SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT
19th Congress

RA 11982: EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE CENTENARIANS ACT 

This law is Sen. Bong Revilla Jr.’s campaign promise turned into reality. The senior citizen sector is very close to his heart and so he made it his mission to ensure that no matter the obstacles, this vision will come to fruition.

The law honors the Filipino trait of compassion for elderly. It expands the coverage of the Centenarians Act of 2016 to the octogenarians and nonagenarians by providing PhP 10,000 cash incentives for seniors aged 80, 85, 90 and 95 years old. To facilitate a smooth and swift implementation, it mandates the extensive registration of all senior citizens in the country through an Elderly Data Management System.

RA 11984: NO PERMIT, NO EXAM PROHIBITION ACT

Understanding the plight of students who are financially challenged, Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. continues to advocate for their rights by ensuring that they have access to education which is still the key which opens many doors of opportunities. For Senator Revilla, education should not be beyond the reach of the Filipino youth especially because it is the wings that allow their dreams to soar high.

The law mandates that all educational institutions allow disadvantaged students who are unable to settle their tuition and other fees to take the periodic and final examinations without requiring an exam permit. The Department of Social Welfare and Development is tasked to issue the necessary certificate on the "disadvantaged status" due to calamities and other "justifiable reasons.” 

To strike the balance, the law recognizes the right of the institutions to require a promissory note, withhold credentials and other legal and administrative remedies available to them to collect unpaid fees.

To ensure strict compliance, those found violating this act shall be penalized with an "administrative sanctions.”

RA 11983: NEW PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT 

The law which repealed the Passport Law of 1996, institutionalizes the digital application for the Philippine passports and aims to improve the services in securing the travel documents by streamlining applications for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), among others. 

Essentially, the law not only streamlines processes, but makes them convenient and accessible. Under RA 11983, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is tasked to set up an online application portal and one-stop shop, including special lanes for senior citizens, among others, that is “readily accessible on its official website to facilitate convenience in complying with the requirements.” Also, it allows the DFA to set up offsite and mobile passport services outside of its consular offices and foreign service posts.

RA 11956:  EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF AVAILMENT OF ESTATE TAX AMNESTY

This law seeks to encourage the processing of unsettled estates. In a way, it gives the estates the opportunity to make good with their tax obligations at the new uniform rate of 6%, while ensuring that the State is able to collect.

The law extended the deadline of availment of the estate tax amnesty for another two years or until June 14, 2025. It also extends the coverage of the amnesty to the estates of persons who passed away on or before May 31, 2022.

Ultimately, it hits two birds with one stone: estates will be given the opportunity to settle payments and not face penalties, as the State continues to collect revenue as the lifeblood of the government.

RA 11934: SUBSCRIBER IDENTITY MODULE (SIM) REGISTRATION ACT

With the advent of technology, we realize how it has become a double-edged sword. While it helps in making certain activities more convenient, it has also opened the floodgates to abuse and exploitation to the detriment of the people.

This is what pushed Sen. Revilla to support this move to require sim registration in order to give protection to the people who have become vulnerable to scams which, in some unfortunate instances, suck their life savings dry.

This law thus aims to cure some of these evils, and safeguard consumers against fraudulent practices, including scams and other forms of online and mobile fraud,  that have been prevalent with unregistered SIM cards.

It requires SIM users, current and new, to register their SIMs with their current carriers before using them for mobile internet, calls, and texts.

RA 11958: RATIONALIZING THE DISABILITY PENSION OF VETERANS

Among the advocacies of Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. is paying tribute to the heroes who fought for the freedoms we are able to enjoy today. 

The law significantly increased the monthly disability pension received by veterans who were disabled due to sickness, disease or injuries sustained in the line of duty, particularly those who were receiving the highest disability benefit of PhP 1,700, under Republic Act 6948, to PhP 10,000. 

It also provides that a veteran, upon reaching the age of 70, is “deemed disabled and shall be entitled to a monthly pension of PhP 1,700.”

RA 11959: REGIONAL SPECIALTY CENTERS ACT 

Healthcare is among the legislative priorities of Sen. Revilla. His dream is to not only make it healthcare affordable, but accessible especially to our citizens who reside in far-flung areas. 

