Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo. 921

Introduced by Honorable Czarina D. Umali

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The elected Members of the House of Representatives as distinguished from those
from the party-list, represent a definite political subdivision, the Congressional District.

Unlike other government officials whose mandates clearly pertain to particular
institutional branches, e.g. judges and justices in the judiciary and the President and
his/her Cabinet in the executive department, the Congressman assumes multifarious
roles.

‘The Congressional Representative is a local leader representing the interests of
his/her constituents in the halls of Congress and before departments and agencies of the
government. He/She is also a national stakeholder in that, in performing his/her duties,
he/she is not limited to promoting only local concerns but also issues and causes that
affect other localities or the entire country as well.

He/She is a legislator, as it is his/her principal duty to participate in the enactment
of laws. But he/she is likewise, involved in providing for the basic needs of his/her
district in the form of projects be it roads, bridges, schools, electric power, water and
sanitation, clearly the tasks of a local executive.

With all these concerns on his/her burden, it is not surprising that the
Congressman/Congresswoman is pethaps, the most visited public official, especially
when he/she is in his/her district.

Officially, he/she holds office in the House of Representatives complex in urban
Metro Manila. In the district, where his/her accessibility to his/her constituents is much
needed, his/her office may be his/her house or a rented space.

Governors have capitols. Mayors have city or town halls. Even Barangay
Captains have barangay halls. The Congressman/Congresswoman has none.


This bill aims to give permanence and dignity to the office of the House Member
by establishing a District Office in all the political districts in the country.

‘The measure presents the following advantages among others (1) the
congressional district office will be fixed and permanent; (2) it will save expenses for the
lease or rental of office spaces; (3) it will provide constituents easier access to their
Congressman/Congresswoman; (4) it will provide the Congressman/Congresswoman and
his/her constituents a venue for meetings and interactions.

Based on the premises mentioned, the early passage of this bill is respectfully
enjoined.

Onan: Q. Vemat,
Hon. GEREN D.UMALI
Representative

3" District, Nueva Ecija


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
921

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Czarina D. Umali

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT OFFICE IN EVERY POLITICAL DISTRICT IN THE PHILIPPINES
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives in joint session assembled:

SECTION 1. There shall be established in every political district in the
Philippines a Congressional District Office.

SECTION 2. The site of the Congressional District shall be identified by the
incumbent Members of the House of Representatives after consultation with the mayors
of the local governments in the District.

SECTION 3. The Department of Public Works and Highways shall issued rules
and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act is
hereby authorized to be appropriated in the General Appropriations Act of the year
following its enactment into law and thereafter.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved.