REPUBLIC ACT N0.

9745 AN ACT PENALIZING TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN AND DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: Section 1. Short Title. - This Ad shall be known as the "Anti-Torture Act of 2009". Section 2. Statement of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State: (a) To value the dignity of every human person and guarantee full respect for human rights; (b) To ensure that the human rights of all persons, including suspects, detainees and prisoners are respected at all times; and that no person placed under investigation or held in custody of any person in authority or, agent of a person authority shall be subjected to physical, psychological or mental harm, force, violence, threat or intimidation or any act that impairs his/her free wi11 or in any manner demeans or degrades human dignity; (c) To ensure that secret detention places, solitary, incommunicado or other similar forms of detention, where torture may be carried out with impunity, are prohibited; and (d) To fully adhere to the principles and standards on the absolute condemnation and prohibition of torture as provided for in the 1987 Philippine Constitution; various international instruments to which the Philippines is a State party such as, but not limited to, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDA W) and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT); and all other relevant international human rights instruments to which the Philippines is a signatory. Section 3. Definitions. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean: (a) "Torture" refers to an act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him/her or a third person information or a confession; punishing him/her for an act he/she or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed; or intimidating or coercing him/her or a third person; or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a person in authority or agent of a person in authority. It does not include pain or Buffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions. (b) "Other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment" refers to a deliberate and aggravated treatment or punishment not enumerated under Section 4 of this Act,

inflicted by a person in authority or agent of a person in authority against a person under his/her custody, which attains a level of severity causing suffering, gross humiliation or debasement to the latter. (c) "Victim" refers to the person subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment as defined above and any individual who has suffered harm as a result of any act(s) of torture, or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment. (d) "Order of Battle" refers to any document or determination made by the military, police or any law enforcement agency of the government, listing the names of persons and organizations that it perceives to be enemies of the State and that it considers as legitimate targets as combatants that it could deal with, through the use of means allowed by domestic and international law. Section 4. Acts of Torture. - For purposes of this Act, torture shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (a) Physical torture is a form of treatment or punishment inflicted by a person in authority or agent of a person in authority upon another in his/her custody that causes severe pain, exhaustion, disability or dysfunction of one or more parts of the body, such as: (1) Systematic beating, headbanging, punching, kicking, striking with truncheon or rifle butt or other similar objects, and jumping on the stomach; (2) Food deprivation or forcible feeding with spoiled food, animal or human excreta and other stuff or substances not normally eaten; (3) Electric shock; (4) Cigarette burning; burning by electrically heated rods, hot oil, acid; by the rubbing of pepper or other chemical substances on mucous membranes, or acids or spices directly on the wound(s); (5) The submersion of the head in water or water polluted with excrement, urine, vomit and/or blood until the brink of suffocation; (6) Being tied or forced to assume fixed and stressful bodily position; (7) Rape and sexual abuse, including the insertion of foreign objects into the sex organ or rectum, or electrical torture of the genitals; (8) Mutilation or amputation of the essential parts of the body such as the genitalia, ear, tongue, etc.; (9) Dental torture or the forced extraction of the teeth;

(10) Pulling out of fingernails; (11) Harmful exposure to the elements such as sunlight and extreme cold; (12) The use of plastic bag and other materials placed over the head to the point of asphyxiation; (13) The use of psychoactive drugs to change the perception, memory. alertness or will of a person, such as: (i) The administration or drugs to induce confession and/or reduce mental competency; or (ii) The use of drugs to induce extreme pain or certain symptoms of a disease; and (14) Other analogous acts of physical torture; and (b) "Mental/Psychological Torture" refers to acts committed by a person in authority or agent of a person in authority which are calculated to affect or confuse the mind and/or undermine a person's dignity and morale, such as: (1) Blindfolding; (2) Threatening a person(s) or his/fher relative(s) with bodily harm, execution or other wrongful acts; (3) Confinement in solitary cells or secret detention places; (4) Prolonged interrogation; (5) Preparing a prisoner for a "show trial", public display or public humiliation of a detainee or prisoner; (6) Causing unscheduled transfer of a person deprived of liberty from one place to another, creating the belief that he/she shall be summarily executed; (7) Maltreating a member/s of a person's family; (8) Causing the torture sessions to be witnessed by the person's family, relatives or any third party; (9) Denial of sleep/rest; (10) Shame infliction such as stripping the person naked, parading him/her in public places, shaving the victim's head or putting marks on his/her body against his/her will;

(11) Deliberately prohibiting the victim to communicate with any member of his/her family; and (12) Other analogous acts of mental/psychological torture. Section 5. Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. - Other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment refers to a deliberate and aggravated treatment or punishment not enumerated under Section 4 of this Act, inflicted by a person in authority or agent of a person in authority against another person in custody, which attains a level of severity sufficient to cause suffering, gross humiliation or debasement to the latter. The assessment of the level of severity shall depend on all the circumstances of the case, including the duration of the treatment or punishment, its physical and mental effects and, in some cases, the sex, religion, age and state of health of the victim. Section 6. Freedom from Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, An Absolute Bight. - Torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment as criminal acts shall apply to all circumstances. A state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability, or any other public emergency, or a document or any determination comprising an "order of battle" shall not and can never be invoked as a justification for torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment. Section 7. Prohibited Detention. - Secret detention places, solitary confinement, incommunicado or other similar forms of detention, where torture may be carried out with impunity. Are hereby prohibited. In which case, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other law enforcement. agencies concerned shall make an updated list of all detention centers and facilities under their respective jurisdictions with the corresponding data on the prisoners or detainees incarcerated or detained therein such as, among others, names, date of arrest and incarceration, and the crime or offense committed. This list shall be made available to the public at all times, with a copy of the complete list available at the respective national headquarters of the PNP and AFP. A copy of the complete list shall likewise be submitted by the PNP, AFP and all other law enforcement agencies to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), such list to be periodically updated, by the same agencies, within the first five (5) days of every month at the minimum. Every regional office of the PNP, AFP and other law enforcement agencies shall also maintain a similar list far all detainees and detention facilities within their respective areas, and shall make the same available to the public at all times at their respective regional headquarters, and submit a copy. updated in the same manner provided above, to the respective regional offices of the CHR. Section 8. Applicability of the Exclusionary Rule; Exception. - Any confession, admission or statement obtained as a result of torture shall be inadmissible in evidence in any proceedings, except if the same is used as evidence against a person or persons accused of committing torture. Section 9. Institutional Protection of Torture Victims and Other Persons Involved. - A victim of torture shall have the following rights in the institution of a criminal complaint for torture:

(a) To have a prompt and an impartial investigation by the CHR and by agencies of government concerned such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), the PNP, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the AFP. A prompt investigation shall mean a maximum period of sixty (60) working days from the time a complaint for torture is filed within which an investigation report and/or resolution shall be completed and made available. An appeal whenever available shall be resolved within the same period prescribed herein, (b) To have sufficient government protection against all forms of harassment; threat and/or intimidation as a consequence of the filing of said complaint or the presentation of evidence therefor. In which case, the State through its appropriate agencies shall afford security in order to ensure his/her safety and all other persons involved in the investigation and prosecution such as, but not limited to, his/her lawyer, witnesses and relatives; and (c) To be accorded sufficient protection in the manner by which he/she testifies and presents evidence in any fora in order to avoid further trauma. Section 10. Disposition of Writs of Habeas Corpus, Amparo and Habeas Data Proceedings and Compliance with a Judicial 07'der. - A writ of habeas corpus or writ of amparo or writ of habeas data proceeding, if any, filed on behalf of the victim of torture or other cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment or punishment shall be disposed of expeditiously and any order of release by virtue thereof, or other appropriate order of a court relative thereto, shall be executed or complied with immediately. Section 11. Assistance in Filing a Complaint. - The CHR and the PAO shall render legal assistance in the investigation and monitoring and/or filing of the complaint for a person who suffers torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, or for any interested party thereto. The victim or interested party may also seek legal assistance from the Barangay Human Rights Action Center (BRRAC) nearest him/her as well as from human rights nongovernment organizations (NGOs). Section 12. Right to' Physical, Medical and Psychological Examination. - Before and after interrogation, every person arrested, detained or under custodial investigation shall have the right to he informed of his/her right to demand physical examination by an independent and competent doctor of his/her own choice. If such person cannot afford the services of his/her own doctor, he/she shall he provided by the State with a competent and independent doctor to conduct physical examination. The State shall endeavor to provide the victim with psychological evaluation if available under the circumstances. If the person arrested is a female, she shall be attended to preferably by a female doctor. Furthermore, any person arrested, detained or under custodial investigation, including his/her immediate family, shall have the right to immediate access to proper and adequate medical treatment. The physical examination and/or psychological evaluation of the victim shall be contained in a medical report, duly signed by the attending physician, which shall include in detail his/her medical history and findings, and which shall he attached to the custodial investigation report. Such report shall be considered a public document.

Following applicable protocol agreed upon by agencies tasked to conduct physical, psychological and mental examinations, the medical reports shall, among others, include: (a) The name, age and address of the patient or victim; (b) The name and address of the nearest kin of the patient or victim; (c) The name and address of the person who brought the patient or victim for physical, psychological and mental examination, and/or medical treatment; (d) The nature and probable cause of the patient or victim's injury, pain and disease and/or trauma; (e) The approximate time and date when the injury, pain, disease and/or trauma was/were sustained; (f) The place where the injury, pain, disease and/or trauma was/were sustained; (g) The time, date and nature of treatment necessary; and (h) The diagnosis, the prognosis and/or disposition of the patient. Any person who does not wish to avail of the rights under this pr<;lvision may knowingly and voluntarily waive such rights in writing, executed in the presence and assistance of his/her counsel. Section 13. Who are Criminally Liable. - Any person who actually participated Or induced another in the commission of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment or who cooperated in the execution of the act of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment by previous or simultaneous acts shall be liable as principal Any superior military, police or law enforcement officer or senior government official who issued an order to any lower ranking personnel to commit torture for whatever purpose shall be held equally liable as principals. The immediate commanding officer of the unit concerned of the AFP or the immediate senior public official of the PNP and other law enforcement agencies shall be held liable as a principal to the crime of torture or other cruel or inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment for any act or omission, or negligence committed by him/her that shall have led, assisted, abetted or allowed, whether directly or indirectly, the commission thereof by his/her subordinates. If he/she has knowledge of or, owing to the circumstances at the time, should have known that acts of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment shall be committed, is being committed, or has been committed by his/her subordinates or by others within his/her area of responsibility and, despite such knowledge, did not take preventive or corrective action either before, during or immediately after its commission, when he/she has the authority to prevent or investigate allegations of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment

but failed to prevent or investigate allegations of such act, whether deliberately or due to negligence shall also be liable as principals. Any public officer or employee shall be liable as an accessory if he/she has knowledge that torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment is being committed and without having participated therein, either as principal or accomplice, takes part subsequent to its commission in any of the following manner: (a) By themselves profiting from or assisting the offender to profit from the effects of the act of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment; (b) By concealing the act of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment and/or destroying the effects or instruments thereof in order to prevent its discovery; or(c) By harboring, concealing or assisting m the escape of the principal/s in the act of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment: Provided, That the accessory acts are done with the abuse of the official's public functions. Section 14. Penalties. - (a) The penalty of reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon the perpetrators of the following acts: (1) Torture resulting in the death of any person; (2) Torture resulting in mutilation; (3) Torture with rape; (4) Torture with other forms of sexual abuse and, in consequence of torture, the victim shall have become insane, imbecile, impotent, blind or maimed for life; and (5) Torture committed against children. (b) The penalty of reclusion temporal shall be imposed on those who commit any act of mental/psychological torture resulting in insanity, complete or partial amnesia, fear of becoming insane or suicidal tendencies of the victim due to guilt, worthlessness or shame. (c) The penalty of prision correccional shall be imposed on those who commit any act of torture resulting in psychological, mental and emotional harm other than those described 1n paragraph (b) of this section. ' (d) The penalty of prision mayor in its medium and maximum periods shall be imposed if, in consequence of torture, the victim shall have lost the power of speech or the power to hear or to smell; or shall have lost an eye, a hand, a foot, an arm or a leg; or shall have lost the use of any such member; Or shall have become permanently incapacitated for labor. (e) The penalty of prision mayor in its minimum and medium periods shall be imposed if, in consequence of torture, the victim shall have become deformed or shall have lost any