With this law, the Department of Health (DOH) is thus mandated to establish specialty centers in its hospitals in every region and in Government-owned and controlled corporation specialty hospitals, prioritizing cancer care, cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spine care, trauma care and burn care, orthopedic care, physical rehabilitation medicine, infectious disease and tropical medicine, toxicology, mental health, geriatric care, among others.  

It links the establishment of these centers with adherence to set DOH guidelines on planning and prioritizing health facilities based on the upgrading of hospitals, evidence of the health needs and demands, existing service capability of hospitals and geographic or physical access. 

RA 11960: OTOP PHILIPPINES ACT OF 2023

The Philippines is an archipelago of thousands of islands - each with its own unique offerings. His regular interactions with different provinces all over the country has given Sen. Revilla not a “taste” of these offerings which made him realize how truly important it is to highlight them so that many more could appreciate them, and thus boost both tourism and economic progress.

With this law, the One Town, One Product (OTOP) program is institutionalized which further promotes local products and capacitates the micro, small and medium enterprises through developing indigenous raw materials, utilizing local talents, and featuring local traditions.

It addresses gaps in entrepreneurial skills, market compliance to preserve the OTOP brand as a mark of excellence, and access to both local and foreign markets. It likewise tasks the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to serve as the lead agency in setting the criteria for OTOP products that are consistent with cultural values, derived sources from the community, exemplify Filipinos' creativity, among many others.

RA 11939: STRENGTHENING PROFESSIONALISM IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (AMENDING RA 11709)

Sen. Revilla has always given reverence and respect to our valiant soldiers who stand by the line of fire to provide security to our nation. And in this light, he’s been very supportive of moves which aim to enhance and boost our AFP.

The law aims to ensure continuity in policies and programs, while also strengthening meritocracy in the military. It amends the tour of duty for key military officials, while also increasing the maximum tenure-in-grade for officers. Furthermore, it mandates that the number of generals in the AFP will be 1.25% of total officer strength under the AFP Table of Organization. 

It also increases the compulsory retirement age for officers, from 56 years old to 57, or upon completing 30 years of satisfactory active duty, whichever comes later.  In effect, it repeals the provision in RA 11709 for forced attrition of enlisted personnel.

RA 11961: AMENDING RA 10066 (NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE ACT OF 2009) 

For Sen. Revilla, culture is the unique offering of our country to the world which is so distinctly Filipino. In order to promote culture, there is a need to protect and preserve it.

 Therefore, this law institutionalizes the practice of cultural mapping in localities and the development of the Philippine Registry of Heritage - among the flagship programs of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA). It includes the protection of sites, properties and elements inscribed and recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization programs, i.e. the World Heritage Site, Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Memory of the World Register, among others.

RA 11964: AUTOMATIC INCOME CLASSIFICATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS ACT

Having been a governor once in his life, Sen. Revilla understands the significance of local autonomy which allows Local Government Units (LGUs) to charter their own destinies. 

This law thus institutionalizes the automatic income classification of LGUs to enact a more responsive approach to promoting local autonomy and enabling LGUs to The LGU income classification will be the basis for the identification of administrative and statutory aids, financial grants and other forms of assistance to LGUs, among others.

RA 11965: CAREGIVER'S WELFARE ACT

Healthcare, as one of the advocacies of Sen. Revilla, relies heavily on the workforce behind it. And as such, Sen. Revilla continues to support all measures that empowers and protects healthcare workers who are considered as the pillars of our healthcare system.

Among these healthcare workers are caregivers, and under this law, the State recognizes its obligation to protect their towards a decent employment free from abuse, violence and economic exploitation. It covers all the caregivers employed and working within the country in private homes, nursing facilities and other settings, and whether directly hired by the employer or through an agency. It provides that their working hours will be specified on their contract and entitles them to an overtime pay for work beyond the daily eight-working hours, night shift differential with minimum wage not less than the applicable minimum wage in the region, as well as a 13th month pay provided they have  rendered at least one month of service, and a leave credit of at least five days with pay for those who have rendered at least one year of service. 

Furthermore, it mandates the provision  of  statutory benefits such as Social Security, PhilHealth, Pag-Ibig, and all benefits in accordance with the pertinent provisions provided by law. It empowers them to terminate their contract at any time before its expiration if they are suffering from any forms of abuse.

