1 
 
 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE  
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES  
) 
Second Regular Session 
 
 
) 
 
SENATE 
S.B. No.   _______ 
 
 
Introduced by SEN. IMEE R. MARCOS 
 
 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF CUYAPO, PROVINCE OF NUEVA ECIJA, TO BE KNOWN 
AS THE CUYAPO POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 1, Article XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that: "The 
State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels 
and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all."  
 
The Province of Nueva Ecija has two state universities, the Central Luzon State 
University (CLSU) in the Science City of Muñoz, and the Nueva Ecija University of 
Science and Technology in Cabanatuan City. However, both campuses are far from 
the Municipality of Cuyapo, which lies at the northernmost tip of the province, 
bordering Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan. The travel not only adds to their expenses but 
also takes a toll on their bodies, making it difficult for most prospective college 
students from the aforementioned municipality and its neighboring towns. 
 
This bill therefore seeks for the establishment of a Polytechnic State College in 
the Municipality of Cuyapo, Province of Nueva Ecija to be known as the Cuyapo 
Polytechnic State College. This will also fulfill the State's promise to make education 
accessible to all. The establishment of a polytechnic state college will not only serve 
the Municipality of Cuyapo, but also its neighboring municipalities.  
 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
IMEE R. MARCOS  
 
 
March 17, 2021
03:50 pm
2109


 
 
 
1 
 
 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE  
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES  
) 
Second Regular Session 
 
 
) 
 
SENATE 
 
S.B. No.   _______ 
 
 
Introduced by SEN. IMEE R. MARCOS 
 
 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF CUYAPO, PROVINCE OF NUEVA ECIJA, TO BE KNOWN 
AS THE CUYAPO POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Establishment. – There is hereby established a polytechnic state 
1 
college in the Municipality of Cuyapo, Province of Nueva Ecija, to be known as the 
2 
Cuyapo Polytechnic State College, hereinafter referred to as the College. 
3 
SEC. 2. General Mandate. – The College shall primarily provide advance 
4 
education, higher technological, professional instruction and training in the fields of 
5 
agriculture, arts and sciences, education, commerce, business administration, 
6 
engineering, social sciences, and short-term technical-vocational courses that will 
7 
support the development of the Province of Nueva Ecija and Region III. 
8 
SEC. 3. Curricular Offerings. – The College shall offer short-term technical-
9 
vocational courses, undergraduate, and graduate courses within its competency and 
10 
areas of specialization in the fields of agriculture, arts and sciences, teacher education, 
11 
commerce, business administration, engineering, and social sciences and other degree 
12 
courses, as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary to carry out its objectives, and 
13 
those which respond to human resource development needs of the Province of Nueva 
14 
Ecija and Region III. 
15 
The existing and any other future technical-vocational courses or programs 
16 
under the supervision of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
17 
(TESDA) shall remain and continue to be offered within the campus of the College. 
18 
The College may operate a reasonably-sized laboratory school if it has a College 
19 
of Education. 
20 
SEC. 4. Administration. – The College shall have the general powers of a 
21 
corporation set forth in Batas Pambansa Blg. 68, as amended, otherwise known as 
22 
2109
March 17, 2021
03:50 pm


 
 
 
2 
 
 
“The Corporation Code of the Philippines”. The exercise of its corporate powers shall 
1 
be vested exclusively in the Board of Trustees and the President of the College. 
2 
SEC. 5. The Governing Board. – The governing board of the College shall be the 
3 
Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be chaired and 
4 
co-chaired by the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and 
5 
the President of the College, respectively, with the following as members: 
6 
a) Chairperson of the Committee on Higher, Technical, Vocational Education 
7 
of the Senate; Chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical 
8 
Education of the House of Representatives; 
9 
b) Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority; 
10 
c) Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture; 
11 
d) Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology; 
12 
e) Regional Director of the TESDA; 
13 
f) President of the federation of faculty associations of the College; 
14 
g) President of the federation of student councils of the College; 
15 
h) President of the federation of alumni associations of the College; and 
16 
i) Two (2) prominent citizens from the private sector who have distinguished 
17 
themselves in their professions or fields of specialization; and  
18 
j) The Board shall appoint the two (2) prominent citizens who shall be 
19 
selected from a list of at least five (5) qualified persons in the Province of 
20 
Nueva Ecija where the College is located, as recommended by the search 
21 
committee to be constituted by the College President, in consultation with 
22 
the CHED Chairperson and other members of the Board, based on the 
23 
standards and qualifications for the position set by the Board. They shall 
24 
serve for a term of two (2) years from the date of appointment. 
25 
 