part of his/her body other than those aforecited, or shall have lost the use thereof, or shall have been ill or incapacitated for labor for a period of more than ninety (90) days. (f) The penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period to prision mayor in its minimum period shall be imposed if, in consequence of torture, the victim shall have been ill or incapacitated for labor for mare than thirty (30) days but not more than ninety (90) days. (g) The penalty of prision correccional in its minimum and medium period shall be imposed if, in consequence of torture, the victim shall have been ill or incapacitated for labor for thirty (30) days or less. (h) The penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed for acts constituting cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment as defined in Section 5 of this Act. (i) The penalty of prision correccional shall be imposed upon those who establish, operate and maintain secret detention places and/or effect or cause to effect solitary confinement, incommunicado or other similar forms of prohibited detention as provided in Section 7 of this Act where torture may be carried out with impunity. (j) The penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed upon the responsible officers or personnel of the AFP, the PNP and other law enforcement agencies for failure to perform his/her duty to maintain, submit or make available to the public an updated list of detention centers and facilities with the corresponding data on the prisoners or detainees incarcerated or detained therein, pursuant to Section 7 of this Act. Section 15. Torture as a Separate and Independent Crime. - Torture as a crime shall not absorb or shall not be absorbed by any other crime or felony committed as a consequence, or as a means in the conduct or commission thereof. In which case, torture shall be treated as a separate and independent criminal act whose penalties shall be imposable without prejudice to any other criminal liability provided for by domestic and international laws. Section 16. Exclusion from the Coverage of Special Amnesty Law. - In order not to depreciate the crime of torture, persons who have committed any act of torture shall not benefit from any special amnesty law or similar measures that will have the effect of exempting them from any criminal proceedings and sanctions. Section 17. Applicability of Refouler. - No person shall be expelled, returned or extradited to another State where there are substantial grounds to believe that such person shall be in danger of being subjected to torture. For the purposes of determining whether such grounds exist, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Secretary of the DOJ, in coordination with the Chairperson of the CHR, shall take into account all relevant considerations including, where applicable and not limited to, the existence in the requesting State of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights.

Section 18. Compensation to Victims of Torture. - Any person who has suffered torture shall have the right to claim for compensation as provided for under Republic Act No. 7309: Provided, That in no case shall compensation be any lower than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00). Victims of torture shall also have the right to claim for compensation from such other financial relief programs that may be made available to him/her under existing law and rules and regulations. Section 19. Formulation of a Rehabilitation Program. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the DOJ and the Department of Health (DOH) and such other concerned government agencies, and human rights organizations shall formulate a comprehensive rehabilitation program for victims of torture and their families. The DSWD, the DOJ and thc DOH shall also call on human rights nongovernment organizations duly recognized by the government to actively participate in the formulation of such program that shall provide for the physical, mental, social, psychological healing and development of victims of torture and their families. Toward the attainment of restorative justice, a parallel rehabilitation program for persons who have committed torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment shall likewise be formulated by the same agencies. Section 20. Monitoring of Compliance with this Act. - An Oversight Committee is hereby created to periodically oversee the implementation of this Act. The Committee shall be headed by a Commissioner of the CRR, with the following as members: the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, the respective Chairpersons of the House of Representatives' Committees on Justice and Human Rights, and the Minority Leaders of both houses or their respective representatives in the minority. Section 21. Education and Information Campaign. - The CHR, the DOJ, the Department of National Defense (DND), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and such other concerned parties in both the public and private sectors shall ensure that education and information regarding prohibition against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment shall be fully included in the training of law enforcement personnel, civil or military, medical personnel, public officials and other persons who may be involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment. The Department of Education (DepED) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall also ensure the integration of human rights education courses in all primary, secondary and tertiary level academic institutions nationwide. Section 22. Applicability of the Revised Penal Code. - The provisions of the Revised Penal Code insofar as they are applicable shall be suppletory to this Act. Moreover, if the commission of any crime punishable under Title Eight (Crimes Against Persons) and Title Nine (Crimes Against Personal Liberty and Security) of the Revised Penal Code is attended by any of the acts constituting torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment as defined herein, the penalty to be imposed shall be in its maximum period. Section 23. Appropriations. - The amount of Five million pesos (Php5,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to the CHR for the initial implementation of tills Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOJ and the CHR, with the active participation of human rights nongovernmental organizations, shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of tills Act. They shall also ensure the full dissemination of such rules and regulations to all officers and members of various law enforcement agencies. Section 25. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. Section 26. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Section 27. Effectivity. - 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, (Sgd.) PROSPERO C. NOGRALES Speaker of the House of Representatives (Sgd.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 5709 and Senate Bill No. 1978 was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on September 2,2009. (Sgd.) MARILYN B. BARUAYAP Secretary General House of Representives Approved: November 10, 2009 Republic Act No. 9775 AN ACT DEFINING THE CRIME OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES 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 "Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009." (Sgd.) EMMA LIRIO-REYES Secretary of Senate

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, emotional, psychological and social well-being. Towards this end, the State shall: (a) Guarantee the fundamental rights of every child from all forms of neglect, cruelty and other conditions prejudicial to his/her development; (b) Protect every child from all forms of exploitation and abuse including, but not limited to: (1) the use of a child in pornographic performances and materials; and (2) the inducement or coercion of a child to engage or be involved in pornography through whatever means; and (c) Comply with international treaties to which the Philippines is a signatory or a State party concerning the rights of children which include, but not limited to, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No.182 on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor and the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. Section 3. Definition of Terms. (a) "Child" refers to a person below eighteen (18) years of age or over, but is unable to fully take care of himself/herself from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition. For the purpose of this Act, a child shall also refer to: (1) a person regardless of age who is presented, depicted or portrayed as a child as defined herein; and (2) computer-generated, digitally or manually crafted images or graphics of a person who is represented or who is made to appear to be a child as defined herein. (b) "Child pornography" refers to any representation, whether visual, audio, or written combination thereof, by electronic, mechanical, digital, optical, magnetic or any other means, of child engaged or involved in real or simulated explicit sexual activities. (c) "Explicit Sexual Activity" includes actual or simulated (1) As to form:

(i) sexual intercourse or lascivious act including, but not limited to, contact involving genital to genital, oral to genital, anal to genital, or oral to anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex; (2) bestiality; (3) masturbation; (4) sadistic or masochistic abuse; (5) lascivious exhibition of the genitals, buttocks, breasts, pubic area and/or anus; or (6) use of any object or instrument for lascivious acts (d) "Internet address" refers to a website, bulletin board service, internet chat room or news group, or any other internet or shared network protocol address. (e) "Internet cafe or kiosk" refers to an establishment that offers or proposes to offer services to the public for the use of its computer/s or computer system for the purpose of accessing the internet, computer games or related services. (f) "Internet content host" refers to a person who hosts or who proposes to host internet content in the Philippines. (g) "Internet service provider (ISP)" refers to a person or entity that supplies or proposes to supply, an internet carriage service to the public. (h) "Grooming" refers to the act of preparing a child or someone who the offender believes to be a child for sexual activity or sexual relationship by communicating any form of child pornography. It includes online enticement or enticement through any other means. (i) "Luring" refers to the act of communicating, by means of a computer system, with a child or someone who the offender believes to be a child for the purpose of facilitating the commission of sexual activity or production of any form of child pornography.(2) Bestiality; (j) "Pandering" refers to the act of offering, advertising, promoting, representing or distributing through any means any material or purported material that is intended to cause another to believe that the material or purported material contains any form of child pornography, regardless of the actual content of the material or purported material. (k) "Person" refers to any natural or juridical entity. Section 4. Unlawful or Prohibited Acts. - It shall be unlawful for any person:

(a) To hire, employ, use, persuade, induce or coerce a child to perform in the creation or production of any form of child pornography; (b) To produce, direct, manufacture or create any form of child pornography; (c) To publish offer, transmit, sell, distribute, broadcast, advertise, promote, export or import any form of child pornography; (d) To possess any form of child pornography with the intent to sell, distribute, publish, or broadcast: Provided. That possession of three (3) or more articles of child pornography of the same form shall be prima facie evidence of the intent to sell, distribute, publish or broadcast; (e) To knowingly, willfully and intentionally provide a venue for the commission of prohibited acts as, but not limited to, dens, private rooms, cubicles, cinemas, houses or in establishments purporting to be a legitimate business; (f) For film distributors, theaters and telecommunication companies, by themselves or in cooperation with other entities, to distribute any form of child pornography; (g) For a parent, legal guardian or person having custody or control of a child to knowingly permit the child to engage, participate or assist in any form of child pornography; (h) To engage in the luring or grooming of a child; (i) To engage in pandering of any form of child pornography; (j) To willfully access any form of child pornography; (k) To conspire to commit any of the prohibited acts stated in this section. Conspiracy to commit any form of child pornography shall be committed when two (2) or more persons come to an agreement concerning the commission of any of the said prohibited acts and decide to commit it; and (l) To possess any form of child pornography. Section 5. Syndicated Child Pornography - The crime of child pornography is deemed committed by a syndicate if carried out by a group of three (3) or more persons conspiring or confederating with one another and shall be punished under Section 15(a) of this Act. Section 6. Who May File a Complaint. - Complaints on cases of any form of child pornography and other offenses punishable under this Act may be filed by the following: (a) Offended party; (b) Parents or guardians;

(c) Ascendant or collateral relative within the third degree of consanguinity; (d) Officer, social worker or representative of a licensed child-caring institution; (e) Officer or social worker of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); (f) Local social welfare development officer; (g) Barangay chairman; (h) Any law enforcement officer; (i) At least three (3) concerned responsible citizens residing in the place where the violation occurred; or (j) Any person who has personal knowledge of the circumstances of the commission of any offense under this Act. Section 7. Appointment of Special Prosecutors. - The Department of Justice (DOJ) shall appoint or designate special prosecutors to prosecute cases for the violation of this Act. Section 8. Jurisdiction. - Jurisdiction over cases for the violation of this Act shall be vested in the Family Court which has territorial jurisdiction over the place where the offense or any of its essential elements was committed pursuant to Republic Act No. 8369, otherwise known as "Family Courts Act of 1997". Section 9. Duties of an Internet Service Provider (ISP). - All internet service providers (ISPs) shall notify the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) within seven (7) days from obtaining facts and circumstances that any form of child pornography is being committed using its server or facility. Nothing in this section may be construed to require an ISP to engage in the monitoring of any user, subscriber or customer, or the content of any communication of any such person: Provided, That no ISP shall be held civilly liable for damages on account of any notice given in good faith in compliance with this section. Furthermore, an ISP shall preserve such evidence for purpose of investigation and prosecution by relevant authorities. An ISP shall, upon the request of proper authorities, furnish the particulars of users who gained or attempted to gain access to an internet address which contains any form of child pornography. All ISPs shall install available technology, program or software to ensure that access to or transmittal of any form of child pornography will be blocked or filtered. An ISP who shall knowingly, willfully and intentionally violate this provision shall be subject to the penalty provided under Section 15(k) of this Act.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) shall promulgate within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this provision which shall include, among others, the installation of filtering software that will block access to or transmission of any form of the child pornography. Section 10. Responsibility of Mall Owners/Operators and Owners or Lessors of Other Business Establishments. - All mall owners/operators and owners or lessors of other business establishments shall notify the PNP or the NBI within seven (7) days from obtaining facts and circumstances that child pornography is being committed in their premises. Provided, That public display of any form of child pornography within their premises is a conclusive presumption of the knowledge of the mall owners/operators and owners or lessors of other business establishments of the violation of this Act: Provided, further, That a disputable presumption of knowledge by mall owners/operators and owners or lessors of other business establishments should know or reasonably know that a violation of this Act is being committed in their premises. Photo developers, information technology professionals, credit card companies and banks and any person who has direct knowledge of any form of child pornography activities shall have the duty to report any suspected child pornography materials or transactions to the proper authorities within seven (7) days from discovery thereof. Any willful and intentional violation of this provision shall be subject to the penalty provided under Section 15(l) of this Act. Section 11. Duties of an Internet Content Host. - An internet content host shall: (a) Not host any form of child pornography on its internet address; (b) Within seven (7) days, report the presence of any form of child pornography, as well as the particulars of the person maintaining, hosting, distributing or in any manner contributing to such internet address, to the proper authorities; and (c) Preserve such evidence for purposes of investigation and prosecution by relevant authorities. An internet content host shall, upon the request of proper authorities, furnish the particulars of users who gained or attempted to gain access to an internet address that contains any form of child pornography. An internet content host who shall knowingly, willfully and intentionally violate this provision shall be subject to the penalty provided under Section 15(j) of this Act: Provided, That the failure of the internet content host to remove any form of child pornography within forty-eight (48) hours from receiving the notice that any form of child pornography is hitting its server shall be conclusive evidence of willful and intentional violation thereof. Section 12. Authority to Regulate Internet Caf or Kiosk. - The local government unit (LGU) of the city or municipality where an internet caf or kiosk is located shall have the authority to

