NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
Senate
k 
of tij? i^rrrrfarp
'22 JUL25 PI :26
SENATE
S.No. 831
,.„D Bt';
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
RECOGNIZING THE COMMUNITY CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND 
AREAS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND CULTURAL COMMUNITIES, 
ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITY CONSERVED AREAS REGISTRY, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 22 of the Philippine Constitution provides that, "The State 
recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the 
framework of national unity and development." Further, Article XIV, Section 17 states 
that, "The State shall recognize, respect, and protect the rights of indigenous cultural 
communities to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions, and institutions. It 
shall consider these rights in the formulation of national plans and policies."
Section 2 (b) of RA 8371, otherwise known as the "Indigenous Peoples Rights 
Act of 1997", provides the duty of the State to protect the rights of Indigenous Cultural 
Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) to their ancestral domains to ensure 
their economic, social, and cultural well-being and shall recognize the applicability of 
customary laws governing property rights or relations in determining the ownership 
and extent of ancestral domain.
IP communities have always played an important role in the conservation and 
preservation of the country's protected areas. Known as indigenous communities


conserved areas (ICCAs), these are areas within ancestral domains including lakes, 
coastal seas, forests, and watershed imbued with deep spiritual and cultural values 
for indigenous peoples.
A good example of an ICCA is the ancestral domain of the Tagbanuas in the 
island of Cor on, Nor1;heastern Palaw an. Only traditional fishing methods are allowed 
within its ancestral waters, given the sacred nature of the place among the Tagbanuas.
It is high time that the national government gives due importance and role to 
the indigenous communities as parbiers in the conservation of protected areas found 
within their ancestral domains.
For these reasons, the immediate passage of the bill is sought.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THli ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PFIILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
Senate
of tl)p attarp
72 JUL25 PI 76
SENATE
831
S. No.
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
RECOGNIZING THE COMMUNITY CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND 
AREAS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND CULTURAL COMMUNITIES, 
ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITY CONSERVED AREAS REGISTRY, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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CHAPTER I
2 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
3 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Indigenous Community
4 
Conserved Territories and Areas Act".
5 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - In accordance with the provisions of the
6 
Constitution, Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as the "Indigenous Peoples
7 
Rights Act of 1997" (IPRA), and tbie United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
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Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), it is the policy of the State to recognize, promote, and
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protect the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples
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(ICCs/IPs), particularly to their ancestral domains.
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The State also recognizes the existing customary and traditional governance by
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ICCs/IPs of their ancestral domains and lands as an effective measure of conserving
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key biodiversity areas. By this recognition, the State acknowledges the significant
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contribution of ICCs/IPs to the country's efforts in the protection of the environment,
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the conservation of biodiversity, and the promotion the community resilience.


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Towards this end, the State sliall adopt measures to recognize and respect the
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designation and declaration by ICCs/IPs of the conserved areas within their ancestral
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domains and to promote their rights to manage, maintain, and sustainably develop
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the natural resources by applying their indigenous knowledge systems and practices
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within these areas under their indigenous political structures and traditional
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governance systems.
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For this purpose, a national registry for all ICCs/IPs conserved territories and
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areas shall be established to be the repository of information on these conserved
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territories and areas.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in tliis Act:
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a) Environmentally critical areas (EGAs) refer to areas identified under
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Presidential Proclamation No. 2146, Series of 1981 and herein further classified
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as Strict Protection Zones (SPZ);
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b) Indigenous Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCA) refer to areas
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within ancestral domains and lands, and parts thereof, that are identified,
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protected, conserved, and sustainably used by ICCs/IPs pursuant to their
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indigenous knowledge, systems, and practices, and in accordance with
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customary laws and other efft^ctive means since time immemorial continuously
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to the present, subject to the limitations imposed by the Constitution.
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These are characterized by natural or modified ecosystems, containing
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significant biodiversity, beneficial ecological qualities and is of great cultural
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and spiritual value to the community.
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c) Key biodiversity areas refer to the sites of global significance for biodiversity
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conservation that are identified using globally standard criteria and thresholds,
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based on the scale of the need for safeguards. These criteria are based on the
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framework of vulnerability and irreplaceability used in systematic
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conservation planning;
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d) National ICCA Registry refers to the national information management
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system that contains records of the pertinent information on ICCAs;
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e) Sustainable Traditional Resource Rights (STRR) refer to the rights of ICCs/IPs
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to sustainably use, manage, protect and conserve 1) land, air, water, and
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minerals; 2) plants, animals and other organisms; 3) collecting, fishing and


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hunting £p:ounds; 4) sacred sites; and 5) other areas of economic, ceremonial
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and aesthetic value in accordance with their indigenous knowledge, belief
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systems, and practices.
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Sec. 4. Scope and Coverage. This Act shall apply to all ancestral domains and
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lands publicly known to have been held under a claim of ownership, possession, and
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occupation based on native title since time immemorial continuously and up to the
7 
present, or formally recognized under a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CALT)
8 
or Certificate of Ancestral Land Title (CADT) issued pursuant to Republic Act No.
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8371.
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CHAPTER II
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INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
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CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS
13 
Sec. 5. Guiding Principles. - The following guidelines shall be observed in
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recognizing the indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples conserved
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territories and areas (ICCAs):
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a) The rights to land and self-determination include the full recognition of
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the traditional resources, rights and practices of ICCs/IPs, as well as their right
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to access, maintain, protect, conserve, regulate ICCAs and exclude
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unauthorized intrusion into these areas;
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b) The customary laws and indigenous knowledge systems and practices
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(IKSPs) in the governance and management of ICCAs shall be recognized and
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respected provided that they are within the framework of national unity and
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development as envisioned under the Constitution.
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c) The ICCs/IPs shall govern their conserved territories and areas and ensure
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the preservation, restoration, and maintenance of ecological balance and
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biodiversity therein in consonance with existing environmental policies and
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with the assistance of government agencies;
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d) The identification and declaration of ICCAs shall consider duly formulated
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national, regional, provincial and municipal policies, plans and programs;
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e) The ICCs/IPs shall receive a fair and equitable share of the benefits derived
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from the ecosystem services provided by ICCAs and other activities as
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authorized by the ICCs/IPs themselves in accordance with existing
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environmental policies, rules, and regulations; and


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f) In case of conflict between ICC/IPs' customary laws and indigenous
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knowledge systems and practices on the one hand, and existing environmental
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laws, rules, and regulations, on the other, earnest efforts shall be exerted to
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adopt an interpretation that will give effect to both. Only when it is clear that
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the two are truly irreconcilable will environmental laws, rules and regulations
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prevail, but such construction shall always be supported by evidence attesting
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to the fact that the customary laws and IKSPs have no sound scientific basis
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and shall be guided by the pertinent provisions of the Constitution.
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Sec. 6, Recognition of ICCAs - The ICCs/IPs shall define and declare the
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conserved areas within their ancestral domains and lands in accordance with their
11 
indigenous political structures, cultures and traditions provided that the identified
12 
area is not earlier proclaimed or declared as a protected area under Republic Act No.
13 
7586, otherwise known as the "National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of
14 
1992,/ as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, otherwise known as the "Expanded
15 
National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018" and other presidential
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proclamations.
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The declaration of ICCAs shall be respected as an exercise of the self-
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governance, self-determination, and sustainable traditional resource rights of the
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ICCs/IPs. It shall be recognized by all national agencies and local government units
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(LGUs) as another category of protected areas that are owned, controlled, governed,
21 
and managed by ICCs/IPs themselves. The ICCAs, their respective locations, names
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in indigenous language, and components therein, shall be respected used, and
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promoted in all official documents.
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No provision in this Act granting or recognizing the rights and privileges of
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ICCs/IPs in the ICCAs shall be construed to diminish their rights and privileges in
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non-ICCA areas of the ancestral domains or lands.
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Sec. 7. Protection of ICCAs. - Subject to the provisions of the Constitution,
28 
Republic Act No. 8371, and Republic Act No. 7586, as amended, the ICCAs shall be
29 
reserved for the exclusive use of ICCs/IPs exercising their sustainable traditional
30 
resource rights. It shall be the duty of the ICC/IPs to govern, conserve, manage and
31 
protect ICCAs with the assistance of government agencies.


