1 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS   
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session  
 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The number of government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), government 
financial institutions (GFIs), government instrumentalities with corporate powers (GCIPs), and 
government corporate entities (GCEs) as defined in Republic Act No. 10149, otherwise known 
as the “GOCC Governance Act of 2011”, as well as their subsidiaries and corporate off-springs 
including economic zones and water districts, all collectively referred to as “government 
corporations”, have increased through the years – from fifty three (53) in 1983 to seven 
hundred thirty two (732) to date.  
Executive Order No. 292 (26 July 1987), otherwise known as the “Administrative Code 
of 1987”, expressly defines the mandate of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel 
(OGCC), thus: (1) to act as the principal law office of all government corporations; and, (2) to 
exercise control and supervision over all legal departments or divisions thereof. Later 
executive issuances further strengthened and enhanced OGCC’s mandate and 
responsibilities over the legal affairs of various GOCCs.   
However, the existing organizational structure and personnel complement of OGCC 
was formulated way back in 1983, and has not been amended or improved since then, despite 
the substantial increase in the volume, complexity and the importance of the OGCC’s 
mandate due to escalating demands of government activities and transactions.  
To ensure that OGCC shall be able to adapt to the changing conditions and to uphold 
the principle of “equal pay for equal value of work”, the Eighteenth Congress (2019-2022) 
passed the consolidated OGCC Bill (Senate Bill No. 2490 & House Bill No. 9088), entitled: 
“An Act Strengthening the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), by 
Rationalizing and Further Professionalizing its Organization, and Appropriating Funds 
Therefor” and transmitted the same to the Office of the President on June 21, 2022. 
While His Excellency President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, Jr. vetoed 
the OGCC Bill on July 22, 2022, he still recognizes the need to strengthen the OGCC because 
of the growth in the number of GOCCs coupled with the complexities of their requirements 
brought by the modern business situations and conditions, and thereby accord the men and 
women of the OGCC the same privileges and benefits being enjoyed by their counterparts in 
the Judiciary and in the Office of the Solicitor General. 
This Bill, therefore, reintroduces the proposed bill on the OGCC, now entitled: “An Act 
Strengthening the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel by Rationalizing and Further 
Professionalizing its Organization, and Appropriating Funds Therefor”, subject to certain 
amendments to address the veto message of the President. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
December 6, 2022
8:00 am
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2 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNMENT CORPORATE COUNSEL 
(OGCC) 
BY 
RATIONALIZING 
AND 
FURTHER 
PROFESSIONALIZING 
ITS 
ORGANIZATION, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR  
Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “OGCC Charter of 2022”. 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the State to protect and promote 
the welfare, rights and interests of government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), 
government financial institutions (GFIs), government instrumentalities with corporate powers 
(GICPs), and government corporate entities (GCEs) as defined in Republic Act No. 10149, 
otherwise known as the “GOCC Governance Act of 2011”, as well as their subsidiaries and 
corporate off-springs, including economic zones and water districts, all collectively referred to 
in this Act as “government corporations”. 
Toward this end, the State shall require the improvement of legal services extended by the 
Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), to efficiently address the expanding 
needs of these government corporations in accordance with the initiative towards an improved 
fiscal management and good corporate governance. It shall be the mandate of the OGCC to 
safeguard the legal interest of all government corporations.  
 Section 3. Power, Jurisdiction and Mandate– The OGCC shall be the statutory counsel and 
principal law office of all government corporations. All government corporations shall refer the 
following to the OGCC:  
(a) All important legal questions for opinion and advice;
(b) All contracts for review: Provided, That the Government Corporate Counsel (GCC)
may from time to time determine which contract shall no longer be submitted to OGCC;
and,
(c) All cases for representation before regular courts, quasi-judicial bodies, administrative
agencies and arbitral tribunals: Provided, That the GCC may thereafter authorize the
government corporation's legal department or retained counsel as collaborating
counsel to handle cases, as the urgency or expediency of circumstances may warrant.
In addition to the foregoing, the OGCC shall continue to perform all powers and functions 
under existing laws.  
Section 4. Organizational Structure. – The OGCC shall be autonomous and independent of 
the Department of Justice (DOJ), but shall be attached to the DOJ for policy and program 
coordination. 
The OGCC shall be headed by the GCC, who is the principal law officer and legal 
defender of all government corporations. She/He shall have the authority and responsibility 
for the exercise of the OGCC's mandate and for the discharge of its duties and functions, and 
shall have supervision and control over the OGCC and its constituent units.   
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The GCC shall be assisted by the Deputy Government Corporate Counsel (DGCC), 
Assistant Government Corporate Counsels (AGCCs) and such number of Government 
Corporate Attorneys (GCAs) as may be necessary to operate the OGCC. Unless otherwise 
determined by the GCC, the legal staff shall be divided into teams, each to be headed by an 
AGCC.  
The administrative structure of the OGCC shall be composed of the Secretarial and 
Legal Support Service, Human Resource Development and Management Service, Finance 
and Accounting Service, Case and Records Management Service, Library Management and 
Information Technology Service, Corporate Planning Service, and Property and Supply 
Service: Provided, That the OGCC may, as the need arises and subject to the approval of the 
Department of Budget and Management and the Civil Service Commission, reorganize the 
administrative structure of the OGCC. 
The legal and non-legal personnel of the OGCC occupying the positions affected by 
the changes embodied in this Act at the time of its approval shall thereafter occupy and 
discharge the duties and functions of the rationalized positions, and receive the corresponding 
salary, benefits and privileges without necessity of new appointments. 
 
