GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

 

 

RECEIPTS AND INCOME

 

Sec. 3. Fees, Charges and Assessments.  All fees, charges, assessments, and other receipts or revenues collected by departments, bureaus, offices or agencies in the exercise of their functions, at such rates as are now or may be approved by the Secretary concerned, shall be deposited with the National Treasury and shall accrue to the General Fund pursuant to Section 44, Chapter 5, Book VI of E.O. No. 292 and Section 3 of B.P. Blg. 325: PROVIDED, That certain receipts may be recorded as a Special Account in the General Fund or a Fiduciary or a Trust Fund, or a fund other than the General Fund, when authorized by law and following such rules and regulations as may be issued by the Permanent Committee created under Section 45, Chapter 5, Book VI of E.O. No. 292: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That all revenues or income accruing to special accounts in the General Fund may be made available for expenditure, subject to the Special Provision in this Act for the agencies concerned, if any, and to Special Budgets required under Section 35, Chapter 5, Book VI of E.O. No. 292: PROVIDED, FURTHERMORE, That whenever practicable and taking into account the cost reduction program of the government, when an agency contracts with another government office for fabrication of furniture or equipment, or for computer, printing or other services, the agency rendering such services may assess the requesting agency for the cost of production and services rendered and may utilize the proceeds thereof, subject to  Section 35, Chapter 5, Book VI of E.O. No. 292, except as otherwise provided in this Act:  AND PROVIDED, FINALLY, That the schedule of fees, charges and assessments collectible by any government agency including government-owned and/or controlled corporations shall be posted in big bold characters in a conspicuous place in said government agency or corporation, including its branches or extension offices and that the updating and continuous display of said schedule shall be the responsibility of the head of the agency or corporation concerned.

 

Sec. 4. Revolving Fund.  Revolving funds shall be established and maintained only in cases where said funds are expressly created and authorized by law.  Revolving funds already in existence shall continue their operations. Receipts derived from business-type activities of departments, bureaus, offices or agencies which are authorized by law to be constituted into a Revolving Fund shall be separately recorded and deposited in an authorized government depository bank and may be made available for operational expenses of the said activity of the agency concerned, subject to the conditions prescribed under the special provision of the agency concerned, if any, and the rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Permanent Committee created under Section 45, Chapter 5, Book VI of E.O. No. 292. The Revolving Fund shall be considered self-perpetuating and self-liquidating and all obligations or expenditures incurred by virtue of said business-type activities shall be charged against the Revolving Fund: PROVIDED, That no amount of the Revolving Funds authorized in this Act shall be used for the payment of discretionary and representation expenses. The agency concerned shall submit to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), copy furnished the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance, separate quarterly reports of income and of expenditure from this Fund. In case of failure to comply with said requirement, no withdrawal in the subsequent quarter shall be allowed in audit except upon certification of the DBM that said report was submitted.

 

            Sec. 5. Trust Receipts.  Receipts from non-tax sources authorized by law for specific purposes which are collected/received by a government office or agency acting as a trustee, agent or administrator, or which have been received as guaranty for the fulfillment of an obligation, and all other collections classified by law or regulations as trust receipts except those filed to guarantee the re-exportation of temporary importations shall be treated as trust liability of the agency concerned and deposited with the National Treasury in accordance with E.O. No. 338, series of 1996 and  pertinent guidelines, subject to the conditions prescribed under the Special Provisions of the agency concerned, if any, and to the rules and regulations as determined by the Permanent Committee created under Section 45, Chapter 5, Book VI of E.O. No. 292.   Disbursement out of such funds shall be made in accordance with the purpose for which the fund is created and subject to accounting and auditing regulations.  (GENERAL OBSERVATION – President’s Veto Message, January 21, 2002, page1332, R.A. No. 9162)

 

Sec. 6. Receipts Arising from Build-Operate-Transfer Transactions and Its Variant Schemes. Notwithstanding the provision of Section 5, General Provisions of this Act, receipts, such as toll fees, charges and other revenues arising from public sector projects implemented through build-operate-transfer arrangement and other variants pursuant to R.A. No. 6957, as amended by R.A. No. 7718, collected by an office or agency of the National Government but which shall accrue to the proponent private companies or individuals in accordance with the contract entered into by said government office or agency and project proponent(s), shall be deposited with any authorized government depository bank and shall be utilized exclusively for the fulfillment of obligations as stipulated and prescribed under the contract:  PROVIDED, That the government share out of the collections from said  projects,  if any, including interest earned thereon, shall accrue to the General Fund and shall be remitted to and deposited with the National Treasury.

 

The implementation of this Section shall be in accordance with the guidelines issued jointly by the Department of Finance (DOF), DBM, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Coordinating Council for Private Sector Participation, in coordination with the Commission on Audit (COA).

 

Sec. 7. Performance Bonds and Deposits.  Performance bonds and deposits filed or posted by private persons or entities with agencies of the government shall be deposited with the National Treasury as trust liabilities under the name of the agency concerned.  Upon faithful performance of the undertaking or termination of the obligation for which the bond or deposit was required, any amount due shall be returned to the filing party by the office or agency concerned, withdrawable in accordance with accounting and auditing rules and regulations:  PROVIDED, That any interest accruing on deposits and any forfeited amounts on performance bonds and deposits shall be deposited with the National Treasury and shall accrue to the General Fund pursuant to Section 44, Chapter 5, Book VI of E.O. No. 292.