RA 11966: PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES 

As the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Works, Sen. Revilla has a profound understanding of fostering a healthy and collaborative partnership between the State and the private sector towards providing essential government services to the people. 

Under this law, all prior statutes related to Public-Private Partnership (PPP) under a comprehensive law by clarifying ambiguities in the previous legislations are codified.

In effect, the Code aims to finance infrastructure and development projects through all available means, including alternative financial instruments. The Code endeavors to create an environment for the private sector to mobilize resources for financing, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining these projects. 

It broadens scope of covered agreements, standardizes threshold for PPP projects, recognizes the autonomy of local government units in approving PPP projects, streamline framework for solicited and unsolicited proposals, delineates investment recovery schemes, institutionalized the PPP Governing Board, strengthens of the PPP Center, establishes of the Project Development and Monitoring Facility, and the creates of a Risk Management Fund.  

Essentially, this measure will encourage this partnership so the State can provide its best in its services which will be beneficial to our countrymen who will enjoy the benefits we may reap from these services.

RA 11981: TATAK PINOY (PROUDLY FILIPINO) ACT

Sen. Revilla has always espoused to hold in high esteem the Filipino brand of uniqueness. He has always pushed for measures which will make us not only proud of our country, but make our offerings truly world-class.

Under this law, this vision is realized by mandating the formulation, funding implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of a comprehensive multi-year Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) strategy establishing a Tatak Pinoy Council (TPC). 

It aims to support the creation and sale of Philippine-made goods and make them globally competitive. It endeavors to achieve genuine local preference, access to financing for domestic enterprises, market access, green lanes, efficient VAT refunds implementation and a TPC - serving as the policy advisor of the President. It ultimately envisions helping micro, small and medium enterprises recover from pandemic losses through continued support to locally-produced commodities. 

RA 11953: CONDONATION OF THE AGRARIAN REFORM DEBT

Sen. Revilla values farmers as the backbone of our agriculture sector. 

Under the law, 610, 054 stand to benefit through the condonation of the loans, including interests, penalties and surcharges incurred by Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from land awarded to them. It covers an estimated 1.173 million hectares of land that will benefit around more than 600,000 ARBs who incurred an estimated PHP 57.55 billion in unpaid amortizations. It provides exemption from payment of estate tax and mandatory inclusion in the Registry System of Basic Sectors in Agriculture to give them easier access to support services of the Department of Agriculture.

RA 11962: TRABAHO PARA SA BAYAN ACT

At the heart of Sen. Revilla’s advocacies is social justice which espouses not only equality but equity. For him, social justice can be realized only when all are given doors of opportunities that will capacitate them to reach their goals and dreams in life. But this cannot be done if job opportunities are beyond their reach, and this is exactly what the law seeks to cure.

The law recognizes the importance of whole-of-government initiatives in providing job opportunities for Filipinos and addressing variabilities in the labor market. It institutionalizes a National Employment Master Plan to promote job-led economic growth and enhanced industry collaboration, provide overall services for worker development, and push for support and incentives to businesses. The master plan shall include initiatives for supporting micro, small and medium enterprises, worker upskilling, employer incentives, youth employment, and reintegration of overseas Filipino workers. It established the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Inter-Agency Council, which will monitor, review, and evaluate the implementation of the components of the plan.

RA 11967: INTERNET TRANSACTIONS ACT OF 2023

Sen. Revilla has always been vocal about providing safety nets in order to protect consumers from the vulnerabilities brought about by technology and the internet.

With this law, aregulatory framework within the e-commerce ecosystem is institutionalized in order to build trust in eCommerce and protect both consumers and merchants. 

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) acts as the focal agency over internet transactions and authorizes them to issue compliance orders against violators, subpoena, the take down order of websites, including the blacklisting of online businesses. It mandates the DTI through the e-commerce bureau to create an online business database providing government and consumers access to information of online businesses. The bureau shall endeavor to establish an e-commerce trust mark in coordination with the private sector and maintain a government-wide online consumer complaint tracking system. It sets liabilities of online merchants, e-retailers, e-marketplaces and digital platforms, including corresponding penalties.

RA 11985: PHILIPPINE SALT INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ACT

Self-reliance has always been Sen. Revilla’s dream for our country. Over the years, the salt industry of our country has been struggling, and so he found it truly necessary to support the enactment of measures that will revitalize it.

