EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
)
. 
Sr'tMl
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'tR ffift o( t ir i t '. • ‘ ^ •
S E N A T E
•19 JUL 16 All 35
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE LEGISLATIVE ACADEMY, DEFINING 
ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Our twenty-four senators and roughly three hundred representatives do not 
and could not run the legislative arm by themselves. Though our lawmakers 
create the nation's policies and legislative measures, it is the Congressional 
Secretariat that ensures that the lawmaking process proceeds with utmost speed 
and efficiency, by providing the necessary technical support that keeps the 
Congress running—from archival services, to committee support, to the 
scheduling of plenary affairs, to the indexing of legislative documents.
In support of these legislative officers and employees, and indeed the entire 
legislative arm, this bill seeks to establish the Philippine Legislative Academy. The 
Academy shall provide continued education to these employees and strengthen 
and sharpen their skills through a specialized curriculum, plus seminars, 
workshops, and training programs that will all enhance their understanding of 
and expertise in the legislative process.
Through the Academy, the Congress will have in its service a pool 
professionals that will provide invaluable assistance in the lawmaking process.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is urgently sought.
of
UAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
s.‘ 
, lO ffirr o( t::*
T9 JUL 16 All :35
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
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 House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared a policy of the State
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to ensure an efficient and credible Career Service of the Legislature (CSL). Toward this
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end, it is imperative to provide members of the CSL with continuing appropriate education
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and training.
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The CSL shall include the offices and employees of Congress composed of the
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Senate and the House of Representatives, the Commission on Appointments and the
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Senate and House of Representatives Electoral Tribunals. It shall also include the career
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officers and employees of the Philippine Legislative Academy established under this Act.
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SEC. 2. Objectives. -  It is the purpose of this Act to professionalize, upgrade
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and strengthen the work force of Congress in order:
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a) To enable its officers and employees to efficiently and effectively provide the
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necessary legislative and administrative support services to Congress and its
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Members;
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b) To create a pool of competent and development-oriented career legislative
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service officers and employees; and
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c) To provide a system of training and continuing education for personnel in order
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to ensure that only competent and qualified persons are recruited into the
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career legislative service.
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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 shali 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. -T h e  Academy shali serve as a training school for legislative 
officers and empioyees for positions in the CSL. For this purpose, it shail provide and 
implement a curriculum for legislative education as well as conduct seminars, workshops 
and other training programs to upgrade legislative support services, capabiiities and 
efficiency, and shali perform such other functions as may be necessary in carrying out its 
mandate.
SEC. 5. Governing Board. -T h e  Academy shall have, as its governing body, a 
Board of Trustees composed of the Chairperson of the Civii 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 President, and an incumbent Deputy Secretary Generai of the House of 
Representatives chosen by the Speaker, both of whom shall have served in such positions 
for at least five (5) 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 shail be entitled to a 
reasonable /70/70/a/75/allowance for the performance of their duties.
SEC. 6. Executive 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 
Chanceilors 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.


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The Chancellor shall have a 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.
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 w ith out compensation, but 
shall be entitled to reasonable /7c>r7(7r<7r/a/allowance for the perform ance o f their 
designated duties as determ ined by the Board o f Trustees or as provided by law.
The members of the Executive Board shall not engage in the private practice of 
any profession.
SEC. 7. Academ y Staff. -  The Academy shall be staffed by a corps of 
professional lecturers. A lecturer shall be nominated by any o f the members of the 
Executive Board of the Academy; and, such nomination shall be 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 lectures, and shall be entitled to reasonable 
honoraria!d\\o\Ndir[ZQ as deemed fit by the Board of Trustees or as provided by law.
SEC. 8. Academ ic Courses. -  The academic courses and the publication of a 
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. C riteria fo r Selection and Adm ission 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. A ppointm ent 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 or vacancy in the CSL.
SEC. 11. Consortium  Agreements. -T h e  Academy may enter into consortium 
and similar or related agreements with educational and training institutions for the


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development and implementation of programs for capacity building, career development 
and legislative orientation.
SEC. 12. Tax Exemptions. -T h e  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 be 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;
c) 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 custom duties and taxes; and
d) Educational services rendered by the Academy shall be exempt from value- 
added tax.
SEC. 13. Legislative Academ y Fund. -  All legacies, gifts and donations to the 
Academy established under this law shall constitute a special fund to be known as the 
Legislative Academy exclusively for the purpose of this Act.
SEC. 14. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary to carry out the initial 
implementation of this Act, including the operation, maintenance and improvement of the 
Academy shall be charged against the General Appropriations Act of 2018 and every year 
thereafter under the programs of the Congress of the Philippines.
SEC. 15. S eparability 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. E ffectivity Clause. -T h is  Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
SEC. 18. S eparability Clause. -  Should any part o f this Act be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect.


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SEC. 19. Effectivity. -T h is  Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in a newspaper or general circulation.
Approved,