EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S E N A T E  
S. No.
^eiiaic
of t|jr jfei'crrtaif
'19 
S EP-9 A 9:05
RECEl . C [>»
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR REORGANIZATION AND REFORM OF THE STRUCTURE OF 
THE UNIFORMED MEMBERS OF THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION, 
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6975 AND 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9263 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
For the years 2013 to 2017, an aggregate total o f 77,724 incidences of fire 
outbreaks occurred nationwide. The highest total number of deaths and injuries for 
the same period occurred in the National Capital Region with 414 deaths and 1,507 
injuries.
It should be observed that the damage brought about by destructive fires does 
not only undermine the capability of the government to provide the public with the 
basic service of maintaining safe communities, but also serves as disincentive for 
prospective investors.
Moreover, the economic loss due to destructive fires go beyond the amount o f 
property damage if we are to consider the number of Filipino families of those who 
perished or were injured in conflagration.


This proposal seeks to strengthen and upgrade the capability o f the Bureau of 
Fire Protection, the government arm primarily responsible for the prevention and 
suppression of all destructive fires.
This proposal may be our contribution to the goals of national development in 
general and public safety in particular. In view of this, consideration of this bill is 
earnestly sought.
RAM C^BO NG  REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
S. No. 1017
■ 
of I Ik  (fci’frrtnrp
*19 
SEP-9  
A 9 « 5
RECElw' L 
_
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, 3R.
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR REORGANIZATION AND REFORM OF THE STRUTURE OF 
THE UNIFORMED MEMBERS OF THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION, 
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6975 AND 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9263 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Congress 
assembled:7
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Reorganization and
2 
Reform Act of the Bureau of Fire Protection of 2019."
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Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is the policy of the State to develop the Bureau
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of Fire Protection (BFP) and ensure public safety through the prevention and
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suppression of all kinds of destructive fires, investigation of its causes, enforcement
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of the Fire Code of the Philippines and other related laws, response to man-made and
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natural, and respond to other emergencies, including rescue, emergency medical,
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hazardous materials (hazmat), chemical, biological, 
radiological, nuclear, and
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explosive (CBRNE) materials, and other emergencies.
10 
Towards this end, considering the expanded mandate and modernization of
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function and the increase in population, the State shall formulate plans and programs
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to enhance the BFP with expanded structure, capability and manpower particularly by
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upgrading the rank structure for it to be responsive to the demands of the times and
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to make the agency at par with those of the PNP, the AFP and the PCG.
15


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Sec. 3. Additional Powers and Functions o f the BFP. -  Section 54, Chapter IV,
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of RA 6975 shall be amended as follows:
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Sec. 54. The BFP shall be responsible for the prevention and suppression
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of all destructive fires on buildings, houses and other structures, including
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those found in economic zones including agro- industrial economic zones,
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free ports and special economic zones, IT  parks/centers, manufacturing
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economic zones, medical tourism parks/centers, tourism economic zone,
8 
and other similar entities, forest, 
land transportation vehicles and
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equipment, ships or vessels docked at piers o wharves or anchored in major
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seaports, petroleum industry installations, airports, plane crashes and other
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similar incidents, as well as the enforcement of the Fire Code of the
12 
Philippines and other related laws.
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The BFP shall have the power to investigate all causes of fires and if
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necessary, file the proper complaints with the city or provincial prosecutor
15 
who has jurisdiction over the case. The BFP shall have the power to
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establish and maintain regional arson laboratories and research and testing
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facilities with complete equipment for this purpose.
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Further, the BFP shall have the function o f responding to disasters,
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whether man-made or natural, and respond to other emergencies,
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including rescue, emergency medical, hazardous materials (hazmat),
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chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) materials
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and other emergencies. In line with this, the BFP shall establish and
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maintain state-of-the-art apparatus and equipment to be used by the BFP
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in its emergency rescue, emergency medical, hazmat, and other operations.
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Furthermore, the BFP shall have the power to conduct trainings of its
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personnel and officers pertaining to fire prevention and suppression,
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investigation, disaster preparedness, rescue, emergency medical, hazmat,
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CBRNE, and other operations.
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In consonance with the powers and functions of the BFP, the BFP may
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request the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces
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of the Philippines (AFP), or any other agency of the government, including