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Sec. 8. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) System. - For the purposes of this
2 
Act, all ICCAs shall be considered as environmentally critical areas.
3 
All projects outside the ICCA that have potentially adverse impacts on the
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conserved territories and areas are subject to EIA.
5 
The participation of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
6 
and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is required in the
7 
conduct of the EIA outside the ICCAs but within the ICC/IPs ancestral domain.
8 
The customary laws, the IKSPs of the ICCs/IPs and the social acceptability of
9 
the project shall be considered in thv; assessment of such projects.
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In the interest of transparency and full disclosure, the EIA should be concluded
11 
and reported for consideration during the Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC)
12 
process, as provided for under Section 3 (g) of Republic Act No. 8371.
13 
Sec. 9. ICCAs in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). - Subject to the Constitution, the
14 
ICCs/IPs shall govern, maintain, restore, and sustainably develop the ICCAs' key
15 
biodiversity areas (KBAs) in accordance with their customary laws, IKSP, and in a
16 
manner consistent with the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity found
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therein and in accordance with existing environmental policies, rules and regulations.
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CHAPTER III
19 
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND INDIGENOUS
20 
PEOPLES CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS REGISTRY
21 
Sec. 10. The National ICCA Registry. - To ensure the availability of official
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information on ICCAs, a National ICCA Registry, hereinafter referred to as the
23 
"Registry/' is hereby established. The Registry shall be the official information
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management system that shall contain all pertinent records on the ICCAs that are
25 
voluntarily submitted by the ICCs/IPs as the ICCA registrant. The Registry shall
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contain the following information:
27 
a) N ame of the ICCs/ IPs;
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b) A map generated from the delineation of the ICCAs with the corresponding
29 
technical description by the DENR;
30 
c) Brief description of governance structure;
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d) Policies on resource conservation and sustainable use;
32 
e) CADT and CALT, if applicable;


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f) Relevant portions of the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and 
Protection Plan (ADSDPP) containing information on the ICCAs; and
g) Contact persons.
Sec. 11. Operational Structures of the Registry. - The DENR, through the 
Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), shall be the main repository and 
administrator of the Registry. It shall organize, store, and update all information that 
may be contained in the Registry, and shall be responsible for the documentation, 
administration, and maintenance of the Registry.
All information and data in the Registry shall be obtained from the ICCs/IPs 
who registered and provided such information. The information and data submitted 
shall be considered as part of the community's intellectual property rights.
The intellectual property rights of the ICCs/IPs shall be protected and respected.
Sec. 12. Creation of a Steering Committee. - A Steering Committee is created to 
define policy, provide directions, and perform oversight functions in the 
administration and maintenance of the Registry.
It shall be chaired by a representative from the NCIP.
The Steering Committee shall be composed of the following:
a) A representative from the DENR;
b) A representative from the NCIP;
c) A representative from the Department of the Interior and Local Government 
(DILG);
d) A representative from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban 
Development (DHSUD);
e) A representative from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
f) A representative from recognized civil society organizations (CSOs); and
g) Three (3) representatives of the ICCs/IPs who are themselves members of 
the indigenous cultural community; and
h) A representative from the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines 
(ULAP).
Sec. 13. ICCA Registration. - The ICCs/IPs shall initiate the documentation and 
registration of their ICCAs in the Registry with appropriate financial and technical 
support from the NCIP, the DENR, or other assisting organizations.


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If the ICCs/lPs seek the assistance of the NCIP and the DENR in the
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registration of the ICCAs, the following steps shall be undertaken:
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a) The NCIP shall assist the community in documenting the ICCAs and, with
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the support of the DENR, del ineate the metes and bounds of the said ICCA;
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b) The NCIP shall facilitate the formulation of a Community Conservation Plan
6 
in collaboration with the DENR and the municipal and provincial local
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government units; and
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c) The NCIP shall submit the documentation of the ICCAs and other pertinent
9 
documents to the DENR for inclusion in the Registry.
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In case the ICCs/IPs decide to undertake the documentation by themselves
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with the support of assisting organizations, the NCIP, DENR, and the municipal and
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provincial local government units concerned, shall verify and affirm the
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documentation and pertinent documents submitted before the ICCAs may be
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included in the Registry.
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The map, the technical description of the specific ICCA, and a brief description
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of the natural features and landmarks of the ICCA sought to be registered and
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included in the Registry shall be posted at the local, provincial, and regional office of
18 
the NCIP, and shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation once a week
19 
for two (2) consecutive weeks to allow concerned parties to formally submit their
20 
written opposition within fifteen (15) days.
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Sec. 14. Procedure for Delisting from the Registry. - If the ICCs/IPs determine that
22 
the ICCA no longer serves the purpose for which it was defined and declared, the
23 
ICCs/IPs may cause the delisting of the same through a procedure to be provided in
24 
the rules and regulations to be issued by the NCIP and the DENR to implement this
25 
Act.
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Sec. 15. Inclusion of ICCAs in the LGUs Plan. - The LGUs shall include in their
27 
Regional Physical Framework Plans, Provincial Physical Framework Plans,
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Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plans, Community Development Plans, Forest
29 
Land Use Plans, Barangay Development Plans, the Ancestral Domains Sustainable
30 
Development and Protection Plan, and other relevant harmonized plans on the ICCAs
31 
that have been declared and recorded in the Registry by the ICCs/IPs.


