Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
 EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Probation was first introduced in the Philippines during the American colonial 
period (1898–1945) with the enactment of Act No. 4221 of the Philippine 
Legislature on August 7, 1935. This law created a Probation Office under 
the Department of Justice. On November 16, 1937, after barely two years of 
existence, the Supreme Court of the Philippines declared the Probation Law 
unconstitutional because of some defects in the law's procedural framework. 
In 1972, House Bill No. 393 was filed in Congress, which would establish a 
probation system in the Philippines. This bill avoided the objectionable features 
of Act 4221 that struck down the 1935 law as unconstitutional. The bill was 
passed by the House of Representatives, but was pending in the Senate when 
Martial Law was declared and Congress was abolished. 
In 1975, the National Police Commission Interdisciplinary drafted a Probation 
Law. After 18 technical hearings over a period of six months, the draft decree 
was presented to a selected group of 369 jurists, penologists, civic leaders and 
social and behavioral scientists and practitioners. The group overwhelmingly 
endorsed the establishment of an Adult Probation System in the country. 
On July 24, 1976, Presidential Decree No. 968, also known as Adult Probation 
Law of 1976, was signed into Law by the President of the Philippines. 
The Probation Administration was created by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 
968, “The Probation Law of 1976”, signed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos 
to administer the probation system. 
Under Executive Order No. 292, “The Administrative Code of 1987” which was 
promulgated on November 23, 1989, the Probation Administration was renamed 
“Parole and Probation Administration” and given the added function of 
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supervising prisoners who, after serving part of their sentence in jails are 
released on parole pardon with parole conditions 
Effective August 17, 2005, by virtue of a Memorandum of Agreement with the 
Dangerous Drugs Board, the Administration performs another additional 
function of investigating and supervising first-time minor drug offenders who are 
placed on suspended pursuant to Republic Act No. 9165. 
 
This House Bill seeks to provide Modernization Funding to the Parole and 
Probation Administration (PPA), to ensure that the country fulfills its 
commitments to rehabilitate and reintegrate persons on community-based 
corrections for peace and social justice. 
 
 
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.  
MICHAEL L. ROMERO  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR MODERNIZATION FUNDINGFOR THE PAROLE 
AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATION (PPA), INCREASING AND 
REORGANIZING ITS ADMINISTRATION, PROVIDING A LESS 
COSTLY ALTERNATIVE TO IMPRISONMENT OF OFFENDERS, TO 
AUGMENT RESPONSE TO INDIVIDUALIZED COMMUNITY BASED 
TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 
1. 
DECLARATION OF POLICY – It shall hereby be a declared 
policy of the State to conserve and/or redeem convicted offenders and 
prisoners who are under the probation or parole system: 
•
Promote the reformation of criminal offenders and reduce the incidence
of recidivism, and
•
Provide a cheaper alternative to the institutional confinement of first-
time offenders who are likely to respond to individualized, community-
based treatment programs.
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The state shall formulate policies for the efficient and effective administration 
and management of all manpower, skills and competencies to ensure 
compliance. 
SECTION 
2. 
MODERNIZATION FUNDING. – The amount of Five Hundred 
Million Pesos (Php 500,000,000.00) for the operation and administration of the 
Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) shall be chargeable against funds 
for the purpose and other sources recommended by the Department of Budget 
and Management (DBM). Thereafter, appropriations for the Parole and 
Probation Administration (PPA) shall be included in the budget proposals 
under the Department of Justice (DOJ). 
 
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall rationalize the existing 
organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Parole and Probation 
Administration (PPA) in accordance with the provisions of this Act and relevant 
compensation and position classification laws, rules and regulations. 
Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of the 
modernization program, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act (GAA). 
SECTION 
3. 
PAROLE AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATION (PPA) 
MODERNIZATION FUND – There is hereby created the (PPA) Modernization 
Fund to be used exclusively for the (PPA) Modernization Program. 
The (PPA) Modernization Fund shall be administered by the Secretary of the DOJ 
in accordance with existing government budgeting, accounting and auditing 
rules and regulations. 
SECTION 
4. 
PROGRESS REPORT – The Secretary of DOJ shall 
prepare an annual report on the status of the implementation of the (PPA) 
Modernization Programs which shall be submitted, to the Office of the President 


and to the Chairpersons of the Committee on Justice of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives. 
SECTION 
5. 
PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION – The modernization 
program under this Act shall be implemented for an initial period of two (2) 
years:  
Provided, that payments for multi-year contract obligations incurred 
under this Act may extend beyond this period:  
Provided, further, That the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) 
shall continue to develop, modernize and constantly update its operational 
capabilities to keep pace with best global practices. 
SECTION 
6. 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS. – The Parole and Probation 
Administration (PPA) shall continue to exercise and uphold the following 
powers and functions; but not limited to: 
The Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) shall strive to be a world-class, 
dynamic policy-making body in promoting these mandates, the Agency through 
its network of regional and field parole and probation offices performs the 
following functions: 
• to administer the parole and probation system 
• to exercise supervision over parolees, pardonees and probationers 
• to promote the correction and rehabilitation of criminal offenders. 
SECTION 
7. 
INCREASE OF PERSONNEL. – The Parole and 
Probation Administration (PPA) shall maintain the sufficient staffing pattern. 
Hence, it is authorized to increase its manpower to meet such required and may 
continue to increase personnel per percentage rate increase of committed 
mandates annually or as the need arises. 


SECTION 
8. 
TRANSITORY 
PROVISION – 
Existing 
industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given 
six (6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other 
period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 
SECTION 
9. 
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. – The 
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act 
shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the 
necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
SECTION 
10. 
REPEALING CLAUSE. – All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 
11. 
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 
12. 
EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. – This Act shall take effect 
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes earlier. 
 
Approved,