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government-owned and/or -controlled corporations, in exercising its
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powers and functions.
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The BFP, in pursuance of all the functions mentioned, shall have the
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power to enter into any contract or transaction for the acquisition,
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ownership, 
possession, 
use, 
administration, 
lease, 
disposition, 
or
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acceptance of real or personal property in its name.
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Lastly, the BFP shall perform such other functions as the president or
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the secretary may assign.
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Sec. 4. Organization. -  Section 55, Chapter IV of RA 6975 shall be amended
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as follows:
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Sec. 55. The BFP shall have a National Headquarters, Regional
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Headquarters, Provincial Headquarters, District Headquarters, City and
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Municipal Fire Stations.
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At the National Headquarters, there shall be an Office of the Chief,
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BFP assisted by other key offices which shall formulate the policies, plans
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and programs of the BFP; and monitors, evaluate and coordinate the
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operations and activities of the fire service operating units at the regional
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levels.
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At the regional levels, there shall be an office o f the Regional
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Director which shall implement the policies, plans and programs of the
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BFP; and monitor, evaluate and coordinate the operations and activities
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of the fire service operating units at the provincial levels.
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At the provincial level, there shall be an office of the Provincial
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Director which shall also implement the policies, plans and programs of
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the BFP; and monitor, evaluate and coordinate the operations and
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activities of the fire service operating units at the city and municipal
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levels. In the case of large provinces. District Headquarters may be
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established, to be headed by a District Director.
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At the city or municipal level, there shall be a fire station, each
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headed by a city or municipal fire marshal: Provided that, in the case of
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large cities, a District Headquarters with subordinate fire stations headed
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by a District Director may be organized as necessary.


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Sec. 5. Establishment o f Fire Station. -  Section 56, Chapter IV of RA 6975 shall
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be amended as follows:
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Section 56. Establishment of Fire Station. There shall be established at
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least one (1) fire station with adequate personnel, firefighting facilities
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and equipment in every provincial capital, city and municipality subject
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to the standards, rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the
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Department. The BFP shall have the authority to acquire or purchase real
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property in all cities or municipalities for the establishment of fire central
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and sub-stations.
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Sec. 6. Rank Classification. -  Section 58, Chapter IV or RA 6975, shall be
13 
amended as follows:
14 
Section 58. For purposes of efficient administration, supervision, and
15 
control, the new rank classification of the members of the BFP shall be
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as follows:
RANK
SALARY GRADE
Fire General
30
Fire Lieutenant General
29
Fire Major General
28
Fire Brigadier General
27
Fire Colonel
26
Fire Lieutenant Colonel
25
Fire Major
24
Fire Captain
23
Fire Lieutenant
22
Fire Master Sergeant
19
Fire Technical Sergeant
18
Fire Staff Sergeant
17
Fire Sergeant
16
Fire Corporal
14


Fireman First Class
12
Fireman
10
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Sec. 7. Organization and Key Positions. -  Section 3, of RA 9263 shall be
3 
amended as follows:
4 
Section 3. The Head of the BFP shall have the position title of Chief, BFP.
5 
The second officer in command of the BFP shall have the position title of
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Deputy Chief for Administration of the BFP. The third officer in command
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o f the BFP shall have the position title of Deputy Chief for Operations of
8 
the BFP. The fourth officer in command of the BFP shall have the position
9 
title of Chief of Directorial Staff of the BFP, who shall be assisted by the
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directors of the directorates in the National Headquarters.
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The BFP shall establish, operate, and maintain Regional Headquarters in
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each of the administrative regions of the country which shall be headed
13 
by a Regional Director. He/She shall be assisted by the following officers:
14 
Deputy Regional Director for Administration, Deputy Regional Director
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for Operations, and Regional Chief of Staff.
16
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Sec. 8. Appointm ent o f Uniformed Personnei to the BFP. -  Section 4 of RA 9263
18 
is hereby amended as follows:
19 
Section 4. The appointment of the Uniformed Personnel to the BFP shall
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be effected in the following manners:
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(a) Fireman to Fire Master Sergeant -  Appointed by the respective
22 
Regional Director for the Regional Headquarters or by the Chief, BFP
23 
for the national headquarters, and attested by the Civil Service
24 
Commission (CSC);
25 
(b) Fire Lieutenant to Fire Lieutenant Colonel -  Appointed by the Chief,
26 
BFP and attested by the CSC;
27 
(c) Fire Colonel -  Appointed by the Secretary upon the recommendation
28 
of the Chief, BFP with the proper attestation of the CSC; and
29 
(d) Fire Brigadier General to Fire General -  appointed by the President
30 
upon recommendation of the Secretary.


1 
Sec. 9. Mandatory Training Program. -  All newly-appointed uniformed
2 
personnel of the BFP shall undergo a Mandatory Training Program.
3 
Sec. 10. Quaiification Standards in the Designation o f Uniformed Personnel o f
4 
BFP to Key Positions. -  Section 7 of RA 9263 is hereby amended as follows:
5 
Section 7. No person shall be designated to the following key positions
6 
of the BFP unless he/she has met the required ranks herein provided:
7 
1) Chief, BFP -  Should have the rank of Fire General;
8 
2) Deputy Chief for Administration of the BFP, Deputy Chief for
9 
Operations of the BFP and Chief Directorial Staff of the BFP -  Should
10 
have the rank of Fire Lieutenant General;
11 
3) Director of the Directorate of the National Headquarters -  Should
12 
have the rank of Fire Major General;
13 
4) Regional Director (NCR) -  Should have the rank of Fire Major
14 
General;
15 
5) Regional Director (Other Regions) -  Should have the rank of Fire
16 
Brigadier General;
17 
6) Deputy Regional Director for Administration (NCR), Deputy Regional
18 
Director for Operations (NCR), and Chief of Staff (NCR) -  Should have
19 
the rank of Fire Brigadier General;
20 
7) Deputy Regional Director for Administration, Deputy Regional
21 
Director for Operations, and Chief of Staff (Other Regions) -  Should
22 
have the rank of Fire Colonel;
23 
8) District Director (NCR) -  Should have the rank of Fire Brigadier
24 
General;
25 
9) Provincial Director (NCR) -  Should have the rank of Fire Colonel;
26 
10)Highly Urbanized Cities outside NCR -  Should have the rank of Fire
27 
Colonel;
28 
ll)C ity  Fire Marshal (NCR) -  Should have the rank of Fire Colonel
29 
12)City Fire Marshal (Other Regions) -  Should have the rank of Fire
30 
Lieutenant Colonel; and
31 
13)Municipal Fire Marshal -  Should have the rank o f Fire Major.