26 
The membership of the President of the federation of faculty associations, 
27 
the President of the federation of student councils, and the President of 
28 
the federation of alumni associations in the Governing Board shall be 
29 
coterminous with their terms of office as provided under their respective 
30 
constitution and bylaws. 
31 
SEC. 6. Promulgation and Implementation of Policies. – The Board shall 
32 
promulgate and implement policies in accordance with the declared State policies on 
33 
education, other pertinent provisions of the Constitution on education, agriculture, 
34 
science and technology, and the policies, standards and thrusts of the CHED under 
35 
Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994”. 
36 
SEC. 7. Powers and Duties of the Board of Trustees. – In addition to its general 
37 
powers of administration and the powers granted to the board of directors of a 
38 
corporation under existing laws, the Board shall have the following specific powers 
39 
and duties: 
40 


 
 
 
3 
 
 
a) Promulgate and implement policies in accordance with tire declared State 
1 
policies and the provisions of the Constitution on education, agriculture, 
2 
science and technology, as well as the policies, standards and thrusts of 
3 
the CHED under Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the "Higher 
4 
Education Act of 1994"; 
5 
b) Approve the curricula, instructional programs, and rules of discipline 
6 
drawn by the Administrative and Academic Councils herein provided; 
7 
c) Appoint, upon the recommendation of the President of the College, the 
8 
vice presidents, deans, directors, heads of the campuses, faculty 
9 
members, and other officials and employees of the College; 
10 
d) Fix and adjust the salaries of faculty members and administrative officials 
11 
and employees, subject to the provisions of the Revised Compensation 
12 
and Position Classification System and other pertinent budget and 
13 
compensation laws, including those governing the hours of service, and 
14 
such other duties and conditions as it may deem proper; grant them, at 
15 
its discretion, leaves of absence under such regulations as it may 
16 
promulgate, any provision of existing law to die contrary notwithstanding; 
17 
and remove them for cause in accordance with the requirements of due 
18 
process of law; 
19 
e) Fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, such as 
20 
matriculation fees, graduation fees, and laboratory' fees, as the Board 
21 
may deem proper to impose, after due consultation with the concerned 
22 
sectors. The fees and charges, including government subsidies and other 
23 
income generated by the College, shall constitute its special trust funds 
24 
and shall be deposited in any authorized government depository bank. All 
25 
interests that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for 
26 
the use of the College. 
27 
 
28 
Any provision of existing laws, rules or regulations to the contrary 
29 
notwithstanding, any income generated by the College from tuition fees 
30 
and other charges, as well as from the operation of auxiliary services 
31 
and land grants, shall be retained by the College and may be disbursed 
32 
by the Board for instruction, research, extension services or other 
33 
programs and projects of the College: Provided, That all fiduciary fees 
34 
shall be disbursed for the specific purposes for which these are collected: 
35 
Provided, however, That if, for reasons beyond its control, the College 
36 
shall not be able to pursue any project for which the funds have been 
37 
appropriated and allocated under its approved program of expenditures, 
38 
the Board may authorize the use of the funds for any reasonable purpose 
39 
which, in its discretion, may be necessary and urgent for the attainment 
40 
of the objectives and goals of the College; 
41 


 
 
 
4 
 
 
f) Adopt and implement a socialized scheme of tuition and other school fees 
1 
for greater access of poor but deserving students in accordance with 
2 
Republic Act No. 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary 
3 
Education Act”; 
4 
g) Establish professorial chairs in the College and provide fellowships for 
5 
qualified faculty members, and scholarships to deserving students; 
6 
h) Receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided for the support of 
7 
the College in the manner it may determine, in its discretion, in order to 
8 
carry out the purposes and functions of the College; 
9 
i) Set the policies on admission and graduation of students; 
10 
j) Award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of their outstanding 
11 
contribution in the fields of education, public service, arts, science and 
12 
technology, agriculture or any area of specialization within the academic 
13 
competency of the College, and authorize the awarding of certificates of 
14 
completion of nondegree and nontraditional courses; 
15 
k) Establish research and extension centers to promote the development of 
16 
the College; 
17 
l) Develop academic arrangements for institutional capability building with 
18 
appropriate institutions and agencies, whether public, private, local or 
19 
foreign, and appoint experts/specialists as consultants, part-time or 
20 
visiting/exchange professors, scholars or researchers, as the case may be; 
21 
m) Adopt modem and innovative modes of transmitting knowledge for the 
22 
promotion of greater access to education such as the use of information 
23 
technology, dual training system, open distance learning, and community 
24 
laboratory; 
25 
n) Collaborate with the governing boards of other state universities and 
26 
colleges within the Province of Nueva Ecija and Region III, under the 
27 
supervision of the CHED and in consultation with the Department of 
28 
Budget and Management (DBM), in restructuring the College to make it 
29 
more efficient, relevant, productive and competitive; 
30 
o) Absorb non-chartered tertiary institutions within the Province of Nueva 
31 
Ecija and Region III, as branches and extension/external centers, in 
32 
coordination with the CHED and in consultation with the DBM, and offer 
33 
therein programs or courses to carry out the Constitutional mandate of 
34 
providing equal access to educational opportunities; 
35 
p) Authorize an external management audit of the College, to be financed 
36 
by the CHED, subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission on 
37 
Audit, and institute reforms, including academic and structural changes, 
38 
on the basis of the audit results and recommendations; 
39 
q) Develop consortia and other economic forms of linkages with local 
40 
government units (LGUs), as well as public, private, local and foreign 
41 