monitor and regulate the establishment and operation of the same or similar establishments in order to prevent violation of the provisions of this Act. Section 13. Confidentiality. - The right to privacy of the child shall be ensured at any stage of the investigation, prosecution and trial of an offense under this Act. Towards this end, the following rules shall be observed: (a) The judge, prosecutor or any officer of the law to whom the complaint has been referred to may, whenever necessary to ensure a fair and impartial proceeding and after considering all circumstances for the best interest of the child conduct a closed-door investigation, prosecution or trial; (b) The name and personal circumstances of the child, including the child's immediate family, or any other information tending to establish his/her identity shall not be disclosed to the public; (c) Any record regarding a child shall be confidential and kept under seal. Except upon written request and order of the court, a record shall be released only to the following: (1) Members of the court staff for administrative use; (2) The prosecuting attorney; (3) Defense counsel; (4) The guardian ad litem; (5) Agents of investigating law enforcement agencies and (6) Other persons as determined by the court. (d) Any form of child pornography that is part of the court records shall be subject to a protective order that provides as follows: (1) Any form of child pornography may be viewed only by the parties, their counsel, their expert witness and guardian ad litem; (2) Neither form of child pornography nor any portion thereof shall be divulged to any other person, except as necessary for investigation, prosecution or trial; and (3) No person shall be granted access to any form of child pornography or any part thereof unless he/she signs a written affirmation that he/she has received and read a copy of the protection order; that he/she submits to the jurisdiction of the court with respect to the protective order; and that, in case of violation thereof, he/she will be subject to the contempt power of the court; and

(e) In cases when prosecution or trial is conducted behind closed doors, it shall be unlawful for any editor, publisher and reporter or columnist in case of printed materials, announcer or producer in case of television and radio, producer and director of a film in case of the movie industry, or any person utilizing the tri-media facilities or information technology to publish or broadcast the names of the victims of any case of child pornography. Any violation of this provision shall be subject to the penalty provided for under Section 15(m) of this Act. Section 14. Care, Custody and Treatment of a Child Victim. - The DSWD shall ensure that the child who is a victim of any form of child pornography is provided appropriate care, custody and support for their recovery and reintegration in accordance with existing laws. The child and his family shall be entitled to protection as well as to the rights and benefits of witnesses under Republic Act No. 6981, otherwise known as "The Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act". The child shall also be considered as a victim of a violent crime defined under Section 3(d) of Republic Act No. 7309, otherwise known as "An Act Creating a Board of Claims under the Department of Justice for Victims of Unjust Imprisonment or Detention and Victims of Violent Crimes and for Other Purposes", so that the child may claim compensation therein. Section 15. Penalties and Sanctions. - The following penalties and sanctions are hereby established for offenses enumerated in this Act: (a) Any person found guilty of syndicated child pornography as defined in Section 5 of this Act shall suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua and a fine of not less than Two million pesos (Php2,000,000.00) but not more than Five million pesos (Php5,000,000.00); (b) Any person found guilty of violating Section 4(a), (b) and (c) of this Act shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period and a fine of not less than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) but not more than Two million (Php2,000,000.00); (c) Any person found guilty of violating Section 4(d), (e) and (f) of this Act shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period and a fine of not less than Seven hundred fifty thousand pesos (Php750,000.00) but not more than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00); (d) Any person found guilty of violating Section 4(g) of this Act shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal in its minimum period and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) but not more than Seven hundred thousand pesos (Php700,000.00); (e) Any person found guilty of violating Section 4(h) of this Act shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its maximum period and a fine of not less than Three hundred thousand pesos (Php300,000.00) but not more than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00);

(f) Any person found guilty of violating Section 4(I) of this Act shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period and a fine of not less than Three hundred thousand pesos (php300,000.00) but not more than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00); (g) Any person found guilty of violating Section 4(j) of this Act shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period and a fine of not less than Two hundred thousand pesos (Php200,000.00) but not more than Three hundred thousand pesos (Php300,000.00); (h) Any person found guilty of violating Section 4(k) of this Act shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional in its medium period and a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (php100,000.00) but not more than Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (php250,000.00); (i) Any person found guilty of violating Section 4(l) of this Act shall suffer the penalty of arresto mayor in its minimum period and a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (Php50,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (Php100,000.00); (j) Any person found guilty of violating Section 11 of this Act shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional in its medium period and a fine of not less than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) but not more than Two million pesos (Php2,000,000.00) for the first offense. In the case of a subsequent offense, the penalty shall be a fine not less than Two million pesos (Php2,000,000.00) but not more than Three million pesos (Php3,000,000.00) and revocation of its license to operate and immediate closure of the establishment; (k) Any ISP found guilty of willfully and knowingly failing to comply with the notice and installation requirements under Section 9 of this Act shall suffer the penalty of a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00) but not more than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) for the first offense. In case of subsequent offense, the penalty shall be a fine of not less than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) but not more than Two million pesos (Php2,000,000.00) and revocation of its license to operate; (l) Any mall owner-operator and owner or lessor of other business establishments including photo developers, information technology professionals, credit card companies and banks, found guilty of willfully and knowingly failing to comply with the notice requirements under Section 10 of this Act shall suffer the penalty of a fine of not less than One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) but not more than Two million pesos (Php2,000,000.00) for the first offense. In the case of a subsequent offense, the penalty shall be a fine of not less than Two million pesos (Php2,000,000.00) but not more than Three million pesos (Php3,000,000.00) and revocation of its license to operate and immediate closure of the establishment; and (m) Any person found guilty of violating Section 13 of this Act shall suffer the penalty of arresto mayor in its minimum period and a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (Php100,000.00) but not more than Three hundred thousand pesos (Php300,000.00).

Section 16. Common Penal Provisions. (a) If the offender is a parent, ascendant, guardian, step-parent or collateral relative within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity or any person having control or moral ascendancy over the child, the penalty provided herein shall be in its maximum duration; Provided, That this provision shall not apply to Section 4(g) of this Act; (b) If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the owner, manager, partner, member of the board of directors and/or any responsible officer who participated in the commission of the crime or shall have knowingly permitted or failed to prevent its commissions; (c) If the offender is a foreigner, he/she shall be immediately deported after the complete service of his/her sentence and shall forever be barred from entering the country; and (d) The penalty provided for in this Act shall be imposed in its maximum duration if the offender is a public officer or employee. Section 17. Confiscation and Forfeiture of the Proceeds, Tools and Instruments Used in Child Pornography. - In addition to the penalty imposed for the violation of this Act, the court shall order the confiscation and forfeiture in favor of the government of all the proceeds, tools and instruments used in the commission of the crime, unless they are the property of a third person not liable for the unlawful act; Provided, however, That all awards for damages shall be taken from the personal and separate properties of the offender; Provided, further, That if such properties are insufficient, the deficiency shall be taken from the confiscated and forfeited proceeds, tools and instruments. All proceeds derived from the sale of properties used for the commission of any form of child pornography shall accrue to the special account of the DSWD which shall be used exclusively for the implementation of this Act. When the proceeds, tools and instruments used in the commission of the offense have been destroyed diminished in value or otherwise rendered worthless by any act or omission, directly or indirectly, of the offender, or it has been concealed, removed, converted or transferred to prevent the same from being found or to avoid forfeiture or confiscation, the offender shall be ordered to pay the amount equal to the value of the proceeds, tools and instruments used in the commission of the offense.1avvphi1 Section 18. Mandatory Services to Victims of Child Pornography. - To ensure recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration into the mainstream of society concerned government agencies and the LGUs shall make available the following services to victims of any form of child pornography: (a) Emergency shelter or appropriate housing; (b) Counseling;

(c) Free legal services, which shall include information about the victim's rights and the procedure for filing of complaints, claims for compensation and such other legal remedies available to them in a language understood by the child; (d) Medical or psychological services; (e) Livelihood and skills training; and (f) Educational assistance. Sustained supervision and follow through mechanism that will track the progress of recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration of the child victims shall adopted and carried out. Section 19. Programs for Victims of Child Pornography. The Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography created under Section 20 of this Act shall develop and implement the necessary programs that will prevent any form of child pornography, as well as protect, heal and reintegrate the child into the mainstream of society. Such programs shall include beat but not limited to the following: (a) Provision of mandatory services including counseling free legal services, medical or psychological services, livelihood and skills training and educational assistance to the child pursuant to Section 18 of this Act; (b) Sponsorship of a national research program on any form of child pornography and other acts covered by the law and the establishment of a data collection system for monitoring and evaluation purposes; (c) Provision of necessary technical and material support services to appropriate government agencies and nongovernmental organizations: (d) Sponsorship of conferences and seminars to provide venue for consensus building amongst the public, the academe , government, nongovernmental and international organizations and (e) Promotion of information and education campaign. Section 20. Inter - Agency Council against Child Pornography. - There is hereby established an Inter-Agency Council against Child Pornography to be composed of the Secretary of the DSWD as chairperson and the following as members: (a) Secretary of the Department of Justice: (b) Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (c) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology

(d) Chief of the Philippine National Police; (e) Chairperson of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology; (g) Commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission; (h) Executive Director of the Council for the Welfare of Children; (i) Executive Director of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes; (j) Executive Director of the Optical Media Board; (k) Director of the National Bureau of Investigation; and (l) Three (3) representatives from children's nongovernmental organizations. These representatives shall be nominated by the government agency representatives of the Council for appointment by the President for a term of three (3) years and may be renewed upon renomination and reappointment by the Council and the President respectively. The members of the Council mat designate their permanent representatives, who shall have a rank not lower than assistant secretary or its equivalent, to meetings and shall receive emoluments as may be determined by the Council in accordance with existing budget and accounting rules and regulations. The DSWD shall establish the necessary Secretariat for the Council. Section 21. Functions of the Council. - The Council shall have the following powers and functions: (a) Formulate comprehensive and integrated plans and programs to prevent and suppress any form of child pornography; (b) Promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this Act; (c) Monitor and oversee the strict implementation of this Act; (d) Coordinate the programs and projects of the various members agencies effectively address the issues and problems attendant to child pornography; (e) Conduct and coordinate massive information disseminations and campaign on the existence of the law and the various issues and problems attendant to child pornography; (f) Direct other agencies to immediately respond to the problems brought to their attention and report to the Council on the action taken;

(g) Assist in the filling of cases against individuals, agencies, institutions or establishments that violate the provisions of this Act; (h) Formulate a program for the reintegration of victims of child pornography; (i) Secure from any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the government or from NGOs and other civic organizations such assistance as may be needed to effectively implement this Act; (j) Complement the shared government information system relative to child abuse and exploitation and ensure that the proper agencies conduct a continuing research and study on the patterns and schemes of any form of child pornography which form basis for policy formulation and program direction; (k) develop the mechanism to ensure the timely, coordinated and effective response to cases of child pornography; (l) Recommend measures to enhance cooperative efforts and mutual assistance among foreign countries through bilateral and/or multilateral arrangements to prevent and suppress any form of child pornography; (m) Adopt measures and policies to protect the rights and needs of the victims of child pornography who are foreign nationals in the Philippines; (n) maintain a database of cases of child pornography; (o) Initiate training programs in identifying and providing the necessary intervention or assistance to victims of child pornography. (p) Submit to the President and the Congressional Oversight committee credited herein the annual report on the policies, plans, programs and activities of the Council relative to the implementation of this Act; and (q) Exercise all the powers and perform such other functions necessary to attain the purposes and objectives of this Act. Section 22. Child Pornography as a Transnational Crime. - Pursuant to the Convention on transnational Organized Crime, the DOJ may execute the request of a foreign state for assistance in the investigation or prosecution of any form of child pornography by: (1) conducting a preliminary investigation against the offender and, if appropriate, to file the necessary charges in court; (2) giving information needed by the foreign state; and (3) to apply for an order of forfeiture of any proceeds or monetary instrument or properly located in the Philippines used in connection with child pornography in the court; Provided, That if the DOJ refuses to act on the request of for delaying the execution thereof: Provided, further, That the principles of mutuality and reciprocity shall, for this purpose, be at all times recognized.

