Under Republic Act No.

10142 or known as the Financial Rehabilitation and

Insolvency Act of 2010 , it is the policy of the State to encourage debtors, both
juridical and natural persons, and their creditors to collectively and realistically
resolve and adjust competing claims and property rights. In furtherance thereof,
the State shall ensure a timely, fair, transparent, effective and efficient
rehabilitation or liquidation of debtors. The rehabilitation or liquidation shall be
made with a view to ensure or maintain certainly and predictability in commercial
affairs, preserve and maximize the value of the assets of these debtors, recognize
creditor rights and respect priority of claims, and ensure equitable treatment of
creditors who are similarly situated. When rehabilitation is not feasible, it is in the
interest of the State to facilities a speedy and orderly liquidation of these debtor's
assets and the settlement of their obligations.(Sec.2, R.A.no 10142)

The Insolvency Law of the Philippines is in fact a derivative of even older laws from
other jurisdictions, such as the California Insolvency Law of 1895 and the American
bankruptcy Act of 1867.

On 2 February 2010, the Philippine Congress adopted Republic Act No. 10142,
entitled the Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act of 2010 (or Fria). The Fria lapsed
into law and became effective on 18 July 2010.

The Fria replaces and repeals the Insolvency Law (Act No. 1956), which was enacted
in 1909 and was almost universally acknowledged as outdated and obsolete. The Fria also
impliedly amends the Interim Rules on Corporate Rehabilitation first issued by the
Supreme Court in 2000 (and amended in 2008), given several inconsistencies between
those rules and the new Fria. It is expected that the Supreme Court will issue new rules
on procedure to govern corporate rehabilitation in conformity with the Fria. (Hernandez
& Gatmaitan, 2010)

Insolvency proceedings may cover: (a) an individual debtor, referring to a natural

person who is a resident and citizen of the Philippines that has become insolvent as
defined under Republic Act No. 10142; or (b) a debtor, referring to, unless specifically
excluded by a provision of Republic Act No. 10142, a sole proprietorship duly registered
with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), a partnership duly registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a corporation duly organized and existing
under Philippine laws, or an individual debtor who has become insolvent as defined
in Republic Act No. 10142.

Under Section 5 of RA No. 10142 the purposes of this section are as

follows:

(a) Bank shall refer to any duly licensed bank or quasi-bank that is
potentially or actually subject to conservatorship, receivership or
liquidation proceedings under the New Central Bank Act (Republic Act
No. 7653) or successor legislation;
 (b) Insurance company shall refer to those companies that are potentially
or actually subject to insolvency proceedings under the Insurance Code
(Presidential Decree No. 1460) or successor legislation; and

(c) Pre-need company shall refer to any corporation authorized/licensed to

sell or offer to sell pre-need plans.

Provided, That government financial institutions other than banks and

government-owned or controlled corporations shall be covered by this Act,
unless their specific charter provides otherwise.

The Lower House approved House Bill (HB) 7090, its version of the
Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act of 2010 (the FRIA), on 02
February 2010 or just before the end of its 14th Session.
Off the bat, it would be accurate to conclude that the FRIA is not a simple
codification of the existing rules on corporate rehabilitation but a veritable
system overhaul. Broadly speaking, the FRIA integrates rehabilitation and
restructuring along with insolvency law. Furthermore, it moves from the debtor
controlled process of the older system to a framework where the creditors take
the fore in determining the future of the distressed corporation.

This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 7090 and Senate Bill No. 61 was
finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 1. 2010 and
February 2, 2010, respectively. (Dime, 2010)

These Rules shall apply to petitions for rehabilitation of corporations, partnerships,

and sole proprietorships, filed pursuant to Republic Act No. 10142, otherwise known as
the Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act (FRIA) of 2010.

These Rules shall similarly govern all further proceedings in suspension of payments
and rehabilitation cases already pending, except to the extent that, in the opinion of the
court, its application would not be feasible or would work injustice, in which event the
procedures originally applicable shall continue to govern.

