Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

‘Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7828

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 2018, two thousand ninety-six (2096) lawyers from the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) had to
accommodate almost a million cases. This meant that each public attorney had to handle as much
as 465 cases during that year. Since 2014, the PAO has only added 500 lawyers to its office
despite the steady increase in clients across the years. Most of the clientele of the PAO are
underprivileged families, which could not afford to hire lawyers from private firms,

It is the responsibility of the State to ensure that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or
property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the
laws. Our constitution likewise provides that “Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies
and adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty.” In
recognition of these constitutional provisions, it is imperative that the State device a way to recruit
more people to the PAO, in order to better serve the poor and the marginalized.

This measure seeks to incentivize law students to eventually join the ranks of the Public Attorney's
Office through the Abogado Para sa Bayan Program. The program will be a return service
agreement wherein a law student under the program may avail financial assistance from the
government, provided that he shall serve as a public attorney under the PAO for at least five (5)
years.

On behalf of the people of Parafiaque City's Second District, and for the common good of the
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought.

1YRA : TAMBUNTIN
id District, Parafiaque


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7828

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

AN ACT
TO ENCOURAGE MORE FILIPINO LAWYERS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE AND JOIN THE
PUBLIC ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE THE "ABOGADO
PARA SA BAYAN" RETURN SERVICE PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Abogado Para sa Bayan Act”.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall ensure that no person shall be deprived of life,
liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal
protection of the laws. The State shall also provide free and adequate legal assistance to all
citizens regardless of economic standing. The State shall hereby establish a program to encourage
more lawyers to serve the people, and to guarantee that there shall be, at all times, a sufficient
number of lawyers to provide free and adequate legal services to indigent and under-privileged
Filipinos in need of legal assistance.

Sec. 3, Abogado Para sa Bayan Program. — In accordance with the Declared Policy of this
Act, there shall be established an “Abogado Para Sa Bayan Program”, hereafter referred to as"
‘the Program’ under the Public Attorney's Office (PAO).

Sec. 4. Assistance to Grantees. — The grantee shall be entitled to financial assistance which
shall include tuition and other school fees, outright grant for prescribed textbooks and essential
school supplies, transportation expenses and monthly living allowance: Provided, that the
financial assistance provided herein shall be reviewed and adjusted to its value using the
Consumer Price Index (CPI) as published by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) five (5) years
from the implementation of this Act, and every five (5) years thereafter.

Sec. 5. Qualifications. - In order to qualify for the Program, the applicant must meet the
following requirements:

a) Must have a bachelor's degree from the reputable tertiary education institution;


b) Must have passed the entrance exam of any reputable law school selected by the DOJ;

©) Must be currently enrolled in a Juris Doctor (JD) or Legum Baccalareus (LLB) course in a
reputable law school selected by the DOJ; and

d) Must be of good moral character.

Sec. 6. Service Obligations. - Immediately upon signing the roll of attorneys, the grantee shall
serve for five (5) years as a public attorney in an area identified by the Public Attorney's Office
(PAO): Provided, that areas with the lowest number of public attorneys shall be prioritized.

Sec. 7. Selection of Law Schools. — Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
DO) shall identify the law schools which shall be covered under this Act; Provided, that the PAO
shall ensure that the selected law schools shall be of unquestionable reputation.

Sec. 8. Appropriations. - The amounts necessary for the effective implementation of this Act
shall be included under the appropriations of the Public Attorney's Office under the annual General
Appropriations Act.

Sec. 9. Annual Report. — Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, and every year
thereafter, the PAO shall submit an annual report on the implementation of this Act to the Senate
and the House of Representatives of the Philippines.

Sec. 10. Penalties. —

a) Any grantee who fails to comply with the service obligations set forth under Section 7 of
this Act shalll be, upon conviction, pay a fine of equivalent to the total financial assistance
which they received under this Act, or a fine of Php One Million Pesos (Php 1,000,000.00),
whichever is greater;

b) Any government official who uses the Program for partisan political activity shall, upon
conviction, suffer the penalty of imprisonment of six (6) months to one (1) year and/or a
fine of not less Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00) to One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(Php 100,000.00), at the discretion of the court, and without prejudice to further
prosecution and conviction under other administrative and criminal laws.

For the purpose of this Act, "Partisan political activity’ refers to activities, statements or
manifestations, which solely or primarily serve to campaign for or against any particular political
party or candidate for any elective public office.

Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity
of this Act, the PAO shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations necessary to
implement this Act.

Sec. 12. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part, section or provision of this Act is
held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to
be in full force and effect.

Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and
regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.


Sec. 14. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,