RECEIVED
my Onis
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC BATE: 30 Jui 2016

OF THE PHILIPPINES, ) 7 :
First Regular Session wim 5
a ) py: (PMG
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ;
H.B.No.__ 255 REGISTRATION UNT

| BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by Representative Herminio Harry L. Roque Jr.

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE COMMERCIALIZ.ATION OF HUMAN ORGANS, TISSUES, OR
PARTS OF LIVING PERSONS, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR ITS VIOLATIONS, AND
STABLISHING A PHILIPPINE BOARD OF ORGAN DONATION AND
‘TRANSPLANTATION AND A NATIONAL TRANSPLANT AND ETHICS COMMITTEE

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The demand for organs, tissues or parts has grown at a steadily increasing pace in the
market. Human organ and tissue trading has become lucrative business, a source of easy but
big profit. Many people are lured into selling their organs, tissues or parts with the promise of
money as consideration, In the present set up, it is usually the poor and uneducated that are

lured into selling their organs, tissues or parts for the benefit of rich recipients.

Organ trade continues to rise at an alarming rate and has become an even bigger threat
to society, especially the poor and vulnerable sectors. ‘here is a need for greater
institutionalized measures to protect the vulnerable, the poor and uneducated from being
exploited into selling their organs, tissues or parts. These persons regularly end up even
poorer than they were before they sold their kidneys and in addition, contracting illnesses like
urinary tract infection and hypertension which are directly related to poor or absent medical
care after the organ sale. It is imperative that a law be passed prohibiting and penalizing
commercial dealings in human organs, tissues of parts to deter those who would prey on the

vulnerabilities of others and entice them to sell their organs, tissues or parts for consideration.

HOUSES® REPRESENTATIVES



The state should make it a policy to prohibit this form of commodi

tion and penalize those

who would engage in the same.

Commodification of human organs, tissues or parts has led to exploitation born out of
social inequalities among the members of society. It is not only socially problematic but also

morally repugnant. It is enshrined in the Philippine constitution that the dignity of persons

must be respected and preserved at all cost. The commodification of the human body is an
attack against human dignity. It is a policy under the Constitution for the state to protect and
promote the right to health of the people. Commercialization of human organs is an affront

to this policy. Social justice also demands that the state protect those who are vulnerable to

exploitation and abuse.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), twenty (20) medical facilities in
Metro Manila alone perform organ transplantation, Seven of these facilities were found to
have violated a DOH Administrative Order mandating that only ten percent (10%) of organ
transplantation should be for foreign recipients. According to the Philippine Society of
Nephrology, there were four hundred (400) documented kidney transplants from local donors
to foreign recipients between the years 2002 and 2005 or more than forty percent (40%) of
total kidney transplants despite the ten pereent (10%) limit on foreign beneficiaries. By 2007,
the number of foreign recipients had reached five hundred twenty-eight (528) for that year

alone, even more than the number of ino recipients. Asia Time Online noted on June 5,

2008 that the DOH had reported eight (8) different facilities including a government hospital,
(the National Kidney and Transplant Institute) which did not abide by the annual cap on
transplants for foreign recipients. Protests from concerned medical professionals and the

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) caught the attention of President


Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and resulted in a Presidential Directive to the DOH to totally ban

organ transplantation to foreigners in the Philippines in March of 2008

Even with the ban on foreign recipients, commereialization of human organs has been
going from bad to worse, An article in Pinoy Ambisyoso Online dated December 15, 2008
reported that organ sale is now facilitated in the internet, An article in the Philippine Star
dated December 13, 2008 reported that human organs traffickers are already using online

marketing, offering human organs to both local and foreign buyers.

There is a need to establish a national body that would oversee the government action
against commercialization of human organs, tissues or parts and formulate policies related to
organ transplantation, Furthermore, we should also establish a committee that would

formulate ethical guidelines and resolve ethical issues on organ transplantation,

‘This bill provides for criminalization of acts commercializing human organs, tissues or parts

and establishing a Philippine Board of Organ Donation and Transplantation and a National

Transplant and Ethi

een

HERMINIO HARRY L. ROQUE JR.

