1 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS  
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session  
 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to institutionalize and strengthen political parties in the country by 
introducing reforms in campaign financing and provide financial subsidies to political parties 
to augment their expenditures for campaign. 
A political party is defined under Section 60 of the Omnibus Election Code as an 
organized group of persons pursuing the same ideology, political ideas or platforms of 
government and includes its branches and divisions. The Philippines has a multi-party system 
as provided for under Section 6, letter c, Article IX of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which 
states that a free and open party system shall be allowed to evolve according to the free choice 
of the people.  
As of June 2018, the Commission on Elections has listed 169 registered and 
accredited political parties.  
A major argument against a multi-party system is the tendency of members of political 
parties to change their affiliations. While this is not prohibited under our laws, this promotes 
divisiveness among the leaders in the community. 
This bill seeks to remedy that by providing sanctions against any member of a national 
political party who changes party affiliation after being nominated by the political party 
otherwise known as political turncoats.  
To further empower and professionalize political parties in the country, this proposed 
measure exempts voluntary contributions from any person, subject to a certain cap, from the 
payment of donor’s tax. Likewise, there is hereby created a State Subsidy Fund to augment 
the operating funds of accredited national political parties. 
To promote transparency and performance of mandate free from vested interest, this 
bill punishes the giving of voluntary contributions beyond the allowable limits set by law. This 
is not an unreasonable prohibition given its intent. Likewise, the State Subsidy Fund may be 
used instead for campaign expenditures and party development.  
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
November 11, 2022
4:53 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE POLITICAL PARTY SYSTEM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
CHAPTER 1 
DECLARATION OF POLICY, PURPOSES AND COVERAGE 
SECTION 1. Title – This Act shall be known as “The Political Party Development Act”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy – It is hereby declared a policy of the State to institutionalize 
and strengthen political parties as vital pillars of the country’s democratic system. Towards 
this end, the State shall institute reforms in campaign financing through effective and 
transparent mechanisms designed to level the playing field among all candidates and political 
parties during elections and reduce opportunities for graft and corruption. As part of the State’s 
thrust to strengthen the political party system, it shall uphold party loyalty and adherence to 
the party’s ideological principles, platform and programs. The State shall also institute 
measures to professionalize political parties and make them viable instruments of 
development and good governance. 
SEC. 3.  Purposes.  – This Act aims to: 
(a) Institutionalize reforms in the financing of electoral campaigns, so as to promote
accountability and transparency;
(b) Provide financial subsidies to political parties, to augment their expenditures for campaign
purposes and for party development;
(c) Promote party loyalty and discipline; and
(d) Encourage and support continuing voter’s education and civic literacy programs through
the political parties.
SEC. 4.  Coverage.  – This Act shall apply to political parties duly registered with and certified 
to as such by the Commission on Elections. 
SEC. 5.  Definition of Terms.  – As used in this Act: 
(a) Accredited political party refers to a political party qualified to receive subsidy for party
development and campaign purposes, accredited for this purpose by the Commission on
Elections based on a set of criteria provided for under this Act;
(b) Candidate refers to any person aspiring for or seeking an elective public office, duly
nominated by a political party, aggrupation or coalition thereof, and who has filed a certificate
of candidacy with the Commission on Elections;
(c) Commission refers to the Commission on Elections;
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(d) Campaign contribution refers to any form of donation to any candidate, political party,
aggrupation or coalition thereof given before, during or after the holding of elections. It includes
any gift, donation, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value, or
those arising from a contract, pledge or agreement to contribute, made for the purpose of
influencing the results of the elections, but shall not include services rendered without
compensation by individuals volunteering a portion or all of their time in behalf of a candidate
or political party. It also includes the use of office space, facilities, equipment, office supplies
and other materials and fixtures voluntarily donated by other persons or who allowed their use
for free, the monetary value of which shall be assessed based on market rates prevailing in a
particular area;
(e) Campaign expenditure refers to any type of expense incurred, regardless of source,
amount and purpose, that relates directly or indirectly, to the conduct of an electoral campaign.
It includes all payments of money or anything of value, or a contract, promise or agreement to
spend, for the purpose of influencing the results of the elections. It includes the use of office
space and facilities personally owned by the candidate, the monetary value of which shall be
assessed based on the market rates prevailing in a particular area;
(f) COA refers to the Commission on Audit;
(g) Disclosure requirement refers to the duty of all candidates and political parties,
aggrupations or coalitions thereof to reveal the details of campaign contributions received by
them and the expenditures made on account thereof. For accredited political parties, it
includes expenditures and destinations of party development and campaign monies given to
them as their share in the State Subsidy Fund established under this Act;
(h) Donor refers to any person, natural or juridical, who contributes money, property or any
other form of material contribution to a candidate, political party, aggrupation or coalition
thereof;
(i) Donee refers to any candidate, political party, aggrupation or coalition thereof or any
representative acting on their behalf or interest, to whom money, property or any other form
of contributions were made;
(j) Fund refers to the State Subsidy Fund established under this Act;
(k) Member of a party refers to a natural person of good standing in a political party who
complies with the requirements of party membership, including the payment of membership
dues;
(l) National political party refers to a political party or an organized group of persons duly
registered with the Commission, whose constituency is effectively spread across the
geographical territory of all or a majority of the administrative regions of the Philippines,
pursuing or advocating platform, principles and policies for the general conduct of government
and which, as the most immediate means of securing their adoption and implementation,
regularly nominates and supports its members as candidates for public office;
(m) Political opportunism refers to any act of a party member constituting disloyalty to the
party or regular non-adherence to the party’s ideological principles, platform and programs,
as determined by the party in accordance with its constitution and by-laws;
(n) Political party refers to a political party, party-list or an organized group of persons duly
registered with the Commission, pursuing or advocating platform, principles and policies for


