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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _2654

INTRODUCED BY REP. JB BERNOS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Province of Abra faces an odd situation. Geographically, it is nearer to La Union,
where most government offices are located in the regional center of San Fernando
City. Politically, Abra is subsumed under the Cordillera Administrative Region that
has its regional center in Baguio City. The problem of proximity to government
centers poses a problem for Abrefios who need quick solutions for their documentary
requirements for work, school, or personal uses. They would have to travel to San
Fernando City or Baguio City, or as far as Metro Manila, just to be able to get their
needed government-issued documents. Moreover, government agencies with offices
in Abra are not located close to each other — a situation that incurs both tangible and
intangible costs for the people.

There is a need to create a Government Center in Abra where relevant
government offices are all located for the convenience of both the government
agencies and the people. This Government Center shall be a complex where inter-
agential concerns related to their functions can be harmonized. Furthermore, the
people coming in from Abra, and even from adjacent provinces like Apayao and
Kalinga, will benefit with the clustering of government offices in one venue. In
addition, it will create jobs for many Abrefios, especially those well-versed in clerical
operations and information technology.

In the light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this Bill is earnestly
sought.

. B (OS
Lone District, Abra


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. __2654

INTRODUCED BY REP. JB BERNOS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT CENTER FOR SATELLITE OFFICES
OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
LA PAZ, PROVINCE OF ABRA

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

Congress assembled:
1 SECTION 1. Policy Objective. It shall be the policy of the State to protect and
2 promote the welfare of Filipinos by streamlining the delivery of government services
3 and providing access to these basic services, especially to regions that are
4 geographically distant from regional urban centers where most government offices
5 are located and government-issued documents are processed. To this end, the State
6 shall endeavor to empower communities with access to these basic government
7 services and to free the People from the unnecessary burdens stemming from

8 _ bureaucratic inefficiency.

9 Sec. 2. Establishment of a Government Center in Abra. There shall be
10 established a Government Center in the Province of Abra that shall house satellite

11 offices of various national government agencies involved in the processing and


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issuance of common documentary requirements for whatever legitimate purpose or

activity, as needed by the people.

Sec. 3. Satellite Offices Housed in the Government Center. The satellite
offices of government agencies housed in the Government Center shall include, but

not limited to, the following:

a. Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for verification and authentication
of school credentials, and for the processing and issuance of other
documentary permits and requirements, including the issuance of other

necessary authentication certification, if there any be needed;

b. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for all passport services and other
consular concerns, including the issuance of other necessary
authentication/certification, if there any be needed;

c. Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the processing and
issuance of other documentary permits and requirements, including the
issuance of other necessary authentication/certification, if there any be
needed;

d. Land Transportation Office (LTO) for the processing of documentations
related to the registration of vehicles and to the issuance of driver's licenses,
including the issuance of other necessary authentication/certification, if there
any be needed;

e. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the processing and issuance of an

NBI clearance, and other documentary permits and requirements, and the


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issuance of other necessary authentication/certification, if there any be

needed;

f. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for the processing of
OWWA membership/Renewal of Membership, and other documentary
permits and requirements, and the issuance of other necessary

authentication/certification, if there any be needed;

g. Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for the processing and
issuance of other documentary permits and requirements, including the
issuance of other necessary authentication/certification, if there any be

needed;

h. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for the
documentation/registration of workers, verification/certification of OFW
records, processing and issuance of other documentary permits and
requirements, including the issuance of other _ necessary

authentication/certification, if there any be needed;

i. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for processing and issuance of civil
registry documents, including the issuance of other necessary

authentication/certification, if there any be needed; and

j. Social Security System (SSS) for the processing and issuance of other
documentary permits and requirements, including the issuance of other

necessary authentication/certification, if there any be needed;

Sec. 4. Manpower Requirements. All government agencies in the

Government Center shall be required to assign qualified personnel in these satellite

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offices. The assigned personnel for each government agency must have no less than
six (6) months of experience of work in their respective agencies, and shall oversee
the day-to-day operations of the satellite offices and the conduct of the necessary
coordination with their respective regional and central offices. The Provincial
Government of Abra, upon the request of the concerned government agency, shall

provide contractual workers to their satellite offices.

Sec. 5. Office Facilities. All government agencies in the Government Center
shall be required to provide their satellite offices at least two (2) sets of computer
units, with all the required accessories, including scanners and printers. For
purposes of uniformity, the Provincial Government of Abra shall install/provide the
necessary office tables, chairs, and the telephone and Internet facility to the

Government Center.

Sec. 6. Accessibility of the Government Center. The Government Center
shall be located in a location within the Municipality of La Paz in the Province of

Abra that is strategically important and is easily accessible by the people.

Sec. 7. Funding. The funds for the establishment, development, and the day-to-
day operations of the Government Center offices shall be provided in the annual
budgets of the aforementioned national government agencies in the General
Appropriations Act. In addition, the costs of general maintenance of these offices
shall be provided by the Provincial Government of Abra.

Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Heads and/or Directors
of the agencies mentioned in Section 3 of this Act shall formulate and issue the

necessary guidelines for the proper implementation of this Act.


Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. Any law, decree, ordinance or administrative
circular not consistent with any provision of this Act is hereby amended, repealed or

modified accordingly.

Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,