Section 23. Extradition. - The DOJ, in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), shall endeavor to include child pornography among extraditable offenses in future treaties. Section 24. Congressional Oversight Committee. -There is hereby created a Congressional Oversight Committee composed of five (5) members from the Senate and five (5) members from the House of Representatives. The members from the Senate shall be appointed by the Senate President based on proportional representation of the parties or coalition therein with at least one (1) member representing the Minority. The members from the House of Representative shall be appointed by the Speaker, also based on proportional representation of the parties or coalitions therein with the Chair of the House of Committee on Welfare of Children and at least one (1) member representing the Minority The Committee shall be headed by the respective Chairs of the Senate Committee on Youth, Women and Family relations and the House of Representatives Committee on Justice. The Secretariat of the Congressional Oversight Committee shall come from the existing Secretariat personnel of the Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives concerned. The Committee shall monitor and ensure the effective implementation of this Act, determine inherent weakness and loopholes in the law. Recommend the necessary remedial legislator or administrative measures and perform such other duties and functions as may be necessary to attain the objectives of this Act. Section 25. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions of the Anti-Child Pornography Act and the operationalization of the Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. Section 26. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Inter- Agency Council Against Child pornography shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act. Section 27. Suppletory Application of the Revised Penal Code. - The Revised penal Code shall be suppletorily applicable to this Act. Section 28. Separability Clause. - If any part of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. Section 29. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly. Section 30. Effectivity. - This Act shall effect after fifteen (15) days following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,

November 17, 2009

Republic Act No. 9184

January 10, 2003

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION, STANDARIZATION AND REGULATION OF THE PROCUREMENT ACTIVITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and Hose of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: ARTICLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS Section 1. Short Title.- This act shall be known as the " Government Procurement reform Act." Section 2. Declaration of Policy.- It is the declared policy of the State to promote the ideals of good governance in all its branches, departments, agencies, subdivisions, and instrumentalities, including government-owned and/or -controlled corporations and local government units. Section 3. Governing Principles on Government Procurement. All procurement of the national government, its departments, bureaus, offices and agencies, including state universities and colleges, government -owned and/or-controlled corporations, government financial institutions and local government units, shall, in all cases, be governed by these principles: (a) Transparency in the procurement process and in the implementation of procurement contracts. (b) Competitiveness by extending equal opportunity to enable private contracting parties who are eligible and qualified to participate in public bidding. (c) Streamlined procurement process that will uniformly apply to all government procurement. The procurement process shall simple and made adaptable to advances in modern technology in order to ensure an effective and efficient method. (d) System of accountability where both the public officials directly or indirectly involved in the procurement process as well as in the implementation of procurement contracts and the private parties that deal with government are, when warranted by circumstances, investigated and held liable for their actions relative thereto. (e) Public monitoring of the procurement process and the implementation of awarded contracts with the end in view of guaranteeing that these contracts are awarded pursuant to the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations, and that all these contracts are performed strictly according to specifications.

Section 4. Scope and Application.- This act shall apply to the Procurement of Infrastructure Projects, Goods and Consulting Services, regardless of source of funds, whether local of foreign, by all branches and instrumentalities of government, its departments, offices and agencies, including government-owned and/or-controlled corporations and local government units, subject to the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 138. Any treaty or international or executive agreement affecting the subject matter of this Act to which the Philippine government is signatory shall be observed. Section 5. Definition of Terms.- For purposes of this Act, the following terms or words and phrases shall mean or be understood as follows: (a) Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) - refers to the budget for the contract duly approved by the Head of the Procuring Entity, as provided for in the General Appropriations Act and/or continuing appropriations, in the National Government Agencies; the Corporate Budget for the contract approved by the governing Boards, pursuant to E.O.No.518, series of 1979, in the case of Government Financial Institutions and State Universities and Colleges; and the Budget for the contract approved by the respective Sanggunian, in the case of Local Government Units. (b) BAC - refers to the Bids and Awards Committee established in accordance with Article V of this Act. (c) Bidding Documents - refer to documents issued by the Procuring Entity as the basis for Bids, furnishing all information necessary for a prospective bidder to prepare a bid for the Goods, Infrastructure Projects, and Consulting Services to be provided. (d) Bid - refers to signed offer or proposal submitted by a supplier, manufacturer, distributor, contractor or consultant in response to the Bidding Documents. (e) Competitive Bidding - refers to a method of procurement which is open to participation by any interested party and which consist of the following processes: advertisement, prebid conference, eligibility screening of bids, evaluations of bids, post - qualification, and award of contract, the specific requirements and mechanics of which shall be defined in the IRR to be promulgated under this Act. (f) Consulting Services - refer to services for Infrastructure Projects and other types of projects or activities of the Government requiring adequate external technical and professional experts that are beyond the capability and/or capacity of the government to undertake such as, but not limited to: (I) advisory and review services; (ii) pre investment or feasibility studies; (iii) design; (iv) construction supervision; (v) management and related services; and (vi) other technical services or special studies. (g) G - EPS - refers to the Government Electronic Procurement System as provided in Section 8 of this Act.

(h) Goods - refer to all items, supplies, materials and general support services, except consulting services and infrastructure projects, which may be needed in the transaction of the public businesses or in the pursuit of any government undertaking, project or activity, whether in the nature of equipment, furniture, stationery, materials for construction, or personal property of any kind, including non - personal or contractual services such as the repair and maintenance of equipment and furniture, as well as trucking, hauling, janitorial, security, and related or analogous services, as well as procurement of materials and supplies provided by the procuring entity or such services. (i) GPPB - refers to the Government Procurement Policy Board established in accordance with Article X of this Act. (j) Head of the Procuring Entity- refers to: (I) the head of the agency or his duly authorized official, for national government agencies; (ii) the governing board or its duly authorized official, for government-owned and/or-controlled corporations; or (iii) the local chief executive, for local government units. Provided, That in a department, office or agency where the procurement is decentralized, the Head of each decentralized unit shall be considered as the Head of the Procuring Entity subject to the limitations and authority delegated by the head of the department, office or agency. (k) Infrastructure Projects - include the construction, improvement, rehabilitation, demolition, repair, restoration or maintenance of roads and bridges, railways, airports, seaports, communication faci9lities, civil works components of information technology projects, irrigation, flood control and drainage, water supply, sanitation, sewerage and solid waste management systems, shore protection, energy/power and electrification facilities, national buildings, school buildings and other related construction projects of the government. (l) IRR - refer to the implementing rules and regulations to be promulgated in accordance with Section 75 of this Act. (m) Portal - refers to a website that aggregates a wide variety of content for the purpose of attracting a large number of users. (n) Procurement - refers to the acquisition of Goods, Consulting Services, and the contracting for Infrastructure Projects by the Procuring Entity. Procurement shall also include the lease of goods and real estate. With respect to real property, its procurement shall be governed by the provisions of Republic Act No.8974, entitled "An Act to Facilitate the Acquisition of Right-of -Way Site or Location of National Government Infrastructure Projects and for Other Purposes" and other applicable laws, rules and regulations. (o) Procuring Entity - refers to any branch, department, office, agency, or instrumentality of the government, including state universities and colleges, government-owned and/or controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and local government units procuring Goods, Consulting Services and Infrastructure Projects.

Section 6. Standardization of Procurement Process and Forms.- To systematize the procurement process, avoid confusion and ensure transparency, the procurement process, including the forms to be used, shall be standardized insofar as practicable. For this purpose, the GPPB shall pursue the development of generic procurement manuals and standard bidding forms, the use of which once issued shall be mandatory upon all Procuring Entities. ARTICLE II PROCUREMENT PLANNING Section 7. Procurement Planning and Budgeting Linkage- All procurement should be within the approved budget of the Procuring Entity and should be meticulously and judiciously planned by the Procuring Entity concerned. Consistent with government fiscal discipline measures, only those considered crucial to the efficient discharge of governmental functions shall be included in the Annual Procurement Plan t o be specified in the IRR. No government Procurement shall be undertaken unless it is in accordance with the approved Annual Procurement Plan of the Procuring Entity. The Annual Procurement Plan shall be approved by the Head of the Procuring Entity and must be consistent with its duly approved yearly budget. The Annual Procurement Plan shall be formulated and revised only in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the IRR. In the case of Infrastructure Projects, the Plan shall include engineering design and acquisition of right-of-way. ARTICLE III PROCUREMENT BY ELECTRONIC MEANS Section 8. Procurement By Electronic Means.- To promote transparency and efficiency, information and communications technology shall be utilized in the conduct of procurement procedures. Accordingly, there shall be single portal that shall serve as the primary source of information on all government procurement. The G-EPS shall serve as the primary and definitive source of information on government procurement. Further, the GPPB is authorized to approve changes in the procurement process to adapt to improvements in modern technology, provided that such modifications are consistent with provisions of Section 3 of this Act. To take advantage of the significant built-in-efficiencies of the G-EPS and the volume discounts inherent in bulk purchasing, all Procuring Entities shall utilize the G-EPS for the procurement of common supplies in accordance with the rules and procedures to be established by the GPPB. With regard to the procurement of non-common use items, infrastructure projects and consulting services, agencies may hire service providers to undertake their electronic procurement provided these service providers meet the minimum requirements set by the GPPB. Section 9. Security, Integrity and Confidentiality.- The G-EPS shall ensure the security, integrity and confidentiality of documents submitted through the system. It shall include feature that provides for an audit trail for on-line transactions and allow the Commission on Audit to verify the security and integrity of the systems at any time.

ARTICLE IV COMPETITIVE BIDDING Section 10. Competitive Bidding.- All Procurement shall be done through Competitive Bidding, except as provided for in Article XVI of this Act. ARTICLE V BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE Section 11. The BAC and its Composition.- Each procuring entity shall establish a single BAC for its procurement. The BAC shall have at least five (5) members, but not more than seven (7) members. It shall be chaired by at least a third ranking permanent official of the procuring entity other than its head, and its composition shall be specified in the IRR. Alternatively, as may be deemed fit by the head of the procuring entity, there may be separate BACs where the number and complexity of the items to be procured shall so warrant. Similar BACs for decentralized and lower level offices may be formed when deemed necessary by the head of the procuring entity. The numbers of the BAC shall be designated by the Head of Procuring Entity. However, in no case shall the approving authority be a member of the BAC. Unless sooner removed for cause, the members of the BAC shall have a fixed term of one (1) year reckoned from the date of appointment, renewable at the discretion of the Head of the Procuring Entity. In case of resignation, retirement, separation, transfer, re-assignment, removal, the replacement shall serve only for the unexpired term: Provided, That in case of leave or suspension, the replacement shall serve only for the duration of the leave or suspension. For justifiable causes, a member shall be suspended or removed by the Head of the Procuring Entity. Section 12. Functions of the BAC.- shall have the following functions: advertise and/or post the invitation to bid, conduct pre-procurement and pre-bid conferences, determine the eligibility of prospective bidders, receive bids, conduct the evaluation of bids, undertake post-qualification proceedings, recommend award of contracts to the Head of the Procuring Entity of his duly authorized representative: Provided, That in the event the Head of the Procuring shall disapprove such recommendation, such disapproval shall be based only on valid, reasonable and justifiable grounds to be expressed in writing, copy furnished the BAC; recommend the imposition of sanctions in accordance with Article XXIII, and perform such other related functions as may necessary, including the creation of a Technical Working Group from a pool of technical, financial and/or legal experts to assist in the procurement process. In proper cases, the BAC shall also recommend to the Head of the Procuring Entity the use of Alternative Methods of Procurement as provided for in Article XVI hereof. The BAC shall be responsible for ensuring that the Procuring Entity abides by the standards set forth by this Act and the IRR, and it shall prepare a procurement monitoring report that shall be approved and submitted by the Head of the Procuring Entity to the GPPB on a semestral basis. The contents and coverage of this report shall be provided in the IRR.