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the general conduct of government and which nominates and supports its members as 
candidates for public office;  
 
(o) Political turncoatism refers to the change of political party affiliation by a party member 
a period of one year before or after any national elections.  Any party member may legitimately 
change party affiliation only on the second year of a three-year term.  Provided, That political 
turncoatism shall not apply in any of the following instances: 
 
     (1) Abolition, merger or coalition of political parties where a candidate is a registered 
member thereof; and 
 
     (2) Expulsion of the elected official in writing from one’s political party: Provided, That the 
cause for such does not constitute political opportunism;   
      
(p) State Subsidy Fund refers to the fund for party development and campaign activities of 
accredited political parties under this Act;  
 
(q) Voluntary contributions refer to the contributions to candidates of political parties, 
aggrupations or coalitions thereof from persons, natural or juridical, allowed under existing 
laws. 
 
CHAPTER II 
INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES 
 
SEC. 6. Registration as a Political Party.  – Any organized group of persons seeking 
registration as a political party may file with the Commission a verified petition attaching 
thereto its constitution and by-laws, platform, principles, policies and general program of 
government, a verified list of its national officials, members of the executive board, or its 
equivalent, and the heads of its regional, provincial and city chapters, and such other relevant 
information as may be required by the Commission.  
      
The Commission shall, after due notice and hearing, resolve the petition within thirty 
(30) days from the date it is submitted for decision.  
      
Political parties already registered as such with the Commission prior to the effectivity 
of this Act are not required to register anew but are required to submit their intent to continue 
participating in elections within a period of six (6) months after the enactment of this law.  
     
Once a political party is registered with the Commission it shall acquire legal 
personality with powers essential and necessary to carry out its mandate and obligation under 
this law and other related electoral laws.  This power shall include the power to enter into 
contracts, to acquire properties through purchase, lease, and other modes of acquisitions, to 
open bank accounts under its name, and to employ staff and personnel in relation to its 
campaign and party development activities.  
   
SEC. 7. Policy Agenda and Program of Governance.  – Political parties are mandated to 
craft a clear policy agenda and program of governance consistent with party philosophy and 
ideals. The members of the political party shall endeavor to act in accordance with the defined 
party platform and pursue programs to fulfill party commitments. 
 
SEC. 8. Membership in a Political Party.  – A person becomes a member of a political party 
upon application duly signed, filed and approved by the party, and upon compliance with the 
basic membership requirements of the party, including the regular payment of membership 
dues. 
 
SEC. 9. Selection of Candidates.  – The selection process for candidates of political parties 
shall be democratized through the adoption of a process that is fair, open and transparent.  


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Every political party is mandated to formulate a system on the nomination and selection 
of candidates, in which all party members are involved. Every political party shall submit to the 
Commission its rules governing the system on the nomination and selection of candidates not 
later than one hundred eighty (180) days before the election day following the effectivity of this 
Act.  
      
Any aggrieved member of an accredited political party may file a verified complaint to 
its Grievance and Arbitration Committee not later than ten (10) days after the party convention, 
for violation of the rules governing the system on the nomination and selection of candidates. 
The aggrieved party has the right to appeal to the Commission. Upon finding of a violation of 
the system, the Commission shall revert the grievance to the concerned political party. If the 
political party does not comply with the order of the Commission, the said party shall be 
disqualified from participating in the elections.  
      
Every political party must hold conventions to nominate their official candidates not 
earlier than fifteen (15) days before the filing of candidacy and shall submit to the Commission 
not later than the start of the election period the names of the officials of the party authorized 
to nominate their official candidates.  
      
No political party shall nominate more candidates than the number of persons required 
to be voted for in an elective position nor shall any candidate be allowed to accept nominations 
from more than one (1) registered political party, except in cases of aggrupations or coalitions 
thereof.  Nominations    made in violation hereof shall be denied due course by the 
Commission and the candidates concerned shall be considered independent candidates. The 
nominations of candidates of political parties shall be filed not later than the last day for filing 
of the certificates of candidacy as determined by the Commission. 
 
