EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
S E N A T E
S. No. 935
v 
of ti)f e ' crrrsrp
T f 
AUG 20 P2 39
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
RECEtvrDBV:
V
AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL INDIGENT FILIPINOS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CHAPTER 5, TITLE I I I ,  BOOK IV  OF 
EXECUTIVE 
ORDER 
NO. 
292, 
OTHERWISE 
KNOWN 
AS 
THE 
"ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987", APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Explanatory Note
The principle that justice is guaranteed to all is enshrined in the following 
sections of provisions of the Bill of Rights (Article III, 1987 Philippine Constitution):
a. ) 
Section 1: "No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or
property without due process of law, nor shall any person be 
denied the equal protection of the laws."
b. ) 
Section 11: "Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies
and adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to any person 
by reason of poverty.
These Constitutional provisions above are clear: All Filipinos, regardless of 
economic standing, are entitled to recourse through the justice system.
But in reality, justice remains inaccessible to many, particularly the poor and 
the marginalized. The scales of justice remain tilted towards the rich and the 
powerful, while the victims of injustice remain helpless. This measure seeks to


remedy this situation by providing a statutory definition of "indigent" for the Public 
Attorney's Office (PAO).
Presently, the definition of "indigent" under the applicable circular of the PAO 
is outdated. First of all, they use old poverty thresholds from 2007. Second, they do 
not include individuals identified as poor under the National Household Targeting 
System (NHTS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
In view of the foregoing, speedy approval of this measure is eagerly sought.


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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N  A.T 
S. No.
Ornate
o f tl)f f r w r f u r p
•19 MiG 20 P2 39
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
RECEi'/i DfcV. _ .
AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL IND IG EN T FILIPINOS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CHAPTER 5, TITLE I I I ,  BOOK IV  OF 
EXECUTIVE 
ORDER 
NO. 
292, 
OTHERWISE 
KNOWN 
AS 
THE 
"ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1 9 87" APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Hustisya Para sa
2 
LahatAct".
3 
Sec. 2. A new section 14-B is hereby inserted in Chapter 5, Title III, Book IV
4 
of Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the "Administrative Code o f 1987"
5 
which shall read as follows:
6 
' SEC. 14-B. INDIGENT DEFINED. -  FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACT,
7 
"IN D IG EN T" SHALL REFER TO ANY IN D IV ID U AL WHO FALLS INTO ANY OF
8 
THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
9 
A.) THOSE WHOSE NET INCOME FALLS BELOW THE MOST RECENT
10 
OFFICIAL 
CITY, 
MUNICIPAL 
OR 
PROVINCIAL 
POVERTY
11 
THRESHOLD AS PUBLISHED BY THE PH ILIPPIN E STATISTICS
12 
AUTHORITY (PSA);
13 
B.) THOSE IDENTIFIED AS POOR AND NEAR POOR BASED ON THE
14 
NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD TARGETING SYSTEM (NHTS) OF THE
15 
DSWD; OR
16 
C.)THOSE VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE LIVIN G  UNDER
17 
PRECARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH AS THOSE 
WHO ARE


1 
MEMBERS OF THE INFORMAL ECONOMY, INFORMAL SECTORS,
2 
INDIGENOUS 
PEOPLES, 
AND 
THOSE 
LIVING  
IN
3 
GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED AND DISADVANTAGED AREAS.
4 
OWNERSHIP OF LAND SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A GROUND FOR
5 
DISQUALIFICATION 
OF 
AN 
APPLICANT 
FOR 
FREE 
LEGAL
6 
ASSISTANCE."
7 
Sec. 3. A new section 14-C is hereby inserted in Chapter 5, Title III, Book IV
8 
of Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the "Administrative Code o f 1987"
9 
which shall read as follows:
10 
"SEC. 14-C. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS.- TO ENSURE THAT
11 
ONLY QUALIFIED BENEFICIARIES SHALL BENEFIT FROM THIS ACT, THE
12 
APPLICANT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
13 
DOCUMENTS:
14 
A.)CERTIFICATE OF INDIGENCY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
15 
SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSW D), ITS LOCAL
16 
DISTRICT OFFICE, OR THE MUNICIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE AND
17 
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE
18 
RESIDENCE OF THE APPLICANT; OR
19 
B.)CERTIFICATE 
OF 
INDIGENCY 
FROM 
THE BARANGAY
20 
CHAIRMAN HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE RESIDENCE OF
21 
THE APPLICANT."
22 
Sec. 
4. 
Appropriations. 
-  The amounts 
necessary for the effective
23 
implementation of this Act shall be included under the appropriations of the Public
24 
Attorney's Office (PAO) under the annual General Appropriations Act.
25 
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) days from
26 
the effectivity of this Act, the PAO, in coordination with the DSWD and the PSA shall
27 
promulgate the implementing rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act.
28 
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
29 
rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts 
thereof, which are inconsistent
30 
with the provisions of this Act including Sec. 3, Article II 
of PAO Memorandum
31 
Circular No. 18, s. 2002, as amended, are hereby repealed, amended or modified
32 
accordingly.


1 
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. -  If, for any reason, any part, section or provision
2 
of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected
3 
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
4 
Sec. 8. Effectivity Clause. -T his Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
5 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,