 

This provision shall apply to bonds posted in cash, such as bidder's bond, guaranty bonds, bail bonds, judicial deposits for the benefit of clients, cash under litigation deposited in courts or quasi-judicial bodies and other refundable and judicial bonds, and all bonds and deposits required by law, rules and regulations to be posted to ensure the faithful performance of an activity or undertaking.

 

 Sec. 8. Seminar and Conference Fees.  Departments, bureaus, offices or agencies which conduct training programs in relation to their mandated functions are authorized to collect seminar and conference fees from government and private agency participants, at such standard rates as the DBM and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) shall deem appropriate. The proceeds derived from such seminars or conferences may be made available for the conduct of seminars and conferences and for defraying the cost of training facilities, subject to pertinent budget, accounting and auditing rules and regulations: PROVIDED, That upon the conclusion of the seminar or conference, the office authorized to conduct the same shall submit to the DBM a report of the fees collected and of the expenses incurred: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That any excess therefrom shall be deposited with the National Treasury and shall accrue to the General Fund pursuant to Section 44, Chapter 5, Book VI of E.O. No. 292.

 

Sec. 9. Sale of Products.  Departments, bureaus, offices or agencies are hereby authorized to sell products out of their agricultural, industrial or other projects.  The proceeds derived therefrom shall be deposited with the National Treasury and shall accrue to the General Fund, pursuant to Section 44, Chapter 5, Book VI of E.O. No. 292, unless otherwise provided by law or by Special Provisions in this Act.

 

Sec. 10. Sale of Official Publications. Departments, bureaus, offices or agencies are hereby authorized to sell their official publications. The proceeds derived  from such sale may be made available to defray the cost of printing such official publications, subject to pertinent budget, accounting and auditing rules and regulations:   PROVIDED, That the office concerned shall submit to the DBM a report of the proceeds from the subject sale  and of the expenses  incurred:  PROVIDED, FURTHER, That any excess therefrom shall be remitted to the National Treasury and shall accrue to the General Fund pursuant to Section 44, Chapter 5, Book VI of E.O. No. 292.

 

Sec. 11. Sale of Non-Serviceable, Obsolete or Unnecessary Equipment.  Departments, bureaus, offices or agencies are hereby authorized to sell non-serviceable, obsolete, or unnecessary equipment including cars, vans and the like pursuant to the provisions of Section 79 of P.D. No. 1445 and E.O. No. 309 dated March 8, 1996.  The proceeds from the sale of such equipment shall be deemed automatically appropriated for the purchase of new ones, and for the repair or rehabilitation of existing vital equipment, subject to a Special Budget pursuant to Section 35, Chapter 5, Book VI of E.O. No. 292: PROVIDED, That the purchase of such new cars and vans shall be subject to prior authority pursuant to pertinent laws, rules and regulations:  PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the agency concerned shall submit to the DBM, the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance a report on the types of equipment sold and the utilization of the sales proceeds.

 

Sec.  12. Donations. Departments, bureaus, offices or agencies may accept donations, contributions, grants, bequests or gifts, in cash or in kind, from various sources, domestic or foreign, for purposes relevant to their functions: PROVIDED, That in cases of donations from foreign governments, acceptance thereof shall be subject to the prior clearance and approval of the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the Department of Agriculture through the National Agricultural and Fishery Council  and in coordination with the DBM and the NEDA, is hereby authorized to determine  the utilization of the RP-Japan Increased Food Production Program Grant for agriculture and fishery projects in accordance with the objectives of R.A. No. 8435, otherwise known as the “Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997.”

 

Receipts from donations shall be accounted for in the books of the recipient government agency in accordance with pertinent accounting and auditing rules and regulations.  Such donations, whether in cash or in kind, shall be deemed automatically appropriated for purposes specified by the donor.  The receipts from cash donations and proceeds from sale of donated commodities shall be remitted to the National Treasury and recorded as a Special Account in the General Fund and shall be available to the implementing agency concerned through a Special Budget pursuant to Section 35, Chapter 5, Book VI of E.O. No. 292.  The agency concerned shall submit to the DBM, the Senate Committee on Finance, the House Committee on Appropriations, and to the COA a quarterly report of all donations whether in cash or in kind, and a quarterly report of expenditures or disbursements of the amount released.

 

            In case of violation of this Section, the erring officials and employees shall be subject to disciplinary action under the provisions of Sections 43, Chapter 5 and Section 80, Chapter 7, Book VI of E.O. No. 292 and to appropriate criminal action under existing penal laws.

 

Sec. 13.  National Internal Revenue Taxes and Import Duties. National internal revenue taxes and import duties, including value-added taxes on importation payable by national government agencies to the National Government arising from foreign donations, grants and loans are deemed automatically appropriated. In addition, tax expenditure subsidy to the following entities shall likewise be deemed automatically appropriated:

 

(a)    Bureau of the Treasury for Documentary Stamp Taxes on domestic securities issued, incurred for the period starting in FY 1997;

 

(b)    Specialty Hospitals, Department of National Defense (DND) and Philippine National Police (PNP) importations of military hardwares, softwares, munitions, arms and equipment, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Commissary and Exchange Service (AFPCES);

 

(c)    Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Line 1 Capacity Expansion Phase 2 and Metro Manila Strategic Mass Rail Transit Development (Line 2);

 

(d)    National Food Authority (NFA) for the importation of rice and corn as recommended by the NFA Council and approved by the President of the Philippines, in case of calamities or fortuitous event or shortfall in production;

 

(e)    PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority (PIA) for the Mindanao Container Terminal Project on importations of materials and equipment for the project; and

 

(f)     Department of Transportation and Communications  (DOTC) for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 System, incurred starting FY 1997 in accordance with the provisions of the Build-Lease-Transfer Agreement executed thereon.