' This bill was originally filed during the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session.

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Aueene

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC +)
OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
HJ

Introduced by Representative Herminio Harry L. Roque Jr.

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF HUMAN ORGANS, TISSUES, OR
PARTS OF LIVING PERSONS, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR ITS VIOLATIONS, AND
ESTABLISHING A PHILIPPINE BOARD OF ORGAN DONATION AND.
TRANSPLANTATION AND A NATIONAL TRANSPLANT AND ETHICS COMMITTEE

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Commercialization of

Human Organs, Tissues or Parts of Living Persons Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ The State values the dignity of every human
person and guarantees the respect of human dignity. ‘The State protects and promotes the
right to health of the people. It recognizes the need to prevent commercial trade and
trafficking in human organs and tissues of living persons and gives highest priority to the
enactment of measures and development of programs, projects and policies that will promote
human dignity and the health of the people, protect them from any threat of violence and
exploitation, and prevent and eliminate commercial trade and trafficking in human organs,
tissues or parts.

‘The State recognizes the inherent human dignity of persons as enshrined in the United

Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights and is a state party to the United Nations


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Convention against ‘Transnational Organized Crime Including its Protocol to Prevent,

Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. ~ As used in this Act, the term:

(a) “Advertisement” includes any form of advert

‘ing or the promotion of goods,
services or ideas through paid or unpaid announcements in print, broadeast or electronic
media whether to the public generally or to any section of the public or individually to
selected persons for the purpose of promoting commercial dealings in human organs, tissues
or parts,

(b) “Commercial dealings” refers to: (1) the sale, barter, or any transaction of
human organs, tissues or parts which involves consideration in whatever form; (2) any
transaction involving the trafficking of persons for the purpose of sale of human organs,
tissues or parts through whatever means; and, (3) acting as a broker or participating in any
way for such transactions for any consideration in violation of this Act; Provided, that the
parties are not legally married or genetically related up to the fourth (4) degree of
consanguinity,

(©) “Hospital” refers to a facility devoted primarily to the diagnosis, treatment and
. disease,

care of individuals suffering from illne: ijury or deformity, or in need of surgical,

obstetrical or other medical and nursing care, It shall also be construed as any institution,
building or place where there are facilities and personnel for the aforementioned purposes. It
includes but is not limited to a nursing home, clinic, medical center, medical teaching
institution and other similar institutions.

(@) “Human organ” includes, but is not limited to human kidney, liver, heart, lung,

pancreas, comea, skin or any other human organ or part or any nonrenewable or

nonregenerative tissue.


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(©) “Organ/tissue bank or storage facility” refers to a facility licensed, accredited
or approved under the law for storage of human bodies, organs or parts thereof.

(0) “Medical practitioner” refers to any physician, dentist, nurse, pharmacist or
paramedical or other supporting personnel (including medical and dental technicians, nursing
assistants, and therapists);

(g) “Allowable reimbursement” refers to the reasonable costs incurred by a donor
associated with the legal removal, storage, transportation, and transplantation of a human
organ, tissue or part, or the expenses of travel, housing, and lost wages, medical expenses and
insurance of the donor for death or complications that arise from the donation.

(h) “Organ provider” refers to the person from whom the organ/tissue is taken.

SECTION 4. Prohibited Acts ~ It shall be unlawful for any person, natural or
juridical, to commit any of the following acts:

(a) To advertise or cause to be advertised in any manner, whether formally or
informally through print, broadcast or electronic media including the internet an offer to sell,
barter or transact in human organs, tissues of parts or an offer to acquire, buy or receive
human organs, tissues or parts for consideration in whatever form or any material that
promotes commercial dealings in human organs, tissues or parts;

(b) To recruit, transport, transfer, harbor, provide, or maintain a person by any
means, for the sale, barter, or any transaction of human organs, tissues or parts which
involves consideration in whatever form;

(c) To offer consideration in money, kind or services for the purpose of acquiring,
buying, offering, selling, or trading human organs, tissues or parts;