 
 
 
5 
 
 
institutions and agencies, in the furtherance of the purposes and 
1 
objectives of the College; 
2 
r) Import economic, technical and cultural books and publications; 
3 
s) Enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable 
4 
development and management of the economic assets of the College, the 
5 
proceeds from which shall be used for the development and strengthening 
6 
of the College; 
7 
t) Receive in trust, legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal 
8 
properties of all kinds and to administer and dispose of the same, when 
9 
necessary, for the benefit of the College, and subject to the limitations, 
10 
directions and instructions of the donor, if any; 
11 
u) Extend the term of the President of the College beyond die age of 
12 
retirement, but not beyond the age of seventy (70), based on the 
13 
guidelines, qualifications and standards set by the Board: Provided, That 
14 
the President’s performance has been rated by the Board as outstanding 
15 
and a unanimous recommendation has been decided by the search 
16 
committee; 
17 
v) Delegate any of its powers and duties provided to the President and other 
18 
officials of the College, as it may deem appropriate, so as to expedite the 
19 
administration of the affairs of the College; 
20 
w) Establish policy guidelines and procedures for participative decision-
21 
making and transparency within the College; 
22 
x) Where most advantageous to the College, privatize the management of 
23 
nonacademic services such as health, food, building or grounds or 
24 
property maintenance, and such other similar activities; 
25 
y) Authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery, equipment 
26 
and other facilities, and the purchase and acquisition of real property, 
27 
including the necessary supplies, materials and equipment; and 
28 
z) Promulgate rules and regulations, as may be necessary, to carry out the 
29 
purposes and functions of the College. 
30 
SEC. 8. Meetings of the Board. – The Board shall regularly convene at least once 
31 
every three (3) months. The Chairperson of the Board may, however, call a special 
32 
meeting whenever necessary: Provided, That members are notified in writing at least 
33 
three (3) days’ prior to the conduct of said meeting. 
34 
A quorum of the Board shall consist of a majority of all its members holding office 
35 
at the time of the meeting: Provided, however, that the Chairperson of the Board or 
36 
the President of the College is among those present in the meeting. 
37 
In case the CHED Chairperson cannot attend a meeting of the Board, a CHED 
38 
Commissioner duly designated by the CHED Chairperson as representative to the 
39 
meeting, shall have all the rights and responsibilities of a regular member: Provided, 
40 


 
 
 
6 
 
 
That during the meeting, the President of the College, as Vice Chairperson, shall be 
1 
the presiding officer: Provided, further, That this provision, notwithstanding, the 
2 
Chairperson of the CHED is hereby authorized to designate a CHED Commissioner as 
3 
the regular Chairperson of the Board, in which case, the said CHED Commissioner, as 
4 
tire regular Chairperson of the Board, shall act as the presiding officer. 
5 
In case the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Higher and Technical and 
6 
Vocational Education and the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education 
7 
shall not be able to attend the Board meeting, they may designate their respective 
8 
representatives to attend the meeting, who shall have the same rights and 
9 
responsibilities as regular members of the Board. 
10 
The members of the Board shall not receive any salary, but shall be entitled to 
11 
reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses incurred, either for their 
12 
attendance to the meetings of the Board or in connection with other official business 
13 
authorized by resolutions of the Board, subject to existing laws and regulations. 
14 
SEC. 9. The College President. – The College shall be headed by a President, 
15 
who shall render full-time service and shall be appointed by the Board, subject to the 
16 
guidelines, qualifications and standards set by the Board, upon the recommendation 
17 
of a duly constituted search committee. The President shall have a term of four (4) 
18 
years and shall be eligible for reappointment for another term. Within six (6) months 
19 
before the expiration of tire term of office of the incumbent President of the College, 
20 
the Board shall constitute the Search Committee for the Presidency. 
21 
The Board shall designate an Officer-in-Charge of the College in case of vacancy 
22 
in the Office of the President by reason of death, compulsory retirement, resignation, 
23 
removal for cause, or incapacity of the President to perform the functions of the office, 
24 
pending the appointment of a new President: Provided, That the Officer-in-Charge 
25 
shall serve only during the unexpired portion of the term. 
26 
The powers and duties of the President of the College, in addition to those 
27 
specifically provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the Office of the 
28 
President of similar Colleges and those delegated by the Board. 
29 
The salary of the President of the College shall be in accordance with Republic 
30 
Act No. 6758 or the “Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989”, as 
31 
modified by Joint Resolution No. 4 dated June 17, 2009, and by such other laws 
32 
amendatory thereto, which may hereinafter be enacted, and shall be comparable to 
33 
that being received by the presidents of similar educational institutions. 
34 
The President of the College shall be assisted by a Vice President for Academic 
35 
Affairs, a Vice President for Administration, and a Vice President for Research, 
36 
Extension and Training, who shall be appointed by the Board upon recommendation 
37 
of the President. 
38 