 

PROVIDED, That other government-owned and/or controlled corporations (GOCCs) and other government agencies not listed in subsections (a) to (f) hereof may qualify for tax expenditure subsidy as determined by the Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC):  PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the DBCC shall determine the overall level of tax expenditure subsidy  for GOCCs and national government agencies:  PROVIDED, FURTHERMORE, That the tax expenditure subsidy of each GOCC shall be subject to approval of the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) in accordance with Executive Order No. 93, s. of 1986, as amended: PROVIDED, FINALLY, That the amounts pertaining to such taxes and duties covered by this Section shall be considered as revenue and expenditure of the government.

                                                                     

            Sec. 14. Loan Agreements.  Departments, bureaus, offices or agencies, including government-owned and/or controlled corporations, shall in no case enter into foreign or domestic loan agreements, whether in cash or in kind, except upon concurrence of the Secretary of DBM with respect to peso requirements and implications on expenditure ceilings and prior approval of the President of the Philippines, with the prior concurrence of the Monetary Board, subject to LOI No. 880 and Section 17, Book VI of E.O. No. 292 and such limitations as may be provided by law: PROVIDED, That the Monetary Board shall, within thirty (30) days from the end of every quarter of the calendar year, submit to the Congress of the Philippines a report of its decisions on applications for loans to be contracted or guaranteed by the government or government-owned and/or controlled corporations which have the effect of increasing the foreign debt:  PROVIDED, FURTHER, That in negotiating for “untied loans” to finance foreign-assisted projects, government loan negotiators shall enter only into contracts/agreements which shall provide equal opportunities to both the Filipino and foreign contractors in the bidding, implementation and execution of the project or projects:  PROVIDED, FURTHERMORE, That loan agreements shall not be signed by agencies of the national government unless the full amount of the loan is covered by a Forward Obligational Authority issued by the Secretary of DBM. For this purpose, the budgetary implications of foreign-assisted projects shall be explicitly considered by the Secretary of DBM and the office or agency concerned at the time of project design and financing negotiations.  The project study shall specify the cash flow requirements of the project among others, for:  (a) payment of principal and interest; (b) peso component of capital costs and project preparation; (c) infrastructure and support facilities needed to be directly financed by government; (d) operating and other expenditures which shall be ultimately required for general fund support when the project is implemented; and (e) peso requirements needed as counterpart.

 

            For purposes of this Section, the term “untied loans” shall be construed to mean “program loans” which are not negotiated or entered into to finance specific foreign-assisted projects.  (GENERAL OBSERVATION – President’s Veto Message, January 21, 2002, page 1332, R.A. No. 9162)

 

EXPENDITURES

 

Sec. 15. Restrictions on the Use of Government Funds.  No government funds shall be utilized for the following purposes:

 

a. To purchase motor vehicles, except: (a) medical ambulances, military and police patrol vehicles, motorcycles, other utility vehicles, road construction equipment, motorized bancas and those used for mass transport when necessary in the interest of the public service, upon authority of the department or agency head and the Secretary of DBM; and (b) those authorized by the President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;

 

b. To defray foreign travel expenses of any government official or employee, except in the case of training seminar or conference abroad when the officials and other personnel of the foreign mission cannot effectively represent the country therein and travels necessitated by international commitments: PROVIDED, That no official or employee, including uniformed personnel of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of National Defense (DND) will be sent to foreign training, conference or attend to international commitments when they are due to retire within one year after the said foreign travel;

 

c.  To provide fuel, parts, repair and maintenance to any government vehicle not properly identified as a government vehicle and does not carry its official government plate number, except official vehicles assigned to the President, Vice-President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Chairmen of the Constitutional Commissions and those used by personnel performing intelligence and national security functions: PROVIDED, That in case of transport crisis, such as that occasioned by street demonstrations, welgang bayan, floods, typhoons and other emergencies, all government vehicles of any type shall be made available to meet the emergency and utilized to transport for free the commuters on a round-the-clock basis;

 

d. To pay honoraria, allowances or other forms of compensation to any government official or employee, except those specifically authorized by law; and

 

e.  To be invested in non-government securities, money market placements and similar investments or deposited in private banking institutions.

 

  The provisions of this section shall also apply to government-owned and/or controlled corporations.

 

            The implementation of this section shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations issued by the DBM, in coordination with the COA.

 

Sec. 16. Mandatory Expenditures.  The amounts released, particularly for, but not limited to, petroleum, oil and lubricants as well as for water, illumination and power services, telephone and other communication services, rent, retirement gratuity and terminal leave requirements shall be disbursed solely for such items of expenditures: PROVIDED, That any savings generated from these items may be realigned only in the last quarter.

     

The use of funds in violation of this Section shall be null and void, and shall subject the erring officials and employees to disciplinary action under the provisions of Section 43, Chapter 5 and Section 80, Chapter 7, Book VI of E.O. No. 292 and to appropriate criminal action under existing penal laws.

 

Sec. 17. Authority to Identify Funds for Mandatory Expenditures.  Out of the agency appropriations authorized in this Act, the DBM may identify in the fund release documents the amounts due all government service agencies and government service corporations to cover prior years’ mandatory expenditures as certified by the COA.  In the case of government-owned and/or controlled corporations without budgetary support from the National Government, funds for the purpose shall be indicated in the approval of their Corporate Operating Budgets.

