ADMINISTRATIVE LAW | CAWAD VS. ABAD, G.R. NO. 207145, 2015
CAWAD VS. ABAD,
G.R.
NO. 207145, 2015
TOPIC/DOCTRINE
There are,
however, several exceptions, one of which are interpretative regulations which
“need nothing further than their bare issuance for they give no real
consequence more than what the law itself has already prescribed.” These
regulations need not be published for they add nothing to the law and do not
affect substantial rights of any person.
FACTS
On March 26, 1992, Republic Act (RA) No. 7305, otherwise known as The Magna Carta of Public Health Workers was signed into law in order to promote the
social and economic well-being of health workers, their living and working
conditions and terms of employment, to develop their skills and capabilities to
be better equipped to deliver health projects and programs, and to encourage
those with proper qualifications and excellent abilities to join and remain in
government service.
On July 28,
2008, the Fourteenth Congress issued Joint Resolution No. 4, entitled Joint Resolution Authorizing the President of the Philippines to Modify
the Compensation and Position Classification System of Civilian Personnel and
the Base Pay Schedule of Military and Uniformed Personnel in the Government,
and for other Purposes, approved by then President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo on June 17, 2009, which provided for certain amendments in the Magna Carta and its IRR.
Petitioners
contend that respondents acted with grave abuse of discretion when they issued
DBM-DOH Joint Circular No. 1, Series of 2012 and DBM-CSC Joint Circular No. 1,
Series of 2012 which prescribe certain requirements on the grant of benefits
that are not otherwise required by RA No. 7305. Specifically, petitioners assert that the DBM-DOH Joint
Circular grants the payment of Hazard Pay only if the nature of the PHWs’
duties expose them to danger when RA No. 7305 does not make any qualification.
They likewise claim that said circular unduly fixes Subsistence Allowance at
P50 for each day of full-time service and P25 for part-time service which are
not in accordance with prevailing circumstances determined by the Secretary of
Health as required by RA No. 7305. Moreover, petitioners fault respondents for
the premature effectivity of the DBM-DOH Joint Circular which they believe
should have been on January 29, 2012 and not on January 1, 2012. As to the grant
of Longevity Pay, petitioners posit that the same was wrongfully granted only
to PHWs holding regular plantilla positions. Petitioners likewise criticize the
DBM-CSC Joint Circular insofar as it withheld the Step Increment due to length
of service from those who are already being granted Longevity Pay. As a result,
petitioners claim that the subject circulars are void for being an undue
exercise of legislative power by administrative bodies.
ISSUE
Whether Joint Circular No. 1 of the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) and the Department of Health (DOH) as well as
Item 6.5 of the Joint Circular dated September 3, 2012 of the DBM and the
Civil Service Commission (CSC) are valid despite not
meeting the publication requirement of RA 7305.
RULING
Yes.
The court ruled that Quasi-legislative power is
exercised by administrative agencies through the promulgation of rules and
regulations within the confines of the granting statute and the doctrine of
non-delegation of powers from the separation of the branches of the government.
Here, the
court ruled that in this case, respondents did not act in any judicial,
quasi-judicial, or ministerial capacity in their issuance of the assailed joint
circulars. In issuing and implementing the subject circulars, respondents were
not called upon to adjudicate the rights of contending parties to exercise, in
any manner, discretion of a judicial nature. The issuance and enforcement by
the Secretaries of the DBM, CSC and DOH of the questioned joint circulars were
done in the exercise of their quasi-legislative and administrative functions.
It was in the nature of subordinate legislation, promulgated by them in their
exercise of delegated power. Indeed, publication, as a basic postulate
of procedural due process, is required by law in order for administrative rules
and regulations to be effective. There are, however, several exceptions, one of
which are interpretative regulations which “need nothing further than their
bare issuance for they give no real consequence more than what the law itself
has already prescribed.” These regulations need not be published for they add
nothing to the law and do not affect substantial rights of any person.