‘Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTH REGULAR SESSION
Second Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE BERNADETTE HERRERA-DY
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to resolve the age-old plight of the Bureau of Corrections in terms
of outdated law, inequitable personnel remuneration, obsolete facilities and equipment,
organizational structure, which are all deemed vital in the efficient and effective
implementation of its mandates in its day-to-day operations.

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), which was created by virtue of the
Reorganization Act 1407 of 1905, has seen not much major legislative updating except

for a change in its name from formerly Bureau of Prisons pursuant to the Revised
Administrative Code of 1987. Its operations are still based on the Prison Law of 1917
thereby making it difficult for the organization to cope with the modem demands in
penology and other functional considerations in accordance with the United Nations
standards which has already shifted from punitive to reformatory treatment of prisoners,

‘The population of its inmates in 1989 was 12,900 manned by 2,362 employees,
where 1,461 of which were Custodial Personnel and 901 Civilian Employees, with a
prison guard-to-inmate ratio of 1:27. In 2009 or after 20 years, the inmate population rose
to 35,400 manned by the same 2,362 employees, where 1,328 are Custodial Personnel
and 1,034 civilian employees with a prison guard-to-inmate ratio of 1:81, and is
continuously increasing at an average rate of five percent (5%) annually. As of December
2010, BuCor has a total of 35,937 inmates with the same 2,362 plantilla positions.

Its local government counterpart, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology

(BIMP), which is in charge of local inmates (under trial and convicted of 3 years and
below), has about 8,976 employees manning 61,000 inmates at an approximate ratio of
1:18 and has an ongoing yearly recruitment of additional 500 Jail Officers as new
plantilla positions since 2007 until they reach the 1:7 ratio, The international standard of


guard inmate ratio is 1:6. The Bureau of Corrections lias no yearly recruitment of its
Prison Guards despite its present 1:81 ratio.

BuCor likewise, miserably lags behind BIMP in terms of personnel remuneration
‘The entry level for a Jail Officer 1 at BIMP is SG-10 while a Prison Guard | of BuCor has
a measly pay grade of five (5); the lowest commissioned officer of BIMP is at salary
grade 22 while its BuCor counterpart is at salary grade 11. Furthermore, unlike BJMP,
BuCor custodial personnel are not considered Uniformed Personnel, or not entitled to
salary increases/bonus and other benefits pertaining to uniformed personnel enjoyed by
such agencies like Bureau of Fire and Protection, National Mapping and Resource
Information Authority, and Bureau of Immigration, whose jobs are not closely exposed to
high-risk criminals as compared to BuCor. Promotion system in this ageney has also been
subjective, There are Prison Guards who are retiring after 40 years or more in service
wilhout having a taste of promotion

‘The security facilities of BuCor, despite having vast land areas under its control
and supervision, are antiquated and inadequate as its present capacity has been
overloaded to reach high congestion rates (141 % for NBP, where 60% of national
inmates are confined) Likewise, BuCor lacks modem security equipment such as
surveillance cameras, handheld radios, firearms and other security-related equipment.
BucCor’s vast lands are "small worlds” of national inmates (especially those serving life
sentences) though they may appear large areas of land to the free society. Its trees and
‘vegetation were planted and taken care of by inmates for almost 100 years and BuCor
managed to preserve large forested lands within its reservation area from illegal loggers
and from large influx of squatters for several decades now. Furthermore, these vast lands
serve as security buffer in the event of hot pursuit against escapees.

However, in the past, large portions of BuCor lands had been appropriated in favor
of certain local government units and other government agencies through Presidential
Proclamations and other laws to the detriment of its operations.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is fervently requested.

; Yj 4)
Yer a

BERNADETTE HERRERA-DY



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

FIFTH REGULAR SESSION
‘Second Regular Session
f 5926

House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE BERNADETTE HERRERA-DY

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS (BUCOR)
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as "The BUREAU OF
CORRECTIONS ACT OF 2011"

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the state to promote the general
welfare and safeguard the basic rights of every prisoner incarcerated in our national
penitentiary. It also recognizes the duty and responsibility of the state to strengthen
government capability aimed towards the institntionalization, of highly efficient and
competent correctional services:

Towards this end, the State shall provide for the modernization, professienalization
and restructuring of the BuCor by upgrading its facilities, increasing the number of its
personnel, upgrading the level of qualifications of their personnel and standardizing their
base pay, retirement and other benefits, making it at par with that of the BIMP

Sec. 3. Definition of ‘Terms - (1) “safekeeping.” which is the custodial component of
BuCor’s present corrections system, shall refer to the act that ensures the public (including
families of inmates and their victims) that national inmates are provided with their basic
needs, completely incapacitated from continuously committing criminal acts, and have been
totally cut-off from their criminal networks (or contacts in the free society) while serving
sentence inside the premises of the national penitentiary. This act also includes protection
against illegal organized armed groups who have the capacity of launching attack on any
prison camp of the national penitentiary to rescue their convicted comrade or to forcibly
amass firearms issued to prison guards.


(2) “reformation,” which is the rehabilitation component of BuCor’s present
corrections system, shall refer to the act that ensures the public (including families of inmates
and their victims) that released national inmates are no longer harmful to the community by
becoming reformed individuals prepared to live a normal and productive life upon
reintegration to the mainstream society.

Sec. 4. The Mandates of the Bureau of Corrections- The BuCor shall be in charge
of safekeeping and instituting reformation programs to national inmates sentenced to more
than three (3) years,

(1) Safekeeping of National Inmates - The safekeeping of inmates shall include decent
provision of quarters, food, water, and clothing in compliance with established United
Nations standards. The security of the inmates shall be undertaken by the Custodial Force
consisting of Corrections Officers with a ranking system and salary grades similar to its
counterpart in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

(2) Reformation of National Inmates - The Reformation Programs which will be
instituted by the BuCor for the Lnmates shall be the following:

a) Moral & Spiritual Program;

b) Education & Training Program;

©) Work & Livelihood Program;

4) Sports & Recreation Program,

€) Health & Welfare Program, and

£) Behavior Modification Program to include ‘Therapeutic Community.

(3) The Reformation Programs shall be undertaken by Professional Reformation
Personnel consisting of Corrections Technical Officers with ranking system and salary grades
similar to Corrections Officers

a) Correctional ‘Technical Officers (CTO) are petsonnel employed in the
implementation of reformation programs and those personnel whose nature of 29 work
requires proximate or direct contact with inmates;

b) Correctional Technical Officers inchides priests, evangelists, pastors, teachers,
instructors, professors, vocational placement officers, librarians, guidance counselors,
physicians, nurses, medical technologists, pharmacists, dentists, therapists, psychologists,
psychiatrists, sociologists, social workers, engineers, electricians, agriculturist, veterinarians,
lawyers and similar professional skills relevant to the implementation of inmate reformation
programs,

Sec. 5. Operations of the Bureau of Corrections- (1) The BuCor shall operate with
a directorial structure. It shall undertake reception of inmates through its Directorate for
Reception and Diagnostics (DRD), presently Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC),



provide basic needs and security through its Security and Operations Directorates, administer
reformation programs through its Reformation Directorates, and prepare inmate for
reintegration {o mainstream society through its Directorate for External Relations (DER),
presently External Relations Division (ERD).

(2) The DRD shall be responsible for the conduct of classification of each and every
inmate admitted to the Bureau of Corrections. Inmates shall be classified according to
_security risk and sentence, Included in the classification is determining inmate's certain skills
or talents, physical, spiritual, social, mental and psychological evaluation and other
behavioral assessments, as reference of DRD in the preparation of individual Inmate
Reformation Programs.

(3) Aside from those bome of the provisions under Rule 8, Part 1. Rules of General
Application of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners
and that of the existing regulation of the Bureau on security classification (ic. Maximum,
Medium and Minimum Security Risk), inmates shall also be internally classified by DRD and
segregated according to ctimes committed based on the related penal codes such as Crimes
Against Persons, Crimes Against Properties, Crimes Against Chastity, so on and so forth, as
well as by other related Special Laws, Custom and Immigration Laws

(4) From DRD, the Custodial Force and Reformation Personnel of respective security
institutions/camps shall be in charge for the security and the implementation of the
recommended Inmate Reformation Program of each and every inmate while serving sentence,
respectively.