 

The implementation of this Section shall be subject to the guidelines issued by the DBM in coordination with the DOF and the COA.

 

Sec. 18. Intelligence and Confidential Funds. No amount appropriated in this Act shall be released or disbursed for confidential and intelligence activities unless specifically identified and authorized as such as intelligence or confidential fund in this Act. Only amounts identified as confidential and intelligence funds in this Act as specified in Object Code 19, can be subject to closed accounting.

 

Intelligence and confidential funds provided for in the budgets of departments, bureaus, offices or agencies of the national government, including amounts from savings authorized by Special Provisions to be used for intelligence and counter-intelligence activities, shall be released only upon approval of the President of the Philippines: PROVIDED, That at least eighty percent (80%) of intelligence and confidential funds shall be used for field operations.

 

All departments, bureaus offices or agencies shall submit to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the COA, a quarterly report on the accomplishments in the use of intelligence and confidential funds copy furnished the Senate Committee on Finance and House Committee on Appropriations.

 

            Sec. 19. Purchase of Supplies, Materials and Equipment Spare Parts for Stock.  The stock on hand of supplies, materials and equipment spare parts to be acquired through ordinary purchase out of appropriations herein provided shall at no time exceed the normal three month requirement, subject to pertinent rules and regulations issued by competent authority: PROVIDED, That heads of departments, bureaus, offices or agencies and other instrumentalities of the government may approve the build-up of stocks on hand of critical supplies and materials as defined or specified by the DBM in anticipation of cost increases, or requirement of a national emergency, or of an impending shortage in the items concerned, specifying maximum quantities of individual items. Unless otherwise approved by the President of the Philippines, upon the joint recommendation of the Secretary concerned and the Chairman of the COA, these stocks shall not exceed one year's need.

 

Sec. 20. Emergency Purchases. Unless otherwise provided in this Act, departments, bureaus, offices or agencies of the National Government are authorized to make emergency purchases of supplies, materials and spare parts of motor transport equipment that are urgently needed for the repair of ambulances, motor vehicles, vessels and aircrafts or to meet an emergency which may involve the loss of, or danger to, life and/or property, or are to be used in connection with a project or activity which cannot be delayed without causing detriment to the public service, in a monthly amount not exceeding four percent (4%) of the annual agency expenditure program for supplies and materials out of the appropriations allotted for maintenance and other operating expenses of the agency concerned, except as may be authorized by the President of the Philippines upon the joint recommendation of the DBM and the COA.

 

Sec. 21. Domestic Purchases and Foreign Importations. All appropriations for the procurement of equipment, supplies and materials and other products and services authorized in this Act shall be used only for the purchase of equipment, parts, accessories, medicines and drugs, supplies and materials and other products and services locally available.  For this purpose, in the utilization of the amounts herein appropriated for infrastructure projects of the various departments and agencies, priority shall be given to the purchase of locally-produced and manufactured materials in all projects undertaken either by administration or by contract, including foreign-assisted projects whose covering loan agreement expressly allow or which does not prohibit the same:  PROVIDED, That importation may be made when:

 

(a)  none of the desired quality or standard is available in the market or when the price of the local product or service is more than fifteen percent (15%) of that of a similar product offered by an enterprise other than a domestic entity pursuant to Section 4 of the Flag Law (C.A. No. 138, as amended) as certified by the Department of Trade and Industry;

 

(b)    the quality of the locally-produced and manufactured material is sub-standard compared with its imported counterpart as determined by the Department of Science and Technology; and

 

(c)    no locally-produced and manufactured material is available as certified by the Department of Trade and Industry.

 

PROVIDED, FURTHER, That purchases under foreign military sales agreements, heavy equipment imports for infrastructure projects and other importations of agencies which are financed by foreign borrowings may be made, subject to the requirements of LOI No. 880 and to pertinent budgeting, accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations.   (CONDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION – President’s Veto Message, January 21, 2002, page 1328, R.A. No. 9162)

 

Sec. 22. Cultural and Athletic Activities.  Out of the appropriations authorized in this Act for maintenance and other operating expenses for each department, bureau, office or agency, an amount not exceeding One Thousand Two Hundred Pesos (P1,200.00) may be used for the purchase of costume or uniform for each participant  and other related expenses in the conduct of cultural and athletic activities.

 

Sec. 23. Extraordinary and Miscellaneous Expenses.  Appropriations herein authorized may be used for extraordinary expenses of the following officials and those of equivalent rank as may be authorized by the DBM not exceeding:

 

a.    P180,000 for each Department   Secretary;

b.    P65,000 for each Department  Undersecretary;

c.    P35,000 for each Department  Assistant Secretary;

d.    P30,000 for each head of bureau or  organization of equal rank to a bureau and for each Department Regional Director;

e.    P18,000 for each Bureau Regional Director; and

f.     P13,000 for each Municipal Trial Court Judge, Municipal Circuit Trial Court Judge, and Shari’a Circuit Court Judge.

 

In addition, miscellaneous expenses not exceeding P50,000 for each of the offices under the above named officials are herein authorized.

 

            For the purpose of this Section, extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses shall include, but shall not be limited to, expenses incurred for:

 

a.  meetings, seminars and conferences;

b.  official entertainment;

c.  public relations;

d.  educational, athletic and  cultural activities;

e.  contributions to civic or charitable institutions;

f.   membership in   government associations;

g.  membership in national professional organizations duly accredited by the Professional Regulations Commission;

h.  membership in the  Integrated Bar of the   Philippines;

i.     subscription to professional technical journals and informative magazines, library books  and materials;  

j.    office equipment and  supplies; and

k.  other similar expenses  not supported by the regular budget allocation.

