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Sixteenth Congress of the Republic 
of the Philippines 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S,B. No. 281 
'13 Jl -2 A9 :32 . 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Section 7, Article III of the 1987 Constitution mandates the· right of the. people to 
information on matters of public concern. People should be afforded access to official records, 
and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to 
government research data used as basis for policy development 
It is a common practice by our government, its subdivisions, agencies and 
instrumentalities, inCluding government-owned and controlled corporations or their subsidiaries, 
to hire foreign consultants in government programs and projects which require the expertise not 
available locally. 
This bill seeks to recognize and strengthen the people's constitutional right to be informed. 
by mandating a full disclosure of the identity, nature of work and compensation of foreign 
consultants hired by the government, its subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities, including 
government-owned and controlled corporations or their subsidiaries. 
It is the foremost intention of this bill to ensure transparency in all government . 
transactions and decisions. In the said event, the people has the right to be informed regarding 
the identity of these foreign consultants and nature of the services they are rendering.to make· . 
sure that indeed their servic.es are indispensable. and that our local. experts ate not equally.· 
capable. Since public funds are being utilized to pay for the consultancy fees, the people has the 
right to be informed how much is being spent for these foreign consultants. . 
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It is with this view that immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 


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Sixteenth Congress of the Republic 
of the Philippinc~ 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 281 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
AN ACT REQUIRING ALL BRANCHES, SUBDIVISIONS, 
INSTRUMENTALITIES AND AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING 
GOVERNMENT-OWNED AND CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS 
OR THEIR SUBSIDIARIES TO DIVULGE THE IDENTITY OF HIRED 
FOREIGN CONSULTANTS, THE NATURE OF THEIR WORK AND THEIR 
COMPENSATION, PERKS AND OTHER PRIVILEGES, A,"ID PROVIDING 
PENALTIES IN CASE OF VIOLATION THEREOF_ 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby the policy of the State to adopt and 
implement full disclosure of all its transactions, pursuant to the principle of tr~sparency in 
public office and the constitutional mandate to make available to the people all information on 
matters of public concern. 
SECTION 2. Definition. - Foreign consultant refers to a national of another State who 
renders certain services to the Government. 
SECTION 3. Disclosure Requirement. - All heads of branches, subdivisions, 
instrumentalities and agencies of the Government, including government-owned and controlled 
corporations or their subsidiaries shall, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, 
provide Congress in writing and under oath the following: 
a. The identity of any foreign consultant hired or retained by their respective offices;] 
b. The foreign consultant's nature of work including the compensation, honoraria, fees, 
financial or other benefits or remuneration received by the said foreign consultant; 
c. The terms and conditions of the consultancy agreement entered into by the Government 
office, specifying therein the particular services that the consultant is expected to 
perform. 
SECTION 4. Publication. - The Office of the Executive Secretary shall maintain a 
centralized data-file of all foreign consultants hired by the goveITu"TIent, its agencies, bureaus, 
instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations. In Jannary of every 
year, the Office of the Executive Secretary shall cause the publication of the list of foreign 
consultants hired or retained by the Government, whether for the full year or for only a part 
thereof, in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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SECTION 5. Penal Clause. - The head of any branch, subdivision, instrumentality and 
agency of the government, including government-owned and controlled corporation or its 
subsidiary that violates Sections 3 and 5 of this Act shaH be punished by a fine of not less than 
Fifteen Thousand Pesos (PI5, 000.00) but not more than Sixty Thousand Pesos (P60, 000.00) and 
imprisonment of not less than six (6) years or both at the discretion of the court. Those convicted 
shall be perpetually disqualified from 'holding public office. Upon conviction by the proper 
regional trial court, the official convicted shall likewise be suspended immediately! from office 
and shall remain suspended pending the final outcome of any appeal he 0 she shall have taken in 
the case. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations 
contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force 
and effect. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately following its 
publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette, 
whichever takes place earlier. 
Approved, 
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