 
 
 
7 
 
 
SEC. 10. The Secretary of the College. – The Board shall appoint a Secretary who 
1 
shall serve as such for both the Board and the College, and shall keep all records and 
2 
proceedings of the Board in addition to other duties and responsibilities. The Secretary 
3 
of the College shall serve upon each member of the Board the appropriate notice of 
4 
Board meetings. 
5 
SEC. 11. The Treasurer of the College. – The Treasurer of the Philippines shall 
6 
be the ex officio treasurer of the College. 
7 
SEC. 12. The Administrative Council. – There shall be an Administrative Council 
8 
consisting of the President of the College as Chairperson, and the vice presidents, 
9 
deans, directors and other officials of equal rank as members, whose duties shall be 
10 
to review and recommend to the Board the policies that shall govern the 
11 
administration, management, and development plan of the College. 
12 
SEC. 13. The Academic Council. – There shall be an Academic Council to be 
13 
composed of the President of the College, who shall act as Chairperson, and all the 
14 
academic staff with the rank of at least an assistant professor, as members. 
15 
The Academic Council shall have the power to review and recommend the 
16 
curricular offerings and rules of discipline of the College, subject to the approval of 
17 
the Board. It shall fix the requirements for the admission of students, as well as for 
18 
their graduation and the conferment of degrees, subject to the review and approval 
19 
of the Board through the President of the College. It shall exercise disciplinary power 
20 
over the students of the College and shall formulate academic policies, and rules and 
21 
regulations on discipline of students, subject to the approval of the Board. 
22 
SEC. 14. The Faculty. – No political belief, gender preference, cultural or 
23 
community affiliation or ethnic origin, nor religious opinion or affiliation shall be a 
24 
matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the College: Provided, 
25 
however, That said appointment shall be subject to the guidelines, qualifications and 
26 
standards set by the Board: Provided, further, that no member of the faculty shall 
27 
teach for or against any particular church or religious sect. 
28 
SEC. 15. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy. – The College shall 
29 
enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy pursuant to Paragraph 2, Sec. 5 
30 
of Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution. 
31 
SEC. 16. Admission/Scholarship Programs. – No student shall be denied 
32 
admission to the College by reason of gender, religion, cultural or community affiliation 
33 
or ethnic origin. The College shall provide scholarship programs and other affirmative 
34 
action programs to assist poor but deserving students who qualify for admission to 
35 
the College. 
36 
SEC. 17. Authority to Loan or Transfer Apparatus, Equipment, Supplies and Detail 
37 
of Personnel. – The heads of the bureaus and offices of the national government are 
38 
hereby authorized to loan or transfer, upon the request of the President of the College, 
39 


 
 