(5) The Directorate for Extemal Relations (DER) shall be responsible for pre-release
and post-release programs of inmates due for release. The DER shall also classify inmates
according to skills acquired for referral and endorsement to appropriate companies or
corporations participating in BuCor On-The-Job Training 20 Programs for newly reformed
inmates. ERD shall also evaluate, classify, and apply 21. necessary programs to inmates for
readiness to join the mainstream society upon release.

(6) Apart from handling inmates, BuCor shall administratively operate like a standard

government agency through its Administrative Directorates with internal control and intemal
audit units.

(7) BuCor shall employ full computerization in the build-up, maintenance and
transmittal of necessary inmate records to all its Prison and Penal Farms and other recipient
agencies (i.¢. Board of Pardons and Parole).

Sec. 6. Lands of the Bureau of Corrections- (1) Aside from administrative
purposes, all BuCor Lands shall be used for inmate security, reformation programs, and as a
means to promote sustainability, both for income and non-income generating programs, with

of without partnership among NGO's, civic organizations or other govemmient entities.


(2) Asa way to maximize its assets’ value for the effective and extensive reformation
(corrections) programs for national inmates, BuCor shall have the absolute authority to
design, formulate and implement land-use development plans and policies.

(3) BuCor may propose additional Penal Farms as may be necessary as possible, aside
from its existing seven (7) Prison and Penal Farms to decongest existing penal institutions
and accommodate the increasing number of inmates committed to the agency.

(4) All BuCor Lands shall have a Certificate of Title registered under its name.

Sec. 7. Facilities of the Bureau of Corrections- BuCor shall operate with standard
and uniform design of Prison Facilities, Reformation Facilities, and Administrative Facilities,
through all the operating Prison and Penal Farms such as the following:

a. Dormitory;

b, Administration Building,

¢, Perimeter/Security Fences,

d. Hospital/Infirmary;

¢. Recreation/Multipurpose Hall;
£ Training/Lecture Center;

2. Workshop Facility;

h, Mess Hall/Kitchen;

i. Visiting Area,

j, Water tank and Pump;

k Reception and Diagnostic Center
1, Service Personnel Facilities

Sec, 8. Supervision of the Bureau of Corrections- The DOJ, having the BuCor as a
line bureau and a constituent unit, shall maintain a relationship of administrative supervision
with the latter as defined under Section 38 (2), Chapter 7, Book IV of E.0. No. 292
(Administrative Code of 1987), except for the power to review, reverse, revise, or modify the
decisions of the executive head of the BuCor in the exercise of latter's regulatory or quasi-
judicial functions, of which the DOS shall retain authority over.

Sec. 9. Organization and Key Positions of the BuCor. - (1) The BuCor shall be
headed by a Director who shall be assisted by three (3) Deputy Directors, one (1) for
administration, one (1) for security and operations and one (1) for reformation, all of whom
shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary of the DOJ.
Provided, that the Director and Deputy Directors of BuCor shall serve a tour of duty not to
exceed six (6) years: Provided further, however, that in times of war or other national
emergency declared by Congress, the President may extend such tour of duty

(2) The Head of the BuCor with the rank of Director V shall have the position title of
Director General of Corrections. The second officers in command of the BuCor with the rank


of Director IV shall have the position title of Deputy Director of Corrections. The third
officer in command of the BuCor with the rank of chief superintendent shall have the position
title of Corrections Chief Superintendent. The fourth officer in command of the BuCor the
rank of senior superintendent shall have the position title of Corrections Senior
‘Superintendent. The fifth officer in command of the BuCor with the rank of Superintendent
shall have position title of Corrections Senior Superintendent.

Sec. 10, Increase of Personnel, - Bucor shall maintain the custodial personnel-to-
inmate ratio of 1:7 and reformation personnel-to-inmate ratio of 1:24, and therefore is
authorized to increase its manpower to meet such ratio and must continue to increase
personnel per percentage rate increase of committed inmates annually

‘Sec. 11. Professionalization and Upgrading of Qualification Standards in the
Appointment of BuCor Personnel. - (1) No person shall be appointed as personnel of the
BuCor unless he/ she possesses the following minimum qualifications:

a) A citizen of the Republic of the Philippines;

b) A person of good moral character,

‘¢) Must have passed the psychiatricipsychological, drug and physical test for the
purpose of determining his/her physical and mental health; =

4) Mast possess a baccalaureate degree from recognized institution of leaning;
©) Must possess the appropriate civil service eligibility;
f) Must not have been dishonorably discharged of dismissal for cause from previous
employment;

g) Must not have been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime

involving moral turpitude,

1h) Must be at least one meter and sixty-two centimeters (1.62 m.) in height for

male, and one meter and fifty-seven centimeters (1.57 m.) for female: Provided.

