FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

no__1895

House

Introduced by Representative Ben P. Evardone

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Civil service in the legislative branch of government is a unique type of job
amongst all in the bureaucracy. Essential knowledge includes policy analysis and
review, knowledge of existing jurisprudence, comparative and historical analysis of
policies, international relations, and domestic knowledge of practically all issues,
aspects, and concerns that beset the Philippines. Technical skills such as bill
drafting, technical writing, bookkeeping, and the like are also needed for the smooth
workflow expected of the legislators.

These competencies are expected of the workforce in the legislature, and the
government must make certain that additional skills and knowledge of the existing
corps of employees will be developed. This bill seeks the creation of the Philippine
Legislative Academy to answer that need.

es are as follows:

Its obje

(a) To enable its officers and employees to efficiently and effectively
provide the necessary legislative and administrative support services to
Congress and its Members;

(b) To create a pool of competent and development-oriented career

legislative service officers and employees; and

(c) To provide a system of training and continuing education for
personnel in order to ensure that only competent and qualified persons are
recruited into the career legislative service,

The Academy shall serve as the training school for legislative officers and
employees in the Career Service of the Legislature (CSL) under the highest
academic and competency standards to be set by the Civil Service Commission
(CSC). Those who have finished their courses in the Academy shall be given
priority in appointments and promotions given that they have added knowledge that
will serve for the development of the organization,

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought.

BEN ; VARDONE

Representative, Lone District of Eastern Samar


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House wit No, £895, :

Introduced by Representative Ben P, Evardone

AN ACT
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE LEGISLATIVE ACADEMY
DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS.
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION | . Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy o f the State to ensure an
nt and credible Career Service of the Legislature (CSL). Toward this end, it is
tive to provide members of the CSL with continuing appropriate education and
training. The CSL shall include the officers and employees of Congress composed of the
Senate, the House of Representatives, the Commission on Appointments and the Senate
and House of Representatives Electoral Tribunals. It shall also include the career officers
and employees of the Philippine Legislative Academy established under this Act.

SEC. 2. Objectives. - It is the purpose of this Act to professionalize, upgrade and
strengthen the work force of Congress in order:

(a) To enable its officers and employees to efficiently and effectively provide the
necessary legislative and administrative support services to Congress and its Members;

(b) To create a pool of competent and development-oriented career legislative
service officers and employees; and

(©) To provide a system of training and continuing education for personnel in
order to ensure that only competent and qualified persons are recruited into the career
legislative service.

SEC. 3. Philippine Legislative Academy. - To carry out the policy and objectives
enunciated in Sections 1 and 2 hereof, there is hereby established a Philippine Legislative
Academy, herein referred to as the Academy. The Academy shall be a unit of both
Houses of Congress and shall operate under its administration, supervision and control. It
shall be located at the House of Representatives, Batasan Complex, Quezon City.

SEC. 4. Functions. - The Academy shall serve as a training school for legislative
officers and employees for positions in the CSL. For this purpose, it shall provide and
implement a curriculum for legislative education as well as conduct seminars, workshops
and other training programs to upgrade legislative support services, capabilities and
efficiency, and shall perform such other functions as may be necessary in carrying out its
mandate,

SEC. 5. Governing Board - The Academy shall have, as its governing body, a
Board of Trustees composed of the Chair of the Civil Service Commission, the Secretary
of the Senate and the Secretary General of the House of Representatives, as ex officio
members; and an incumbent Deputy Secretary of the Senate chosen by the Senate


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President, and an incumbent Deputy Secretary General of the House of Representatives
chosen by the Speaker, both of whom shall have served in such positions for at least five
(8) years, as designated members.

‘The ex officio members of the Board of Trustees shall serve as such for the
duration of their incumbency in their respective offices. All members shall serve without
‘compensation, but shall be entitled to a reasonable honoraria/allowance for the
performance of their duties.