Section 13. Observers.- To enhance the transparency of the process, the BAC shall, in all stages of the procurement process, invite, in addition to the representative of the Commission on Audit, at least two(2) observers to sit in its proceedings, one(1) from a duly recognized private group in a sector or discipline relevant to the procurement at hand, and the other from a non-government organization: Provided, however, That they do not have any direct or indirect interest in the contract to be bid out. The observers should be duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and should meet the criteria for observers as set forth in the IRR. Section 14. BAC Secretariat.- To assist the BAC in the conduct of its functions, the Head of the Procuring Entity shall create a Secretariat that will serve as the main support unit of the BAC. The Head of the Procuring Entity may also designate an existing organic office within the agency to serve as the Secretariat. Section 15. Honoraria of BAC Members.- The Procuring Entity may grant payment of honoraria to the BAC members in an amount not to exceed twenty five percent (25%) of their respective basic monthly salary subject to availability of funds. For this purpose, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall promulgate the necessary guidelines. Section 16. Professionalization of BAC, BAC Secretariat and Technical Working Group Members.- The GPPB shall establish a sustained training program for developing the capacity of the BAC's, BAC Secretariats and technical Working Groups of Procuring Entities, and proffessionalize the same. ARTICLE VI PREPARATION OF BIDDING DOCUMENTS Section 17. Form and Contents of Bidding Documents.- The Bidding Documents shall be prepared by the Procuring Entity following the standard forms and manuals prescribed by the GPPB. The Bidding Documents shall include the following: (a) Approved Budget for the Contract; (b) Instructions to Bidders, including criteria for eligibility, bid evaluation and postqualification, as well as the date, time and place of the pre-bid Conference (where applicable), submission of bids and opening of bids; (c) Terms of Reference; (d) Eligibility Requirements; (e) Plans and Technical Specifications; (f) Form of Bid, Price Form, and List of Goods or Bill of Quantities; (g) Delivery Time or Completion Schedule;

(h) Form and Amount of Bid Security; (i) Form and Amount of Performance Security and Warranty; and, (j) Form of Contract, and General and special Conditions of Contract. The Procuring Entity may require additional document requirements or specifications necessary to complete the information required for the bidders to prepare and submit their respective bids. Section 18. Reference to Brand Names.- Specifications for the Procurement of Goods shall be based on relevant characteristics and/or performance requirements. Reference to brand names shall not be allowed. Section 19. Access to Information.- In all stages of the preparation of the Bidding Documents, the Procuring entity shall ensure equal access to information. Prior to their official release, no aspect of the Bidding Documents shall be divulged or released on any prospective bidder or having direct or indirect interest in the project to be procured. ARTICLE VII INVITATION TO BID Section 20. Pre-Procurement Conference. - Prior to the issuance of the Invitation to Bid, the BAC is mandated to hold a pre-procurement conference on each and every procurement, except those contracts below a certain level or amount specified in the IRR, in which case, the holding of the same is optional. The pre- procurement conference shall assess the readiness of the procurement in terms of confirming the certification of availability of funds, as well as reviewing all relevant documents and the draft Invitation to Bid, as well as consultants hired by the agency concerned and the representative of the end -user. Section 21. Advertising and Contents of the Invitation to Bid. - In line with the principle of transparency and competitiveness, all Invitations to Bid contracts under competitive bidding shall be advertised by the Procuring Entity in such manner and for such length of time as may be necessary under the circumstances, in order to ensure the widest possible dissemination thereof, such as, but not limited to, posting in the Procuring Entity's premises, in newspapers of general circulation, the G-EPS and the website of the Procuring Entity, if available. The details and mechanics of implementation shall be provided in the IRR to be promulgated under this Act. The Invitation to Bid shall contain, among others: (a) A brief description of the subject matter of the Procurement; (b) A general statement on the criteria to be used by the Procuring entity for the eligibility check, the short listing of prospective bidders, in the case of the Procurement of Consulting Services the examination and evaluation of Bids, and post-qualification;

(c) The date, time and place of the deadlines for the submission and receipt of the eligibility requirements, the pre-bid conference if any, the submission and receipt of bids, and the opening of bids; (d) The Approved Budget for the Contract to be bid; (e) The source of funds; (f) The period of availability of the Bidding Documents, and the place where these may be secured and; (g) The contract duration; and (h) Such other necessary information deemed relevant by the Procuring Entity. Section 22. Pre-bid Conference. - At least one pre-bid conference shall be conducted for each procurement, unless otherwise provided in the IRR. Subject to the approval of the BAC, a pre-bid conference may also be conducted upon the written request of any prospective bidder. The Pre-bid conference(s) shall be held within a reasonable period before the deadline for receipt of the bids to allow prospective bidders to adequately prepare their bids, which shall be specified in the IRR. ARTICLE VIII RECEIPT AND OPENING OF BIDS Section 23. Eligibility Requirements for the Procurement of Goods and Infrastructure Projects.The BAC or, under special circumstances specified in IRR, its duly designated organic office shall determine the eligibility of prospective bidders for the procurement of Goods and Infrastructure Projects, based on the bidders' compliance with the eligibility requirements within the period set forth in the Invitation to Bid. The eligibility requirements shall provide for fair and equal access to all prospective bidders. The documents submitted in satisfaction of the eligibility requirements shall be made under oath by the prospective bidder or by his duly authorized representative certifying to the correctness of the statements made and the completeness and authenticity of the documents submitted. A prospective bidder may be allowed to summit his eligibility requirement s electronically. However, said bidder shall later on certify under oath as to correctness of the statements made and the completeness and authenticity of the documents submitted. Section 24. Eligibility requirements and Short Listing for Consulting Services.- The Eligibility of prospective bidders for the Procurement of Consulting Services shall be determine by their compliance with the eligibility requirements prescribed for the competitive Bidding concerned, within the period stated in the Invitation to bid. The eligibility requirements shall provide for fair and equal access to all prospective bidders. The prospective bidder shall certify under oath as to the

correctness of the statements made, and the completeness and authenticity of the documents submitted. A prospective bidder may be allowed to submit his eligibility requirements electronically. However, said bidder shall later on certify under oath as to correctness of the statements made and the completeness and authenticity of the documents submitted. The eligible prospective bidders shall then be evaluated using numerical ratings on the basis of the short listing requirements prescribed for the Competitive Bidding concerned, within the period stated in the Invitation to Bid to determine the short list of bidders who shall be allowed to submit their respective bids. Section 25. Submission and Receipt of Bids.- A bid shall have two(2) components, namely the technical and financial components which should be in separate sealed envelopes, and which shall be submitted simultaneously. The bids shall be received by the BAC on such date, time and place specified in the invitation to bid. The deadline for the receipt of bids shall be fixed by the BAC, giving the prospective bidders sufficient time to study and prepare their bids. The deadline shall also consider the urgency of the procurement involved. Bids submitted after the deadline shall not be accepted. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section and Section 26 of this Act, the GPPB may prescribe innovative procedure for the submission, receipt and opening of bids through the G-EPS. Section 26. Modification and Withdrawal of Bids. - A bidder may modify his bid, provided that this is done before the deadline for the receipt of bids. The modification shall be submitted in a sealed envelope duly identified as a modification of the original bid and stamped received by the BAC. A bidder may, through a letter, withdraw his bid or express his intention not to participate in the bidding before the deadline for the receipt of bids. In such case, he shall no longer be allowed to submit another Bid or the same contract either directly or indirectly. Section 27. Bid Security. - All Bids shall be accompanied by a Bid security, which shall serve as guarantee that, after receipt of the Notice of Award, the winning bidders shall enter into contract with the Procuring Entity within the stipulated time and furnish the required performance security. The specific amounts and allowable forms of the Bid security shall be prescribed in the IRR. Section 28. Bid Validity. - Bids and Bid securities shall be valid for such reasonable period of time indicated in the Bidding Documents. The duration for each undertaking shall take into account the time involved in the process of Bid evaluation and award of contract. Section 29. Bid Opening. - the BAC shall publicly open all bids at the time, date, and place specified in the bidding documents. The minutes of the bid opening shall be made available to the public upon written request and payment of a specified fee.

ARTICLE IX BID EVALUATION Section 30. Preliminary Examination of Bids. - Prior to Bid evaluation, the BAC shall examine first the technical components of the bids using "pass/fail" criteria to determine whether all required documents are present. Only bids that are determined to contain all the bid requirements of the technical component shall be considered for opening and evaluation of their financial component. Section 31. Ceiling for Bid Prices. - The ABC shall be the upper limit or ceiling for the Bid prices. Bid prices that exceed this ceiling shall be disqualified outright from further participating in the bidding. There shall be no lower limit to the amount of the award. Section 32. Bid for the Procurement of Goods and Infrastructure Projects. - For the procurement of Goods and Infrastructure Projects, the BAC shall evaluate the financial component of the bids. The bids that passed the preliminary examination shall be ranked from lowest to highest in terms of their corresponding calculated price shall be referred to as the "Lowest Calculated Bid". Section 33. Bid Evaluation of Short Listed Bidders for Consulting Services. - For the Procurement of Consulting Services, the Bids of the short listed bidders shall be evaluated and ranked using numerical ratings in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the Bidding Documents, which shall include factors such as, but not limited to, experience, performance, quality or personnel, price and methodology. The Bids shall be ranked from highest to lowest in terms of their corresponding calculated ratings. The Bid with the highest calculated rating shall be the "Highest Rated Bid." After approved by the Head of the Procuring Entity of the Highest Rated Bid, the BAC shall invite the bidder concerned for negotiation and/or clarification on the following item: financial proposal submitted by the bidder, terms of reference, scope of services, methodology and work program, personnel to be assigned to job, services/facilities/data to be provided by the Procuring Entity concerned, and provisions of the contract. When negotiations with first-in-rank bidder fails, the financial proposal of the second rank bidder shall opened for negotiations: Provided, that the amount indicated in the financial envelope shall be made as the basis for negotiations and the total contract amount shall not exceed the amount indicated in the envelope and the ABC. Whenever necessary, the same process shall be repeated until the bid awarded to the winning bidder. ARTICLE X POST-QUALIFICATION Section 34. Objective and Process of Post-qualification. - Post-qualification is the stage where the bidder with the Lowest Calculated Bid, in the case of Goods and Infrastructure Projects, or the Highest Rated Bid, in the case of Consulting Services, undergoes verification and validation whether he has passed all the requirements and conditions as specified in the Bidding Documents. If the bidder with the Lowest Calculated Bid or Highest Rated Bid passes all the criteria for postqualification, his Bid shall be considered the "Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid," in the case of Goods and Infrastructure or the "Highest Rated Responsive Bid," in the case of Consulting

Services. However, if a bidder fails to meet any of the requirements or conditions, he shall be "post-disqualified" and the BAC shall conduct the post-qualification on the bidder with the second Lowest Calculate Bid or Highest Rated Bid. If the bidder with the second Lowest Calculated Bid or Highest Rated Bid is post-disqualified, the same procedure shall be repeated until the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid or Highest Rated Responsive Bid is finally determined. In all cases, the contract shall be awarded only to the bidder with the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid or Highest Rated Responsive Bid. Section 35. Failure of Bidding. - there shall be a failure of bidding if: a. No bids are received; b. No bid qualifies as the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid; or, c. Whenever the bidder with the highest rated/lowest calculated responsive bid refuses, without justifiable cause to accept the award of contract, as the case may be. Under any of the above instances, the contract shall be re-advertised and re-bid. The BAC shall observe the same process and set the new periods according to the same rules followed during the first bidding. After the second failed bidding, however, the BAC may resort to negotiated procurement as provided for in Section 53 of this Act. Section 36. Single Calculate/Rated and Responsive Bid Submission. - A single calculated/rated and responsive bid shall be considered for award if it falls under of the following circumstances: a. If after advertisement, only one prospective bidder submits a Letter of Intent and/or applies for eligibility check, and meets the eligibility requirements or criteria, after which it submits a bide, which is found to be responsive to the bidding requirements; b. If after the advertisement, more than one prospective bidder applies for eligibility check, but only one bidder meets the eligibility requirements or criteria, after which in submits a bid which is found to be responsive to the bidding requirements; or c. If after the eligibility check, more than one bidder meets the eligibility requirements, but only one bidder submits a bid, and its bid is found to be responsive to the bidding requirements. In all instances, the Procuring Entity shall ensure that the ABC reflects the most advantageous prevailing price for the government. ARTICLE XI AWARD, IMPLEMENTATION AND TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT Section 37. Notice and Executive of Award. - Within a period not exceeding fifteen (15) calendar days from the determination and declaration by the BAC of the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid

