. , 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
ltrn." 
(Offl; •. "f~I~.Jtmtl.t~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
AUG -1 
P4 :44 
SENAf~Ol 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 13 provides: 
The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall 
promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-
being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage 
their involvement in public and civic affairs. 
The Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) effectively promotes this Constitutional policy 
through its mission, which is "to help girls and young women realize the ideals of womanhood 
and prepare them for their roles and responsibilities in the home and in nation-building." 
The GSP was created under Commonwealth Act No. 542. Consistent with the 
Government's Corporate Rationalization Program, E.O. 495 was issued repealing C.A. 542 
together with the charters of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and the Philippine Shipper's 
Council. E.O. 495 mandated each of the governing bodies of the three entities to convert their 
organizations into private corporations and register themselves with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission. 
Privatization of the GSP, however, will lead to the erosion of the special status and 
support it has gained as a uniquely chartered organization dedicated to serving the youth of the 
country for almost 68 years. If it is converted into an ordinary corporation, its continued 
existence may be threatened, as it will be relatively easier to dissolve a private corporation than 
an organization mandated by law.' 
rI'~ ~s1l\{~ 
• This bill is a re-filed version of one filed by the late Senator Raul S. Roeo in the 11 Ih Congress and another filed by 
Senator Franklin Drilon in the 13th Congress. 
1 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENtT2EOl 
S. No. _~"'-"~=-
'13 
AUG -, P 4 :44 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
AMENDING COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 542, 
3 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT TO CREATE A CORPORATION TO BE KNOWN AS 
4 
THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND TO DEFINE ITS POWERS AND 
5 
PURPOSES" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
6 
SECTION I. Section 5 of Commonwealth Act No. 542 is hereby amended to read as 
7 
follows: 
8 
"SECTION 5. (a) The governing body of the Corporation shall be vested 
9 
in a Central Board composed of thirty-seven (37) Members, as prescribed in the 
10 
By-Laws, as follows: 
11 
(1) the Charter/Life members; 
12 
(2) the Regional Chairmen of the Girl Scout Regions of the Philippines 
13 
who shall be elected by their respective Regions; 
14 
(3) the President of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines; 
15 
(4) the Immediate Past National President of the Girl Scouts of the 
16 
Philippines; 
17 
(5) one Senior Girl Scout/Cadet OR YOUNG ADULT from each Girl 
18 
Scout Region to represent the Girl membership, who shall be elected 
19 
by the Girl Scouts of each region; 
20 
(6) the remaining members shall be the members-at -large, who shall be 
21 
elected by the National Council from a list submitted by the 
22 
Nominating Committee from nominees from Provincial/City Councils, 
23 
REGIONAL COMMITTEES and National Committees. 
1 


1 
The Central Board shall have the power to make and to amend the 
2 
Constitution and By-Laws of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines subject to 
3 
ratification by the National Council, create standing and special committees and 
4 
provide policies and procedures as may be necessary to carry out the business of 
5 
the Corporation. 
6 
It shall meet regularly at least twice a year. The number necessary to 
7 
constitute a quorum, which munber may be less than a majority of the whole 
8 
number of the Board shall be fixed by the By-Laws. 
9 
The members of the Central Board shall serve for a term of three (3) years 
10 
or until their sucCessors shall have been elected and qualified. In case of inability 
11 
of a member to assume office or when any vacancy occurs by reason of death, 
12 
resignation, or incapacity, the position shall be filled by the candidate who 
13 
received the next highest number of votes in the preceding election. 
14 
The Central Board shall elect from among themselves the NATIONAL 
15 
officers of the Corporation, to wit: the National President, the First National 
16 
Vice-President, the Second National Vice-President, the National Secretary, the 
17 
Assistant National Secretary, the National Treasurer, and the Assistant National 
18 
19 
Treasurer. 
(b) 
A woman President of the Philippines or the First Lady of the 
20 
Philippines shall be the Chief Girl Scout of the Philippines." 
21 
SECTION 2. Section 8 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
22 
"SECTION 8. The Corporation [created by this Act] shall adopt 
23 
distinctive badges, uniforms, insignia, and other [equipment(s)] EQUIPMENT 
24 
[and] WHICH shall be made available to and used only by registered Girl Scouts 
25 
or officials who have satisfactorily complied with the international requirements 
26 
prescribed by the World Bureau of [this Movement] THE WORLD 
27 
ASSOCIATION OF GIRL GUIDES AND GIRL SCOUTS (WAGGGS) and 
28 
which the Girl Scouts of the Philippines shall use in carrying out its program in 
2 