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Sec. 16. ICCA Governance. - The ICCAs shall be governed by the ICCs/IPs in
2 
accordance with their customary laws, indigenous knowledge systems and practices,
3 
structures, and mechanisms; Provided, that any co-management with, or
4 
relinquishment of management by the ICCs/IPs, shall be temporary in nature and
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subject to regular renewal by the ICCs/IPs in accordance with Section 58 of Republic
6 
Act No. 8371, and Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7586, as amended.
7 
The application of customary laws, indigenous knowledge systems and
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practices, structures, and mechanir-ms by the ICCs/IPs within and outside their
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ICCAs shall enjoy the presumption of being indigenous and a sustainable traditional
10 
resource right and shall not require prior approval or validation provided that such
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customary laws, indigenous knowledge systems and practices and sustainable
12 
traditional resource right has been earlier acknowledged and recognized by the NCIP.
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Towards this end, the NCIP shall endeavor to codify these customary laws,
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indigenous knowledge systems and practices, and sustainable traditional resource
15 
right in accordance with Section 46 (b) of Republic Act No. 8371 and NCIP
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Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2012.
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Any conflict on matters of governance that may arise within the ICCAs shall be
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primarily resolved through customary laws and traditional conflict resolution
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mechanisms.
20 
CHAPTER IV
21 
INCENTIVES
22 
Sec. 17. Incentive Scheme. - The ICCAs listed in the Registry shall be prioritized
23 
for biodiversity conservation, preservation of forest cover, protection of ancestral
24 
waters, and as reforestation project sites. Where appropriate and available,
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government financial institutions and other government agencies shall provide
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financial and technical assistance to ICCs/IPs for the protection and promotion of
27 
their registered conserved territories and areas, particularly in the establishment and
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implementation of payment schemes for ecosystem services provided by the ICCAs.
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In all cases, the rights, interests, and well-being of the ICCs/IPs shall be of
30 
paramount concern.
31 
CHAPTER V
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ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES


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Sec. 18. Role of the NCIP. - The NCIP shall be the primary government agency 
responsible for the full implementation of this Act. It shall protect and promote the 
interest and well-being of the ICCs/ IPs in the context of biodiversity conservation and 
community resilience.
The NCIP shall create the Ancestral Domain Protection and Sustainable 
Development Office and shall coordinate with the DENR on all activities related to 
the documentation, community conservation, planning, and registration of ICCAs. It 
shall provide full and effective finaricial and technical assistance on the following:
a) Capacity building and enhancement in the identification, documentation,
and recognition of ICCAs;
b) Preparation of Communit)^ Conservation Plans (CCP), and integrating them
in the ADSDPP; and
c) Interfacing of the ADSDPP into other relevant planning frameworks.
The NCIP shall also be responsible for the verification and affirmation of 
information submitted by the ICCs/IPs who undertake the documentation by 
themselves, for inclusion in the Registry of ICCAs.
The NCIP shall consider the issues and concerns on ICCAs in all management 
planning and decision-making processes of the ICCs/IPs.
The NCIP shall also be represented in the Protected Area Management Board 
(PAMB) created for each protected area pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586, as 
amended.
The NCIP, through its provincial offices, shall have original and exclusive 
jurisdiction over all claims and disputes involving ICCAs: Provided, however. That no 
such dispute shall be brought to the NCIP unless the parties have exhausted all 
remedies provided under their customary laws: Provided further, That the indigenous 
conflict resolution should not apply if one of the parties is a non-member of an ICC/ IP, 
and such dispute may be filed directly with the NCIP.
The decision of the provincial office can be appealed to the regional office and 
the Commission proper.
Sec. 19. Role of the DENR. - The DENR shall, upon the formal request of the 
ICCs/IPs, provide financial and technical support for delineation and mapping, and


