CONSTITUTING THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES INTO A BODY CORPORATE AND PROVIDING GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE THERETO FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF ITS PURPOSES

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 181
• Sections: 9

Preamble

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of the Philippines, by virtue of

its rule-making power and conformably to the provisions of Republic Act

No. 6397, has ordained the integration of the Philippine Bar by

Resolution of January 9, 1973, for the fundamental purposes of elevating

the standards of the legal profession, improving the administration of

justice, and enabling the Bar to discharge its public responsibility

more effectively;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the said Resolution and in accordance

with Court Rule 139-A, effective January 16, 1973, the Integrated Bar of

the Philippines has been organized, its various organs have been

established, and its officers, both national and local, have been duly

elected and have entered into the exercise and discharge of their

respective powers and duties; and

WHEREAS, the Integrated Bar, in the pursuit of its lofty

objectives, obviously merits the aid and support of the people and the

Government of the Republic of the Philippines, particularly in the form

of direct material and financial assistance, at least during the initial

years of its corporate existence;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and pursuant

to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General Order

No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, and Proclamation No. 1104, dated

January 17, 1973, do hereby order and decree as part of the law of the

land that:

Section 1

SECTION 1. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines is hereby

constituted into a body corporate, by the name, style and title of

"Integrated Bar of the Philippines," with principal office in the

Greater Manila Area.

Section 2

SEC. 2. The Integrated Bar shall have perpetual succession

and shall have all legal powers appertaining to a juridical person,

particularly the power to sue and be sued; to contract and be contracted

with; to hold real and personal property as may be necessary for

corporate purposes; to mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, convey and

otherwise dispose of the same; to solicit and receive public and private

donations and contributions; to accept and receive real and personal

property by gift, devise or bequest; to levy and collect membership dues

and special assessments from its members; to adopt a seal and to alter

the same at pleasure; to have offices and conduct its affairs in the

Greater Manila Area and elsewhere; to make and adopt by-laws, rules and

regulations not inconsistent with the laws of the Philippines or the

Rules of Court, particularly Rule 139-A thereof; and generally to do all

such acts and things as may be necessary or proper to carry into effect

and promote the purposes for which it was organized.

Section 3

SEC. 3. All donations or contributions which may be made by

private entities or persons to the Integrated Bar shall be exempt from

income and gift taxes, and the same shall further be deductible in full

and shall not be included for purposes of computing the maximum amount

deductible under Section 30, paragraph (h), of the National Internal

Revenue Code, as amended.

Section 4

SEC. 4. All taxes, charges and fees that may be paid by the

Integrated Bar or any of its Chapters to the Government or any

political subdivision or instrumentality thereof shall be refundable

annually to the former for the period extending up to December 31, 1978.

Section 5

SEC. 5. The Integrated Bar shall receive by way of donation

or lease at a nominal rent from the Government of the Republic of the

Philippines a parcel of land in the Greater Manila Area as a suitable

site for the construction of a building for the Integrated Bar, with

full power to mortgage or otherwise encumber the same.

Section 6

SEC. 6. The foregoing provisions shall be without prejudice

to the exercise by the Supreme Court of its rule-making power under the

Constitution or to the provisions of Court Rule 139-A.

Section 7

SEC. 7. The sum of five hundred thousand pesos is hereby

appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise

appropriated, for the purposes of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines

for the fiscal year 1973-1974.

Section 8

SEC. 8. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 4th day of May, in the year of Our

Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-three.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President

Republic of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR

Executive Secretary