or Highest Rated Responsive Bid, and the recommendation of the award, the Head of the Procuring Entity or his duly authorized representative shall approve or disapprove the said recommendation. In case of approval, the Head of the Procuring Entity or his duly authorized representative shall immediately issue the Notice of Award to the bidder with the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid or Highest Rated Responsive Bid. Within ten (10) calendar days from receipt of the Notice of Award, the Winning bidder shall formally enter into contract with the Procuring Entity. When further approval of higher authority is required, the approving authority for the contracts shall be given a maximum of twenty (20) calendar days to approve or disapprove it. In the case of government-owned and/or -controlled corporations, the concerned board shall take action on the said recommendation within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt thereof. The Procuring Entity shall issue the Notice to Proceed to the winning bidder not later than seven (7) calendar days from the date of approval of the contract by the appropriate authority. All notices called for by the terms of the contract shall be effective only at the time of receipt thereof by the contractor. Section 38. Period of Action on Procurement Activities. - The procurement process from the opening of bids up to the award of contract shall not exceed three (3) months, or a sho0rter period to be determined by the procuring entity concerned. Without prejudice to the provisions of the preceding section, the different procurement activities shall be completed within reasonable periods to be specified in the IRR. If no action on the contract is taken by the head of the procuring entity or by his duly authorized representative, or by the concerned board, in the case of government-owned and/or -controlled corporations, within the periods specified in the preceding paragraph, the contract concerned shall be deemed approved. Section 39. Performing Security. - Prior to the signing of the contract, the winning bidder shall, as a measure of guarantee for the faithful performance of an compliance with his obligations under the contract prepared in accordance with the Bidding Documents, be required to post a performance security in such form and amount as specified in the Bidding Documents. Section 40. Failure to Enter into Contract and Post Performance Security. - If, for justifiable causes, the bidder with the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid or Highest Rated Responsive Bid fails, refuses or is otherwise unable to enter into contract with the Procuring Entity, or if the bidder fails to post the required performance security within the period stipulated in the Bidding Documents, the BAC shall disqualify the said bidder and shall undertake post-qualification for the next-ranked Lowest Calculated Bid or Highest Rated Bid. This procedure shall be repeated until an award is made. However, if no award is possible, the contract shall be subjected to a new bidding. In the case of a failure to post the required performance security, the bid security shall be forfeited without prejudice to the imposition of sanctions prescribed under Article XXIII.

Section 41. Reservation Clause. - The Head of the Agency reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract in the following situations: a. If there is prima facie evidence of collusion between appropriate public officers or employees of the Procuring Entity, or between the BAC and any of the bidders, or if the collusion is between or among the bidders themselves, or between a bidder and a third party, including any act which restricts, suppresses or nullifies or tends to restrict, suppress or nullify competition; b. If the BAC is found to have failed in following the prescribed bidding procedures; or c. For any justifiable and reasonable ground where the award of the contract will not redound to the benefit of the government as defined in the IRR. Section 42. Contract Implementation and Termination. - The rules and guidelines for the implementation and termination of contracts awarded pursuant to the provisions of this Act shall be prescribed in the IRR. The rules and guidelines shall include standard general and special conditions for contracts. ARTICLE XII DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN PROCUREMENT Section 43. Procurement of Domestic and Foreign Goods. - Consistent with the country's obligations under international treaties or agreements, Goods may be obtained for domestic or foreign sources and the procurement thereof shall be open to all eligible suppliers, manufacturers and distributors. However, in the interest of availability, efficiency and timely delivery of Goods, the Procuring Entity may give preference to the purchase of domestically-produced and manufacturer goods, supplies and materials that meet the specified or desired quality. ARTICLE XIII BIDDING OF PROVINCIAL PROJECTS Section 44. Bidding of Provincial Projects. - Priority programs and infrastructure projects funded out of the annual General Appropriations Act which are intended for implementation within the province shall be subject to the same public bidding and to the procurement processes prescribed under this Act. For purposes of this Article, Engineering District civil works projects, subject to consultation with the concerned Members of Congress, are included and subsumed in the term "provincial projects" and shall be governed by this Section and Section 45 hereof. Section 45. Provincial Bidders. - Within five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, contractor who participates in the bidding of provincial priority programs and infrastructure projects, whose principal office is within the same province, and who submits the lowest bid among the provincial bidders which is higher than the lowest bid made by a contractor with principal office outside the said province shall be granted the privilege to match the bid made by the latter: Provided, however, That the release of funds for said projects shall be published in a local newspaper with the widest circulation and the website of the DBM, the mechanisms of which shall be spelled-out in the IRR.

ARTICLE XIV LEASE OF COMPUTERS, COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION AND OTHER EQUIPMENT Section 46. Lease Contracts. - Lease of construction and office equipment, including computers, communication and information technology equipment are subject to the same public bidding and to the processes prescribed under this Act. ARTICLE XV DISCLOSURE OF RELATIONS Section 47. Disclosure of Relations. - In addition to the proposed contents of the Invitation to Bid as mentioned under Section 21 of this Act, all bidding documents shall be accompanied by a sworn affidavit of the bidder that he or she or any officer of their corporation in not related to the Head of the Procuring Entity by consanguinity or affinity up to the third civil degree. Failure to comply with the aforementioned provision shall be a ground for the automatic disqualification of the bid in consonance with Section30 of this Act. ARTICLE XVI ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF PROCUREMENT Section 48. Alternative Methods. - Subject to the prior approval of the Head of the Procuring Entity or his duly authorized representative, and whenever justified by the conditions provided in this Act, the Procuring Entity may, in order to promote economy and efficiency, resort to any of the following alternative methods of Procurement: a. Limited Source Bidding, otherwise known as Selective Bidding - a method of Procurement that involves direct invitation to bid by the Procuring Entity from a set of preselected suppliers or consultants with known experience and proven capability relative to the requirements of a particular contract; b. Direct Contracting, otherwise known as Single Source Procurement - a method of Procurement that does not require elaborate Bidding Documents because the supplier is simply asked to submit a price quotation or a pro-forma voice together with the conditions of sale, which offer may be accepted immediately or after some negotiations; c. Repeat Order. - a method of Procurement that involves a direct Procurement of Goods from the previous winning bidder, whenever there is a need to replenish Goods procured under a contract previously awarded through Competitive Bidding; d. Shopping - a method of Procurement whereby the Procuring Entity simply requests for the submission of price quotations for readily available off-the-shelf Goods or ordinary/regular equipment to be procured directly from suppliers of known qualification; or

e. Negotiated Procurement - a method of Procurement that may be resorted under the extraordinary circumstances provided for in Section 53 of this Act and other instances that shall be specified in the IRR, whereby the Procuring Entity directly negotiates a contract with a technically, legally and financially capable supplier, contractor or consultant. In all instances, the Procuring Entity shall ensure that the most advantageous price for the government is obtained. Section 49. Limited Source Bidding. - Limited Source Bidding may be resorted to only in any of the following conditions: a. Procurement of highly specialized types of Goods and Consulting Services which are known to be obtainable only from a limited number of sources; or b. Procurement of major plant components where it is deemed advantageous to limit the bidding to known eligible bidders in order to maintain an optimum and uniform level of quality and performance of the plant as a whole. Section 50. Direct Contracting. - Direct Contracting may be resorted to only in any of the following conditions: a. Procurement of Goods of propriety nature, which can be obtained only from the propriety source, i.e. when patents, trade secrets and copyrights prohibit others from manufacturing the same items; b. When the Procurement of critical components from a specific manufacturer, supplier, or distributor is a condition precedent to hold a contractor to guarantee its project performance, in accordance with the provisions his contract; or, c. Those sold by an exclusive dealer or manufacturer, which does not have sub-dealers selling at lower prices and for which no suitable substitute can be obtained at more advantageous terms to the government. Section 51. Repeat Order. - When provided for in the Annual Procurement Plan, Repeat Order may be allowed wherein the Procuring Entity directly procures Goods from the previous winning bidder whenever there arises a need to replenish goods procured under a contract previously awarded through Competitive Bidding, subject to post-qualification process prescribed in the Bidding Documents and provided all the following conditions are present: a. The unit price must be equal to or lower than that provided in the original contract; b. The repeat order does not result in splitting of requisitions or purchase orders; c. Except in special circumstances defined in the IRR the repeat order shall be availed of only within six (6) months from the date of the Notice to Proceed arising from the original contract; and,

d. The repeat order shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the quantity of each item of the original contract. Section 52. Shopping. - shopping may be resorted to under any of the following instances: a. When there is an unforeseen contingency requiring immediate purchase: Provided, however, That the amount shall not exceed Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000); or b. Procurement of ordinary or regular office supplies and equipment not available in the Procurement Service involving an amount not exceeding Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000): Provided, however, That the Procurement does not result in Splitting of Contracts: Provided, further, That at least three (3) price quotations from bona fide suppliers shall be obtained. The above amounts shall be subject to a period review by the GPPB. For this purpose, the GPPB shall be authorized to increase or decrease the said amount in order to reflect changes in economic conditions and for other justifiable reasons. Section 53. Negotiated Procurement. - Negotiated Procurement shall be allowed only in the following instances: a. In case of two (2) failed bidding as provided in Section 35 hereof; b. In case of imminent danger to life or property during a state of calamity, or when time is of the essence arising from natural or man-made calamities or other causes where immediate action is necessary to prevent damage to or loss of life or property, or to restore vital public services, infrastructure facilities and other public utilities; c. Take-over of contracts, which have been rescinded or terminated for causes provided for in the contract and existing laws, where immediate action is necessary to prevent damage to or loss of life or property, or to restore vital public services, infrastructure facilities and other public utilities; d. Where the subject contract is adjacent or contiguous to an on-going infrastructure project, as defined in the IRR: Provided, however, That the original contract is the result of a Competitive Bidding; the subject contract to be negotiated has similar or related scopes of work; it is within the contracting capacity of the contractor; the contractor uses the same prices or lower unit prices as in the original contract less mobilization cost; the amount involved does not exceed the amount of the ongoing project; and, the contractor has no negative slippage: Provided, further, That negotiations for the procurement are commenced before the expiry of the original contract. Wherever applicable, the principle shall also govern consultancy contract, where the consultants have unique experience and expertise to deliver the required service; or, e. Subject to the guidelines specified in the IRR, purchases of Goods from another agency of the government, such as the Procurement Service of the DBM, which is tasked with a

centralized procurement of commonly used Goods for the government in accordance with Letters of Instruction No. 755 and Executive Order No. 359, series of 1989. Section 54. Terms and Conditions for the use of Alternative Methods. - The specific terms and conditions, including the limitations and restrictions, for the application of each of the alternative methods mentioned in this Article shall be specified in the IRR. ARTICLE XVII PROTEST MECHANISM Section 55. Protests on Decisions of the BAC.- Decisions of the BAC in all stages of procurement may be protested to the head of the procuring entity and shall be in writing. Decisions of the BAC may be protested by filing a verified position paper and paying a non-refundable protest fee. The amount of the protest fee and the periods during which the protests may be filed and resolved shall be specified in the IRR. Section 56. Resolution of Protests. - The protest shall be resolved strictly on the basis of records of the BAC. Up to a certain amount to be specified in the IRR, the decisions of the Head of the Procuring Entity shall be final. Section 57. Non-interruption of the Bidding Process.- In no case shall any protest taken from any decision treated in this Article stay or delay the bidding process. Protests must first be resolved before any award is made. Section 58. Report to Regular Courts; Certiorari.- Court action may be resorted to only after the protests contemplated in this Article shall have been completed. Cases that are filed in violation of the process specified in this Article shall be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. The regional trial court shall have jurisdiction over final decision of the head of the procuring entity. Court actions shall be governed by Rule 65 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure. This provision is without prejudice to any law conferring on the Supreme court the sole jurisdiction to issue temporary restraining orders and injunctions relating to Infrastructure Projects of Government. ARTICLE XVIII SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES Section 59. Arbitration. - Any and all disputes arising from the implementation of a contract covered by this Act shall be submitted to arbitration in the Philippines according to the provisions of Republic Act No. 876, otherwise known as the "Arbitration Law": Provided, however, That, disputes that are within the competence of the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission to resolve shall be referred thereto. The process of arbitration shall be incorporated as a provision in the contract that will be executed pursuant to the provisions of this Act: Provided, That by mutual agreement, the parties may agree in writing to resort to alternative modes of dispute resolution.

