Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by Representative Wes Gatchalian 
AN ACT 
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8792, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE “ELECTRONIC COMMERCE ACT” 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act No. 8792, otherwise known as the Electronic Commerce Act of 
2000 (ECA), was enacted on June 14, 2000. The ECA paved the way for the greater 
recognition of electronic commerce (e-commerce) in the country. The ECA thus, as 
early as 2000, allowed for the recognition of electronic contracts under Philippine 
law, thereby establishing the groundwork for electronic transactions in the country. 
Five years after the ECA was enacted, the United Nations Commission on 
International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) prepared the United Nations Convention on the 
Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts (ECC). The treaty was 
prepared as a common solution to the legal obstacles that many states face in the 
use of electronic communications and seeks to provide an assurance that all 
concluded contracts and other communications exchanged electronically are as valid 
and enforceable as their traditional paper-based equivalents. With the ECC, a 
uniform set of rules of recognition of international contracts would bind the countries 
that ratify the Convention. The uniform set of rules would avoid the problem of an 
electronic communication or document being validly recognized under the national 
law of one party while not being legally recognized under the national of law of 
another party. 
There are differences between the rules of recognition of electronic 
communications/contracts established in the ECA and the ECC. In 2007, the 
June 24, 2021
10:49 am
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Philippines signed the ECC and it was ratified in 2021. However, international 
electronic contracts can only receive recognition under Philippine law if these 
contracts are compliant with the ECA, even if such contracts adhere to the ECC. 
Therefore, these amendments to the ECA are hereby proposed in order to align our 
law with the ECC and to achieve a common rule of recognition between electronic 
communications/contracts between domestic parties, and those involving a foreign 
contracting party. 
In particular, we are aligning our law on the legal recognition of electronic 
signatures, formation and validity of electronic contracts, error on electronic 
communication or electronic document, and the time and place of dispatch and 
receipt of electronic communications and documents. In addition, this amendment 
will introduce electronic and remote notarization, which has become increasingly 
relevant during this time of crisis. 
These amendments will bring Philippine law at par with the ECC and remove 
any inconsistency that currently exists. This will ease cross-border transactions and 
greatly improve the efficiency of e-commerce. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. WES GATCHALIAN 
Representative 
1st District, Valenzuela City 


1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by Representative Wes Gatchalian 
AN ACT 
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8792, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE “ELECTRONIC COMMERCE ACT” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby amended to read as 
1 
follows: 
2 
3 
“SECTION 3. Objective. – This Act aims to facilitate domestic and 
4 
international dealings, transactions, arrangements, agreements, 
5 
contracts and exchanges and storage of information through the 
6 
utilization of electronic, optical and similar medium, mode, 
7 
instrumentality and technology to recognize the authenticity and 
8 
reliability of electronic [data messages] COMMUNICATIONS or 
9 
electronic documents related to such activities and to promote the 
10 
universal use of electronic transactions in the government and by the 
11 
general public.” 
12 
13 
SEC. 2. 
Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby amended to read as 
14 
follows: 
15 
16 
“SECTION 4. Sphere of Application. – This Act shall apply to any kind 
17 
of electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION and electronic 
18 
document used in the context of commercial and non-commercial 
19 
activities to include domestic and international dealings, transactions, 
20 
arrangements, agreements, contracts and exchanges and storage of 
21 
information.” 
22 
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2 
1 
SEC. 3. 
Section 5 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby amended to read as 
2 
follows: 
3 
4 
“SECTION 5. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act, the 
5 
following terms are defined as follows: 
6 
7 
(a) “Addressee” refers to a [person] PARTY, WHETHER A NATURAL
8 
PERSON OR AUTOMATED MESSAGE SYSTEM, IN AN ELECTRONIC
9 
COMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT who is intended by
10 
the 
originator 
to 
receive 
the 
electronic 
[data 
message]
11 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document, but does not include a
12 
[person] PARTY acting as an intermediary with respect to that
13 
electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document.
14 
15 
(b)
“AUTOMATED 
MESSAGE 
SYSTEM” 
REFERS 
TO 
ANY
16 
COMPUTER PROGRAM, ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUTOMATED
17 
MEANS USED WITHOUT THE REVIEW OR INTERVENTION BY A
18 
NATURAL PERSON IN EVERY INSTANCE, TO INITIATE AN ACTION
19 
OR 
RESPOND 
TO 
ELECTRONIC 
COMMUNICATIONS, 
OR
20 
PERFORMANCES IN WHOLE OR IN PART.
21 
22 
(c)
“COMMUNICATION” 
REFERS 
TO 
ANY 
STATEMENT,
23 
DECLARATION, DEMAND, NOTICE, OR REQUEST, INCLUDING AN
24 
OFFER AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF AN OFFER, THAT THE PARTIES
25 
ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE OR CHOOSE TO MAKE IN CONNECTION
26 
WITH THE FORMATION OR PERFORMANCE OF A CONTRACT.
27 
28 
[(b)] (d) “Computer” refers to any device or apparatus singly or 
29 
interconnected which, by electronic, electro-mechanical, optical and/or 
30 
magnetic impulse, or other means with the same function, can receive, 
31 
record, transmit, store, process, correlate, analyze, project, retrieve 
32 
and/or produce information, data, text, graphics, figures, voice, video, 
33 
symbols or other modes of expression, or perform any one or more of 
34 
these functions. 
35 
36 


 
 
 
3 
[(c)] (e) “[Electronic] DATA MESSAGE” REFERS TO information 
1 
generated, sent, received or stored by electronic, MAGNETIC, optical 
2 
or similar means, INCLUDING ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE, 
3 
ELECTRONIC MAIL, TELEGRAM, TELEX OR TELECOPY. 
4 
 