Section 5. OGCC's Legal Personnel and Qualifications. – 
(a)  The GCC shall have the same rank, category, salary grade and salaries, allowances, 
retirement and pension benefits, emoluments, prerogatives and privileges as the Presiding 
Justice of the Court of Appeals. She/He shall be assisted by a DGCC and twelve (12) AGCCs 
who shall have the same rank, category, prerogatives, salary grade and salaries, allowances, 
retirement and pension benefits, emoluments, prerogatives and privileges of an Associate 
Justice of the Court of Appeals: Provided, That the number of AGCCs may be increased  as 
the need arises and subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management 
and the Civil Service Commission. 
No person shall be appointed GCC, DGCC or AGCC unless she/he is a natural-born 
citizen of the Philippines and has been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines for at 
least fifteen (15) years. 
 
(b) The other members of the legal staff shall be as follows:  
(1) 
Fourteen (14) Government Corporate Attorney IV (GCA IV), who shall have the 
same rank, salary grade and salaries, allowances, retirement and pension benefits, 
emoluments, prerogatives and privileges of a judge of a Regional Trial Court. No 
person shall be appointed as GCA IV unless she/he is a natural-born citizen of the 
Philippines and has been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines for at least 
ten (10) years; 
(2)  
Nineteen (19) Government Corporate Attorney III (GCA III) who shall have the 
same rank, salary grade and salaries, allowances, retirement and pension benefits, 
emoluments, prerogatives and privileges of a judge of a Metropolitan Trial Court. No 
person shall be appointed GCA III unless she/he is a natural-born citizen of the 
Philippines and has been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines for at least 
five (5) years; 
(3) 
Twenty (20) Government Corporate Attorney II (GCA II), with Salary Grade 27, 
who shall be natural-born citizens of the Philippines and have been engaged in the 
practice of law in the Philippines for at least three (3) years; 
(4) 
Ten (10) Government Corporate Attorney I (GCA I), with Salary Grade 26, who 
shall be natural-born citizens of the Philippines and have been engaged in the practice 
of law in the Philippines for at least two (2) years; 
(5) 
Eight (8) Associate Government Corporate Attorneys, with Salary Grade 25, 
who shall be natural-born citizens of the Philippines and have been engaged in the 
practice of law in the Philippines for at least one (1) year. 
The GCC, DGCC and AGCCs shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines. The 
other members of the legal and administrative personnel shall be appointed by the GCC. 


 
 
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Except for the GCC, the appointments of the DGCC and AGCCs shall be permanent upon 
compliance with the prescribed qualification standards under this Act.  
 
Section 6. Non-legal Personnel.  – The OGCC shall be supported by such number of non-
legal personnel as necessary, commensurate to their current workload, as recommended by 
the OGCC and as approved by the Department of Budget and Management and the Civil 
Service Commission. 
Non-legal personnel shall have the same salaries and benefits as that of their 
counterparts in the Office of the Solicitor General.  
The salaries, benefits and privileges of the personnel of the OGCC granted under this 
Act shall automatically be increased to keep in step with any corresponding increase in 
salaries and privileges subsequently granted to their respective counterparts in the Office of 
the Solicitor General. 
 