Section 60. Appeals. - The arbitral award and any decision rendered in accordance with the foregoing Section shall be appealable by way of a petition for review to the Court of Appeals. The petition shall raise pure questions of law and shall be governed by the Rule of Court. ARTICLE XIX CONTRACT PRICES AND WARRANTIES Section 61. Contract Prices. - For the given scope of work in the contract as awarded, all bid prices shall be considered as fixed prices, and therefore not subject to price escalation during contract implementation, except under extraordinary circumstances and upon prior approval of the GPPB. For purposes of this Section, "extraordinary circumstances" shall refer to events that may be determined by the National Economic and Development Authority in accordance with the Civil Code of the Philippines, and upon the recommendation of the procuring entity concerned. Section 62. Warranty. - (a) For the procurement of Goods, in order to assure that manufacturing defects shall be corrected by the supplier, manufacturer, or distributor, as the case maybe, for a specific time after performance of the contract, a warranty shall be required from the contract awardee for such period of time as may be provided in the IRR, the obligation for which shall be covered by either retention money in the amount equivalent to a percentage of every progress payment, or a special bank guarantee equivalent to a percentage of the total contract price, to be provided in the IRR. The said amounts shall only be released after the lapse of the warranty period, provided that the Goods supplied are free from defects and all the conditions imposed under the contract have been fully met. b. For the procurement of infrastructure projects, the contractor shall assume full responsibility for the contract work from the time project construction commenced up to a reasonable period as defined in the IRR taking into consideration the scale and coverage of the project from its final acceptance by the government and shall be held responsible for any damage or construction or works except those occasioned by force majeure. The contractor shall be fully responsible for the safety, protection, security, and convenience of his personnel, third parties, and the public large, as well as the works, equipment, installation and the like to be affected by his construction work and shall be required to put up a warranty security in the form of cash, bank guarantee, letter of credit, Government Service Insurance System bond, or callable surety bond. The contractor shall undertake the repair works, at his own expense, of any defect or damage to the infrastructure projects on account of the use of materials of inferior quality within ninety (90) days from the time the Head of the Procuring Entity has issued an order to undertake repair. In case of failure or refusal to comply with this mandate, the governments shall undertake such repair works and shall be entitle to full reimbursement of expenses incurred therein upon demand. Any contractor who fails to comply with the preceding paragraphs shall suffer perpetual disqualification from participating in any public bidding and his property or properties shall be

subject to attachment or garnishment proceedings to recover the costs. All payables of government in his favor shall be offset to recover the costs. ARTICLE XX THE GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT POLICY BOARD Section 63. Organization and Functions. - A Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) is hereby established to: (a.) protect national interest in all matters affecting public Procurement, having due regard to the country's regional and international obligations; (b.) formulate and amend, whenever necessary, the IRR and the corresponding standard forms for Procurement; (c) ensure that Procuring Entities regularly conduct Procurement training programs and prepare a Procurement operations manual for all offices and agencies of government; and (d) conduct an annual review of the effectiveness of this Act and recommend any amendments thereto, as may be necessary. The GPPB shall convene within fifteen (15) days from the effectivity of this Act formulate the IRR and for other related purposes. The GPPB shall be supported by a technical support office. In addition to the powers granted under this Act, the GPPB shall absorb all the powers, function and responsibilities of the Procurement Policy Board created under Executive Order No. 359, series of 1989. All affected functions of the Infrastructure Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority Board are hereby transferred to the GPPB. Section 64. Membership. - The GPPB shall be composed of the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, as Chairman, the Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority, as Alternate Chairman, with the following as Members; the Secretaries of the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Finance, Trade and Industry, Health, National Defense, Education, Interior and Local Government, Science and Technology, Transportation and Communications, and Energy, or their duly authorized representatives and a representative from the private sector to be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the GPPB. The GPPB may invite a representative from the Commission on Audit to serve as a resource person. ARTICLE XXI PENAL CLAUSE Section 65. Offenses and Penalties. - (a) Without prejudice to the provisions of Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as the "Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practice Act" and other penal laws, public officers who commit any of the following acts shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day, but not more than fifteen (15) years: 1. Open any sealed Bid including but not limited to Bids that may have been submitted through the electronic system and any and all documents required to be sealed or divulging their contents, prior to the appointed time for the public opening of Bids or other documents.

2. Delaying, without justifiable cause, the screening for eligibility, opening of bids, evaluation and post evaluation of bids, and awarding of contracts beyond the prescribed periods of Bids or other documents. 3. Unduly influencing or exerting undue pressure on any member of the BAC or any officer or employee of the procuring entity to take a particular bidder. 4. Splitting of contracts which exceed procedural purchase limits and competitive bidding. 5. When the head of the agency abuses the exercise of his power to reject any and all bids as mentioned under Section 41 of this Act with manifest preference to any bidder who is closely related to him in accordance with Section 47 of this Act. When any of the foregoing acts is done in collusion with private individuals, the private individuals shall likewise be liable for the offense. In addition, the public officer involved shall also suffer the penalty of temporary disqualification from public office, while the private individual shall be permanently disqualified from transacting business with the government. (b) Private individuals who commit any of the following acts, including any public officer, who conspires with them, shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than fifteen (15) years: 1. When two or more bidders agree and submit different Bids as if they were bona fide, when they knew that one or more of them was so much higher than the other that it could not be honestly accepted and that the contract will surely be awarded to the pre-arranged lowest Bid. 2. When a bidder maliciously submits different Bids through two or more persons, corporations, partnerships or any other business entity in which he has interest of create the appearance of competition that does not in fact exist so as to be adjudged as the winning bidder. 3. When two or more bidders enter into an agreement which call upon one to refrain from bidding for Procurement contracts, or which call for withdrawal of bids already submitted, or which are otherwise intended to secure as undue advantage to any one of them. 4. When a bidder, by himself or in connivance with others, employ schemes which tend to restrain the natural rivalry of the parties or operates to stifle or suppress competition and thus produce a result disadvantageous to the public.

In addition, the persons involved shall also suffer the penalty of temporary or perpetual disqualification from public office and be permanently disqualified from transacting business with the government. (c) Private individuals who commit any of the following acts, and any public officer conspiring with them, shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but more than fifteen (15) years: 1. Submit eligibility requirements of whatever kind and nature that contain false information or falsified documents calculated to influence the outcome of the eligibility screening process or conceal such information in the eligibility requirements when the information will lead to a declaration of ineligibility from participating in public bidding. 2. Submit Bidding Documents of whatever kind and nature than contain false information or falsified documents or conceal such information in the Bidding Documents, in order to influence the outcome of the public bidding. 3. Participate in a public bidding using the name of another or allow another to use one's name for the purpose of participating in a public bidding. 4. Withdraw a Bid, after it shall have qualified as the Lowest Calculated Bid/Highest Rated Bid, or to accept and award, without just cause or for the purpose of forcing the Procuring Entity to award the contract to another bidder. This shall include the non-submission of requirements such as, but not limited to, performance security, preparatory to the final award of the contract. (d) When the bidder is a juridical entity, criminal liability and the accessory penalties shall be imposed on its directors, officers or employees who actually commit any of the foregoing acts. Section 66. Jurisdiction. - Jurisdiction over the offenses defined under this Article shall belong to the appropriate courts, according to laws existing at the time of the commission of the offenses. ARTICLE XXII CIVIL LIABILITY Section 67. Civil Liability in Case of Conviction. - Without prejudice to administrative sanctions that may be imposed in proper cases, a conviction under this Act or Republic Act No. 3019 shall carry with it civil liability, which may either consist of restitution for the damage done or the forfeiture in favor of the government of any unwarranted benefit derived from the act or acts in question or both, at the discretion of the courts. Section 68. Liquidated Damages. - All contracts executed in accordance with this Act shall contain a provision on liquidated damages which shall be payable in case of breach thereof. The amount thereof shall be specified in the IRR.

ARTICLE XXIII ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS Section 69. Imposition of Administrative Penalties. - (a) In addition to the provisions of Articles XXI and XXII of this Act, the Head of the Procuring Entity, subject to the authority delegated to the BAC, if any, shall impose on bidders or prospective bidders, the administrative penalty of suspension for one (1) years for the first offense, and suspensions of two (2) years for the second offense from participating in the public bidding process, for the following violations: 1. Submission of eligibility requirements containing false information or falsified documents. 2. Submission of bids that contain false information or falsified documents, or the concealment of such information in the Bids in order to influence the outcome of eligibility screening or any other stage of the public bidding. 3. Allowing the use of one's name, or using the name of another for purposes of public bidding. 4. Withdrawal of a Bid, or refusal to accept an award, or enter into contract with the government without justifiable cause, after he had been adjudged as having submitted the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid or Highest Rated Responsive Bid. 5. Refusal or failure to post the require performance security within the prescribed time. 6. Termination of the contract due to the default of the bidder. Refusal to clarify or validate in writing its Bid during post-qualification within a period of seven (7) calendar days from receipt of the request for clarification. Any documented unsolicited attempt by a bidder to unduly influence the outcome of the bidding in his favor. All other acts that tend to defeat the purpose of the Competitive bidding. (b) In addition to the penalty of suspension, the Bid security of the performance security posted by the concerned bidder or prospective bidder shall also be forfeited. (c) the Head of the Procuring Entity may delegate to the BAC the authority to impose the aforementioned administrative penalties. Section 70. Preventive Suspension. - The head of the procuring entity may preventively suspend any member of the Technical Working Group of the Secretariat, or the BAC if there are strong reasons or prima facie evidence showing that the officials or employees concerned are guilty or the charges filed against them under Articles XXI and XXII of this Act or for dishonesty as defined by

the Civil Service Laws. In all cases, procedural and substantive due process as mandated by the Constitution and Civil Service Laws, rules and regulations, shall be strictly observed. Section 71. Lifting of Suspension and Removal of Administrative Disabilities. - Lifting of preventive suspension pending administrative investigation, as well as removal of administrative investigation, as well as removal of administrative penalties and disabilities shall be in accordance with the provisions of Sections 52 and 53, Chapter 6 (Civil Service Commission), Book V of Executive Order No. 292, the Administrative Code of 1987. ARTICLE XXIV LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND INDEMNIFICATION OF BAC MEMBERS Section 72. Private Legal Assistance. - All the members of the BAC are hereby authorized to engage the service of private lawyers or extend counsel immediately upon receipt of Court Notice that a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding is filed against them. The lawyer's fee shall be part of the indemnification package for the BAC members, subject to the provisions of Section 73 hereof. Section 73. Indemnification of BAC Members. - The GPPB shall establish an equitable indemnification package for public officials providing services in the BAC, which may be in the form of free legal assistance, liability insurance, and other forms of protection and indemnification for all cost and expenses reasonably incurred by such persons in connection with any civil or criminal actions, suit or proceeding to which they may be, or have been made, a party by reason of the performance of their functions or duties, unless they are finally adjudged in such action or proceeding to be liable for gross negligence or misconduct or grave abuse of discretion. In the event of settlement or compromise, indemnification shall be confined only on matters covered by the settlement, as to which the Procuring Entity had been advised by countset that the public officials to be indemnified have not committed gross negligence or misconduct in the performance of their functions and duties. The members of the BAC and the BAC Secretariat shall also be entitled to medical assistance for injuries incurred in the performance of their functions. ARTICLE XXV FINAL PROVISIONS Section 74. Oversight Committee. - There is hereby created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to oversee the implementation of this Act for a period not exceeding five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act. The Committee shall be composed of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Laws and two (2) members thereof appointed by the Senate President, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, and two(2) thereof to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Section 75. Implementing Rules and Regulations and Standard Forms. - Within sixty (60) days from the promulgation of this Act, the necessary rules and regulations for the proper

implementation of its provisions shall be formulated by the GPPB, jointly with the members of the Oversight Committee created under Section 74 hereof. The said rules and regulations shall be approved by the President of the Philippines. For a period not later than thirty (30) days upon the approval of the implementing rules and regulations the standard forms for Procurement shall be formulated and approved. Section 76. Repealing Clause. - This law repeals Executive Order No. 40, series of 2001, entitled "Consolidating Procurement Rules and Procedures for all National Government Agencies, Government-Owned-or-Controlled Corporations and/or Government Financial Institutions, and requiring the Use of the Government Electronic Procurement System"; Executive Order No.262, series of 2000, entitled "Amending Executive Order No.302, series of 1996, entitled "Providing Policies, Guidelines, Rules and Regulations for the Procurement of Goods/Supplies by the National Government' and Section 3 of Executive Order No.201, series of 2000, entitled "Providing Additional Policies and Guidelines and the Procurement of Goods/Supplies by the National Government"; Executive Order No. 302, series of 1996, entitled "Providing Policies, Guidelines, Rules and Regulations for the Procurement of Goods/Supplies by the National Government" and Presidential Decree No. 1594 dated June 11,1978, entitled "Prescribing Policies, Guidelines, Rule and regulations for Government Infrastructure Contracts." This law amends Title Six, Book Two of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991"; the relevant provisions of Executive Order No.164, series of 1987, entitled " An Act Providing Additional Guidelines in the processing and Approval of Contracts of the Government"; and the relevant provisions of Republic Act No. 7898 dated February 23, 1995, entitled "An Act Providing for the Modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other Purposes." Any other law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, proclamation, charter, rule or regulation and/or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. Section 77. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting. Section 78. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (150) days following its publication in the Officials Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved, FRANKLIN DRILON President of the Senate JOSE DE VENECIA JR. Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act, which is a consolidation of House Bill No.4809 and Senate Bill No. 2248 was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on December 18, 2002. OSCAR G. YABES Secretary of Senate ROBERTO P. NAZARENO Secretary General