5 
(f) 
“ELECTRONIC 
COMMUNICATION” 
REFERS 
TO 
ANY 
6 
COMMUNICATION THAT THE PARTIES MAKE BY MEANS OF DATA 
7 
MESSAGES. 
8 
  
9 
[(e)] (g) “Electronic signature” refers to any distinctive mark, 
10 
characteristic and/or sound in electronic form, representing the 
11 
identity of a person and attached to or logically associated with the 
12 
electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document or 
13 
any methodology or procedure[s] employed or adopted by a person and 
14 
executed or adopted by such person with the intention of 
15 
authenticating 
or 
approving 
an 
electronic 
[data 
message] 
16 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document. 
17 
 
18 
[(f)] (h) 
“Electronic document” refers to information or the 
19 
representation of information, data, figures, symbols or other modes of 
20 
written expression, described or however represented, by which a right 
21 
is established or an obligation extinguished, or by which a fact may be 
22 
proved and affirmed, which is received, recorded, transmitted, stored, 
23 
processed, 
retrieved 
or 
produced 
electronically. 
THE 
TERM 
24 
ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT SHALL INCLUDE ALL DATA MESSAGES, 
25 
INCLUDING THOSE GENERATED, RECORDED, AND STORED FOR 
26 
PURPOSES OTHER THAN COMMUNICATION. 
27 
 
28 
[(g)] (i) “Electronic key” refers to a secret code which secures and 
29 
defends sensitive information that crosses over public channels into a 
30 
form decipherable only with a matching electronic key. 
31 
 
32 
[(d)] (j) “Information [and Communication] System” refers to a system 
33 
for generating, sending, receiving, storing or otherwise processing 
34 
[electronic] data messages. [or electronic documents and includes the 
35 
computer system or other similar device by or in which data is recorded 
36 


 
 
 
4 
or stored and any procedures related to the recording or storage of 
1 
electronic data message or electronic document.] 
2 
 
3 
[(h)] (k) “Intermediary” refers to a person who, in behalf of another 
4 
person and with respect to a particular electronic [data message] 
5 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document sends, receives and/or 
6 
stores or provides other services in respect of that electronic [data 
7 
message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document. 
8 
 
9 
[i] (l) “Originator” refers to a [person] PARTY, WHETHER A NATURAL 
10 
PERSON OR AUTOMATED MESSAGE SYSTEM, IN AN ELECTRONIC 
11 
COMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT, by whom, or on 
12 
whose behalf, the ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR electronic 
13 
document [purports to have been created, generated and/or sent] HAS 
14 
BEEN SENT OR GENERATED PRIOR TO STORAGE, IF ANY, [The 
15 
term] BUT does not include a person acting as an intermediary with 
16 
respect to that ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR electronic 
17 
document; 
18 
 
19 
[j] (m) “Service provider” refers to a provider of — 
20 
 
21 
i. 
Online services or network access, or the operator of facilities 
22 
therefor, including entities offering the transmission, routing, or 
23 
providing of connections for online communications, digital or 
24 
otherwise, between or among points specified by a user, of 
25 
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS OR electronic documents of 
26 
the user’s choosing; or 
27 
 
28 
ii. 
The necessary technical means by which ELECTRONIC 
29 
COMMUNICATIONS OR electronic documents of an originator 
30 
may be stored and made accessible to a designated or 
31 
undesignated third party. 
32 
 
33 
Such service providers shall have no authority to modify or alter 
34 
the content of the ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR 
35 
electronic document received or to make any entry therein on 
36 


 
 
 
5 
behalf of the originator, addressee or any third party unless 
1 
specifically authorized to do so, and who shall retain the 
2 
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR electronic document in 
3 
accordance with the specific request or as necessary for the 
4 
purpose of performing the services it was engaged to perform.” 
5 
 
6 
SEC. 4. 
Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby amended to read as 
7 
follows: 
8 
 
9 
“SECTION 
6. Legal 
Recognition 
of 
Electronic 
[Data 
Message] 
10 
COMMUNICATIONS 
AND 
ELECTRONIC 
DOCUMENTS. — 
11 
[Information] AN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC 
12 
DOCUMENT shall not be denied LEGAL EFFECT, validity, or 
13 
enforceability solely on the ground that it is in the form of an electronic 
14 
[data message purporting to give rise to such legal effect, or that it is 
15 
merely incorporated by reference in that electronic data message.] 
16 
COMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT. NOTHING IN 
17 
THIS ACT REQUIRES A PARTY TO USE OR ACCEPT ELECTRONIC 
18 
COMMUNICATIONS OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS, BUT A 
19 
PARTY'S AGREEMENT TO DO SO MAY BE PRESUMED FROM ANY 
20 
CONDUCT WHICH WOULD LEAD A REASONABLE MIND TO 
21 
BELIEVE THAT THEY INTENDED TO USE OR ACCEPT THE SAME.” 
22 
 
23 
SEC. 5. 
 Section 7 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby amended to read as 
24 
follows: 
25 
 
26 
“SECTION 
7. [Legal 
Recognition] 
FORM 
of 
Electronic 
27 
COMMUNICATIONS 
AND 
ELECTRONIC Documents – 
Electronic 
28 
COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONIC documents shall have the 
29 
legal effect, validity or enforceability as any other document or legal 
30 
writing, and –  
31 
 
32 
(a) Where the law requires a COMMUNICATION OR document to be in 
33 
writing, 
that 
requirement 
is 
met 
by 
an 
ELECTRONIC 
34 
COMMUNICATION OR electronic document if the said ELECTRONIC 
35 
COMMUNICATION OR electronic document maintains its integrity and 
36 


 
 
 
6 
reliability and can be authenticated so as to be usable for subsequent 
1 
reference. [, in that –  
2 
 