 

No portion of the amounts herein authorized shall be used for salaries, wages, allowances, intelligence and confidential expenses.  In case of deficiency, the requirements for the purpose may be charged against savings of the agency.

 

These expenditures shall be subject to accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

 

Sec. 24. Information Outlay. The appropriations pertaining to information activities of various departments, bureaus, offices or agencies shall be released upon presentation of an appropriate program of activities prepared by their respective Heads, copies of which shall be furnished the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance.

        

Sec. 25. Science and Technology Research. The appropriations of departments, bureaus, offices, or agencies  for research and development (R & D) in the natural, agricultural, technological and engineering sciences shall be released upon recommendation of the Department of Science and Technology and/or the Department of Agriculture in pursuance of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997, with the primary objective of coordinating research agenda and optimizing the use of research funds and encouraging private sector participation in R & D activities: PROVIDED, That research efforts shall be geared towards achieving a wider commercialization of new discoveries, accelerating technology transfer  and integrating agricultural and fisheries plans and programs:  PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the said government agencies shall submit an annual report to the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance.  The report shall include the list of recipient private entities, status of research being undertaken, and the amount released and utilized for each project and the commercialization activities and technology transfer made.

 

Sec. 26. Human Resources Development and Training Programs.  Departments, bureaus, offices or agencies shall review and formulate their human resource development and training programs to make the same responsive to the organizational needs and manpower requirements of agencies and the need to train personnel in appropriate skills and attitudes.  Such training programs shall be consistent with the rules and regulations issued by the Training Coordination Committee created under LOI No. 754, which shall review and evaluate training activities.

 

 Sec. 27. Programs/Projects Related to Gender and Development. In consultation with the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW),  all departments including their attached agencies, offices, bureaus, state universities and colleges, government-owned and/or controlled corporations and other instrumentalities, shall formulate a GAD Plan, designed to empower women and address gender issues, in accordance with R.A. No. 7192 and the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development (PPGD), 1995-2025.  The cost of implementation of the GAD Plan shall be at least five percent (5%) of the agency’s total FY 2002 appropriations.

 

All concerned government entities shall submit their GAD Plan to the NCRFW for review.  They shall likewise submit annual reports to Congress, the DBM, and the NCRFW, indicating the accomplishments and amounts utilized to implement programs/projects/activities addressing gender issues and women empowerment.  The evaluation of agencies’ utilization of the GAD budget shall be performance-based.

 

In addition to Joint Circular No. 99-4 issued by the NEDA, the DBM and NCRFW, additional sets of guidelines as may be deemed necessary, shall be formulated, for the implementation of GAD-related programs/projects/activities.

 

Sec. 28. Projects Related to Youth.  The NEDA and the DBM, in coordination with the National Youth Commission shall formulate a set of guidelines for the implementation of projects related to youth.

 

All departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, government-owned and/or controlled corporations and local government units shall, in implementation of their plans, programs and projects, provide skills training and employment for the out-of-school youth as well as create summer jobs for students, which shall in no case exceed two (2) months duration.

 

Sec. 29. Programs/Projects Related to Senior Citizens and the Disabled. In support of the Philippine Plan of Action for Older Persons, 1999-2004, all executive departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, commissions, and state universities and colleges shall set aside at least one percent (1%) of their total FY 2002 budget appropriations as cost of implementation thereof, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

 

Sec. 30. Human and Ecological Security Concerns. All departments, bureaus, offices and agencies shall set aside an amount out of their FY 2002 appropriations to be used for projects designed to address human and ecological security concerns.  This Section shall be implemented in accordance with the guidelines jointly issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, DILG and the Commission on Population in coordination with the DBM.

 

Sec. 31. Disability-Related Projects/Facilities for the Handicapped. All government facilities, including infra, non-infra and civil works projects of the government as well as office buildings, streets and highways, shall provide architectural facilities or structural features and designs as shall reasonably enhance the mobility, safety and welfare of persons with disabilities pursuant to B.P. Blg. 344 and R.A. No. 7277.

 

Sec. 32. Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness Projects. Except for the Office of Civil Defense, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology whose basic concerns are disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness projects, all concerned departments, bureaus, offices and agencies are authorized to use their appropriation to implement projects designed to address their disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness concerns pursuant to P.D. No. 1566.  This Section shall be implemented in accordance with the guidelines issued by the National Disaster Coordinating Council in coordination with the DBM.

 

Sec. 33. Contracting Multi-Year Projects.  In the implementation of multi-year projects, no agency shall enter into a multi-year contract without a multi-year Obligational Authority issued by the DBM for the purpose. Notwithstanding the issuance of the multi-year obligational authority, the obligation to be incurred in any given calendar year, shall in no case exceed the amount programmed for implementation during said calendar year.