House of Represenatives Approved: January 10, 2003 EN BANC Gentlemen: Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of this Court dated FEB 13 2001. A.M. No. 00-11-01-SC (Re: Administrative Circular re Penalty for Violation of B.P. Blg. 22.) The Court Resolved to APPROVE the draft administrative circular prepared by Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr., clarifying the provisions of Administrative Circular No. 12-2000, to wit: SUBJECT: CLARIFICATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 12-2000 ON THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 22, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BOUNCING CHECKS LAW. Clarification has been sought by concerned Judges and other parties regarding the operation of Administrative Circular 12-2000 issued on 21 November 2000. In particular, queries have been made regarding the authority of Judges to 1. Impose the penalty of imprisonment for violations of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22; and 2. Impose subsidiary imprisonment in the event that the accused, who is found guilty of violating the provisions of B.P. Blg. 22, is unable to pay the fine which he is sentenced to pay considering that Administrative Circular No. 12-2000 adopted the rulings in Eduardo Vaca v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 131714, 16 November 1998, 298 SCRA 656) and Rosa Lim v. People of the Philippines (G.R. No. 130038, 18 September 2000) as a policy of the Supreme Court on the matter of the imposition of penalties for violations of B.P. Blg. 22, without mentioning whether subsidiary imprisonment could be resorted to in case of the accuseds inability to pay the fine. The clear tenor and intention of Administrative Circular No. 12-2000 is not to remove imprisonment as an alternative penalty, but to lay down a rule of preference in the application of the penalties provided for in B.P. Blg. 22. The pursuit of this purpose clearly does not foreclose the possibility of imprisonment for violators of B.P. Blg. 22. Neither does it defeat the legislative intent behind the law. Thus, Administrative Circular No. 12-2000 establishes a rule of preference in the application of the penal provisions of B.P. Blg. 22 such that where the circumstances of both the offense and the offender clearly indicate good faith or a clear mistake of fact without taint of negligence, the imposition of a fine along should be considered as the more appropriate penalty. Needless to say, the determination of whether the circumstances warrant the imposition of a fine alone rests solely upon the Judge. Should the Judge decided the imprisonment is the more appropriate penalty,

Administrative Circular No. 12-2000 ought not be deemed a hindrance. It is, therefore, understood that 1. Administrative Circular 12-2000 does not remove imprisonment as an alternative penalty for violations of B.P. Blg. 22; 2. The Judges concerned may, in the exercise of sound discretion, and taking into consideration the peculiar circumstances of each case, determine whether the imposition of a fine alone would best serve the interests of justice or whether forbearing to impose imprisonment would depreciate the seriousness of the offense, work violence on the social order, or otherwise be contrary to the imperatives of justice; 3. Should only a fine be imposed and the accused be unable to pay the fine, there is no legal obstacle to the application of the Revised Penal Code provisions on subsidiary imprisonment. The issuance of this Administrative Circular was authorized by the Court En Banc in A.M. No. 0011-01-SC at its session of 13 February 2001. The Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court and the Court Administrator shall immediately cause the implementation of this Administrative Circular. This Administrative Circular shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation not later than 20 February 2001. Issued this 14th day of February 2001. Very truly yours, LUZVIMINDA D. PUNO Clerk of Court (Sgd.) MA. LUISA D. VILLARAMA Asst. Clerk of Court Republic Act No. 9995 AN ACT DEFINING AND PENALIZING THE CRIME OF PHOTO AND VIDEO VOYEURISM, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress assembled: Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009".

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State values the dignity and privacy of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights. Toward this end, the State shall penalize acts that would destroy the honor, dignity and integrity of a person. Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: (a) "Broadcast" means to make public, by any means, a visual image with the intent that it be viewed by a person or persons. (b) "Capture" with respect to an image, means to videotape, photograph, film, record by any means, or broadcast. (c) "Female breast" means any portion of the female breast. (d) "Photo or video voyeurism" means the act of taking photo or video coverage of a person or group of persons performing sexual act or any similar activity or of capturing an image of the private area of a person or persons without the latter's consent, under circumstances in which such person/s has/have a reasonable expectation of privacy, or the act of selling, copying, reproducing, broadcasting, sharing, showing or exhibiting the photo or video coverage or recordings of such sexual act or similar activity through VCD/DVD, internet, cellular phones and similar means or device without the written consent of the person/s involved, notwithstanding that consent to record or take photo or video coverage of same was given by such person's. (e) "Private area of a person" means the naked or undergarment clad genitals, public area, buttocks or female breast of an individual. (f) "Under circumstances in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy" means believe that he/she could disrobe in privacy, without being concerned that an image or a private area of the person was being captured; or circumstances in which a reasonable person would believe that a private area of the person would not be visible to the public, regardless of whether that person is in a public or private place. Section 4. Prohibited Acts. - It is hereby prohibited and declared unlawful for any person: (a) To take photo or video coverage of a person or group of persons performing sexual act or any similar activity or to capture an image of the private area of a person/s such as the naked or undergarment clad genitals, public area, buttocks or female breast without the consent of the person/s involved and under circumstances in which the person/s has/have a reasonable expectation of privacy; (b) To copy or reproduce, or to cause to be copied or reproduced, such photo or video or recording of sexual act or any similar activity with or without consideration; (c) To sell or distribute, or cause to be sold or distributed, such photo or video or recording of sexual act, whether it be the original copy or reproduction thereof; or

(d) To publish or broadcast, or cause to be published or broadcast, whether in print or broadcast media, or show or exhibit the photo or video coverage or recordings of such sexual act or any similar activity through VCD/DVD, internet, cellular phones and other similar means or device. The prohibition under paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) shall apply notwithstanding that consent to record or take photo or video coverage of the same was given by such person/s. Any person who violates this provision shall be liable for photo or video voyeurism as defined herein. Section 5. Penalties. - The penalty of imprisonment of not less that three (3) years but not more than seven (7) years and a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not more than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court shall be imposed upon any person found guilty of violating Section 4 of this Act. If the violator is a juridical person, its license or franchise shall be automatically be deemed revoked and the persons liable shall be the officers thereof including the editor and reporter in the case of print media, and the station manager, editor and broadcaster in the case of a broadcast media. If the offender is a public officer or employee, or a professional, he/she shall be administratively liable. If the offender is an alien, he/she shall be subject to deportation proceedings after serving his/her sentence and payment of fines. Section 6. Exemption. - Nothing contained in this Act, however, shall render it unlawful or punishable for any peace officer, who is authorized by a written order of the court, to use the record or any copy thereof as evidence in any civil, criminal investigation or trial of the crime of photo or video voyeurism: Provided, That such written order shall only be issued or granted upon written application and the examination under oath or affirmation of the applicant and the witnesses he/she may produce, and upon showing that there are reasonable grounds to believe that photo or video voyeurism has been committed or is about to be committed, and that the evidence to be obtained is essential to the conviction of any person for, or to the solution or prevention of such, crime. Section 7. Inadmissibility of Evidence. - Any record, photo or video, or copy thereof, obtained or secured by any person in violation of the preceding sections shall not be admissible in evidence in any judicial, quasi-judicial, legislative or administrative hearing or investigation.1avvphi1 Section 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting. Section 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction , administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

Section 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two(2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved

(Sgd.) PROSPERO C. NOGRALES Speaker of the House of Representatives

(Sgd.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2357 and House Bill No. 6571 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on December 1, 2009 and November 18, 2009, respectively.

(Sgd.) MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP Secretary General House of Represenatives

(Sgd.) EMMA LIRIO-REYES Secretary of Senate

Approved: FEB 15, 2010

Republic of the Philippines Supreme Court Manila ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR No. 08-2008 TO : ALL JUDGES SUBJECT : GUIDELINES IN THE OBSERVANCE OF A RULE OF PREFERENCE IN THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTIES IN LIBEL CASES. Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code penalizes libel, committed by means of writing, printing, lithography, engraving, radio, phonograph, painting, theatrical exhibition, cinematographic exhibition, or any similar means, with prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods or a

fine ranging from 200 to 6,000 pesos, or both, in addition to the civil action which may be brought by the offended party. In the following cases, the Court opted to impose only a fine on the person convicted of the crime of libel: In Fernando Sazon v. Court of Appeals and People of the Philippines,1 the Court modified the penalty imposed upon petitioner, an officer of a homeowners' association, for the crime of libel from imprisonment and fine in the amount of P200.00, to fine only of P3,000.00, with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, for the reason that he wrote the libelous article merely to defend his honor against the malicious messages that earlier circulated around the subdivision, which he thought was the handiwork of the private complainant. In Quirico Mari v. Court of Appeals and People of the Philippines,2 where the crime involved is slander by deed, the Court modified the penalty imposed on the petitioner, an ordinary government employee, from imprisonment to fine of P1,000.00, with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, on the ground that the latter committed the offense in the heat of anger and in reaction to a perceived provocation. In Roberto Brillante v. Court of Appeals and People of the Philippines,3 the Court deleted the penalty of imprisonment imposed upon petitioner, a local politician, but maintained the penalty of fine of 1 325 Phil. 1053, 1068 (1996). 2 388 Phil. 269, 279 (2000).

3 G.R. Nos. 118757 & 121571, November 11, 2005, 474 SCRA 480. P4,000.00, with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, in each of the (5) cases of libel, on the ground that the intensely feverish passions evoked during the election period in 1988 must have agitated petitioner into writing his open letter; and that incomplete privileged communication should be appreciated in favor of petitioner, especially considering the wide latitude traditionally given to defamatory utterances against public officials in connection with or relevant to their performance of official duties or against public figures in relation to matters of public interest involving them. In Jose Alemania Buatis, Jr. v. People of the Philippines and Atty. Jose Pieraz,4 the Court opted to impose upon petitioner, a lawyer, the penalty of fine only for the crime of libel considering that it was his first offense and he was motivated purely by his belief that he was merely exercising a civic or moral duty to his client when he wrote the defamatory letter to private complainant. The foregoing cases indicate an emergent rule of preference for the imposition of fine only rather than imprisonment in libel cases under the circumstances therein specified. All courts and judges concerned should henceforth take note of the foregoing rule of preference set by the Supreme Court on the matter of the imposition of penalties for the crime of libel bearing in mind the following principles: 1. This Administrative Circular does not remove

imprisonment as an alternative penalty for the crime of libel under Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code; 2. The Judges concerned may, in the exercise of sound discretion, and taking into consideration the peculiar circumstances of each case, determine whether the imposition of a fine alone would best serve the interests of justice or whether forbearing to impose imprisonment would depreciate the seriousness of the offense, work violence on the social order, or otherwise be contrary to the imperatives of justice; 3. Should only a fine be imposed and the accused be unable to pay the fine, there is no legal obstacle to the application of the Revised Penal Code provisions on subsidiary imprisonment. The Court Administrator shall cause the immediate dissemination of this Administrative Circular to all courts and judges concerned. This Administrative Circular, approved by the Supreme Court En Banc in A.M. No. 08-1-17-SC at its session of 22 January 2008 shall take effect upon its issuance. 4 G.R. No. 142509, March 24, 2006, 485 SCRA 275. Issued this 25th day of January 2008. REYNATO S. PUNO Chief Justice