OVERVIEW OF

THE
PHILIPPINE
LEGISLATIVE
SYSTEM
STATUTES ENACTED
BY THE LEGISLATIVE
BODIES OF THE
PHILIPPINES
 LEGISLATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

• 1. ACTS (Public Act)

• These are statutes that have been enacted by the following:

• PHILIPPINE COMMISSION
• PHILIPPINE LEGISLATURE
• PHILIPPINE ASSEMBLY

• In the year 1932, laws and statutes enacted by the legislative body of the Philippine
legislature were called Acts.
• e.g. Act No. 3827 declaring the last Sunday of August of every year as an official holiday
to be known as National Heroes Day. Approved on October 28, 2001
 LEGISLATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

2. COMMONWEALTH ACTS (C.A.)

• These are statutes that have been enacted by the following:
• National Assemblies (1st and 2nd) from 1935 to 1941
• Commonwealth Congresses (1st and 2nd) from 1944 to 1946

• e.g. Commonwealth Act No. 616, an act to punish espionage and other offenses against
the national security section.
 LEGISLATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

3. REPUBLIC ACTS (R.A.)

• These are statutes that have been enacted by the following:
• Congress of the Philippines

• e.g. Republic Act 386 or the Civil Code of the Philippines

4. PRESIDENTIAL DECREES (P.D.)
• These are statutes that have been enacted by the following:
• President Ferdinand Marcos during the period of Martial Law
• President Corazon Aquino during the period of Interregnum and Freedom Constitution

• e.g. Presidential Decree 1152 or the Philippine Environment Code

LEGISLATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

5. BATAS PAMBANSA (B.P.)

• These are statutes that have been enacted by the following:
• Interim Batasang Pambansa
• Regular Batasang Pambansa

• e.g. Batasang Pambansa Bilang 22 or the Anti-Bouncing Check Law

6. EXECUTIVE ORDERS (E.O.)
• These are statutes that have been enacted by the:
• President of the Philippines

• e.g. Executive Order No. 292, an order that instituted Administrative Code of 1987
Period Legislative Authority Name of Statutes Number of Statutes Enacted

1900-1935 Philippine Commission, Acts 4,275

Philippine Assembly,
Philippine Legislative

1935-1941 National Assembly, Commonwealth Acts 733

Congress

1946-1972 Congress Republic Acts 6,635

1972-1986 Marcos as Legislator under Martial Law, Presidential Decrees 2,036

Batasang Pambansa (1978-1986)    
Batas Pambansa 891

1986-1987 President Aquino as Legislator in the Revolutionary Executive Orders 302

Government

1987-Present Congress Republic Acts 2,524

 LIST OF CODES ENACTED BY PHILIPPINE LEGISLATURE

• Codigo de Comercio Royal Decree December 01, 1888

• Corporation Law Act 1459 April 01, 1906
• Administrative Code of 1917 Act No. 711, as amended October 01, 1917
• Revised Penal Code Act No. 3815 December 08, 1930
• National Internal Revenue Com. Act No. 466, June 15, 1939
Code of the Philippines as amended
• Revised Election Code RA 180 June 21, 1947
• Civil Code of the Philippines RA 386 June 18, 1949
 LIST OF CODES ENACTED BY PHILIPPINE
LEGISLATURE
• Tariff and Customs Code RA 1937June 22, 1957
• Argicultural Land Reform Code RA 3844, as amended August 08, 1963
• Land Transportation and RA 4136June 20, 1964
Traffic Code
• Election Code 1971 RA 6389September 10, 1971
• Code of Agrarian Reform RA 6389September 10, 1971
• National Building Code of RA 6541August 26, 1972
The Philippines
 LIST OF CODES ENACTED BY PHILIPPINE
LEGISLATURE
• Amending Tarif and Customs Code PD 34 October 27, 1972
• Local Tax Code PD 231, as amended June 28, 1973
• Forestry Reform Code PD 389 February 05, 1974
• Labor Code of the Philippines PD 442, as amended May 01, 1974
• Real Property Tax Code PD 454, as amended May 23, 1974
• Child and Youth Welfare Code PD 603, as amended December 10, 1974
• Insurance Code of the Phils. PD 612 December 18, 1974
 LIST OF CODES ENACTED BY PHILIPPINE
LEGISLATURE
• Revised Forestry Code PD 705 May 19, 1975
• Code of Sanitation of the Phils. PD 856 December 13, 1975
• Land Transportation and Traffic Code PD 896 January 26, 1977
• Coconut Industry Code PD 961 July 14, 1976
• Land Transportation and Traffic Code PD 1057 November 30, 1976
• Water Code of the Philippines PD 1067 December 31, 1976
• Code of Personal Muslim Law
of the Philippines PD 1083 February 04, 1977
 LIST OF CODES ENACTED BY PHILIPPINE
LEGISLATURE
• National Building Code, as amended PD 1096 February 19, 1977
• Philippine Environment Code PD 1152 June 06, 1977
• Fire Code of the Philippines PD 1185 August 26, 1977
• Tariff and Customs Code PD 1464, as amended June 11, 1978
• Insurance Code on
Mutualization of Stock Life
Insurance Companies PD 1280 January 06, 1978
 LIST OF CODES ENACTED BY PHILIPPINE
LEGISLATURE
• Election Code of 1978 PD 1296February 07, 1978
• Government Auditing Code of