3 
i. 
The electronic document has remained complete and unaltered, 
4 
apart from the addition of any endorsement and any authorized 
5 
change, or any change which arises in the normal course of 
6 
communication, storage and display; and 
7 
 
8 
ii. 
The electronic document is reliable in the light of the purpose 
9 
for which it was generated and in the light of all relevant 
10 
circumstances.] 
11 
 
12 
(b) Paragraph (a) applies whether the requirement therein is in the form 
13 
of an obligation or whether the law simply provides consequences for 
14 
the document not being presented or retained in its original from. 
15 
 
16 
(c) Where the law requires that a COMMUNICATION OR document be 
17 
presented or retained in its original form, 
OR 
PROVIDES 
18 
CONSEQUENCES FOR THE ABSENCE OF AN ORIGINAL, that 
19 
requirement is met by an ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR 
20 
electronic document if – 
21 
 
22 
i. 
There exists a reliable assurance as to the integrity of the 
23 
document from the time when it was first generated in its final 
24 
form AS AN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION, ELECTRONIC 
25 
DOCUMENT OR OTHERWISE; and 
26 
 
27 
ii. 
WHERE IT IS REQUIRED THAT THE INFORMATION IT 
28 
CONTAINS BE MADE AVAILABLE, that COMMUNICATION OR 
29 
document is capable of being displayed to the person to whom 
30 
it is to be presented: Provided, That no provision of this Act shall 
31 
apply to vary any and all requirements of existing laws on 
32 
formalities required in the execution of documents for their 
33 
validity. 
34 
 
35 
(D) FOR PURPOSES OF SUBPARAGRAPH (C):  
36 


 
 
 
7 
 
1 
i. THE CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING INTEGRITY SHALL BE 
2 
WHETHER THE INFORMATION HAS REMAINED COMPLETE 
3 
AND UNALTERED, APART FROM THE ADDITION OF ANY 
4 
ENDORSEMENT AND ANY CHANGE THAT ARISES IN THE 
5 
NORMAL COURSE OF COMMUNICATION, STORAGE AND 
6 
DISPLAY; AND  
7 
 
8 
ii. THE STANDARD OF RELIABILITY REQUIRED SHALL BE 
9 
ASSESSED IN THE LIGHT OF THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH 
10 
THE INFORMATION WAS GENERATED AND IN LIGHT OF ALL 
11 
THE RELEVANT CIRCUMSTANCES. 
12 
 
13 
For evidentiary purposes, an electronic document shall be the 
14 
functional equivalent of a written document under existing laws. 
15 
 
16 
This Act does not modify any statutory rule relating to the admissibility 
17 
of electronic data messages, ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS, or 
18 
electronic documents, except the rules relating to authentication and 
19 
best evidence.” 
20 
 
21 
SEC. 6. 
 Section 8 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby amended to read as 
22 
follows: 
23 
 
24 
“SECTION 8. Legal Recognition of Electronic Signatures. — [An 
25 
electronic signature on the electronic document shall be equivalent to 
26 
the signature of a person on a written document if the signature is an 
27 
electronic signature and proved by showing that a prescribed 
28 
procedure, not alterable by the parties interested in the electronic 
29 
document, existed under which] WHERE THE LAW REQUIRES THAT 
30 
A COMMUNICATION OR DOCUMENT SHOULD BE SIGNED BY A 
31 
PARTY, OR PROVIDES CONSEQUENCES FOR THE ABSENCE OF A 
32 
SIGNATURE, THAT REQUIREMENT IS MET IN RELATION TO AN 
33 
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT IF: 
34 
 
35 


 
 
 
8 
(a) A method is used to identify the party [sought to be bound] and to 
1 
indicate said party’s [access to the electronic document necessary for 
2 
his consent or approval through the electronic signature] INTENTION 
3 
IN RESPECT OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE 
4 
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT; 
5 
AND 
6 
 
7 
(b) Said method is reliable and appropriate for the purpose for which 
8 
the ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR electronic document was 
9 
generated or communicated, in the light of all circumstances, including 
10 
any relevant agreement OR PROVEN IN FACT TO HAVE FULFILLED 
11 
THE FUNCTIONS DESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (A) ABOVE, BY 
12 
ITSELF OR TOGETHER WITH FURTHER EVIDENCE. 
13 
 
14 
[(c) It is necessary for the party sought to be bound, in order to proceed 
15 
further with the transaction, to have executed or provided the 
16 
electronic signature; and 
17 
 
18 
(d) The other party is authorized and enabled to verify the electronic 
19 
signature and to make the decision to proceed with the transaction 
20 
authenticated by the same.]” 
21 
 
22 
 
23 
SEC. 7. 
 Section 9 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby amended to read as 
24 
follows: 
25 
 
26 
“SECTION 9. Presumption Relating to Electronic Signatures – In any 
27 
proceedings involving an electronic signature, it shall be presumed that 
28 
–  
29 
 
30 
(a) The electronic signature is the signature of the person to whom it 
31 
correlates; and 
32 
 
33 
(b) The electronic signature was affixed by that person with the 
34 
intention of signing or approving the ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION 
35 
OR electronic document unless the person relying on the electronically 
36 


 
 
 
9 
signed ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR electronic document 
1 
knows or has notice of defects in or unreliability of the signature or 
2 
reliance on the electronic signature is not reasonable under the 
3 
circumstances.” 
4 
 
5 
SEC. 8. 
A new Section 10 shall be inserted in Republic Act No. 8792, and 
6 
all subsequent sections are hereby renumbered accordingly. The new Section 10 
7 
shall read as follows: 
8 
 
