ON IBP DUES
The hottest issue in social media groups of lawyers, i.e., Musta Atty. and Abogadong Pinoy, is the
increase of Annual Member Dues of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) from Php2,000.00 to
Php4,000.00. The IBP is the mandatory national organization of lawyers created on January 6, 1973,
under Rule 139-A of the Rules of Court and constituted on May 4, 1973, by virtue of Presidential Decree
No. 181.
This year, the IBP, through its Letter dated September 14, 2022, submitted the Revised IBP By-
Laws to the Supreme Court for approval. In a Resolution dated March 8, 2023, the Supreme Court
approved the Revised By-Laws. Under Section 23, Article III of the Revised By-Laws, the increase of
Annual Membership Dues from Php2,000.00 to Php4,000.00 was ordained with the breakdown of where
the proceeds of the Annual Membership Dues will go. Half or 50% of the Annual Membership Dues will
go to the Chapter as Chapter Share. The other half or 50% with IBP National Office is divided into the
following General Fund (30%), Welfare Fund (8%), Legal Aid (4%) and Journal Fund (4%).
I think the increase of Php2,000.00 annually or Php166.00 per month is manageable. But in my
opinion, what many found objectionable is the hefty increase in Lifetime Membership Fee from
Php25,000.00 to Php50,000.00 and the imposition of numerous requirements to qualify, to wit: 1)
continuous membership in good standing for 10 years; 2) at least one hundred twenty (120) hours of
legal aid service; 3) five (5) conventions, whether national or regional; 3) pays to the national office the
sum of Php50,000.00; 4) no pending administrative case with the Supreme Court or Integrated Bar; and
6) member shall abide by the rules and regulations promulgated by the Integrated Bar relative to
Lifetime Membership.
Some think that it has become restrictive, that it should have been straightforward that Lifetime
Membership should have been scrapped outright. Normally, you will practice law for 30 years. So, you
will be eligible to apply for Lifetime Membership after your 10 th year. So, you barely have around 20
years in practice. If you pay Annual Membership Dues for those 20 years, you will be paying
Php80,000.00. Hence, you will only save around Php30,000.00 plus you must attend those five (5)
Conventions with usual registration fee of not less than Php10,000.00 which makes your application for
Lifetime Membership costing around Php100,000.00.
Overall, however, I think it will be boon for those performing Chapters to have an increase in
Chapter Share. More meaningful programs, projects and activities can be implemented if the Chapter
has more funds. Regarding IBP National, I think the increase is likewise reasonable considering the
inflation. Also, please bear in mind that all Legal Aid Clerks are employees of IBP National not to mention
its employees in the National Office in Julia Vargas. Wage hikes will also have to be factored in among
other operational expenses of the National Office.
Furthermore, IBP National has continued to improve its services, making it very convenient to
pay for Annual Membership Dues through the MyIBP App. I have made an unsolicited suggestion to
extend the HMO Coverage not only to officers and Legal Aid volunteers but to the general membership,
if feasible. In that manner, those who are expressing their sentiments on social media, will finally come
to realize the worth of their Annual Membership Dues.