(@) To act as a facilitator, middleman, broker or play other or similar roles in the
sale, barter or other transaction of human organs, tissues or parts for consideration in

whatever form;


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(©) To engage in the trade, sale, barter or other transaction of human organs,
tissues or parts for consideration in whatever form;

(8 To store or handle human organs, tissues or parts that have been acquired or
transferred or sold for consideration in whatever form;

(2) To deliver, transport, transfer or distribute human organs, tissues or parts that

have been acquired or transferred or sold for consideration in whatever form;

(h) To remove or transplant human organs, tissues or parts that have been
acquired or transferred or sold for consideration in whatever form;

(i) To offer to supply human organs, tissues or parts for consideration or initiate
or negotiate any arrangement for the supply thereof or for an offer to supply human organs,
tissues or parts;

() To recruit or invite persons to supply human organs, tissues or parts for

consideration;

(k) To make or receive payment for the supply of or for an offer to supply human
organs, tissues or parts.

SECTION 5. Acts that Promote or Facilitate Commercialization of Human Organs,
Tissues or Parts. ~ The following acts which promote or facilitate commercialization of
human organs, tissues or parts shall be unlawful:

(a) To lease or sublease, use or allow to be used any house, building or

establishment for the purpose of promoting commercial dealings in human organs, tissues or

parts;

(b) To produce, print, issue or distribute publications which include
advertisements of the sale, barter, or other transactions on human organs, tissues or parts for

consideration in whatever form;


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(©) To maintain a data bank of prospective commercial donors. The Philippine
Board of Organ Donation and Transplantation established under this Act shall promulgate

rules to provide for proper authorization of data bank of prospective donors.

SECTION 6. Qualified Commercialization of Human Organs or Tissues, ~ If any acts
under Section 4 and 5 are committed under the following circumstances, the crime committed
shall be qualified commercialization of human organs or tissues:

(a) When the crime is committed by a syndicate, or in large scale, Commercial

dealing in human organs, tissues or parts is deemed committed by a syndicate if carried out
by a group of three (3) or more persons conspiring or confederating with one another. It is
deemed committed in large scale if committed against three (3) or more persons, individually
or as a group;

(b) When the offense is committed by a medical practitioner, public officer or
employee or a law enforcer or member of the military

(©) When the crime is committed by a corporation, association, group or other
juridical persons whether or not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC);

(4) When the organ provider is a minor or is already of age but unable to fully
take care of himself or protect himself from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or
discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or economic vulnerability:

(c) When the organ provider was forced to enter into the commercial dealing of
his/her organs, tissues or parts by force, violence, intimidation, threat, fraudulent

machinations, grave abuse of authority or other similar means which vitiate free will and

consent; and,


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(f) When the organ provider suffers severe complications as a result of organ
removal or died as a consequence thereof.
(2) When the tissue/organ is transported, or when there is attempt to transfer the

tissue/organ outside Philippine territory.

Ss

CTION 7. Presumptions. — Any of the following circumstance shall be considered

prima facie evidence of commercialization of organs and tissues of living person:
(a) When the money or value of the thing or object given to the donor far exceeds
the costs of allowable reimbursement that may be received by the donor; and,

(b) When the reci

jent of the organ or tissue is a foreign national not related to

the donor up to the fourth (4"") degree of consanguinity.
SECTION 8. Custody. ~ When necessary, the organ provider may be placed under
the protective custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development pursuant to its

mandate under Executive Order No. 292.

SECTION 9. Jmmunity from Criminal Prosecution. — The State Prosecutor may

exempt from prosecution any person who has personal knowledge of the commission of any

of the offenses penalized under the Act and who voluntarily gives material information

relative thereto and willingly testifies against the offender for the offense with reference to
which his information and testimony were given, subject to the relevant provisions under the

Rules of Court on discharge of accused to be state witness.