9 
“SECTION 10. ELECTRONIC AND REMOTE NOTARIZATION. – 
10 
NOTARIAL ACTS MAY BE CONDUCTED ELECTRONICALLY OR 
11 
REMOTELY THROUGH AN OFFICIAL ELECTRONIC SEAL AND THE 
12 
USE OF VIDEOCONFERENCING FACILITIES. PROVIDED, THAT 
13 
THIS PROVISION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO EXISTING OR FUTURE 
14 
RULES AND REGULATIONS ON ELECTRONIC OR REMOTE 
15 
NOTARIZATION, AS MAY BE PROMULGATED BY THE SUPREME 
16 
COURT.” 
17 
 
18 
SEC. 9. 
Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby renumbered to 
19 
Section 11 and amended to read as follows: 
20 
 
21 
“SECTION [10] 11. Original Documents – (1) Where the law requires 
22 
information to be presented or retained in its original form, that 
23 
requirement is met by an electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION 
24 
or electronic document if: 
25 
 
26 
(a) 
the integrity of the information from the time when it was 
27 
first generated in its final form, as an electronic [data 
28 
message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document is 
29 
shown by evidence aliunde or otherwise; and 
30 
 
31 
(b) 
where it is required that information be presented, that the 
32 
information is capable of being displayed to the person to 
33 
whom it is to be presented. 
34 
 
35 


 
 
 
10 
(2) Paragraph (1) applies whether the requirement therein is in the form 
1 
of an obligation or whether the law simply provides consequences for 
2 
the information not being presented or retained in its original form. 
3 
 
4 
(3) For the purposes of subparagraph (a) of paragraph (1): 
5 
 
6 
(a) 
the criteria for assessing integrity shall be whether the 
7 
information has remained complete and unaltered, apart 
8 
from the addition of any endorsement and any change which 
9 
arises in the normal course of communication, storage and 
10 
display; and 
11 
 
12 
(b) 
the standard of reliability required shall be assessed in the 
13 
light of the purpose for which the information was generated 
14 
and in the light of all the relevant circumstances.” 
15 
 
16 
SEC. 10. Section 11 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby renumbered to 
17 
Section 12 and amended to read as follows: 
18 
 
19 
“SECTION [11] 12. Authentication of Electronic [Data Messages] 
20 
COMMUNICATIONS and Electronic Documents – Until the Supreme 
21 
Court by appropriate rules shall have so provided, electronic 
22 
documents, electronic [data messages] COMMUNICATIONS and 
23 
electronic signatures, shall be authenticated by demonstrating, 
24 
substantiating and validating a claimed identity of a user, device, or 
25 
another entity in an information or communication system, among 
26 
other ways, as follows: 
27 
 
28 
(a) 
The electronic signature shall be authenticated by proof that 
29 
a letter, character, number or other symbol in electronic form 
30 
representing the persons named in and attached to or 
31 
logically associated with an electronic [data message] 
32 
COMMUNICATION, electronic document, or that the 
33 
appropriate methodology or security procedures, when 
34 
applicable, were employed or adopted by a person and 
35 
executed or adopted by such person, with the intention of 
36 


 
 
 
11 
authenticating or approving an electronic [data message] 
1 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document; 
2 
 
3 
(b) 
The 
electronic 
[data 
message] 
COMMUNICATION 
or 
4 
electronic document shall be authenticated by proof that an 
5 
appropriate security procedure, when applicable was 
6 
adopted and employed for the purpose of verifying the 
7 
originator of an electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION 
8 
or electronic document, or detecting error or alteration in the 
9 
communication, content or storage of an electronic 
10 
document or electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION 
11 
from a specific point, which, using algorithm or codes, 
12 
identifying words or numbers, encryptions, answers back or 
13 
acknowledgment procedures, or similar security devices. 
14 
 
15 
The Supreme Court may adopt such other authentication procedures, 
16 
including the use of electronic notarization systems as necessary and 
17 
advisable, as well as the certificate of authentication on printed or hard 
18 
copies of the electronic documents or electronic [data messages] 
19 
COMMUNICATIONS by electronic notaries, service providers and other 
20 
duly recognized or appointed certification authorities. 
21 
 
22 
The person seeking to introduce an electronic [data message] 
23 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document in any legal proceeding has 
24 
the burden of proving its authenticity by evidence capable of 
25 
supporting 
a 
finding 
that 
the 
electronic 
[data 
message] 
26 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document is what the person claims 
27 
it to be. 
28 
 
29 
In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the integrity of the 
30 
information and communication system in which an electronic [data 
31 
message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document is recorded or 
32 
stored may be established in any legal proceeding — 
33 
 
34 
(a) 
By evidence that at all material times the information and 
35 
communication system or other similar device was operating 
36 


 
 
 
12 
in a manner that did not affect the integrity of the electronic 
1 
[data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document, 
2 
and there are no other reasonable grounds to doubt the 
3 
integrity of the information and communication system; 
4 
 
5 
(b) 
By 
showing 
that 
the 
electronic 
[data 
message] 
6 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document was recorded or 
7 
stored by a party to the proceedings who is adverse in 
8 
interest to the party using it; or 
9 
 
10 
(c) 
By 
showing 
that 
the 
electronic 
[data 
message] 
11 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document was recorded or 
12 
stored in the usual and ordinary course of business by a 
13 
person who is not a party to the proceedings and who did not 
14 
act under the control of the party using the record.” 
15 
 
16 
SEC. 11. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby renumbered to 
17 
Section 13 and amended to read as follows: 
18 
 
19 
“SECTION [12] 13. Admissibility and Evidential Weight of Electronic 
20 
[Data Messages] COMMUNICATIONS and Electronic Documents – In any 
21 
legal proceedings, nothing in the application of the rules on evidence 
22 
shall deny the admissibility of an electronic [data message] 
23 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document in evidence — 
24 
 
