~ R T E E N T H  
CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution provides under Article II, Section 28 that subject to reasonable 
conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full disclosure of 
all its transaction involving public interest. 
Despite the Constitutional guarantee and its affirmation in a number of Supreme 
Court decisions, we are not unaware of the wanton violation by many government agencies 
of the right of Filipinos to information of public interest and concern. Allegations of 
overpricing and speculation in budgetary allocations for infrastructure development abound 
as the General Appropriations Act of 2009 is being deliberated in Congress. Among the 
most controversial items are payments for the expropriation of lands for government 
infrastructure projects. 
Republic Act No. 8974, which provides the guidelines for acquisition of right-of-way, 
site or location for national government infrastructure projects, provides no mechanism by 
which the public may readily acquire information on expropriation proceedings. Making 
available to the public important details such as the title and names of the owners of the 
property being expropriated, the valuation of the property as allocated in the government 
budget, and all disbursements, expenditures and utilization of funds for such expropriation, 
including right-of-way payments, would be the first step in combating corruption in this 
sector. 
This bill proposes that every implementing agency in an expropriation case, whether 
it be the Department of Public Works and Highways, a government-owned and -controlled 
corporation, a local government unit, or a joint venture with a government component, be 
required to post such information in its national and regional offices, and submit the same 
information to the local government unit with jurisdiction over the expropriated property for 
filing and posting in the halls of the LGU. 
To enhance accountability and transparency in public office, the passage of this bill is 
urgently sought. 
RICHAR~ J. GORDON 
Senator 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S.NO. 2634 
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING TRANSPARENCY OF INFORMATION IN EXPROPRIATION 
PROCEEDINGS FOR GOVERNMENT PROJECTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be if enacfed by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Tifle. - This Act shall be known as the "Transparency in Expropriation 
Act of 2008. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - For accountability and transparency it is hereby 
declared the policy of the State to ensure full disclosure of all its transactions involving 
public interest. Towards this end, the State shall endeavor to provide accessible and 
comprehensible information concerning the disbursement and use of public funds in 
expropriation proceedings. 
SEC. 3. Publication Requirement. - Every implementing agency in an expropriation 
proceeding shall prepare a detailed summary of proposed disbursements pursuant to such 
proceeding, comprising the following information: 
a. Identification of the land subject of expropriation, including its Original or 
Transfer Certificate of Title Numbers, or other equivalent information; 
b. Amount of just compensation to be made pursuant to the expropriation; 
c. Complete names and postal addresses of the owner/possessor of the land to 
whom just compensation shall be made. 
The summary of disbursements shall be posted in a public place within the premises 
of the nationallprincipal, and concerned local and regional offices, of the appropriate 
implementing agency not later than fifteen (15) days from the initiation of the complaint for 
expropriation and until the decision in the expropriation proceedings shall have become final 
and executory. The summary of disbursements sh'all likewise be submitted to the local chief 
executive of the local government unit with jurisdiction over the expropriated property, to be 


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posted in a public place within the halls of such local government unit for the same period, 
Thereafter, the summary of disbursements shall remain available to the public upon request 
from the implementing agency at reasonable hours. 
SEC. 4. Form. - The summary of disbursements referred to in the preceding section 
shall be prepared and signed by the head of office of the implementing agency, and by a 
representative of the Commission on Audit, and shall be in such form, style and content and 
under such regulation as the Commission on Audit may prescribe. 
SEC.5. Penalties. - Noncompliance with the provisions of this Act shall subject the 
erring public official to a fine of at least Thirty thousand pesos (P30,OOO) but not exceeding 
Fifty thousand pesos (PSO,OOO), or imprisonment of at least one (I) 
month but not 
exceeding three (3) months, or both, at the discretion of the court. Furthermore, said public 
official shall be subject to temporary disqualification to hold or be a candidate for any public 
office during service of sentence. 
SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 8974 and all other 
laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are 
inconsistent with this Act are likewise hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 7. Effecfivify. - This Act shall take effect 15 days following its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,