EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
rt.Trp
SENATE 
S. No. 
5 1 6
16 
A 9:05
1=
Introduced by SENATOR RONALD "BATO " DELA ROSA
AN ACT
DECLARING A NATIONAL PEACE POLICY THEREBY CREATING ACOMMISSION 
ON PEACE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article II Section 5 thereof, declares that: 
"The maintenance o f peace and order, the protection o f life, liberty 
and property, and promotion o f the general welfare are essential for the 
enjoyment by all the people o f the blessings o f democracy."
President Rodrigo Duterte is serious in his commitment to attain "inclusive and 
sustainable peace" for the country. The six-point Peace and Development Agenda 
contained in the Peace and Development Roadmap of the President incorporates the 
following: 
meaningful 
implementation 
of the Framework Agreement of the 
Bangsamoro (FAB) and Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) towards 
healing in the Bangsamoro, completion of implementation of remaining commitments 
under the GPH-MNLF Peace Agreement for a just closure, accelerated signing and 
implementation of peace accords with communist insurgents, immediate conclusion of 
the peace process with the Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CPLA) and the 
Rebolusyonaryong Partido Ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army- 
Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPP-RPA-ABB), peace promoting catch-up socio-economic


developments in conflict affected areas, and building of a culture of peace and conflict 
sensitivity.
In consonance with one of the objectives of the Philippine Development Plan 
2017-2022 which is to 'attain inclusive and sustainable peace through intensified 
development and other peace-building initiatives in conflict-affected and vulnerable 
communities'1 and the Peace and Development Roadmap of the President, the 
proposed measure mandates the creation of the Commission on Peace. As filed by 
Senator Gringo Honasan in the 17th Congress, the Commission shall assist the 
President in the fulfillment and implementation of the comprehensive peace process. 
Consequently, the Office of the Presidential Adviser of the Peace Process (OPAPP), the 
National Program for Unification and Development Council (NPUDC), the National 
Peace Forum (NPF) and the Government Peace Negotiating Panels (GPNPs) are hereby 
abolished.
Moreover, the bill states that the formulation of the comprehensive peace 
process must be anchored on the principles of inclusivity and continuing participabon 
of all stakeholders in the communities.
Furthermore, the bill directs that the comprehensive peace process must include 
the six paths to peace components, to wit, the pursuit of social, economic and political 
reforms, consensus-building and empowerment for peace, peaceful negotiated 
settlement with the different rebel groups, programs for reconciliation, reintegration 
into mainstream society and rehabilitation, addressing concerns, arising from the 
continuing hostilities, and building and nurturing a climate conducive to peace.
In light of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RONALD "B A tO " DELA ROSA,
1 http;//www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SER-Chap-17_as-of-March-26.pdf


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 
O x
^ 1 6
of ;'-c
*19 
JUL 16 
A 9 •06
rttC C iVLO  ,
Introduced by SENATOR RONALD "BATO " DELA ROSA * 1 1
AN ACT
DECLARING A NATIONAL PEACE POLICY THEREBY CREATING ACOMMISSION 
ON PEACE
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "NationalPeace Policy
2 
Act o f 2019".
3 
SEC. 2. Constitutional Policy on Peace. -The national peace policy shall be pursued
4 
in the light of the following constitutional mandates:
5 
a) The sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of the Almighty God, in order to
6 
build a just and humane society and establish a government that shall embody
7 
our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our
8 
patrimony and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of
9 
independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth,
10 
justice, freedom, love, equality and peace.
11 
b) The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and property, and
12 
the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all
13 
people of the blessings of democracy.
14 
SEC. 3. Principles Underlying the Comprehensive Peace 
Process. - The
15 
comprehensive peace process shall be governed by the following underlying principles:
16 
a) A comprehensive peace process shall be community-based, reflecting the
1


1 
sentiments, values, and principles important to all Filipinos. Thus, it shall be
2 
defined not by government alone, nor by the different contending groups only,
3 
but by all Filipinos as one community.
4
5 
b) A comprehensive peace process aims to forge a new compact for a just, equitable,
6 
humane and pluralistic society. It seeks to establish a genuine pluralistic society
7 
where all individuals and groups are free to engage in peaceful competition for
8 
predominance of their political programs without fear, through the exercise of
9 
rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, and where they may compete
10 
for political power through an electoral system that is free, fair and honest.
11 
SEC. 4. Components o f the Comprehensive Peace Process. -  The comprehensive
12 
peace process shall include, but not limited to, the following components:
13 
a) PURSUIT OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REFORMS - This component
14 
would allow the Commission on Peace to act as a coordinative body of the various
15 
policies, reforms, programs and projects aimed at addressing the root causes of internal
16 
armed conflicts and social unrest. This may require administrative action, new
17 
legislation or even constitutional amendments.
18 
b) CONSENSUS-BUILDING AND EMPOWERMENT FOR PEACE - This component
19 
shall include the continuing consultations on both the national and local levels to
20 
build consensus for a peace agenda and process and the mobilization and
21 
facilitation of people's participation in the peace process.
22 
c) PEACEFUL NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT WITH THE DIFFERENT REBEL GROUPS -
23 
This component involves the conduct of face-to-face negotiations to reach
24 
peaceful settlements with the different rebel groups.
25 
d) PROGRAMS FOR RECONCILIATION, REINTEGRATION INTO MAINSTREAM
26 
SOCIETY AND REHABILITATION — This component shall include programs to
27 
address the legal status and security of former rebels, as well as community-based
28 
assistance programs to address the economic, social and psychological rehabilitation
29 
needs of former rebels, demobilized combatants, and civilian victims of the internal
30 
armed conflicts.