25 
(a) 
On the sole ground that it is in electronic form; or 
26 
 
27 
(b) 
On the ground that it is not in the standard written form, 
28 
and the electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or 
29 
electronic document meeting, and complying with the 
30 
requirements under Sections 6 or 7 hereof shall be the best 
31 
evidence of the agreement and transaction contained therein. 
32 
 
33 
In assessing the evidential weight of an electronic [data message] 
34 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document, the reliability of the 
35 
manner in which it was generated, stored or communicated, the 
36 


13 
reliability of the manner in which its originator was identified, and 
1 
other relevant factor shall be given due regard. 
2 
3 
SEC. 12. Section 13 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby renumbered to 
4 
Section 14 and amended to read as follows: 
5 
6 
“SECTION 
[13] 
14. 
Retention 
of 
Electronic 
[Data 
Message] 
7 
COMMUNICATION or Electronic Document – Notwithstanding any 
8 
provision of law, rule or regulation to the contrary — 
9 
10 
(a) 
The requirement in any provision of law that certain
11 
documents be retained in their original form is satisfied by 
12 
retaining them in the form of an electronic [data message] 
13 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document which — 
14 
15 
i. 
Remains accessible so as to be usable for subsequent 
16 
reference; 
17 
18 
ii. 
Is retained in the format in which it was generated, sent
19 
or received, or in a format which can be demonstrated 
20 
to accurately represent the electronic [data message] 
21 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document generated, 
22 
sent or received; 
23 
24 
iii. 
Enables the identification of its originator and
25 
addressee, as well as the determination of the date and 
26 
the time it was sent or received. 
27 
28 
(b) 
The requirement referred to in paragraph (a) is satisfied by
29 
using the services of a third party, provided that the 
30 
conditions set forth in subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of 
31 
paragraph (a) are met.” 
32 
33 
SEC. 13. A new section is hereby inserted as Section 17 of Republic Act No. 
34 
8792, and all subsequent sections are hereby renumbered accordingly. The new 
35 
Section 17 shall read as follows: 
36 


 
 
 
14 
 
1 
“SECTION 17. INVITATIONS TO MAKE OFFERS. – A PROPOSAL TO 
2 
CONCLUDE A CONTRACT MADE THROUGH ONE OR MORE 
3 
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS WHICH IS NOT ADDRESSED TO 
4 
ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC PARTIES, BUT IS GENERALLY 
5 
ACCESSIBLE TO PARTIES MAKING USE OF INFORMATION 
6 
SYSTEMS, 
INCLUDING 
PROPOSALS 
THAT 
MAKE 
USE 
OF 
7 
INTERACTIVE APPLICATIONS FOR THE PLACEMENT OF ORDERS 
8 
THROUGH 
SUCH 
INFORMATION 
SYSTEMS, 
IS 
TO 
BE 
9 
CONSIDERED AS AN INVITATION TO MAKE OFFERS, UNLESS IT 
10 
CLEARLY INDICATES THE INTENTION OF THE PARTY MAKING 
11 
THE PROPOSAL TO BE BOUND IN CASE OF ACCEPTANCE.” 
12 
 
13 
SEC. 14. Section 16 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby renumbered to 
14 
Section 18 and amended to read as follows: 
15 
 
16 
“SECTION. [16] 18. Formation and Validity of Electronic Contracts. –  
17 
(1) Except as otherwise agreed by the parties, an offer, the acceptance 
18 
of an offer, and such other elements required under existing laws for 
19 
the formation of contracts may be expressed in, demonstrated, and 
20 
proved by means of electronic [data messages] COMMUNICATIONS or 
21 
electronic documents, and no contract shall be denied validity or 
22 
enforceability on the sole ground that it is in the form of an electronic 
23 
[data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document, or that any 
24 
or all of the elements required under existing laws for the formation of 
25 
the contracts is expressed, demonstrated, and proved by means of 
26 
electronic 
[data 
messages] 
COMMUNICATIONS 
or 
electronic 
27 
documents. 
28 
 
29 
(2) Electronic transactions made through networking among banks, or 
30 
linkages thereof with other entities or networks, and vice versa, shall 
31 
be deemed consummated upon the actual dispensing of cash or the 
32 
debit of one account and the corresponding credit to another, whether 
33 
such transaction is initiated by the depositor or by an authorized 
34 
collecting party: Provided, That the obligation of one bank, entity, or 
35 
person similarly situated to another arising therefrom shall be 
36 


 
 
 
15 
considered absolute and shall not be subjected to the process of 
1 
preference of credits. 
2 
 
3 
(3) A CONTRACT FORMED BY THE INTERACTION BETWEEN AN 
4 
AUTOMATED MESSAGE SYSTEM AND A NATURAL PERSON, OR BY 
5 
THE INTERACTION BETWEEN ONE OR MORE AUTOMATED 
6 
MESSAGE SYSTEMS, SHALL NOT BE DENIED VALIDITY OR 
7 
ENFORCEABILITY ON THE SOLE GROUND THAT NO NATURAL 
8 
PERSON REVIEWED OR INTERVENED IN EACH OF THE 
9 
INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS CARRIED OUT BY THE AUTOMATED 
10 
MESSAGE SYSTEMS OR THE RESULTING CONTRACT.” 
11 
 
12 
SEC. 15. Section 17 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby renumbered to 
13 
Section 19, and amended to read as follows: 
14 
 
15 
“SECTION [17] 19. Recognition by Parties of Electronic [Data Message] 
16 
COMMUNICATION or Electronic Document – As between the originator 
17 
and the addressee of an electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION 
18 
or electronic document, a declaration of will or other statement shall 
19 
not be denied legal effect, validity or enforceability solely on the ground 
20 
that it is in the form of an electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION 
21 
or electronic document.” 
22 
 