That a waiver for height and age requirements shall be automatically granted

to applicants belonging to the cultural communities; and;

i) Must weight not more or less than five kilograms (5 kgs.) from the standard

‘weight corresponding to his/her height, age and sex.

(2) Provided, That a new applicants must not be less than twenty one (21) nor more
than forty (40) years of age: except for this particular provision, the above-enumerated
qualifications shall be continuing in character and an absence of anyone of them at any’ given
time shall be ground for separation or retirement from the service: Provided, further, That
those who are already in the service upon the effectivity of this Act shall be given five (5)

-years to obtain the minimum educational qualification and eligibility with subsidiary
assistance.

(3) After the lapse of the time of period for the satisfaction of a specific requirement,
current personnel of the BuCor who will fail to satisfy any of the requirements enumerated
under this Section shall be separated from the service if they are below fifty (50) years of age


“and have served in the government for less than twenty (20) years, or retired if they are age
fifty (50) and above and have served in the government for at least twenty (20) years without

prejudice in either case to the payment of benefits they may be entitled to under existing
laws.

(4) For sustained professionalism in the service, BuCor is directed to conduct study
for the feasible establishment of the Philippine Corrections Academy, pattemed to the
Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) of PNP and the Philippine Military Academy
(PMA) of the AFP for its commissioned officers.

(5) BuCor shall continue training its personnel through its Personnel Training School,
which shall be renamed as Corrections Training School/Institute patterned after BUMP's Jail
National Training Institute (INTI) and the BOFs Fire National Training Institute (FNTI and
the PNP’s National Training Institute (PNTI).

Sec. 12. Appointment of Personnel to the BuCor. - The appointinent of the BuCor
shall be effected in the following manners: .

a) "Corrections Officer I to Corrections Chief Superintendent". - Appointed by the
Director General of Corrections, and attested by the Civil Service Commission (CSC),
and

b) "Director General of Corrections and Deputy Director of Corrections. Appointed
by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary of the DOJ, with the proper
endorsement by the Chairman of the CSC.

Sec. 13. Lateral Entry of Officer into the BuCor. - In general, all original
appointments of officers in the Bureau of Corrections shall commence the rank of
Corrections Inspector wherein applicants for lateral entry into the BuCor shall include all
those with highly specialized and technical qualifications such as, but not limited to, civil
engineers, technical engineers, electrical engineers, chemical engineers, chemist, architects,
criminologists, certified public accountants, nurses, physical therapists, dentists, social
workers, psychologists, sociologists, guidance counselors, and teachers. Doctor of Medicine,
members of the Philippine Bar and chaplains shall be appointed to the rank of corrections
senior inspector in their particular technical service

Sec. 14. Professionalization and Upgrading of Qualification Standards in the
Designation of Personnel of the BuCor to Key Positions, -

a) No person shall be designated to the following key positions of the BuCor unless
hefshe has met the qualifications provided therein:

Sub-Colony Supervisor - Should have the rank of senior inspector, who have
finished at least second year Bachelor of Laws or earned at least twelve (12) units in a


master’ degree program in management, public adininistration, public safety,
criminology, penology, sociology, national security administration, defense studies, or
other related disciplines from a recognized institution of learning, and must have
satisfactory passed the necessary training or career courses for such position 2s may
be established by BuCor,

2) Colony Assistant Superintendent. - Should have the rank of chief inspector, who
must have finished at least second year Bachelor of Laws or earned at least twenty
four (24) units in master’s degree program in management, public administration,
public safety, criminology. penology, sociology, national security administration,
defense studies or related disciplines from a recognized institution of learning and
must satisfactory passed the necessary training or career courses for such position as
may be established by the BuCor,