The proceedings under these Rules shall be in rem. Jurisdiction over all persons
affected by the proceedings is acquired upon publication of the notice of the
commencement of the proceedings and the commencement order or any similar order of
the proceedings in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines for two (2)
consecutive weeks.
 The proceedings shall be summary and non-adversarial in nature. The following
pleadings are prohibited:

motion to dismiss;

motion for a bill of particulars;

petition for relief;

motion for extension;

motion for postponement and other motions of similar intent;

reply

rejoinder;

intervention; and

any pleading or motion that is similar to or of like effect as any of the foregoing.

For stated and fully supported compelling reasons, the court may allow the filing of
motions for extension or postponement, provided, the same shall be verified and under
oath.

Any pleading, motion, or other submission submitted by any interested party shall be
supported by verified statements that the affiant has read the submission and its factual
allegations are true and correct of his personal knowledge or based on authentic records,
and shall contain supporting annexes, which the submitting party shall attest as faithful
reproductions of the originals. An unverified submission shall be considered as not filed.
An improperly verified submission may be considered as not filed, at the discretion of the
judge. Upon motion, the originals of the annexes to a submission may be produced in
court for examination or comparison by a party to the proceedings.

All pleadings or motions shall be filed in three (3) printed and two (2) digital copies
in CD format. Annexes to the pleadings and other submissions shall be in printed form.
 The court may decide matters on the basis of affidavits, counter-affidavits, and other
documentary evidence, conducting clarificatory hearings when necessary.

Any order issued by the court under these Rules is immediately executory. Review of
any order of the court shall be in accordance with Rule 6 of these Rules. Provided,
however, that the reliefs ordered by the trial or appellate courts shall take into account the
need for resolution of the proceedings in a just, equitable, and speedy manner.

In voluntary proceedings:

Whom May Petition. When approved by:

the owner, in case of a sole proprietorship;
a majority of the partners, in case of a partnership; or
a majority vote of the board of directors or trustees and authorized by the vote of the
stockholders representing at least two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding capital stock or
at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members in a non-stock corporation, in case of a
corporation;
an insolvent debtor may initiate voluntary proceedings under this Rule by filing a
petition far rehabilitation with the court based on the grounds hereinafter specifically
provided.

A group of debtors may file a petition for rehabilitation under this Rule when (1) one
or more of its members foresee the impossibility of meeting debts when they respectively
fall due, and (2) the financial distress would likely adversely affect the financial condition
and/or operations of the other members of the group or the participation of the other
members of the group is essential under the terms and conditions of the proposed
Rehabilitation Plan.

Involuntary Proceedings:

Who May Petition. Any creditor or group of creditors with a claim of, or the aggregate
of whose claims is at least One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) or at least twenty-five
percent (25%) of the subscribed capital stock or partners' contributions, whichever is
higher, may initiate involuntary proceedings under this Rule by filing a petition for
rehabilitation of a debtor with the court and on the grounds hereinafter specifically
provided. (Pamaos, 2013)

Approved by :

JUAN PONCE ENRILE

President of the Senate
PROSPERO C. NOGRALES
Speaker of the House of Representatives

EMMA LIRIO-REYES
Secretary of Senate

MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP
Secretary General
House of Representatives

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines
References
Dime, R. B. (2010). Corporate Rescue and the New Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act of
2010 . Retrieved from dldtelaw.com: http://www.dldtelaw.com/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/New-FRIA-paper-v1.6.pdf
Hernandez, S., & Gatmaitan. (2010, August). Philippines Adopts New Corporate Rehabilitation and
Insolvency Framework. Retrieved from Legal500:
http://www.legal500.com/c/philippines/developments/11272
Pamaos, F. (2013, October 2013). Insolvency Proceedings under the Financial Rehabilitation and
Insolvency Act (FRIA) of 2010. Retrieved from attyatwork.com:
http://attyatwork.com/insolvency-proceedings-under-the-financial-rehabilitation-and-
insolvency-act-fria-of-2010/