23 
SEC. 16. Section 18 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby renumbered to 
24 
Section 20, and amended to read as follows: 
25 
 
26 
“SECTION 
[18] 
20. 
Attribution 
of 
Electronic 
[Data 
Message] 
27 
COMMUNICATION 
– 
(1) 
An 
electronic 
[data 
message] 
28 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document is that of the originator if it 
29 
was sent by the originator himself. 
30 
 
31 
(2) As between the originator and the addressee, an electronic [data 
32 
message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document is deemed to be 
33 
that of the originator if it was sent: 
34 
 
35 


 
 
 
16 
(a) 
by a person who had the authority to act on behalf of the 
1 
originator with respect to that electronic [data message] 
2 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document; or 
3 
 
4 
(b) 
by an information system programmed by, or on behalf of the 
5 
originator to operate automatically. 
6 
 
7 
(3) As between the originator and the addressee, an addressee is 
8 
entitled to regard an electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or 
9 
electronic document as being that of the originator, and to act on that 
10 
assumption, if: 
11 
 
12 
(a) 
in order to ascertain whether the electronic [data message] 
13 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document was that of the 
14 
originator, the addressee properly applied a procedure 
15 
previously agreed to by the originator for that purpose; or 
16 
 
17 
(b) 
the 
electronic 
[data 
message] 
COMMUNICATION 
or 
18 
electronic document as received by the addressee resulted 
19 
from the actions of a person whose relationship with the 
20 
originator or with any agent of the originator enabled that 
21 
person to gain access to a method used by the originator to 
22 
identify electronic [data messages] COMMUNICATIONS or 
23 
electronic documents as his own. 
24 
 
25 
(4) Paragraph (3) does not apply: 
26 
 
27 
(a) 
as of the time when the addressee has both received notice 
28 
from the originator that the electronic [data message] 
29 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document is not that of the 
30 
originator, and has reasonable time to act accordingly; or 
31 
 
32 
(b) 
in a case within paragraph (3) sub-paragraph (b), at any time 
33 
when the addressee knew or should have known, had it 
34 
exercised reasonable care or used any agreed procedure, that 
35 


 
 
 
17 
the 
electronic 
[data 
message] 
COMMUNICATION 
or 
1 
electronic document was not that of the originator. 
2 
 
3 
(5) Where an electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic 
4 
document is that of the originator or is deemed to be that of the 
5 
originator, or the addressee is entitled to act on that assumption, then, 
6 
as between the originator and the addressee, the addressee is entitled 
7 
to regard the electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic 
8 
document as received as being what the originator intended to send, 
9 
and to act on that assumption. The addressee is not so entitled when 
10 
it knew or should have known, had it exercised reasonable care or used 
11 
any agreed procedure, that the transmission resulted in any error in 
12 
the electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic 
13 
document as received. 
14 
 
15 
(6) The addressee is entitled to regard each electronic [data message] 
16 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document received as a separate 
17 
electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document 
18 
and to act on that assumption, except to the extent that it duplicates 
19 
another electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic 
20 
document and the addressee knew or should have known, had it 
21 
exercised reasonable care or used any agreed procedure, that the 
22 
electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document 
23 
was a duplicate. 
24 
 
25 
SEC. 17. Section 19 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby renumbered to 
26 
Section 21, and amended to read as follows: 
27 
 
28 
“SECTION. [19] 21. Error [on] IN Electronic [Data Message] 
29 
COMMUNICATIONS or Electronic DocumentS. –  
30 
 
31 
(A) The addressee is entitled to regard the electronic [data message] 
32 
COMMUNICATION or electronic document received as that which the 
33 
originator intended to send, and to act on that assumption, unless the 
34 
addressee knew or should have known, had the addressee exercised 
35 
reasonable care or used the appropriate procedure – 
36 


 
 
 
18 
 
1 
i. 
That the transmission resulted in any error therein or in the 
2 
electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic 
3 
document 
when 
the 
electronic 
[data 
message] 
4 
COMMUNICATION 
or 
electronic 
document 
enters 
the 
5 
designated information system, or 
6 
 
7 
ii. 
That electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic 
8 
document is sent to an information system which is not so 
9 
designated by the addressee for the purpose. 
10 
 
11 
(B) WHERE AN ORIGINATOR, OR INTERMEDIARY ACTING ON ITS 
12 
BEHALF, MAKES AN INPUT ERROR IN AN ELECTRONIC 
13 
COMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT EXCHANGED 
14 
WITH THE AUTOMATED MESSAGE SYSTEM OF ANOTHER PARTY 
15 
AND THE AUTOMATED MESSAGE SYSTEM DOES NOT PROVIDE 
16 
THE ORIGINATOR OR INTERMEDIARY WITH AN OPPORTUNITY 
17 
TO CORRECT THE ERROR, THE ORIGINATOR OR INTERMEDIARY 
18 
HAS THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW THE PORTION OF THE 
19 
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT IN 
20 
WHICH THE INPUT ERROR WAS MADE IF: 
21 
 
22 
i. 
THE ORIGINATOR OR INTERMEDIARY NOTIFIES THE 
23 
OTHER PARTY OF THE ERROR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE 
24 
AFTER HAVING LEARNED OF THE ERROR AND INDICATES 
25 
THAT AN ERROR WAS MADE IN THE ELECTRONIC 
26 
COMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT; AND 
27 
 
28 
ii. 
THE ORIGINATOR OR INTERMEDIARY HAS NOT USED OR 
29 
RECEIVED ANY MATERIAL BENEFIT OR VALUE FROM THE 
30 
GOODS OR SERVICES, IF ANY, RECEIVED FROM THE 
31 
OTHER PARTY.” 
32 
 