SECTION 10. Extraterritorial Protection, ~ An organ provider or a prospective organ

provider who is a Filipino national and allowed the removal of his/her organs, tissues or parts


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for consideration outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines shall be entitled to
protection from the state through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and its agents,
which protection shall include but is not limited to the following; medical assistance, legal
assistance, psychosocial services, rehabilitative services and repatriation of victims.

The DFA shall monitor cases of Filipino nationals outside of the Philippines who
were victimized by commercial dealings in organs, tissues or parts and coordinate with
different governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and other support groups to
combat commercialization of organs, tissues or parts of Filipino nationals outside of the

Philippines.

SECTION 11, Penalties and Sanctions. ~ The following penalties and sanctions are
hereby established for the offenses enumerated in the Act:
(a) Any person found guilty of committing any of the acts enumerated in Section

4 shall sufffer the penalty of reclusion temporal and a fine of not |

than One million pesos

(Php 1,000,000,00) but not more than Two million pes

s (Php 2,000,000.00);

(b) Any person found guilty of committing any of the acts enumerated in Section
5 shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand
pesos (Php $00,000.00) but not more than One million pesos (Php 1,000,000.00), except that
an organ provider found guilty of committing the Acts provided under Section 5, paragraphs
hand k shall suffer the penalty of arresto mayor and a fine of not less than One thousand
pesos (Php 1,000.00) but not more than Five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00)

(©) Any person found guilty of qualified commercial dealing in human organs or
tissues under the circumstances provided in Section 6 shall suffer the penalty of reclusion
perpertua and a fine of not less than Two million pesos (Php 2,000,000.00) but not more

than Five million pesos (Php 5,000,000.00);


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(@) If the offender is a corporation, partnership, association, club, establishment or
any juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the owner, president, partner,
manager, or any responsible officer who participated in the commission of the crime or who
shall have knowingly permitted or failed to prevent its commission;

(©) The registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and
license to operate of the erring corporation, association, or group shall be cancelled and
revoked permanently. ‘The owner, president, partner or manager thereof shall not be allowed
to operate similar establishments under a different name;

(0) If the offender is a hospital, clinic or other similar licensed medical institution,
the penalty shall be imposed upon its owner, president, director, members of the board,
officials and doctors and/or other members of the medical, nursing and allied staff with
knowledge of the illegal acts and participates therein;

(g) The license of the hospital, clinic or medical institution with the Department
of Health and other regulatory institutions shall be cancelled and revoked permanently and
the license to practice of medical, nursing and allied professionals found guilty of the illegal
acts shall be cancelled and revoked permanently:

(h) If the offender is a foreigner, he shall be immediately deported after serving

ntence and be barred permanently from re-entering the country;

(i) Any employee or official of government agencies who shall commit the
prohibited acts enumerated under Section 4 and Section 5 shall be held administratively
liable, without prejudice to criminal liability under this Act. The concerned government
official or employee shall, upon conviction, be dismissed from the service and be barred
permanently to hold public office. His/her retirement and other benefits shall likewise be

forfeited.


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SECTION 12. Prescriptive Period, — Commercialization in human organs, tissues or

parts cases under this Act shall prescribe in ten (10) years; provided however, that cases
committed under the circumstances provided in Section 6 of this Act shall prescribe in twenty

(20) years.

SECTION 13. Confiscation and Forfeiture of the Proceeds and Instruments Derived
from Commercial Dealings in Human Organs and Tissues. ~ In addition to the penalty
imposed for the violation of this Act, the court shall order the confiscation and forfeiture, in
favor of the government, of all the proceeds and properties derived from the commission of
the crime, unless they are the property of a third person not liable for the unlawful act:
Provided, however, that all awards for damages shall be taken from the personal and separate
properties of the offender: Provided, further, that if such properties are insufficient, the
balance shall be taken from the confiscated and forfeited properties

When the proceeds, properties and instruments of the offense have been destroyed,

diminished in value or otherwise rendered worthless by any act or omission, directly or

indirectly, of the offender, or have been concealed, removed, converted or transferred to

prevent the same from being found or to avoid forfeiture or confiscation, the offender shall be
ordered to pay the amount equal to the value of the proceeds, property or instruments of the

offense.