Under the law, a comprehensive Philippine Salt Industry Development Roadmap is established, aligned with the continued implementation of Republic Act 8172, or “An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide”, to implement programs and interventions for the development, management, research, utilization, business modernization and commercialization of the Philippine salt. 

It covers the technology, research, marketing, and other support services for salt farmers, which will ultimately help the industry improve their  production and attain salt-sufficiency. It establishes the Philippine Salt Industry Development Council, headed by the Department of Agriculture, to ensure the implementation of the roadmap.

RA 11935:  POSTPONING THE DECEMBER 2022 BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS

Sen. Revilla has always stressed the need to hear and honor the wishes of the electorate. 

Under the law the law, the 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections has been reset from December 2022 to October 2023. It stipulates that the next elections would be every three years. It was later declared unconstitutional.

RA 11963: SENATOR MIRIAM P. DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO AVENUE (QUEZON CITY)

The law renamed the Agham Road and the BIR Road as Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue, in honor of one of the greatest Filipino who have served excellently in all the three branches of the government.

RA 11987: PRESIDENT CARLOS P. GARCIA CIRCUMFERENTIAL ROAD (TAGBILARAN, BOHOL)

The law renamed the Bohol Island Circumferential Road as The President Carlos P. Garcia Circumferential Road which traverses through Barangay Poblacion III, towards north of Tagbilaran City and returns to the same barangay from the eastern side of the city.

RA 11988: AMBASSADOR EDUARDO ''DANDING'' M. COJUANGCO JR. AVENUE (BYPASS ROAD, URDANETA CITY)

The law renamed the Urdaneta City Bypass Road to Ambassador Eduardo ‘Danding’ M. Cojuangco Jr. Avenue which traverses the Barangays of Nancayasan, Santo Domingo, Santa Lucia, Camantiles, and Anonas of Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. 

RA 11989: MARIANO LLUCH BADELLES SR. BRIDGE (TAMBACAN, ILIGAN CITY, NORTHERN MINDANAO REGION)

The law renamed the Tambacan Bridge to Mariano Lluch Badelles Sr. Bridge in recognition of the first elected Iligan city mayor and former representative of Lanao del Norte who was responsible in the establishment of a two-lane bridge crossing Iligan River in Barangay Tambacan.

RA 11990: SPEAKER ARNULFO ''NOLI'' FUENTEBELLA HIGHWAY (CAMARINES SUR)

The law named a national highway in the Province of Camarines Sur as the Speaker Arnulfo ‘Noli’ Fuentebella Highway which stretches from Barangay San Juan Bautista, traversing through Barangays Tagongtong, Abucayan, Hiwacloy, Digidigon, Balaynan, and Payatan in the Municipality of Goa, Barangays Lupi, Tierra Nevada, Binalay, Camagong, Salvacion, San Roque, San Ramon, Sagrada, La Medalla, Magsaysay, and San Vicente in the Municipality of Tinambac and Barangay Nalayahan in the Municipality of Siruma.

RA 11991: FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICES (CEBU LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS)

The law repealed Republic Acts 9043 and 9218 to re-number Cebu City’s first, second, third, and fourth district engineering offices in order to conform and correspond, respectively, with the numbering of the legislative districts in the Province of Cebu. It also clarifies that each district engineering office shall serve the cities and municipalities under the respective legislative district.

RA 11992: DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE IN THE SECOND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT (LEYTE)

The law establishes the Southern Leyte Second District Engineering Office in Sogod, Southern Leyte. The new engineering office will cater to the public work demand of  the municipalities of Anahawan, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Libagon, Liloan, Pintuyan, St. Bernard, San Francisco, San Juan, San Ricardo, Silago, and Sogod. 

RA-11938: CHARTER OF THE CITY OF CARMONA

The law converted the municipality of Carmona into a component city of Cavite province, making it the 8th City in the Province. The conversion is expected to improve their capability to attract more industries in their locality, increase its pace of development, and hopefully improve the lives of its residents.

RA 11946: MARIANO GOMES NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL (BARANGAY TABING DAGAT, BACOOR CITY, PROVINCE OF CAVITE)

The law established the Bacoor National High School - Tabing Dagat Annex as an independent national high school, providing appropriation for its operations and renamed it as Mariano Gomes National High School, in honor of one the three martyr- priests, GomBurZa.