 
8 
 
 
such apparatus, equipment or supplies as may be needed by the College, and detail 
1 
employees for duty therein when, in the judgment of the head of bureau or office, 
2 
such apparatus, equipment, supplies or services of such employees can be spared 
3 
without serious detriment to public service. 
4 
The employees so detailed shall perform such duties as required of them by the 
5 
President of the College and the time thus served shall be counted as part of their 
6 
regular service. 
7 
SEC. 18. Assets, Liabilities and Personnel. – All parcels of land belonging to the 
8 
government occupied by the Cuyapo Polytechnic State College are hereby declared to 
9 
be property of the College, and shall be titled under that name: Provided, That should 
10 
the College cease to exist or be abolished or should such aforementioned parcels of 
11 
land be no longer needed by the College, the same shall revert to the national 
12 
government or to the concerned LGU. 
13 
SEC. 19. Tax Exemption on Importation and Donations. – The importation of 
14 
economic, technical and cultural books or publications, which are for economic, 
15 
technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical, historical or cultural purposes made by 
16 
the College upon certification by the CHED, shall be exempt from customs duties in 
17 
accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the 
18 
“Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)”. 
19 
All grants, bequests, endowments, donations and contributions made to the 
20 
College, to be used actually, directly, and exclusively by it, shall be exempt from 
21 
donor’s tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deductions from the gross 
22 
income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal 
23 
Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. 
24 
SEC. 20. Compliance with CHED Requirements. – The provisions of this Act 
25 
notwithstanding, the establishment of the institution into a state college shall become 
26 
effective only upon the determination and declaration by the CHED, based on the 
27 
recommendation of a panel of experts it shall constitute for the purpose, that the 
28 
institution has complied with the requirements for college status under CHED 
29 
Memorandum Order No. 46, series of 2012 (Policy-Standard to Enhance Quality 
30 
Assurance in Philippine Higher Education Through an Outcomes-Based and Typology-
31 
Based Quality Assurance): Provided, That the panel may issue such recommendation 
32 
when the institution has substantially complied with the requirements for the grant of 
33 
status as a state college. 
34 
The following operational requirements for a state college, as established by the 
35 
CITED, shall be complied with. As such, the College shall: 
36 
a) Employ full-time permanent faculty members who possess relevant 
37 
degrees, as required by the CHED, and will experience in the subject areas 
38 
they handle; offer a comprehensive range of degree programs 
39 


 
 
 
9 
 
 
characterized by a core curriculum that holistically develops thinking, 
1 
problem solving, decision-making, communication, technical, and social 
2 
skills in line with the mission of the College; possess learning resources 
3 
and support structures that are appropriate for developing knowledge and 
4 
skills in the specific natural science, social science, humanities, and 
5 
professional disciplines offered by the College, including laboratories, 
6 
books and journals, etc.; 
7 
b) Maintain linkages with the community that would ensure the development 
8 
of relevant academic and extension programs, as well as the application 
9 
of their learning outcomes; and 
10 
c) Conduct outreach programs involving students in social development-
11 
oriented experiences that allow them to contextualize their knowledge 
12 
within actual social and human experiences. 
13 
The CHED, through its regional office, shall regularly provide technical assistance 
14 
to the institution and monitor its compliance with the requirements of the Commission. 
15 
The institution shall retain its status prior to the effectivity of this Act until it is 
16 
able to comply with the requirements provided herein.  
17 
SEC. 21. Development Plan, Management Audit, and Organizational/ 
18 
Administrative/Academic Structure. – Within a period of one hundred twenty (120) 
19 
days after the approval of this Act, the College shall accomplish the following: 
20 
a) Submit a five (5)-year development plan, including its program budget to 
21 
the CHED for corresponding recommendation to the DBM; 
22 
b) Set up its organizational, administrative, as well as academic structure, 
23 
including the appointment of key officials of the College; 
24 
c) Set in motion the establishment of at least four (4) separate degree-
25 
granting units, one of which is in the arts and sciences, and another unit 
26 
for nondegree technical-vocational education and training; and 
27 
d) Undergo a management audit in coordination with the CHED. 
28 
SEC. 22. Filing of Report. – On or before the fifteenth (15th) day of the second 
29 
month after the opening of the regular classes each year, the Board shall file with the 
30 
Office of the President of the Philippines, through the Chairperson of the CHED, and 
31 
with both Houses of Congress, a detailed report on the progress, condition, and needs 
32 
of the College. 
33 
SEC. 23. Suppletory Application. – The provisions of Republic Act No. 8292, 
34 
otherwise known as the “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997”, shall form as 
35 
an integral part of this Act and shall serve as part of the governing charter of the 
36 
College. 
37 


 
 
 
10 
 
 
SEC. 24. Parity Clause. – All other powers, functions, privileges, responsibilities, 
1 
and limitations under existing laws shall be deemed granted to or imposed upon the 
2 
College and officials, whenever appropriate. 
3 
SEC. 25. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
4 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
5 
SEC. 26. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days after the 
6 
effectivity of this Act, the Board shall, in consultation with the CHED, formulate the 
7 
guidelines to fully implement the provisions of this Act. 
8 
SEC. 27. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any part or provision of this 
9 
Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not 
10 
affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
11 
SEC. 28. Repealing Clause. –  All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
12 
and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
13 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
14 
SEC. 29. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
15 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
16 
Approved,