33 
SEC. 18. Section 20 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby renumbered to 
34 
Section 22, and amended to read as follows: 
35 
 
36 


 
 
 
19 
“SECTION [20] 22. Agreement on Acknowledgment of Receipt of 
1 
Electronic 
[Data 
Messages] 
COMMUNICATIONS 
or 
Electronic 
2 
Documents. — The following rules shall apply where, on or before 
3 
sending an electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic 
4 
document, the originator and the addressee have agreed, or in that 
5 
electronic document or electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION, 
6 
the originator has requested, that receipt of the electronic document or 
7 
electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION be acknowledged: 
8 
 
9 
(a) Where the originator has not agreed with the addressee that the 
10 
acknowledgment be given in a particular form or by a particular 
11 
method, an acknowledgment may be given by or through any 
12 
communication by the addressee, automated or otherwise, or any 
13 
conduct of the addressee, sufficient to indicate to the originator that 
14 
the electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic 
15 
document has been received. 
16 
 
17 
(b) Where the originator has stated that the effect or significance of the 
18 
electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document is 
19 
conditional on receipt of the acknowledgment thereof, the electronic 
20 
[data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document is treated as 
21 
though it has never been sent, until the acknowledgment is received. 
22 
 
23 
(c) Where the originator has not stated that the effect or significance of 
24 
the electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic 
25 
document is conditional on receipt of the acknowledgment, and the 
26 
acknowledgment has not been received by the originator within the 
27 
time specified or agreed or, if no time has been specified or agreed, 
28 
within a reasonable time, the originator may give notice to the 
29 
addressee stating that no acknowledgment has been received and 
30 
specifying a reasonable time by which the acknowledgment must be 
31 
received; and if the acknowledgment is not received within the time 
32 
specified in subparagraph (c), the originator may, upon notice to the 
33 
addressee, treat the electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or 
34 
electronic document as though it had never been sent, or exercise any 
35 
other rights it may have. 
36 


 
 
 
20 
 
1 
SEC. 19. Section 21 of Republic Act No. is hereby renumbered to Section 23, 
2 
and amended to read as follows: 
3 
 
4 
“SECTION [21] 23. Time of Dispatch of Electronic [Data Messages] 
5 
COMMUNICATIONS or Electronic Documents. — Unless otherwise 
6 
agreed between the originator and the addressee, the dispatch of an 
7 
electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document 
8 
occurs when [it enters an information system outside the control of the 
9 
originator or of the person who sent the electronic data message or 
10 
electronic document on behalf of the originator.] IT LEAVES AN 
11 
INFORMATION 
SYSTEM 
UNDER 
THE 
CONTROL 
OF 
THE 
12 
ORIGINATOR OR OF THE INTERMEDIARY WHO SENT IT ON 
13 
BEHALF OF THE ORIGINATOR OR, IF THE ELECTRONIC 
14 
COMMUNICATION HAS NOT LEFT AN INFORMATION SYSTEM 
15 
UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE ORIGINATOR OR INTERMEDIARY, 
16 
THE TIME WHEN THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION IS 
17 
RECEIVED.” 
18 
 
19 
SEC. 20. Section 22 of Republic Act No. 8792 is hereby renumbered to 
20 
Section 24, and amended to read as follows: 
21 
 
22 
“SECTION [22] 24. Time of Receipt of Electronic [Data Messages] 
23 
COMMUNICATIONS or Electronic Documents. — Unless otherwise 
24 
agreed between the originator and the addressee, the time of receipt of 
25 
an electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic 
26 
document is as follows: 
27 
 
28 
(a) [If the addressee has designated an information system for the 
29 
purpose of receiving electronic data messages or electronic documents, 
30 
receipt occurs at the time when the electronic data message or 
31 
electronic 
document 
enters 
the 
designated 
information 
32 
system: Provided, however, That if the originator and the addressee are 
33 
both participants in the designated information system, receipt occurs 
34 
at the time when the electronic data message or electronic document 
35 
is retrieved by the addressee.] THE TIME OF RECEIPT OF AN 
36 


 
 
 
21 
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT IS 
1 
THE TIME WHEN IT BECOMES CAPABLE OF BEING RETRIEVED 
2 
BY THE ADDRESSEE AT AN ELECTRONIC ADDRESS DESIGNATED 
3 
BY THE ADDRESSEE.  
4 
 
5 
(b) [If the electronic data message or electronic document is sent to an 
6 
information system of the addressee that is not the designated 
7 
information system, receipt occurs at the time when the electronic data 
8 
message or electronic document is retrieved by the addressee;] THE 
9 
TIME OF RECEIPT OF AN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION OR 
10 
ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT AT ANOTHER ELECTRONIC ADDRESS 
11 
OF THE ADDRESSEE IS THE TIME WHEN IT BECOMES CAPABLE 
12 
OF BEING RETRIEVED BY THE ADDRESSEE AT THAT ADDRESS 
13 
AND THE ADDRESSEE BECOMES AWARE THAT THE ELECTRONIC 
14 
COMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT HAS BEEN SENT 
15 
TO THAT ADDRESS. 
16 
 