 

 

PERSONNEL AMELIORATION

 

Sec. 34.  Funding of Personnel Benefits. The personnel benefits costs of government officials and employees shall be charged against the funds from which their compensations are paid. All authorized supplemental or additional compensation, fringe benefits and other personal services costs of officials and employees whose salaries are drawn from special accounts or special funds, such as salary increases, step increment for length of service, incentive and service fees, commutation of vacation and sick leaves, retirement and life insurance premiums, compensation insurance premiums, health insurance premiums, Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) contributions, hospitalization and medical benefits, scholarship and educational benefits, training and seminar expenses, all kinds of allowances, whether commutable or reimbursable, in cash or in kind, and other personnel benefits and privileges authorized by law, including the payment of retirement gratuities, separation pay and terminal leave benefits, shall similarly be charged against the corresponding fund from which their basic salaries  are drawn and in no case shall  such  personnel benefits costs be charged against the General Fund of the National Government. Officials and employees on detail with other offices, including the representatives and support personnel of auditing units assigned to serve other offices or agencies, shall be paid their salaries, emoluments, allowances and the foregoing supplemental compensation, fringe benefits and other personal services costs from the appropriations of their parent agencies, and in no case shall such be charged against the appropriations of the agencies where they are assigned or detailed, except when authorized by law.

 

Sec. 35.  Personnel Benefits Fund. the provisions of Letter of Instructions No. 1102 notwithstanding, the government shares in the compulsory contributions mandated by R.A. No. 8291, R.A. No. 6111, P.D. No. 626, as amended, and R.A. No. 7875, shall be remitted directly by departments, bureaus, offices and agencies, including local government units, to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the HDMF, or the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), as the case may be.

 

Sec. 36.  Authorized Deductions.  Deductions from salaries, emoluments or other benefits accruing to any government employee chargeable against the personal services appropriation authorized in this Act may be allowed for the payment of obligations due the GSIS, HDMF, PHIC and other Government Financial Institutions, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and those specifically allowed by existing laws: PROVIDED, That the agencies and offices with existing deductions arrangements with private lenders and cooperatives shall continue such deductions until the credits/loans outstanding or the premiums of the policies in force at the date of passage of this Act or, December 31, 2001 whichever comes later, shall have been fully paid:  PROVIDED, FURTHER, That such deductions shall not reduce the employee’s monthly net take home pay to an amount lower than Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000.00), after all authorized deductions.  It shall be unlawful for departments, bureaus, offices and agencies to collect any form of service fees for the payment of any obligation through authorized deductions.  (GENERAL OBSERVATION – President’s Veto Message, January 21, 2002, page 1332, R.A. No. 9162)

 

Sec. 37. Year-End Bonus and Cash Gift. The appropriations herein provided for the year-end bonus and cash gift equivalent to one (1) month basic salary and additional cash gift of Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) provided under R.A. No. 6686 as amended by R.A. No. 8441 shall be granted to all national government officials and employees whether under regular, temporary, casual or contractual status, on full-time or part-time basis, who have rendered at least a total of four (4) months of service including leaves of absence with pay in the government from January 1 to October 31 of each year and who are still in the service as of October 31 of the same year: PROVIDED, That one half (1/2) of the amount of said year-end bonus and cash gift may be paid not earlier than  may 1 but not later than May 31 of each year, subject to the implementing rules and regulations issued by the DBM.

 

            Sec. 38.  Travelling Expenses.  Officials and employees of the government may be allowed full payment of claims for reimbursement of travelling and related expenses incurred in the course of official travel, certified by the head of the agency concerned as absolutely necessary in the performance of an assignment and supported by receipts, chargeable to the allotment for travelling expenses, subject to the provisions of E.O. Nos. 248 and 248-a, both series of 1995.

 

Sec. 39. Representation and Transportation Allowances.  The following officials and those of equivalent rank as may be determined by the DBM while in the actual performance of their respective functions are hereby granted monthly commutable representation and transportation allowances payable from the programmed appropriations provided for their respective offices not exceeding the rates indicated below, which shall apply to each type of allowance:

 

a.    At P7,350 for Department Secretaries;

b.   At   P5,700 for Department Undersecretaries;     

c.       At  P4,875 for Department Assistant  Secretaries;

d.   At  P4,150 for Bureau Directors and Department Regional Directors;

e.       At  P3,575 for Assistant Bureau Directors, Department Assistant Regional Directors, Bureau Regional Directors, and Department Service Chiefs;

f.        At P2,950 for Assistant Bureau Regional Directors; and

g.       At  P2,675 for Chief of Divisions, identified as such in the Personal Services Itemization and Plantilla of Personnel.

 

The transportation allowance herein authorized shall not be granted to officials who use government motor transportation.  Unless otherwise provided by law, no amount appropriated in this Act shall be used to pay for representation and/or transportation allowances, whether commutable or reimbursable, which exceed the rates authorized under this Section.  Previous administrative authorizations not consistent with the rates and conditions herein specified shall no longer be valid and payment shall not be allowed.

 

            Sec. 40. Official Vehicles and Transport.  Government motor transportation may be used by the following officials with costs chargeable to the appropriations authorized for their respective offices:

 

a.       The President of the Philippines;

b.       The Vice-President;

c.        The President of  the Senate;

d.       The Speaker of the  House of Representatives;

e.       The Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court;

f.        The Secretaries, Undersecretaries, Assistant secretaries and officials of equivalent rank;

g.       The Presiding Justice of the  Court of Appeals;

h.       Ambassadors, Ministers Plenipotentiary and Consuls in charge of Consulates, in their respective stations abroad;

i.         The Chief of Staff, the Vice-Chief of Staff and the Commanding Generals of the major services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines;

j.         The Heads of Constitutional Commissions, Bureau Regional Directors, Bureau Directors and Department Regional Directors; and

k.    Those who may be specifically authorized by the President of the Philippines, the President of the Senate with respect to the Senate, the Speaker, with respect to the House of Representatives, and the Chief Justice, in the case of the Judiciary.