1 
e) ADDRESSING 
CONCERNS, 
ARSING 
FROM 
THE 
CONTINUING 
ARMED
2 
HOSnUTIES - This component involves the strict implementation of laws and
3 
policy guidelines, and the institution of programs ensure the protection of non-
4 
combatants and reduce the impact of the armed conflict on communities found
5 
in conflict areas.
6 
f) BUILDING AND NURTURING A CLIMATE CONDUCIVE TO PEACE - This
7 
component shall include peace advocacy and peace education programs and
8 
the implementation of various confidence-building measures aimed at ensuring
9 
transparency and good faith in the peace process.
10
11 
SEC. 5. Creation o f the Commission on Peace . - There is hereby created an
12 
independent Commission on Peace which shall be tasked to assist the President in the
13 
active pursuit of a comprehensive peace process.
14 
a) The Commission on Peace shall be composed of a Chairman and four (4)
15 
Members who must be natural-born citizens of the Philippines and, at the time
16 
of their appointment, at least thirty-five (35) years of age and must not have
17 
been a candidate for any elective position in the elections immediately
18 
preceding their appointment.
19 
b) The Chairman and the Members of the Commission on Peace shall not, during
20 
their tenure, hold any other office or employment. Neither shall they engage in
21 
the practice of any profession or in active management or control of any
22 
business which in any way may be affected by the functions of their office, nor
23 
shall be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract with, or in
24 
any franchise or privilege granted by the government, any of its subdivisions,
25 
agencies 
or instrumentalities, including government-owned 
or controlled
26 
corporations or their subsidiaries.
27 
c) The Chairman and the Members of the Commission on Peace shall be appointed
28 
by the President for a term of seven (7) years without reappointment.
29 
Appointments to any vacancy shall be only for the unexpired term of the
30 
predecessor.
31 
d) The Chairman and the Members of the Commission on Peace shall receive the


1 
same salary as the Chairman and members, respectively, of the Constitutional
2 
Commissions, which shall not be decreased during their term of office.
3 
e) In recognition of the crucial role of civil society in the implementation of a
4 
comprehensive peace process, one (1) member of the Commission on Peace
5 
should come from the civil society.
6 
SEC. 6. Secretariat. - There shall be a Peace Commission Secretariat, headed by an
7 
Executive Director which shall provide all the necessary administrative and technical
8 
support to the Commission on Peace.
9 
SEC. 7. Powers and Functions o f the Commission. -The Commission on Peace
10 
shall have the following powers and functions.
11 
a) Formulate policies, programs, guidelines, plans and provide direction in the
12 
implementation of the government's peace process;
13 
b) Conduct continuing consultations and dialogues with various sectors of the citizenry
14 
towards ensuring people's direct participation in the government's peace process;
15 
c) Submit an annual report to both Houses of Congress on the process and
16 
implementation of people's recommendations resulting from consultation and
17 
dialogue;
18 
d) Request the assistance of the departments, agencies, including government-owned
19 
or controlled corporations in the efficient and effective implementation of the
20 
peace process;
21 
e) Perform such other functions as well as exercise such powers as may be delegated
22 
or assigned by the President.
23 
SEC. 8. Citizen Participation. -The State recognizes the vital roleof civil society in
24 
the comprehensive peace process. Citizen participation in the peace process shall be
25 
welcomed, enhanced and protected. Mechanisms for this include the basic sector's peace
26 
agenda, peace consultations, citizen third-parties in the peace talks and community-based
27 
peace initiatives including peace zones.
28 
SEC. 9. Transparency and Accountability. -The President and the administrative
29 
structure for carrying on the peace process shall pursue a policy of transparency and
30 
accountability subject to the confidentiality requirements of peace negotiations.
31 
SEC. 10. Abolition, Transfer o f Assets and Personnel. - All agencies involved in
4


1 
the implementation of the six paths to peace stated herein such as the Office of the
2 
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) created under Executive No. 125 s. 1993,
3 
as amended by Executive Order No. 3 s. 2001, the National Program for Unification and
4 
Development Council (NPUDC) created under Executive Order No. 152 and the National
5 
Peace Forum (NPF) created
6 
under Executive Order No. 115 s. 1999 and the Government Peace Negotiating Panels (GPNPs)
7 
are hereby abolished.
8 
The unexpended appropriations of the abovementioned agencies are hereby
9 
transferred to the Commission on Peace. All properties, records, equipment, buildings,
10 
facilities and other assets of same shall be transferred to the Commission.
11 
The Commission on Peace may retain such personnel of the OPAPP, the NPUDC and the
12 
NPF and the GRP panels, as may be necessary in the fulfilment of its powersand functions.
13 
Any public officer or employee separated from the service as a result of the abolition of the
14 
said offices affected under this Act shall receive the benefits to which he or she may be
15 
entitled under existing laws, rules and regulations.
16 
SEC. 11. Transition Period. - Until such time that the Commission on Peace is fully
17 
operational, the OPAPP Secretariat shall continue to provide staff support to the
18 
Commission on Peace. It shall be under the direct control and supervision of the Chair
19 
of the Commission on Peace.
20 
SEC. 12. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
21 
this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
22 
enactment into law and thereafter.
23 
SEC. Vi. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - A Technical Working Group
24 
(TWG) composed of the agencies which were abolished and subsumed under the
25 
Commission on Peace shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the
26 
provisions of this Act ninety (90) days after the passage of this Act.
27 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be held
28 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereofwhich are not affected thereby
29 
shall continue to be in full force and effect, provided, however, that no provision hereof
30 
shall be construed as a diminution of any peace pact.
31 
SEQ. \S. Repealing Clause. - k\\ 
laws, executive 
orders, 
presidential
32 
decrees, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof
5


2
3
4
5
6 
7
1
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly.
SEC. 16. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
its publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspapers of 
general circulation.
Approved,