3) Colony Superintendent. - Should have the rank of superintendent, who must be a
graduate of Bachelor of Laws or a holder of a master’s degree in management, public
administration, public safety, criminology, penology, sociology, national security
administration, defense studies or other related discipline from a recognized
institution of leaming, and must satisfactory passed the necessary training or career
courses for such position as may be established by the BuCor: Provided, ‘That in
prison and penal farms with an inmate population of two thousand (2,000) but below
three thousand (3,000) the Colony Superintendent shall have the rank and
qualification of a Colony Senior Superintendent;

4) Regional Superintendent - Should have the rank of senior superintendent or chief
superintendent, who must be a graduate of Bachelor of Laws or a holder of a master's
degree in management, public administration, public safety, criminology, penology.
sociology, national security administration, defense studies or other related discipline
from a recognized institution of learning, and must satisfactory passed the necessary
training or career courses for such position as may be established by the BuCor;
Provided, That in prison and penal farms with an inmate population of three thousand
(3,000) but below five thousand (5,000), the Regional Superintendent shall have the
rank and qualification of a Colony Senior Superintendent, Provided further that in
prison and penal farms with an inmate population of over five thousand (3,000), the

Regional Superintendent shall have the rank and qualification of a Chief
Superintendent,

Any personnel of the BuCor who is currently occupying such position but
lacks any of the qualifications mentioned therein shall be given five (5) years to
comply with the requirements; otherwise he’ she shall be relieved from the position.

Sec. 15. Professionalization and Qualifications Upgrading Program. - The DOJ
shall design and establish a professionalization and qualifications upgrading program for
personnel of the BuCor in coordination with the CSC and the Commission on Higher



Education (CHED) though an off-campus education program or other similar programs
within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

See. 16, Attrition System for the Personnel of the BuCor. - There shall be
‘established a system of attrition for the personnel of the BuCor within five (5) years from the
effectivity of this Act to be submitted by said bureau to the DOJ for approval. Such attrition
‘system shall include, but is not limited to, the provision of the following principles:

) Attrition by Demotion in Position or Rank. - Any personnel of the BuCor
who is relieved and assigned to a position lower than that is established for his/her
grade in the respective staffing pattern, and who shall not be assigned to a position
commensurate to his/her grade within two (2) years after such demotion in position
shall be separated or retired from the service;

b) Attrition by Non-Promotion, - Any personnel of the BuCor who has not
been promoted for a continuous period of ten (10) years shall be separated or retired
fiom the setvice, except for those who are oceupying a third-level position;

©) Attrition by Other Means. - Any personnel of the BuCor with at least five
(5) years of accumulated active service shall be separated from the service based on
any of the following factors:

1) Inefficiency based on poor performance during the last two (2)
successive semestral ratings period;

2) Inefficiency based on poor performance for three (3) cumulative
semestral rating period;

3) Physical and/ or mental incapacity to perform his/her duties and
functions; or

4) Failure to complete the required career courses and/ or appropriate
civil service eligibility for his/her position except for justifiable cause or
reason; and

d) Separation or Retirement from the BuCor under this Section. - Any
personnel who is dismissed from the BuCor pursuant to the above-enumerated
principles in this Section shall be separated if he/ she has rendered less than twenty
(20) years of service, and be retired if he/ she has rendered at least twenty (20) years

of service unless the concerned personnel is disqualified by law to receive such
benefits.



Sec. 17. Promotion System for the Personnel of the BuCor, - Within six (6) months
afler the effectivity of this Act, the BuCor shall establish a system of promotion for the
personnel of the BuCor though the following principles:

a) Rationalized Promotion System. - The system of promotion shall be based
on merits and on the availability of vacant ranks in the BuCor staffing pattem. Such
system shall be gender-fair so as to ensure that women personnel of the BuCor shall
enjoy equal opportunity for promotion as to men;

'b) Requirements for Promotion.~

1) Any personnel of the BuCor shall not be eligible for promotion to a
higher rank unless he/she has met the minimum qualification standards or the
appropriate civil service eligibility set by the CSC, and has the satisfactorily
passed the required psychiatric’ psychological, drug and physical test;

2) Any personnel of the BuCor who has exhibited act of conspicuous
courage and gallantry at the risk hishher life above and beyond the call of duty,
or selected as such in a nationwide search conducted by any accredited civic
organization, shall be promoted to the next higher rank, Provided, That these
shall be validated by the DOJ and the CSC based on established criteria.