1 
accordance with the purpose of this Act. 
The corporation shall cause the 
2 
registration of said badges, uniforms, insignias, and other [equipments] 
3 
EQUIPMENT in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act [Numbered One 
4 
hundred sixty-six, and the Patent Office] NO. 8293, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
5 
THE 'INTELECTUAL PROPERTY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES,' AS 
6 
AMENDED. THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE is hereby directed to 
7 
cause said registration free of charge." 
8 
SECTION 3. Section 9 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
9 
"SECTION 9. [Any donation or contribution which from time to time may 
lObe made to the Girl Scouts of the Philippines by the Government or any of its 
11 
subdivisions, branches, offices agencies or instrumentalities shall be administered 
12 
by the Central Board in pursuance of this Act.] 
13 
[All donations made to the Girl Scouts of the Philippine shall be from 
14 
payment of taxes on donations, and the Corporation shall be exempt from the 
15 
payment of all taxes, duties, imposts, and other charges] 
16 
THE CORPORATION SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING 
17 
TAX AND DUTY PRIVILEGES: 
18 
(a) 
EXEMPTION FROM INCOME TAX PURSUANT TO SECTION 
19 
30 (E), (G) AND (H) OF THE NATIOONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 
20 
1997, AS AMENDED; AND 
21 
(b) 
TAX AND/OR DUTY EXEMPTION OF DONATIONS FROM 
22 
FOREIGN COUNTRIES AS PROVIDED UNDER RELEVANT LAW SUCH 
23 
AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SECTION 105 OF THE TARIFF AND 
24 
CUSTOMS CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 
25 
109 (Q) OF THE NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1997, AS 
26 
AMENDED. 
27 
LIKEWISE, ALL DONATIONS, LEGACIES, AND GIFTS TO THE 
28 
GIRL SCOUTS OF THE PHILIPPINES TO SUPPORT ITS PURPOSES AND 
3 


I 
OBJECTIVES AS EMBODIED IN THIS ACT SHALL, SUBJECT TO THE 
2 
LIMITATIONS AND CONDITIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL INTERNAL 
3 
REVENUE CODE OF 1997, AS AMENDED, BE EXEMPT FROM THE 
4 
DONOR'S TAX AND SHALL BE DEDUCTIBLE FROM THE GROSS 
5 
INCOME OF THE DONOR FOR INCOME TAX PURPOSES, AND SUCH 
6 
DONATIONS, LEGACIES, AND GIFTS SHALL BE EXPENDED BY THE 
7 
CENTRAL BOARD IN PURSUANCE OF THIS ACT. 
8 
THE CORPORATION SHALL LIKEWISE BE EXEMPT FROM 
9 
PAYMENT OF ALL OTHER TAXES, DUTIES, IMPOSTS, AND OTHER 
10 
CHARGES." 
11 
SECTION 4. Section 10 the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
12 
"SECTION 10. [On or before the first day of May each year, the said] 
13 
THE Corporation shall make and transmit to the [President] CHIEF GIRL 
14 
SCOUT of the Philippines [a] AN ANNUAL report [of its proceedings for the 
15 
year ending December thirty-first preceding, including] WHICH SHALL 
16 
INCLUDE a full, complete, and itemized report of receipts and expenditures of 
17 
whatever kind." 
18 
SECTION 5. Section II of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
19 
"SECTION 11. From and after passage of this Act, it shall be unlawful for 
20 
any person within the jurisdiction of the Philippines to falsely and fraudulently 
21 
call herself to be a member of, or an agent for, the Girl Scouts of the Philippines; 
22 
and any person who violates any of the provisions ofthis Act shall be punished by 
23 
[imprisonment of not to exceed six (6) months or a fine not exceeding five 
24 
hundred pesos (500.00),] 
PRISION CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MINIMUM 
25 
PERIOD OR A FINE NOT EXCEEDING TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS 
26 
(P20,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the court. 
4 