SECTION 14. Duty of Hospitals and Organ/Tissue Bank Storage Facility. ~ It shall
be the duty of all hospitals to ensure that all removal and transplantation of human organs,
tissues or parts do not contravene the provisions of this Act and to report to the proper
authorities any contravention of this Act. Likewise, it shall be the duty of Organ/Tissue Bank

Storage Facility to ensure that all organs, tissues or parts stored in the facility were not


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acquired or received for consideration in whatever form in contravention of this Act and to
report to the proper authorities any contravention of this Act.

All hospitals and medical institutions shall create a Hospital Ethies Committee whose
purpose is to improve health care delivery and outcomes by helping to identify, analyze and
resolve ethical dilemmas as they emerge predominantly through consultation, education and
policy development. ‘The Ethics Committee shall make recommendations in determining the
ethical principles and policies on organs, tissues or parts transplantation in order to prevent

and suppre’

commercialization in human organs, tissues or parts in their hospitals or
institutions, provided that these are in conformity with national ethical standards and policies.

All hospitals, medical institutions, organ or tissue bank storage facility shall record all
ongans, tissues or parts retrieved, the source of the donation, the purpose for the donation, the
ames, address and contact numbers of the persons concerned including but not limited to the
surgeon, donor and recipient, the date of the donation, storage, removal or transplant of the
organs, tissues or parts and other relevant information necessary and make a determination
that the organs, tissues or parts is not a product of commercialization. ‘The records and
documents containing such information shall be made available and transparent to the public.

Al hospitals, medical institutions, organ or tissue bank storage facility shall submit
periodic reports which shall include relevant records and documents to the Philippine Board
for Organ Donation and Transplantation as defined under section 18 on their compliance with

the provisions of this Act

SECTION 15. Philippine Board for Organ Donation and Transplantation (PBODT).
~ There is hereby established a Philippine Board for Organ Donation and Transplantation
which shall formulate and oversee the implementation of policies related to organ

transplantation. It shall have the following functions:

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(a) Formulate, review and approve policies in support of a rational, ethical,
accessible and equitable organ transplantation program in the country;

(b) Set up a system of accreditation of transplant facilities and approve the
issuance of a Certificate of Accreditation of transplant facilities.

(©) Set the guidelines and overall monitoring and evaluation framework and
ensure the proper implementation of this Act;

(4) Require the submission of reports from government and non-government
agencies concerned with the conduct of programs, projects and policies relating to the

implementation of this Act;

(ec) Submit periodic reports to the President of the Philippines and Congress on the
implementation of the provisions of this Act;
(fp) Determine inherent weaknesses in the law and its implementation and

recommend the necessary remedial legislation or executive measures; and

(g) Perform such other duties, functions and responsibilities as may be necessary

to effectively attain the objectives of this Act.

SECTION 16. Composition of the Board. — The Philippine Board for Organ Donation
and Transplantation shall be composed of the following:

(a) The Secretary of Health as Chairperson;

(b) The Secretary of Social Welfare and Development as Chairperson: and,

The following as Members:

(i) Phe Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Health Insurance

his representative;
(ii) Representative from a government transplant facility on a rotational basis and

for a term of two (2) years, to be appointed jointly by the chairpersons;

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(iii) Representative from a private transplant facility, on a rotational basis and for a
term of two (2) years, to be appointed jointly by the chairpersons:

(iv) _ The President of the Philippine Society of Nephrology;

(¥) The President of the Philippine Society of Transplant Surgeons;

(vi) Representative from a Non-Government Organization engaged in health care
advocacy, on a rotational basis and for a term of two (2) years, to be appointed jointly by the
chairpersons; and

(vii) Expert on bioethics, on a rotational basis and for a term of two (2) years, to be

appointed jointly by the chairpersons.

