Legislative Protocol (Attendance and Participation in Meetings and Travels)

May 16, 2014 BLGF MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 022-14 TO : BLGF Central and Regional Directors of This Bureau and All Others Concerned SUBJECT : Legislative Protocol (Attendance and Participation in Meetings and Travels) For the information and guidance of all concerned, attached is a copy of the Memorandum dated March 11, 2014 of Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, Department of Finance, regarding the abovementioned subject. The Central and Regional Offices are hereby instructed to take note of the above-Memorandum and disseminate the contents thereof to all Bureau Staff and others concerned. Please be guided accordingly. (SGD.) SALVADOR M. DEL CASTILLO OIC-Executive Director ATTACHMENT Department of Finance MEMORANDUM FOR : All Heads of DOF Offices: International Finance Group Privatization Group & Office of Special Concerns Corporate Affairs Group Domestic Finance Group Revenue Operations & Legal Affairs Group Policy Development & Management Services Group All Heads of Attached Bureaus and Agencies FROM : Secretary CESAR V. PURISIMA SUBJECT : LEGISLATIVE PROTOCOL DATE : March 11, 2014 This Memorandum is hereby issued to underscore the priority that DOF Officials should give to attendance and participation in Congressional hearings over other meetings and all travels. aATESD In this connection, the following should be ensured: 1. Appropriate representation by the DOF and its attached agencies and bureaus is scheduled public hearings at all times In Senate and House hearings of priority bills and important legislative measures, the DOF should be represented by its Undersecretaries and concerned Heads of attached bureaus/agencies. For reference, attached is the list of DOF priority measures and Economic Development Cluster (EDC) legislative priorities which should be given preferential attention. These include but are not limited to the implementation of the Sin Tax Reform, Income Tax amendments, Fiscal incentives and TIMTA reforms, Taxation of Mining, Anti-smuggling, Customs Modernization, implementation of the Lateral Attrition law and the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), as well as Privatization and Financing measures, and budget hearings. Please be guided, too, by the following areas of responsibilities within DOF: IFG: debts/borrowings, treaties, ODAs, Yolanda financing Privatization Group: asset-related concerns, BOT/PPP issues Corporate Affairs Group: GOCC/GFI concerns Domestic Finance Group: revenue program, tax and non tax policies, microfinance Revenue Operations Group: IRRs, BIR/BOC structure and reforms, all proposals with legal implications All (including PDMSG): DOF budget 2. For hearings of other bills (non-priority bills), the Assistant Secretary or at least the Director, and their equivalent position in concerned attached bureaus and agencies, should represent the DOF. 3. The position and comments of the Department should be discussed and cleared with the Secretary prior to attendance in the Congressional hearings and TWG meetings. 4. Concerned officials must report back to the Secretary on vital points raised during the hearings, especially those needed future action and decision. The Legislative Liaison Unit in DFG (under Usec Paul) is directed to ensure proper dissemination of information regarding congressional hearings and requirements of the different legislative committees among DOF offices, including attached agencies and bureaus. They shall also ensure appropriate representation in all hearings by officials of attached agencies and bureaus. OSec should also be informed of the names of DOF representatives at least one day before the actual hearing dates. EHSTDA Thank you. Priority Legislative Measures 16th Congress DOF Proposed Legislative Agenda EDC Priority Bills 1. Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal 1. Removing Investment Restrictions in Regime Specific Laws cited in the Foreign Investment Negative List 2. Fiscal Incentives Reform 2. Amendments to RA 7718 or the Build- Operate-Transfer Law 3. Customs Modernization and Tariff Act 3. Transparency and Accountability in the (CMTA) Administration of Fiscal Incentives (TIMTA) 4. Valuation Reform Act (VRA) 4. Repealing the Incentive Provisions of Certain Industry and Sectors 5. An Act Establishing the Income Re- 5. An Act Amending RA 8974 An Act Classification of Provinces, Cities and to Facilitate the Acquisition of Right-of- Municipalities Way, Site or Location for a National Government Infrastructure 6. Fiscal Autonomy for BIR and BOC 6. Amendments to the Cabotage Law 7. Abolition of the Community Tax and 7. Amendments to the BSP Charter Implementation of the Idle Land Tax 8. BIR-BOC Service Examinations 8. The Revised Consumer Act of the Philippines 9. Amendments to the Corporation Code 9. Philippine Fiscal Regime and Revenue Sharing Arrangement for Large-scale Metallic Mining Act of 2014 10. Amendments to the Securities Regulation Code (SRC) 11. Closed Bank Liquidation Act (CBLA) 12. Strengthening PDIC through: Full Legal Protection for PDIC; Autonomy (Fiscal and Governance); Repeal of Letter of Instructions (LOI) No. 1302 13. BOT Law Amendments 14. BSP Charter Amendments