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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 28 states: 
Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and 
implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions 
involving public interest. 
Lobbying activities are being carried out today in the Philippines and greatly 
influence the government's policy decisions and even the creation of laws by the 
legislature. 
While the records of the deliberations of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives are open to the public, the behind-the-scenes negotiations are not. The 
numerous Senate and House hearings investigating the suspected anomalous deals of the 
government are proof of public distrust in the way that government transactions are 
concluded. Hence, it is equally, if not more important that lobbying activities be made 
public in order to restore the people's trust and confidence in the government and to 
ensure that openness, honesty, and integrity form the basis of dealings between Members 
of Congress and lobbyists. 
IRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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i fit 18 ?3'?'- 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act may be cited as the Lobbying Accountability 
Act 2007. 
SECTION 2. Declarution of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to enhance 
public confidence in the integrity of public office and the decision-making process in 
government by implementing a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions 
involving public interest. 
SECTION 3. Lobbying activity defined. -For the purposes of this Act, but subject 
to this section, lobbying activity means: 
(1) Any oral or written communication (including an electronic communication) with 
a public official intended to influence: 
(a) the development of any legislative proposal by the government or by a 
member of either House of Congress; or 
(b) the introduction of any bill in either House of Congress or the passage or 
amendment of any bill that is before either House of Congress; or 
(c) the making or amendment of any delegated legislation; or 
(d) introduction of or change to any government policy or program; or 
(e) the exercise of any authority or power conferred under a written law; or 
(0 the expenditure of public money. 
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(2) Lobbying activity does not include oral or written communication (including an 
electronic communication) that is: 
(a) made by a public official, an agency, or any other person holding office under 
a written law in his, her or its official capacity; or 
(b) made on behalf of the government; or 
(c) made on behalf of the government of a foreign country; or 
(d) constituted by any application required or authorized by a written law; or 
(e) made in response to a written request from a public official acting in his or her 
official capacity; or 
(f) made by a representative or employee of a media organization for the 
purposes of gathering and disseminating news and information to the public; 
or 
(g) made in a speech, article, publication or other material that is distributed and 
made available to the public, or through radio, television, or other medium of 
mass communication: or 
(h) made in a petition to either House of Congress or in evidence or submissions 
to a committee of either of those Houses, or a joint committee of both Houses 
of Congress; or 
(i) made in the course of any judicial proceedings. 
(3) Lobbying activity does not include arranging or attending a meeting with a public 
official: 
(a) that is open to members of the public; or 
(b) by a representative or employee of a media organization for the purposes of 
gathering and disseminating news and information to the public. 
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SECTION 4. Requirement of Registration. - (1) A person or group engaged in 
lobbying activities must register with the Securities and Exchange Commission setting 
out the information referred to in subsection (2) below. 
(2) A registration lodged in accordance with subsection (1) must be notarized and 
shall set out the following information in relation to all of the lobbying activity carried 
out by the lobbyist: 
(a) the name and business address of the lobbyist; 
(b) the name and business address of the employer or the person in whose 
behalf the lobbying activity is carried out; 
(c) if the employer is a corporation, the name and business address of any 
related entity of the employer that, to the knowledge of the lobbyist, has a 
direct interest in the outcome of the lobbying activity; 
(d) any other person that, to the knowledge of the lobbyist, has a direct 
interest in the outcome of the lobbying activity; 
(e) a description in summary form of the employer’s business or activities and 
such other information to identify the nature of the employer’s business or 
activities as is prescribed; 
(f) a description, in summary form, of the subject matter of the lobbying 
activity, and such other information regarding the subject matter as is 
prescribed; 
(g) particulars to identify any legislative proposal, bill, delegated legislation, 
policy, program, authority, power or expenditure to which the lobbying 
activity related; 
(h) the names and designations of the public officials in relation to whom 
lobbying activity was directed; 
(i) such other information in relation to the lobbying activity as is prescribed. 
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(3) The Commissioner may, on the application of a lobbyist, extend the time 
within which the registration required by subsection (1) must be made by not more than 
fourteen (14) days. 
SECTION 5. Establishment of 
register of 
lobbying activities. - (1) The 
Commissioner must compile and maintain a register to be called the Register of 
Lobbying Activity. 
(2) The register is to comprise all of the information set out in returns lodged 
under this Act. 
(3) The register may be compiled in such manner and form as the Commissioner 
considers convenient, except that the register must be available and up-to-date for 
inspection. 
(4) The register must be open to inspection by any person at such place and at 
such reasonable times as the Commissioner may determine. 
SECTION 6. Appropriations. - There shall be authorized to be appropriated such 
amounts as necessary to caky out the provisions of this Act.. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act, are hereby modified, repealed, or 
amended accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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