Republic of the Philippines

z (=
House of Representatives \
Quezon City \

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

rst Regular Session

1996

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Anthony M. Bravo and Honorable
Cresente C. Paez

|ATORY NOTE

The Constitution, Article 2, Section 23, provides:

The State shall encourage non-governmental, community-based or
sectoral organizations that promote the welfare of the nation.

A Non-Governmental Organization refers to any private entity, which is non-profit and
voluntary in nature dedicated to the promotion, enhancement and support of the welfare of either
a specific group of citizens or for a particular legitimate cause duly registered with any
regulatory body

‘Task-oriented and driven by people with a common interest, NGOs perform a wide range
of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizen concerns to Governments, advocate and
monitor policies and encourage political involvement through the provision of information
Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, environment or health. They
share their scrutiny and know-how, serve as early warning mechanisms and assist in the
monitoring and implementation of laws and international agreements

This bill seeks to make NGOs more involved in the legislative process of local
government units. It will create a stronger partnership in terms of sharing of ideas and resources

between the government and the private sector. *

HON. ANTHONY M. BRAVO HON.

cafe ‘C. PAEZ


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

IXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 1996

Introduced by Honorable Anthony M. Bravo and Honorable
Cresente C. Paez

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANC
BY PROVIDING AN AVENUE FOR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
TO ASSIST IN THE LOCAL L ATIVE PROCESS

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

ION 1. Short Title. ~ This Act shall be known as “Institutionalized Participatory
Governance Act.”

SECTION 2. Definition. ~ A Non-Governmental Organization or NGO, refers to any
private non-stock non-profit organization, regional or national in scope, duly registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), or
any appropriate government regulatory body and exists for a particular legitimate cause.

SECTION 3. Registration of NGOs. — NGOs based in a particular local government unit

can be accredited with their respective Provincial Board, City Council, or Municipal Council

SCTION 4. Election of Representative. ~ The accredited NGOs shall elect their
representatives to the respective Provincial Board, City Council, or Municipal Council The
office of this chosen representative shall not receive any amount from the Provincial Board, City
Council, or Municipal Council but shall find 4s own sources of funding through the group of
accredited NGOs. The term of office of the representative shall be from the date of the election
of the said representative until the end of the current term of the members of the Provincial
Boards, City Councils, and Municipal Councils, unless sooner terminated for cause, as provided

for by the rules of the organization of the accredited NGOs.


SECTION 5. Participation of NGOs at the local legislative level. ~ NGOs can participate
in local legislation through the following means

(a) NGOs with legitimate advocacies can directly participate in Provincial Boards, City
Councils and Municipal Councils through their chosen representative,

(b) The elected representative shall be allowed to file proposed ordinances, for or on
behalf of the accredited NGOs, participate in debates during hearings, but without the right to
Vote on the measures,

SECTION 6. Minimum Requirements. ~ (a) In the first year of the implementation of this
law, there shall be a minimum of five (5) accredited NGOs before they are allowed to send a
representative, (b) in the second year of the implementation of this Act, there shall be a
minimum of ten (10) accredited NGOs before they are allowed to send_a representative, and (c)
in the third year of the implementation of this Act and thereafter, there shall be a minimum of
fifteen (15) accredited NGOs before they are allowed to send a representative

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision 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 is hereby repealed, modified, 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, 5