17 
(c) [If the addressee has not designated an information system, receipt 
18 
occurs when the electronic data message or electronic document enters 
19 
an information system of the addressee.] AN ELECTRONIC 
20 
COMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT IS PRESUMED TO 
21 
BE CAPABLE OF BEING RETRIEVED BY THE ADDRESSEE WHEN 
22 
IT 
REACHES 
THE 
ADDRESSEE’S 
ELECTRONIC 
ADDRESS; 
23 
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT A PARTY SEEKING TO PROVE THAT 
24 
THE DOCUMENT WAS NOT CAPABLE OF BEING RETRIEVED BY 
25 
THE ADDRESSEE DESPITE REACHING THE ADDRESSEE’S 
26 
ELECTRONIC ADDRESS MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT THE DELAY 
27 
OR NON-RETRIEVAL WAS DUE TO ERRORS ATTRIBUTABLE TO 
28 
THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS INVOLVED. IN SUCH CASES, THE 
29 
TIME OF RECEIPT SHALL BE THE TIME WHEN THE ELECTRONIC 
30 
COMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT IS ACTUALLY 
31 
RETRIEVED BY THE ADDRESSEE.  
32 
 
33 
(D) WHEN THERE IS DELAY OR NON-RETRIEVAL DUE TO ERRORS 
34 
ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS INVOLVED, 
35 
AND SUCH ERRORS ARE NOT REFLECTED IN THE ELECTRONIC 
36 


 
 
 
22 
TIME STAMPS OF THE INFORMATION SYSTEM, THE TIME OF 
1 
RECEIPT SHALL BE THE TIME WHEN THE ELECTRONIC 
2 
COMMUNICATION OR DOCUMENT IS ACTUALLY RETRIEVED BY 
3 
THE ADDRESSEE. PROVIDED, THAT THE ADDRESSEE MUST 
4 
SHOW PROOF OF SUCH DELAY OR NON-RETRIEVAL. 
5 
 
6 
These rules apply notwithstanding that the place where the 
7 
information system is located may be different from the place where 
8 
the electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic 
9 
document is deemed to be received.” 
10 
 
11 
SEC. 21. Section 23 of Republic Act No. is hereby renumbered to Section 25, 
12 
and amended to read as follows: 
13 
 
14 
“SECTION [23] 25. Place of Dispatch and Receipt of Electronic [Data 
15 
Messages] COMMUNICATIONS or Electronic Documents. — Unless 
16 
otherwise agreed between the originator and the addressee, an 
17 
electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document is 
18 
deemed to be dispatched at the place where the originator has its place 
19 
of business and received at the place where the addressee has its place 
20 
of business. This rule shall apply even if the originator or addressee 
21 
had used a laptop other portable device to transmit or receive his 
22 
electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION or electronic document. 
23 
This rule shall also apply to determine the tax situs of such 
24 
transaction. 
25 
 
26 
For the purpose hereof — 
27 
 
28 
(a) A PARTY’S PLACE OF BUSINESS IS PRESUMED TO BE THE 
29 
LOCATION INDICATED BY THAT PARTY, UNLESS ANOTHER 
30 
PARTY REBUTS THE PRESUMPTION BY ADDUCING EVIDENCE 
31 
THAT THE PARTY MAKING THE INDICATION DOES NOT HAVE A 
32 
PLACE OF BUSINESS AT SAID LOCATION. 
33 
 
34 
[a] (B) If A PARTY HAS NOT INDICATED A PLACE OF BUSINESS AND 
35 
HAS MORE THAN ONE PLACE OF BUSINESS [the originator or the 
36 


23 
addressee has more than one place of business], the place of business 
1 
is that which has the closest relationship to the RELEVANT 
2 
CONTRACT, HAVING REGARD TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES KNOWN 
3 
TO OR CONTEMPLATED BY THE PARTIES AT ANY TIME BEFORE 
4 
OR AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CONTRACT. [underlying 
5 
transaction or, where there is no underlying transaction, the principal 
6 
place of business.] 
7 
8 
[b] (C) If [the originator or the addressee] A NATURAL PERSON does
9 
not have a place of business, reference is to be made to [its] THE
10 
PERSON’S habitual residence; or
11 
12 
[c] (D) The “usual place of residence” in relation to a body corporate,
13 
[means] REFERS TO the place where it is incorporated or otherwise
14 
legally constituted.
15 
16 
(e) A LOCATION IS NOT A PLACE OF BUSINESS MERELY BECAUSE
17 
THAT IS:
18 
19 
i.
WHERE EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTING
20 
AN INFORMATION SYSTEM USED BY A PARTY IN
21 
CONNECTION WITH THE FORMATION OF A CONTRACT
22 
ARE LOCATED; OR
23 
24 
ii.
WHERE THE INFORMATION SYSTEM MAY BE ACCESSED
25 
BY OTHER PARTIES.
26 
27 
(F) THE SOLE FACT THAT A PARTY MAKES USE OF A DOMAIN
28 
NAME OR ELECTRONIC MAIL ADDRESS CONNECTED TO A
29 
SPECIFIC COUNTRY DOES NOT CREATE A PRESUMPTION THAT
30 
ITS PLACE OF BUSINESS IS LOCATED IN THE SAME COUNTRY.”
31 
32 
SEC. 22. Section 24 of Republic Act No. is hereby renumbered to Section 26, 
33 
and amended to read as follows: 
34 
35 


24 
“SECTION [24] 26. Choice of Security Methods. — Subject to applicable 
1 
laws and/or rules and guidelines promulgated by the Department of 
2 
Trade and Industry with other appropriate government agencies, 
3 
parties to any electronic transaction shall be free to determine the type 
4 
and level of electronic [data message] COMMUNICATION and 
5 
electronic document security needed, and to select and use or 
6 
implement appropriate technological methods that suit their needs.” 
7 
8 
SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
9 
proclamations, and administrative issuances, circulars, rules, and regulations, 
10 
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified, 
11 
superseded, or repealed accordingly. 
12 
13 
SEC. 24. Separability Clause. – If any part of this Act is declared 
14 
unconstitutional or invalid, such parts or provisions thereof not so declared shall 
15 
remain valid and subsisting. 
16 
17 
SEC. 25. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
18 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
19 
20 
Approved, 
21