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Sec. 11. Qualifications Upgrading Program. -  The BFP shall design and establish 
a qualifications upgrading program for the BFP officers and personnel in accordance 
with the Civil Service Commission rules and regulations.
Sec. 12. Maximum Tenure in Position. -  The aggregate maximum tenure per 
position of BFP officers and personnel holding key positions is hereby prescribed as 
follows:
POSITION
MAXIMUM TENURE
Chief
Four (4) years
Deputy Chief
Four (4) years
Director of the Staff Services
Four (4) years
Regional Directors
Six (6) years
Provincial/City Directors
Nine (9) years
Other positions lower than Provincial Director shall have aggregate maximum 
tenure of six (6) years. Unless earlier separated, retired or promoted to a higher 
position in accordance with the BFP Staffing Pattern, officers and personnel holding 
the above-mentioned positions shall be compulsorily retired at the maximum tenure 
in position herein prescribed, or at age fifty-six (56), whichever is earlier; Provided, 
that in times of war or other national emergency declared by Congress, the President 
may extend the Chief, BFP' tour of duty; Provided further, that BFP officers and 
personnel who have already reached their maximum tenure upon the effectivity of this 
Act may be allowed one (1) more year of tenure in their positions before maximum 
tenure provided in this Section shall be applied to them, unless they shall have already 
reached the compulsory retirement of age fifty-six (56), in which case the compulsory 
retirement age shall prevail.
Except for the Chief, BFP, no BFP member who has less than six (6) months of 
service before reaching the compulsory retirement age shall be promoted to a higher 
rank or appointed to any other position.
Sec. 13. Rationalized Promotion System. -  Within six (6) months after the 
effectivity of this Act, the BFP shall establish a system of promotion for uniformed and 
non-uniformed personnel of the BFP which shall be based on merits and on the


1 
availability of vacant positions in the BFP staffing pattern. Such system shall be
2 
gender-fair.
3 
Sec. 14. Promotion b y virtue o f Position. -  Any BFP personnel designated to
4 
any key position whose rank is lower than that which is required for such position but
5 
is qualified for promotion shall, after six (6) months of occupying the same, be entitled
6 
to a rank adjustment corresponding to the position: Provided, That the personnel shall
7 
not be reassigned to a position calling for a higher rank until after two (2) years from
8 
the date of such rank adjustment; Provided, further, that any personnel designated to
9 
the position who does not possess the established minimum qualifications therefor
10 
shall occupy the same temporarily for not more than six (6) moths without
11 
reappointment or extension.
12 
Sec, 15. Establishment o f Search and Rescue Force (SRF), Emergency Medical
13 
Services (EMS), and HAZMATUnits. -  In addition to the existing Fire Fighting Units,
14 
there shall be established a Search and Rescue Force (SRF) in each region and city,
15 
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in every 1st to 3rd class municipalities and cities,
16 
and HAZMAT Units in each region.
17 
Sec. 16. Establishment o f BFP Hospital o r Burn Center. -  The BFP shall establish
18 
and maintain a Central Hospital or Burn Center for the benefit of the BFP officers and
19 
personnel and their dependents.
20 
Sec, 17. Revised Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern o f the BFP. -
21 
The Chief, BFP, within ninety (90) days from the promulgation of the implementing
22 
rules and regulations of this Act, shall recommend and submit to the Secretary the
23 
revised organizational structure and staffing pattern for officers and personnel of the
24 
BFP, in accordance with the guidelines set forth herein and as provided in the IRR.
25 
The revised organizational structure herein mentioned shall include all the
26 
offices of the BFP, the Fire Training Service, and the BFP Central and Regional
27 
Hospitals.
28 
Sec. 18. Transition. -  The provisions herein shall be effected within three (3)
29 
years after the effectivity of this Act.
30 
Sec. 19. Rules and Regulations. -  Unless otherwise provided in this Act, the
31 
Department in coordination with the BFP, shall promulgate rules and regulations for


1 
the effective implementation of this Act. Such rules and regulations shall take effect
2 
upon their publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
3 
Sec. 20. Separability Clause. If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
4 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
5 
remain valid and subsisting.
6 
Sec. 21. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
7 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or
8 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
9 
accordingly.
10 
Sec. 22. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
11 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
12
13 
Approved,