Sec. 18. Performance Evaluation System. — (1) There shall be established a
performance evaluation system which shall be administered with accordance with the miles,
regulations and standards, and a code of conduct for the personnel of the BuCor to be
promulgated by the BuCor through the DOJ. Such performance evaluation system shall be
administered in such a way as to foster the improvement of the individual efficiency and
behavioral discipline as well as the promotion of organizational

-effectiveness and commitment to public service

(2) The rating system as contemplated herein shall be based on standard
prescribed by the BuCor through the DOJ and shall be considered the result of the
annual psyehiatrie/psychological and physical test conducted on the personnel of the
BuCor.

Sec. 19, Standardization of the Base Pay, Retirement and other Benefits of the
Personnel of the BuCor. - In order to enhance the general welfare, commitment to service
and professionalism of the uniformed personnel of the BuCor, they shall receive the
minimum starting salary equivalent to the salary grade level of the corresponding rank
classification of their counterparts in the BJMP as provided under Republic Act No, 9263, in
the PNP, as provided under Section 36 of Republic Act No, 8551, and in the AFP, as
provided under Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9166.


‘The rate of the base pay of the personnel of the BuCor shall be adjusted in accordance
with the following salary grade schedule:

CUSTODIAL RANK

Director General of
Corrections

Deputy Director of
Corrections

Corrections Chief
‘Superintendent
Corrections Senior
Superintendent,

Corrections Sup’t
Corrections Chief Insp
Corrections Senior Insp
Corrections Inspector
Inspector

Corr. Senior Officer IV
Corr. Senior Officer 111
Corr. Senior Officer It
Cor, Senior Officer |

Corr. Officer lil

Corrections Officer IT

REFORMATION
RANK

Corr. Technical Sr.
Superintendent

Corr. Technical Supt.

Corr. Technical Chief
Insp.

Corr. Tech Sr. Insp
Corr. Technical
Corr, Technical Sr.
Officer IV

Corr, Technical Sr.
Officer II

Corr, Technical Sr.
Officer IL

Corr, Technical Sr,
Officer t

Corr, Technical Officer
ite

Corr, Technical Officer IT

Salary
Grade

30

2

7

26

25

24

23

2

7

STATUS

Civilian-

Unif. Civilian

Uniformed

‘Uniformed

Uniformed

Uniformed

Uniformed

Uniformed

Uniformed

Uniformed

Uniformed

Uniformed

Uniformed

Uniformed


Corrections Officer 1 Corr, Technical Officer 10 Uniformed

Provided, that all benefits currently receive by the personnel of the BuCor under
existing laws shall continue to be received by them: Provided further, that their retirement
pay shall be subject 16 adjustment’ s based on the prevailing scale of base pay of the
uniformed personnel in the active service

Sce. 20, Retirement Benefits. - Upon compulsory retirement, any custodial officer
from the rank of Corrections Chief Superintendent and below shall be entitled to retirement
benefits computed on the basis of one grade higher than the position he last held.

Sec. 21. Funding Source. - The funds required for the implementation of this Act
including personnel benefits shall be taken from the budget of the Bureau of Corrections for
the current fiscal year and also from the following

1. Collections from clearances and certification fees;
2. Service incomes from trainings and the like;
3. Income from institutional projects subject to MOAs, contracts or Joint

Thereafler, such amounts as may be necessary to implement this Act shall be included
in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 22, Implementation, - The implementation of this Act shall be undertaken in
staggered phases, but not to exceed five (5) years, taking into consideration the financial
position of the national government: Provided, that any partial implementation shail be
‘uniform and proportionate for all ranks.

Sec. 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOJ in coordination with the
Bueor, the €Sc, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Department of
Finance (DOF) shall, within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the
rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 24. Annual Report, - The BuCor through the DO! and the DBM shall jointly
submit to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives an
annual report on the implementation of this Act. This report shall include information on the
application of the budget for the salary and other benefits provided under this Act. The DBM,
in consultation with the BuCor through the DOJ, shall periodically review and adjust every
five (5) years the rates of base pay. taking into consideration labor productivity. consumer
Price index, oil price and other similar economic indicators as may be determined by the
National Economic and Development authority (NEDA).


Sec. 25, Separability Clause.~ If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions
not affected thereby.

See. 26, Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and
other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,
whichever comes earlier.

Approved,