and issuance of other
documentary permits and requirements, including the issuance of

other necessary authentication/certification, if there any be needed;

Sec. 4. Manpower Requirements. All government agencies in the
Government Center shall be required to assign qualified personnel in these
satellite offices. The assigned personnel for each government agency must
have no|less than six (6) months of experience of work in their respective
agencies, and shall oversee the day-to-day operations of the satellite offices
and the conduct of the necessary coordination with their respective regional
and central offices. The Provincial Government of Abra, upon the request of
the concerned government agency, shall provide contractual workers to

their satellite offices.

Sec. 5. Office Facilities. All government agencies in the Government
Center shall be required to provide their satellite offices at least two (2) sets
of computer units, with all the required accessories, including scanners and
printers. For purposes of uniformity, the Provincial Government of Abra
shall install/provide the necessary office tables, chairs, and the telephone

and Internet facility to the Government Center.

Sec. 6. Accessibility of the Government Center. The Government
Center shall be located in a location within the Municipality of La Paz in the

Province of Abra that is strategically important and is easily accessible by

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the people.



Sec. 7. Funding. The funds for the establishment, development, and the
day-to-day operations of the Government Center offices shall be provided in
the annual budgets of the aforementioned national government agencies in
the General Appropriations Act. In addition, the costs of general

maint ce of these offices shall be provided by the Provincial Government

of Abra.

Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Heads and/or
Directorp of the agencies mentioned in Section 3 of this Act shall formulate
and isste the necessary guidelines for the proper implementation of this

Act. |

Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. Any law, decree, ordinance or administrative
circular not consistent with any provision of this Act is hereby amended, re-
pealed + modified accordingly.

Sec. zo. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers

of general circulation.

Approved,