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biodiversity assessment of ICCA and in the listing or registration of ICCA with the 
Registry and similar global platforms or networks.
Enforcement of the preventive mechanisms and penal provisions of this Act 
shall also be vested in the DENR,
The agency shall also consider the issues and concerns of ICCAs in all 
management planning and decision-making processes of the ICCs/IPs.
The government shall provide funds for the publication of the list of verified ICCAs.
Sec. 20. Role of Other Government Agencies and LGUs. - Consistent with their 
respective mandates and upon formal request by ICCs/IPs, national government 
agencies and LGUs shall provide financial and technical assistance in building and 
strengthening the capacity of the requesting ICCs/IPs to manage their ICCA.
The NCIP and the DENR, in partnership with the DILG, shall devise an 
incentive scheme for LGUs that will adopt and include ICCAs in the harmonized 
Regional and Provincial Physical Framework Plans, Comprehensive Land and Water 
Use Plans, Community Development Plan, Forest Land Use Plan, and other relevant 
plans and programs.
The NCIP and the DENR shall, in partnership with the Department of 
Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Philippine Statistics 
Authority (PSA), create or improve on existing data gathering methods for a complete 
and centralized ICCA registry.
The NCIP shall, in coordination with the DENR, the National Economic 
Development Authority (NEDA), the DILG, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory 
Board (HLURB), and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), formulate 
guidelines for the prioritization of programs and projects that support ICCAs.
Sec. 21. Engagement with the Private Sector and Civil Society to Recognize ICCAs. - 
The ICCs/IPs, the NCIP and the DENR shall actively engage and collaborate with the 
private sector and civil society in raising public awareness and recognition of ICCAs, 
and in obtaining specialized assistance and services, subject to FPIC requirements of 
the concerned ICCs/IPs.
Public participation in the protection, conservation, and sustainable use of IC 
CAs in accordance with the ICCs/IPs customary law and IKSP, especially at the local 
level, shall be encouraged to maximize conservation and community benefits.
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Sec. 22. Sustainable Livelihoods. - Subject to the provisions of the Constitution, 
the NCIP, the DENR, and other relevant government agencies shall support 
sustainable livelihood opportunities, including biodiversity-friendly livelihoods that 
are identified and defined by ICCs/IPs consistent with traditional practices and 
resource use in accordance with ICCs/IPs customary law and IKSP that contribute to 
the sustainable use and proper management of the ICCAs.
CHAPTER VI 
PENAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 23. Prohibited Acts. - Any act inconsistent with the policies of conservation 
and protection and prohibited in Republic Act No. 8371 and Republic Act No. 7586, 
as amended, is prohibited.
Sec. 24. Penalties. - Any individual, corporation, partnership, association or 
juridical entity who commits any acts in violation of Section 23 of this Act shall upon 
conviction, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six months but not more 
than six (6) years or a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) but not 
more than fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.
After finding a probable cause, the proper court where the information is filed 
shall immediately conduct a summary hearing to determine the propriety of issuing 
a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) and shall simultaneously hear 
the criminal case to determine the urgency of issuing a writ of kalikasan. This is without 
prejudice to the other provisional remedies provided under Rule 127 of the Revised 
Rules on Criminal Procedure.
The offender, upon conviction, shall also provide restitution commensurate to 
the cost of the destroyed ecosystem and the cost of rehabilitation of the same as agreed 
upon with the ICCs/IPs.
If the offender is a government official or employee, the offender shall, in 
addition to imprisonment and fine, be perpetually disqualified to hold public office. 
Any object and instrumentality used in committing any of the prohibited acts under 
Section 23 of this Act shall be confis( ated and forfeited in favor of the government.
If the offender this a juridical entity, the penalty of imprisonment and fine shall 
be imposed upon its manager, director, representative, or employee responsible for 
the violation without prejudice to the cancellation or revocation of the license or
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accreditation of the offender, issued by any licensing or accredited body of the 
government.
If the offender is an alien, the offender shall be deported immediately after the 
service of the sentence.
The prosecution of offenses under Section 23 of this Act shall be without 
prejudice to any liability for violation of Republic Act No. 8371 or other criminal and 
civil liabilities under existing laws.
CHAPTER VII 
FINAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 25. Annual Report - The Chairperson of the NCIP shall submit to the 
President of the Philippines and to the Congress an annual progress report on the 
implementation of this Act. The report shall be posted on the website of the NCIP.
Sec. 26. Construction. - The provisions of this Act shall be construed liberally in 
favor of ICCs/IPs and the protection and conservation of biodiversity. In no way shall 
it be interpreted as an instrument to exploit ICC/IPs or undermine the intent of this 
Act to conserve and protect ICCAs.
This Act shall not in any manner adversely affect the rights and benefits of the 
ICCs/IPs under Republic Act No. 8371, international conventions, recommendations, 
international treaties, national laws, awards, customs, and agreements.
Sec. 27. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to cover the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations 
of the concerned departments or agencies. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary 
for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act.
Sec. 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the 
approval of this Act, the Chairperson of the NCIP and the Secretary of the DENR shall, 
in consultation with appropriate government agencies and with the full participation 
of ICCs/IPs, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation 
of this Act.
Sec. 29. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall 
remain in full force and effect.
12


Sec. 30. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and 
other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 31. Ejfectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
13