WHEREAS, there is a pressing need to provide honoraria to the members of the Technical Working Group, the Secretariat and the various personnel of the Special Committee on Naturalization who are responsible for implementing R.A. No. 9139 and whose duties and functions include: receiving and recording petitions for naturalization, conducting the interviews and evaluation of applicants for naturalization and their witnesses, assessing and determining the authenticity and truthfulness of the statements and declarations made in the petitions and supporting documents, and performance of such other duties which are necessary for the full and faithful implementation of the provisions of R.A. No. 9139;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 47 (Honoraria) of the General Appropriations Act, FY 2005, departments, bureaus, offices or agencies are authorized to use their respective appropriations for payment of honoraria to "(c) Chairs and members of commissions, boards, councils, and other similar entities, including the personnel thereof, who are not paid salaries nor per diem but compensated in the form of honoraria as provided by law, rules and regulations";

WHEREAS, said members of the Technical Working Group, the Secretariat and various personnel of the Special Committee on Naturalization are not paid salaries nor per diems despite the vital and indespensable functions they are performing in the proper implementation of the provisions of R.A. No. 9139;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 17 (Implementing Rules and Regulations) of R.A. No. 9139, the Special Committee on Naturalization is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be needed for the proper implementation of the provisions of said law;

(WITNESSETH)

The SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION (Committee), during the meeting of October 13, 2005, therefore, unanimously approved the following:

A second paragraph shall be added to Section 2 (Secretariat of the Committee; Functions) of the Rules and Regulations Implementing R.A. No. 9139 to read as follows:

The members of the Technical Working Group, the Secretariat and the various personnel of the Special Committee on Naturalization, who are responsible for the processing of petitions for naturalization, for the interview and evaluation of the applicants for naturalization and their witnesses, for the study and determination of the authenticity and truthfulness of the statements and declarations made in the petitions and supporting documents, and for the performance of such other duties which are necessary for the full implementation of the provisions of R.A. No. 9139, are entitled to receive monthly honoraria in such amounts as may be determined by the Committee, subject to the pertinent guidelines prescribed by the Department of Budget and Management.

Adopted: 13 Oct. 2005

                                                                                         

(SGD.) ALFREDO L. BENIPAYO
Solicitor General
Chairman, SCN
(SGD.) FRANKLIN M. EBDALIN	(SGD.) NORBERTO B. GONZALES
Undersecretary, DFA	National Security Adviser
Member, SCN	Member, SCN
Attested by:
(SGD.) ANTONIO L. VILLAMOR
Assistant Solicitor General
Executive Director, SCN