 

Sec. 41.  Honoraria.  Departments, bureaus, offices or agencies, are authorized to use their respective appropriations for payment of honoraria for services rendered by agency personnel performing activities or discharging duties in addition to or over and above their regular function, researchers, experts and specialists as well as military personnel who render security service to the Congress of the Philippines, and the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,  including their Committees, at such rates as the DBM may authorize, unless otherwise specifically provided by law:  provided, That researchers, experts and specialists hired as consultants and who are paid professional consultancy fees for services rendered shall not be entitled to such honoraria.

 

Sec. 42. Employment of Contractual Personnel.  Heads of departments, bureaus, offices or agencies, when authorized in their respective appropriations provided in this Act, may hire contractual personnel as part of the organization to perform regular agency functions and specific vital activities or services which cannot be provided by the regular or permanent staff of the hiring agency.

 

The contractual personnel employed pursuant to this Section shall be considered as an employee of the hiring agency, limited to the year when their services are reasonably required.

 

Sec. 43. Uniform and Clothing Allowance.  The appropriations herein provided for each department, bureau, office or agency may be used for uniform and clothing allowance of employees at not more than Four Thousand Pesos (P4,000.00) each per annum which may be given in cash or in kind. In case of deficiency, or in the absence of appropriation for the purpose, the requirements may be charged against savings in the appropriations of each department, bureau, office or agency.

 

          the implementation of this section shall be in accordance with the guidelines issued by the DBM.

 

Sec. 44. Special Counsel Allowance.  Lawyer-personnel, including those designated to assume the duties of a legal officer and those deputized by the Office of the Solicitor General in the legal staff of departments, bureaus, offices or agencies of the National Government to appear in Court as special counsel in collaboration with the Solicitor General or Prosecutors concerned are hereby authorized an allowance of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) for each appearance, chargeable to savings in the appropriations of their respective offices, but not exceeding Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000.00)  per month.

 

Sec. 45. Quarters Allowance. Except as may be authorized by law, government officials and employees who, by virtue of their positions, are provided free quarters, furnished quarters, or are charged only nominal rate for the use of government-owned buildings such as dormitories or living quarters in state colleges and universities, schools, offices and elsewhere, shall forfeit their entitlement to any quarters allowance.  Directors or their equivalent who are transferred from one station to another by virtue of agency policies on reshuffling or rotation and do not own rooms, houses or units therein shall be provided free quarters within their office premises.  Where there is not enough space to be used as quarters, the agency concerned may rent buildings or rooms which shall serve as quarters for the officials and employees concerned. 

 

For those who desire more extensive quarters other than those provided by their agencies or by rental in the authorized amount appropriated for the purpose, such preferred quarters may be secured provided that the difference between the rental cost and the amount authorized therefor shall be paid by the officials and employees concerned. Those officials and employees who enjoy free quarters in government-owned buildings but are not entitled to quarters privileges, shall be charged the corresponding cost of rentals therefor subject to the guidelines issued by the DBM for the purpose.

 

Sec. 46. Entitlement to Personnel Economic Relief Allowance.  The Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) in the amount of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) per month shall be granted to the following, except those exempted therefrom: all appointive national and local government employees occupying itemized plantilla positions, to casual and contractual employees and to uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), DILG and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA): PROVIDED, That employees of government-owned and/or controlled corporations (GOCCs) shall be paid from their respective corporate fund:  PROVIDED, FURTHER, That appointive local government employees shall be paid from their respective internal revenue allotment and local funds:  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Local Government Units (LGUs) which can afford to pay higher than the rates authorized in the schedule below for their  particular income class, but not exceeding Five Hundred Pesos (p500.00) per month, shall be allowed to do so at a rate uniformly applied to all their respective personnel entitled to this benefit:

 

                                                                    Provinces/Cities                             Municipalities

                                                                

                                    

Special Cities and 1st Class                                    100%                                90%

 

2nd Class and 3rd Class                                         90%                                  80%

 

4th Class, 5th Class and 6th Class                           80%                                    70%

 

Sec.  47.  Additional Compensation of P500.00 Per Month.  The additional compensation in the amount of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) per month authorized under A.O. No. 53 dated May 17, 1993 shall be granted to all government personnel whether regular personnel or full-time casual, those on temporary status or contractual personnel whose employments are in the nature of a regular employee, chargeable against the appropriations provided for the purpose under this Act:  PROVIDED, That personnel of GOCCs or LGUs shall be paid from their respective corporate or local funds.

 

Sec. 48.  Use of Appropriations for Retirement Gratuity and Terminal Leave. Appropriations authorized in this Act to cover retirement gratuity benefit claims shall be released directly to the offices and agencies concerned.  In no case shall payment be made except on the basis of creditable services as computed by the GSIS in accordance with the provisions of existing retirement laws.  Unless otherwise authorized by law, no amount appropriated in this Act shall be used for payment of retirement gratuity under the provisions of Section 12(c) of C.A. No. 186, as amended by R.A. No. 1616 and terminal leave benefits of retiring officials and employees which include in the computation thereof additional compensation as defined under retirement laws such as bonuses, per diems, allowances and overtime pay, or salary, pay or compensation given in addition to the base pay of the position or rank as fixed by law or regulation.

 

          Savings generated in one department, bureau, office or agency shall be used to augment deficient funds in other departments, bureaus, offices or agencies.

 

         

The implementation of this section shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations jointly issued by the CSC and the DBM.

