REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

* oui 4

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1652
House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN Il

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 9 of the Constitution affirms that the State shall promote a just and
dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free
the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full
employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.

‘The present socio-economic condition of our country however, runs counter to the aforesaid
policy of the State. Despite positive gains, economic growth has been inequitable across
sectors of the economy and poverty in the Philippines remains significant.

Although there have been efforts to address the crisis of poverty through livelihood programs
with the direct involvement of government agencies and institutions, many problems still
persist. Lack of coordination among these agencies and wasteful duplication of efforts and
initiatives are most prominent of these problems.

In lieu of this, this bill seeks to establish a National Livelihood Development Council which
is tasked to formulate a comprehensive and integrated livelihood development program for
the country.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Magdalo Para’Sa Pilipino Party-List

* ecewven a


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, __ 1652

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
THEREBY INSTITUTIONALIZING THE LIVELIHOOD MOVEMENT OF THE
PHILIPPINES

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Livelihood
Development Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to free
poor Filipinos from the bondage of poverty, improve their living conditions, and provide
them the opportunity to increase their productive and income-earning capabilities through a
comprehensive, integrated and effective national development program.

The State shall pursue a comprehensive national development program for the socio-
economic upliftment of the poorest sector of our population in order to integrate them into the
mainstream of society, promote social justice and hasten the development and
industrialization of the countryside.

SEC. 3. Creation. - There is hereby created a National Livelihood Development
Council (NLDC), under the Office of the President, which will spearhead the livelihood-
generating activities of all government agencies including Government-Owned and
Controlled Corporations (GOCCS).

SEC. 4. Purpose. - The Council shall formulate a comprehensive and integrated
National Livelihood Development program and oversee its implementation. It shall also
create mechanisms and structures to integrate all livelihood initiatives particularly within the
government sector.

SEC. 5. Powers and Functions. - The Council shall have the following powers and
functions:

A) To formulate, in accordance with the bottom-up planning approach and in
consultation with the concerned sectors, an integrated and comprehensive national
livelihood development program;


Scwradsanavne

u
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49

B) To formulate, in consultation with the concemed sectors, policies, standards, and
guidelines which shall govern the implementation of livelihood programs and
projects, including the identification and coordination of various types of
assistance that should be provided to ensure their effective implementation;

C) To review, amend, modify, and approve all livelihood programs submitted by
implementing agencies including GOCCs, and to evaluate and recommend the
budgetary allocation of resources for all livelihood programs and projects through
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), as well as review and
endorse to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) all requests
for foreign financing whether in the form of grants, donations, or loans;

D) To monitor and evaluate the implementation of livelihood programs and projects
and institute measures to address identified gaps, as well as decide on whether or
not a certain livelihood program or project based on monitoring and evaluation
results;

E) To establish effective unified mechanisms for program planning and
implementation;

F) To review, amend, modify, and approve all provincial/city livelihood development
programs with national funding to ensure that these conform and are consistent
with the various agencies plans and programs;

G) To provide and disseminate information and data on livelihood projects initiatives
and concerns to agencies concemed and point out actual or possible duplication
among livelihood projects;

H) To authorize expenditures of the Council as may be necessary for the proper,
efficient and effective administration of the National Livelihood Development
Program;

1) To promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary for the effective exercise
of the powers and functions of the Council;

J) To improve and recommend to the Department of Budget and Management the
annual and supplemental budgets for the Council;

K) To create form among themselves such working committees necessary for the
efficient and effective operation of the Council;

L) To support the promotion and marketing of livelihood enterprises; and

M) To provide a continuing education and information dissemination program on
enterprise management.