SEC. 6. Exeewlive Board. -- The Executive Board of the Academy shall be
designated by the Board of Trustees, and shall be composed of a Chancellor, two (2) Vice
Chancellors and an Executive Secretary. The Executive Board shall serve for a term of
three (3) years without prejudice to subsequent reappointments.

In case of a vacancy in any Executive Board position, the Board of Trustees shall
designate a replacement who shall serve in such position for the remainder of the
unfinished term,

‘The Chancellor shall have as requisite qualifications meritorious service as an
incumbent Deputy Secretary of the Senate or an incumbent Deputy Secretary General of
the House of Representatives, who shall have served as such for at least three (3) years,
‘and belongs to the ranks of the Career Executive Service

A Vice Chancellor shall be chosen from each House. A Vice Chancellor shall
have as requisite qualifications meritorious service as an incumbent Executive Director or
Deputy Executive Director of the Senate or the House of Representatives, who shall have
served as such for at least three (3) years, and belongs to the ranks of the Career
Executive Service.

‘The Executive Secretary shall have the same requisite qualifications and the same
compensation at least as a Service Director Il. He or she shall serve on a full-time basis,
and shall be the Recorder-Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

If no such person meets the abovementioned requirements for any position, the
Board of ‘Trustees shall designate such official with the closest qualifications.

The Chancellor and the Vice Chancellors shall serve without compensation, but
shall be entitled to reasonable honoraria/allowance for the performance of their
designated duties as determined by the Board of Trustees or as provided by law. The
members of the Executive Board shall not engage in the private practice of any
profession.

SEC. 7. Academy Staff - The Academy shall be staffed by a corps of professional
lecturers. A lecturer shall be nominated by any of the members of the Executive Board of
the Academy; and, such nomination shall he submitted to the Board of Trustees for
approval. Lecturers whose nominations are approved by the Board of Trustees shall be
included in the list of lecturers, and shall be entitled to reasonable honoraria and
allowance as deemed fit by the Board of Trustees or as provided by law.

SEC. 8. Academic Courses. - The academic courses and the publication of @
legislative service journal and such other documents shall be determined by the Executive
Board and shall be approved by the Board of Trustees.

SEC. 9. Criteria for Selection and Admission to the Academy. ~ The criteria for
the selection and admission to the Academy shall be determined by the Executive Board
and subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees.


SEC. 10. Appointment and Promotion. - Legislative officers and employees who
have completed the programs prescribed by the Academy and have satisfactorily
complied with all the requirements incident thereto shall be given priority for
appointment, selection or promotion to any position of vacancy in the CSL.

SEC. 11. Consortium Agreements. - The Academy may ait into consortium and

similar or related agreements with educational and training institutions for the
development and implementation of programs for capably building: carer
development and legislative orientation.

SEC. 12. Tax Exemptions. - The provision of any general or special law to the
contrary notwithstanding:

(a) All revenues and assets of the Academy used actually, directly and exclusively
for educational purposes shall be exempt from all taxes and duties;

(b) Gifts and donations of real and personal properties of all kinds to the Academy
shall be exempt from the donor’s tax and the same shall he considered as allowable
deductions from the gross income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the
National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended;

(©) Importation of economic, technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical,
historical and cultural books, supplies, equipment, machinery and other materials,
including scientific and educational computer and software equipment, shall be exempt
from customs duties and taxes; and

(d) Educational services rendered by the Academy shall be exempt from value-
added tax.

SEC. 13. Legislative Academy Fund. -All legacies, gifis and donations (o the
Academy established under this law shall constitute a special fund to be known as the
Legislative Academy Fund. This fund shall be administered and disbursed by the Board
of Trustees of the Academy exclusively for the purposes of this Act.

14. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the initial
jon of this Act, including the operation, maintenance and improvement of the
‘Academy, shall be charged against the General Appropriations Act of 2011 and every
year thereafter under the programs of the Congress of the Philippines.

SEC, 15. Separability Clause. - Should any provision under this Act be deemed
invalid, the remainder of this Act not otherwise affected thereby shall remain in full force
and effect,

SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws and regulations inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,