SECTION 17. National Transplant Ethics Committee. ~ There is hereby established a
National Transplant Ethics Committee which shall formulate national ethical standards or
guidelines on organ donation and transplantation for the approval of the Philippine Board for
Organ Donation and Transplantation and shall assist the Board in the resolution of ethical
issues and in the monitoring of transplant facilities to ensure compliance with ethical
standards or guidelines. It shall also perform such other duties, functions and responsibilities

assigned by the PBDOT as may be necessary to effectively attain the objective of this Act.

SECTION 18. Composition. - The National Transplant Fthics Committee shall be
appointed by the PBODT and shall be composed of the following:

(a) One representative from transplant hospitals, on a rotational basis and for a
term of two (2) years;

(6) One representative from non-transplant hospitals, on a rotational basis and for
a term of two (2) years;

(©) A representative from the Department of Health;


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(d) A representative from the Department of Social Welfare and Development;

and,

(©) Three (3) experts on bioethics, on a rotational basis and for a term of two (2)
years in consultation with the academe, Non-Government Organizations or faith-based
organization.

The members of the Commitice shall designate their Chairman by a majority vote.

SECTION 19. Honoraria or Emoluments. - The Members of the PBODT or their
designated permanent representatives shall receive honoraria or emoluments as may be
determined by the Board in accordance with existing budget and generally accepted
accounting rules and regulations. In the same manner, the Members of the National

Transplant Ethics Committee shall receive honoraria or emoluments.

SECTION 20. Adoption of Board Rules and Regulations. — In aid of its oversight
functions, the Philippine Board for Organ Donation and Transplantation shall adopt its
internal rules of procedure, conduct investigations and receive testimonies, reports, and
technical advice, invite or summon any public official, private citizen, or any other person to
appear before it, or require any person to produce documents or other materials as it may
need consistent with the provisions of this Act.

‘The Philippine Board for Organ Donation and Transplantation shall be assisted by a
secretariat to be composed of personnel that may be seconded from the Departments
involved. The PBODT may retain consultants and other employees.

In the same manner, the members of the National Transplant Ethies Committee shall

adopt its rules of procedure and shall be assisted by a Secretariat.

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SECTION 21. Programs against Commercialization of Human Organs, Tissues or
Parts, ~ There shall be a comprehensive program to be formulated by the Philippine Board
for Organ Donation and Transplantation in coordination with other government agencies and
private sector concerned, within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, to prevent
commercialization of human organs, tissues or parts of living persons for consideration in
whatever form, Within the same period, the PBODT shall also establish a comprehensive
program for deceased organs, tissues or parts donation. ‘The program for deceased organs,
tissues or parts donation shall be without prejudice to living donation of organ, tissue and
part, provided that this is done without consideration of whatever means in violation of this
Act.

‘The Board shall initiate and sustain an intensified nationwide public education
campaign to raise the level of public awareness on commercialization of organs, tissues or
parts of living persons and organ trafficking and to promote deceased organs, tissues or parts

donation,

SECTION 22. Appropriation. ~ Congress shall appropriate the amount of Fifty
Million Pesos (Php 50,000,000) for the initial implementation of this Act. Out of the total
amount, Twenty Four Million Pesos (Php 24,000,000) shall be allocated for advocacy and
promotion of deceased organs, tissues or parts donation and the initial implementation of the
Comprehensive Program for Deceased Organs, tissues or parts Donation, Twenty Four
Million Pesos (Php 24,000,000) shall be allocated for the initial formulation and
implementation of the Comprehensive Program Against Commercialization of Human
Organs, tissues or parts, and Two Million Pesos (Php 2,000,000) shall be allocated for

administrative expenses incidental to the implementation of the aforementioned Programs.

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After the initial implementation of this Act, the amount necessary to carry out the
Program is hereby authorized to be appropriated under the regular budget of the Department

of Health.

SECTION 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The Philippine Board for
Organ Donation and Transplantation shall convene within three months from the effectivity
of this Act and promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within six (6)

months thereafter.

Ss

“TION 24.

separability Clause, ~ If for any reason any section or provision of this

Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be

affected thereby.

SECTION 25. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders

and rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are

hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 26. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date

of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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