1 
IT 
SHALL 
BE 
UNLAWFUL 
FOR 
ANY 
PERSON 
TO 
2 
MANUFACTURE, SELL DISTRIBUTE, USE APPLY FEATURE, PORTRAY 
3 
OR CAUSE TO BE MANUFACTURED, SOLD, DISTRIBUTED, APPLIED, 
4 
FEATURED OR PORTRAYED FRAUDULENTLY OR WITHOUT THE 
5 
OFFICIAL KNOWLEDGE AND WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THE CENTRAL 
6 
BOARD SOF THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE PHILIPPINES BADGES, 
7 
UNIFORMS, INSIGNIA, OR SCOUTING PARAPHERNALIA OR THE 
8 
PHOTOS OR VISUALS OF A GIRL SCOUT OR GIRL SCOUTS IN 
9 
UNIFORM, OR THE LOGO, SEAL OR CORPORATE NAME OF THE GIRL 
10 
SCHOUTS OF THE PHILIPPINES IN ANY PRINT AND RADIO OR 
11 
TELEVISION COMMERCIAL, BILLBOARD, COLLATERAL MATERIAL 
12 
OR ANY FORM ADVERTISEMENT; OR TO USE THE NAME OF THE GIRL 
13 
SCOUTS OF THE PHILIPPINES IN ANY ILLEGAL PURPOSE OR 
14 
PERSONAL GAIN. ANY VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 
15 
8 
AND 
TI-IlS 
SECTION 
SHALL 
BE 
PUNISHED 
BY 
PRISION 
16 
CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MEDIUM PERIOD TO PRISION MAYOR IN ITS 
17 
MINIMUM PERIOD OR A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND 
18 
PESOS (P50,000.00) NOR MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND 
19 
PESOS (P500,000.00), OR BOTH, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT: 
20 
PROVIDED, THAT IN CASE OF CORPORATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, 
21 
ASSOCIATIONS, 
SOCIETIES 
OR 
COMPANIES, 
THE 
MANAGER, 
22 
ADMINISTRATOR, 
OR 
THE 
PERSON 
IN 
CHARGE 
OF 
THE 
23 
MANAGEMENT OR ADMINISTRATION OF THE BUSINESS SHALL BE 
24 
CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY SUCH VIOLATION. 
THESE 
25 
PENALTIES SHALL BE WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE PROPER CIVIL 
26 
ACTION FOR RECOVERY OF CIVIL DAMAGES, WHICH MAY BE 
27 
INSTITUTED 
TOGETHER 
WITH 
OR 
INDEPENDENTLY 
OF 
THE 
28 
CRIMINAL PROSECUTION." 
5 


1 
SECTION 6. The same Act is hereby amended by adding a new section, Section 14, to 
2 
read as follows: 
3 
"Section 14. 
DISSOLUTION - IN THE EVENT THAT THE GIRL 
4 
SCOUTS 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
IS 
DISSOLVED BY LAW, THE 
5 
PROPERTIES AND ASSETS THEREOF SHALL BE CONVEYED AND 
6 
TRANSFERRED TO AGSP FOUNDATION,· IF . THERE BB ANY, 
7 
ORGANIZED FOR THE PURPOSE, OR TO BE FORMED BY THE 
8 
MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL BOARD INCUMBENT AT THE TIME OF 
9 
DISSOLUTION." 
10 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. -
If any provision of this Act is declared 
11 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
12 
shall continue to be in full force and effect 
13 
14 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Section 2 (c), Section 6 (c), and Annex "C" of 
15 
Executive Order No. 495 (series of 1991), insofar as they apply to the Girl Scouts of the 
16 
Philippines, are hereby repealed. 
All other laws, decrees, orders, proclamations, rules, and 
17 
regulations inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or 
18 
modified accordingly. 
19 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
20 
following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
6