Section 7. Institute of Public Corporate Governance. – There is hereby established the 
Institute of Public Corporate Governance (IPCG) in the OGCC, for the purpose of promoting 
government and public sector accountability, transparency, and the pursuit of excellence and 
efficiency in government service. 
The IPCG shall be directly attached to the office of the GCC, and shall be headed by 
an Executive Director designated  by the GCC from among the GCAIVs of the OGCC. 
The IPCG shall institutionalize good corporate governance practices in and by 
GOCCs; serve as a central continuing education provider for officers, members of governing 
boards and lawyers of GOCCs; publish journals, newsletters and utilize other forms of media 
to keep all in government informed of the trends in the Civil Service; and, participate in and  
propose relevant legislation to promote corporate governance. 
 
Section 8. Personnel Benefits and Privileges. – Provisions of other laws to the contrary 
notwithstanding, and subject to availability of funds, the OGCC may provide its employees the 
following benefits:  
(a) 
Accident insurance for all employees for approved travels while in the 
performance of official duties; 
(b) 
Scholarships for the deserving employees on official time to upgrade 
their knowledge and skills: Provided, That scholars under this provision shall be 
selected on the basis of merit as determined by competitive examination;   
(c) 
  Healthcare services through a health maintenance organization 
coverage; 
(d) 
A Provident Fund which shall consist of, but not be limited to, 
contributions made by the OGCC and by its employees; and, 
(e) 
Reimbursement of registration fees and expenses for trainings and 
seminars, including those for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) 
and professional license fees.  
 
Section 9. Other Benefits. – Provisions of other laws to the contrary notwithstanding, the legal 
personnel of the OGCC are authorized and shall continue to receive allowances and honoraria 
from government corporations which shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of their 
annual basic salary.  
 
Section 10. Retirement Benefits. – Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, and consistent 
with Section 4 of this Act granting them the same retirement benefits and privileges of their 
counterparts in the Judiciary, the retirement benefits of the GCC, DGCC, AGCC, GCA IV and 
GCA III shall be automatically increased whenever there is an increase in the salaries and 
allowances of the same positions from which he or she retired.  
 
Section 11. Attorney's Fees. – Consistent with the provisions of the  Administrative Code of 
1987, the OGCC is authorized to receive attorney's fees awarded by a court, tribunal, or panel, 


 
 
5 
 
including awards and judgments stipulated under court-approved compromise agreements. 
The OGCC is hereby authorized to use such awards and attorney's fees to meet 
contingencies, obligations and undertakings and/or for employee benefits and incentives, 
necessary or proper to promote efficiency in the service as determined by the GCC.  
 
Section 12. Special Assessments. –  The GCC is authorized to make special assessments 
upon government corporations and to disburse and use the same for purposes of meeting 
obligations and contingencies, upgrading facilities and equipment, capacity building of 
employees and resource development, defraying such other expenses not provided for in the 
annual General Appropriations Act, subject to accounting and auditing procedures.  
 
Section 13. Franking Privilege. – All official mail matters of the OGCC addressed for delivery 
within the Philippines shall be received, transmitted and delivered free of charge: Provided, 
That such mail matters when addressed to private persons or non-government offices shall 
not exceed one hundred and twenty (120) grams.  
 
Section 14. Funding. – The funds required for insurance premiums; employer’s contribution 
to the Provident Fund; professional, educational, registration fees, and contracted 
transportation; and, all other benefits above shall be taken from:  
(a) Five percent (5%) attorney’s fees awarded by the courts to client government 
corporations, including those under court-approved compromise agreements, 
actually assisted by the OGCC and not delegated to private lawyers: Provided, 
That in cases where both OGCC and private lawyers jointly worked on the 
resolution of a case or compromise agreement, the OGCC shall be entitled to as 
much attorney’s fees on a quantum meruit basis.  
(b) Special assessments collected from government corporations; and, 
(c) All other income, fees and revenues earned and collected by the OGCC.  
 
Section 15. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act 
shall be taken from the current year's appropriations for the Office of the Government 
Corporate Counsel. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued 
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and/or 
supplemental appropriations. 
 
Section 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The GCC shall promulgate the necessary 
rules and regulations for the implementation of the provisions of this Act: Provided, That the 
Reorganization Plan implementing the provisions of this Act shall be submitted to the 
Department of Budget and Management and the Civil Service Commission within thirty (30) 
days from the effectivity hereof. 
 
Section 17. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are 
contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, 
or modified accordingly.  
 
Section 18. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act is subsequently 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
shall remain in full force and effect.  
 
Section 19. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,