 

Sec. 49.  Unauthorized Pre-Retirement Promotions and Salary Increases.  No portion of the appropriations provided in this Act shall be used for automatic promotions or for salary increases and adjustments granted to retiring officials and employees, which are not authorized by law and duly formalized in an appropriate issuance by the DBM.

 

The implementation of this Section shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations jointly issued by the CSC and the DBM.

 

            Sec. 50. Personal Liability of Officials for Payment of Unauthorized Personal Services Cost.  No official or employee of the National Government, including those of GOCCs, shall be paid any unauthorized personal services benefits charged against the appropriations in this Act, other appropriations laws or income of the government.

 

        The payment of any unauthorized personal services benefit in violation of this Section is null and void.  The erring officials and employees as determined by the COA and other competent authority shall be subject to disciplinary action under the provisions of Section 43, Chapter 5 and Section 80, Chapter 7, Book VI of E.O. No. 292 and to appropriate criminal action under existing penal laws.

     

CHANGES IN EXPENDITURE ITEMS

 

          Sec. 51. Modification of Expenditure Components.  Unless specifically authorized in this Act, no change or modification shall be made in the expenditure items authorized in this Act and other appropriations laws unless in cases of augmentations from savings in appropriations as authorized under Section 25(5), Article VI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

 

            Sec. 52.  Fiscal Discipline Measures in Government Operations.  All departments, bureaus, offices and agencies including Local Government Units (LGUs) and Government-Owned and/or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) are hereby encouraged to implement fiscal discipline  measures and to review their respective expenditure programs approved pursuant to Section 34, Chapter 5, Book VI of  E.O. No. 292, in order to minimize the implementation of ineffective programs and the undertaking of low priority projects and activities.

 

            The rules and regulations to implement this Section shall be issued by the DBM, subject to the approval of the President.

 

            The Judicial and Legislative branches of government may institute their own respective fiscal discipline measures.

 

           

Sec.  53.  Use of Savings.  The President of the Philippines, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Heads of Constitutional Commissions under Article IX of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the Ombudsman, and the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights are hereby authorized to augment any item in this Act for their respective offices from savings in other items of their respective appropriations.

 

Sec. 54.  Meaning of Savings and Augmentation.  Savings refer to portions or balances of any programmed appropriation in this Act free of any obligation or encumbrance still available after the completion or final discontinuance or abandonment of the work, activity or purpose for which the appropriation is authorized, or arising from unpaid compensation and related costs pertaining to vacant positions and leaves of absence without pay.

 

           Augmentation implies the existence in this Act of an item, project, activity or purpose with an appropriation which upon implementation or subsequent evaluation of needed resources is determined to be deficient.  In no case, therefore, shall a non-existent item, project, activity, purpose or object of expenditure be funded by augmentation from savings or by the use of appropriations authorized otherwise in this Act.

 

Sec.  55.  Priority in the Use of Savings. In the use of savings, priority shall be given to the augmentation of the amounts set aside for compensation, year-end bonus and cash gift, retirement gratuity, terminal leave benefit, old-age pension of veterans and other personnel benefits authorized by law and those expenditure items authorized in agency Special Provisions and in section 16 and in other sections of the General Provisions of this Act.

 

Sec. 56.  Use of Savings for the Implementation of the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers.  In case of deficiency in the funds needed to implement the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers pursuant to R.A. No. 7305, the requirements shall be charged against savings in the appropriations authorized for each department, bureau, office or agency concerned, subject to the guidelines to be jointly prescribed by the Department of Health and the DBM.

 

               Sec. 57.  Augmentation of Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) Items.  agencies may augment an item of expenditure within MOOE, except intelligence and confidential fund as specified in object code 19, from savings in other items of MOOE without prior approval of the DBM.

 

sec. 58. Realignment/Relocation of Capital Outlays. The amount appropriated in this act for acquisition, construction, replacement, rehabilitation and completion of various capital outlays may be realigned/relocated in cases of imbalanced allocation of projects within the district, duplication of projects, overlapping of funding source and similar cases: PROVIDED, That such realignment/relocation of capital outlays shall be done only upon prior consultation with the representative of the legislative district concerned.

 

Sec. 59. Realignment of Foreign-Assisted Projects.  The amount appropriated in this Act for the implementation of foreign-assisted projects, including loan proceeds and local counterpart, shall not be realigned except to other foreign-assisted projects.

 

Sec. 60.  Electronic Interconnection through the Internet and E-Commerce Application.   Departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the government, including goccs, may use existing appropriations to install an electronic “on-line” network to facilitate the open, speedy and efficient electronic “on-line” transmission conveyance and use of electronic data messages or electronic documents consistent with R.A. No. 8792, the E-Commerce Act.  The appropriations to be made available for the E-Commerce application may be used in the acquisition of computer equipment, preferably on a lease basis whenever applicable and more cost efficient, and for additional upgrading of hardware components, peripherals and software, subject to the provisions of E.O. No. 262, s. 2000: PROVIDED, That such acquisition shall be consistent with the approved Information Systems Strategic Plan of the agency: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the Electronic Procurement System (EPS) shall be used as the primary source of information on government procurement of common-used supplies, goods and equipment,  pursuant to E.O. No. 322, s. 2000.

 

Sec. 61.  Availability of Appropriations. Appropriations for capital outlays authorized in this Act shall be available for release and obligation for the purpose specified and under the same special provisions applicable thereto for a period extending to one fiscal year after the end of the year in which such items were appropriated: PROVIDED, That a report of these releases and obligations shall be submitted to the Senate Committee on Finance and to the House Committee on Appropriations.