SEC. 6. Composition of the Council. - The Council shall be composed of a Chairman

to be appointed by the President of the Philippines and the following as members:


Sear saHawne

u
12
2B
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
2
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46

48

A) The most senior official directly responsible for the overall management of
livelihood programs and projects of the following agencies: the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTD), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department
of Agrarian reform (DAR) and the Department of Environment and natural
Resources (DENR);

B) Heads of the Livelihood Corporation and the Technology and Livelihood
Resource Center;

C) The most senior official of each Government Financing Institutions directly
responsible for the overall management of the agency's livelihood assistance
program and/or lending window;

D) Head of the NEDA Social Development Committee;

E) Two (2) non-governmental organization representatives involved in livelihood
programs, to be chosen by the same sector through a process designed by them;

F) Five (5) private sector representatives designated by the private sector
representatives designated by the Council coming from any of following sectors:
agriculture, industry, youth and finance/banking; and

G) Two (2) representatives of people's organization to be chosen by the same sector
through a process designated by them.

SEC. 7. Secretariat. - To render technical and administrative support, the Livelihood
Corporation, created under the Executive Order No. 866, shall provide the Secretariat which
shall be headed by an Executive Director to be appointed by the Chairman of the Council.

The Secretariat shall work closely with the provincial/city livelihood committees on
the aspects of monitoring and evaluating the implementation of livelihood programs.

SEC. 8. Local Livelihood Committees. - The Provincial/City Livelihood Committee
shall be composed of the provincial/city representatives of the member government agencies
of the Council. The Committees shall report to the Secretariat with respect to the
implementation of livelihood programs of the respective agencies in line with policies of the
Council. The PLC shall be responsible for preparing a provincial/city livelihood development
plan for submission to and approval by the Council. The provincial/city livelihood
development plan shall be formulated and implemented with maximum participation and
involvement of NGOs and POs in the concerned provincelcity.

SEC. 9, Implementing Guidelines. - The Council shall formulate and issue within six
(6) months after the approval of this Act the necessary implementing guidelines which shall
include but not limited to the following:

A) Definition of Livelihood Programs and Projects;


B) Livelihood programs and projects shall include all those activities and schemes
involving government funds that are allocated to non-government recipients in
order to generate income and employment; and

C) Eligibility Criteria.

To be qualified for appropriate assistance, an individual or group proponent must
belong to any of the following categories:

‘A) Those who are barely able to survive because of severe material and/or social
deprivation and with no regular sufficient income;

B) Those with regular but low income (ice., minimum wage eamers);

C) Micro entrepreneurs and wage earners with regular income above the minimum
‘wage but not sufficient to maintain a family life; and

D) Small and starting entrepreneurs and professionals, farmers and fishermen with
viable operations and projects needing some assistance to stabilize or expand their
enterprises.

The Council shall adopt a framework that recognizes the developmental stages
inherent in the objective of graduating as many of the poor outside of the poverty continuum.
In this regard, the Council is empowered to identify and/or specify the roles of each
government financial institutions.

SEC. 10. Powers and Functions of the Council Chairman.- The Chairman shall
have the following powers and functions

A) To preside over all meetings of the Council;
B) To exercise overall supervision of the activities of the Council; and

C) To execute in behalf of the Council any contract or agreement as may be
necessary for proper, efficient and effective administration of the Council.

SEC. 11. Powers and Duties of Executive Director.- The Executive Director shall
exercise the following powers and duties:

A) To execute the policies, guidelines and programs approved by the Council and to
be responsible for the efficient discharge of management and operational
functions of the Council;

B) To recommend the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Secretariat
to the Council;

C) To review and submit for the consideration and approval of the Council proposed
measures, policies, guidelines, and programs, as s/he may deem necessary for the
effective implementation of this Act,


D) To direct and supervise. the day to day operations of the Secretariat; and

E) To exercise such powers and functions and perform such other duties as may be
vested or imposed upon him by the Council.

SEC. 12. Appropriations. - Such sums as may be necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year
following its enactment into law and thereafter.

SEC. 13. Annual Report. - The Council shall submit to the President of the Senate
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives an annual report on its operations and
accomplishments.

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, modified accordingly.
The provisions of this Act shall not be repealed, amended or modified, unless expressly so
provided in subsequent general or special laws.

SEC. 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its

complete publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspaper of general
circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,