the Philippines PD 1445June 11, 1978

• Tariff and Customs Code PD 1464June 11, 1978
• Tariff and Customs Code PD 1498June 11, 1978
• Insurance Code of 1978 PD 1460June 11, 1978
• Insurance Code PD 1455June 11, 1978
• Corporation Code of the Phils. BP Blg 68 May 01, 1980
 LIST OF CODES ENACTED BY PHILIPPINE
LEGISLATURE
• Land Transportation and
Traffic Code PD 1814 January 11, 1981
• Land Transportation and
Traffic Code PD 1934 June 11, 1984
• Omnibus Election Code BP Blg 881 December 03, 1985
• National Code of Marketing
Of Breast Milk Substitute EO 51 October 20, 1986
 LIST OF CODES ENACTED BY PHILIPPINE
LEGISLATURE
• Family Code of the PhilippinesEO 209, as amended By EO 22July 17, 1987
• Administrative Code of 1987 EO 292 July 25, 1987
• Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law RA 6657 June 10, 1988
• Code of Conduct and Ethical
Standards for Public Officials
And Employees RA 6713 April 21, 1989
• Cooperative Code of the Phils. RA 6938 March 10, 1990
 LIST OF CODES ENACTED BY PHILIPPINE
LEGISLATURE
• Local Government Code Of 1991 RA 7160 October 10, 1991
• Omnibus Investment Code EO 226 February 17, 1995
• Intellectual Property Code RA 8293 June 06, 1997
• Tax Reform Act of 1997 RA 8424 December 11, 1997
• Flag and Heraldic Code of the Phils. RA 8491 February 12, 1998
• Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 RA 8550 February 25, 1998
 LIST OF CODES ENACTED BY PHILIPPINE
LEGISLATURE
• Revised National Plumbing
Code of the Philippines Resolution No 04-99 September 30, 1999
• The Securities Regulation Code RA 8799 July 19, 2000
 LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

PROPOSAL AND SUGGESTION FROM THE PRESIDENT, GOVERNMENT

AGENCIES, PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, INTEREST GROUP AND LEGISLATORS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ACTION ON BILL SENATE

H.B 1. BILL FILLED WITH THE SECRETARY GENERAL S.B

2. A BILL FILLED IN THE HOUSE IS LABLELED H.B.;
AND A BILL FILLED IN THE SENATE IS LABELED S.B.
 FIRST READING 1. READING OF TITLE/AUTHORS FIRST READING
2. REFERRAL TO APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
COMMITTEE WILL STUDY AND RECOMMEND

IF ACTION IS FAVORABLE, A REPORT IS IF UNFAVORABLE, BILL IS LAID ON THE

SUBMITTED THROUGH COMMITTEE ON TABLE (AUTHORS INFORMED)
RULES
COMMITTEE ON RULES
INCLUDES BILL IN CALENDAR OF BUSINESS
SECOND READING 1. SPONSORSHIP SECOND READING
2. PERIOD OF DEBATE
3. PERIOD OF AMMENDMENTS

VOTING

FAVORABLE UNFAVORABLE TRANSMIT TO ARCHIVES

THIRD READING 1. DISTRIBUTION OF BILL IN FINAL FORM THIRD READING
2. ROLL CALL VOTE
 

APPROVED DISAPPROVED TRANSMIT TO ARCHIVES

TRANSMITTAL FOR ACTION

 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SENATE
 BICAMERAL CONFERENCE
COMMITTEE
• IN CASE OF CONFLICTING PROVISIONS, RECONCILE
DIFFERENCES

RATIFICATION OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

1. BILL PRINTED IN ENGROSSED FORM
2. ENROLMENT OF BILL
 PRESIDENTIAL
ACTION

APPROVAL VETO

BILL RETURNED TO
IF NO ACTION ON BILL WITHIN 30 DAYS
ORIGINATING HOUSE
AFTER RECEIPT, BILL LAPSES INTO LAW
WITH EXPLANATION
 OVERRIDE OF VETO BY
2/3 VOTE OF BOTH
HOUSES

THE ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT 15 DAYS AFTER

PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE OR IN
AT LEAST TWO (2) NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF
GENERAL CIRCULATION
END OF REPORT
THANK YOU! RONACIN MAY M AQUINO
PRESENTER-LEGAL RESEARCH 1