SEC. 10. Contents of Certificate of Nomination.  – The certificate of nomination shall state 
that the person issuing the nomination is the duly authorized representative of the political 
party as provided for in its Constitution and By-Laws; that the person named therein is the 
official candidate of the party for the elective position stated; and that he has accepted the 
said nomination. The certificate of nomination shall be subscribed under oath by the duly 
authorized representative of the political party. 
 
SEC. 11. Limits on Voluntary Contributions. – Voluntary contributions to any political party 
shall be limited to the following maximum amounts: 
 
     (a) Up to One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) from a natural person and up to Ten Million 
Pesos (P10,000,000.00) from a juridical person is allowed to make a voluntary contribution 
under existing laws; and 
 
     (b) Any contribution in cash or in kind to any political party for campaign purposes, duly 
reported to the Commission in accordance with Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7166, 
otherwise known as “The Synchronized National and Local Elections Act” shall be exempt 
from the donor’s tax.  
 
     No foreign national or entity shall be allowed to give contributions to any political party. 
 
SEC. 12. Voluntary Contributions to Party; How Made.  – Voluntary contributions to a 
political party shall be deposited by the contributor to the account of the party with any 
reputable bank accredited by the Commission at any time but not later than fifteen (15) days 
before the day of election. The accredited banks shall issue a corresponding receipt to the 
contributor on the amount deposited, and shall submit to the Commission a statement of 
account of every political party with deposits.  
      
The Commission shall cause the publication of the account of all political parties in any 
newspaper of general circulation within a reasonable time as it may determine. 
 


6 
 
SEC. 13. Penalties for Political Turncoatism.  – Political turncoats shall be deemed to have 
forfeited their elective office if they change their political party affiliation one (1) year before 
and one (1) year after any national elections. The following penalties shall thus be imposed 
on persons found to have committed this violation: 
     (a) Disqualification from running for any elective position in the next succeeding election 
immediately following the act of changing political party affiliation;  
     (b) Disqualification from being appointed or from holding any position in any public or 
government office for three (3) years after the expiration of the current term/office; 
     (c) Disqualification from assuming any executive or administrative position in the new 
political party; and  
     (d) Refund of any and all amounts received from one’s former political party, plus a twenty-
five percent (25%) surcharge thereon. 
 
Sec. 14. Petition for Disqualification. – Any citizen of voting age or any candidate, political 
party, aggrupation or coalition thereof may file with the Commission, upon the filing of the 
certificate of candidacy and before proclamation, a petition to disqualify a candidate on the 
ground of political turncoatism as defined in this Act. 
 
SEC. 15. Authorized Expenses of Political Parties and Candidates.  – The amount that a 
political party and a candidate may spend for every election campaign shall be Twenty Pesos 
(P20.00) for every voter currently registered in the constituency or constituencies of candidacy. 
The Commission shall adjust the authorized amount based on the consumer price index (CPI) 
every three (3) years following the effectivity of this Act. 
 
CHAPTER  III 
STATE SUBSIDY FUND 
 
SEC. 16. Establishment of a State Subsidy Fund.  – There is hereby established a State 
Subsidy Fund which shall be used to augment the operating funds of the accredited political 
parties. The fund shall be used directly and exclusively for the following purposes: 
     (a) Party development;  
     (b) Campaign expenditures, and  
     (c)   Information dissemination and monitoring activities of the Commission 
 
SEC. 17. Allowable Party Development Activities.  – Due to the vital role played by the 
political parties in the country’s political development and in order to promote professionalism 
and accountability among members of the parties, the following party development activities 
shall be allowed to be funded out of the State Subsidy Fund: 
     (a) Party administration, recruitment and civic education; 
     (b) Research and policy development; 
     (c) Education and training of members; 
     (d) Institution building and constituent outreach program; and  
     (e) Other reasonable logistical and operational expenses that are essential in 
strengthening the party. 
 
SEC.18. Allowable Campaign Expenditures.  – The accredited political parties are 
authorized to use the subsidy given to them only for the following campaign activities: 
     (a) Operating expenses of the party which may include the hiring of personnel, 
professional secretariat, setting up of headquarters and other relevant electoral expenditures;  
     (b) Traveling expenses of the candidates and support personnel in the course of the 
campaigns, and for personal expenses incident thereto;  
     (c) Information dissemination and advocacy campaigns of the political party;  
 
     (d) Production and distribution of electoral paraphernalia and other propaganda materials; 
and  


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     (e) Other expenditures as allowed under Section 102 on Lawful Expenditures of the 
Omnibus Election Code.  
 
SEC. 19. Accreditation.  –  A political party eligible in accordance with Section 20 hereof, and 
which desires to be entitled to the rights and privileges as recipient of the subsidy provided for 
under this Act, may apply for accreditation by the Commission, under such rules and 
regulations as the Commission shall prescribe, consistent with the provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 20. Criteria for Eligibility.  – The Commission shall accredit political parties eligible to 
receive subsidy from the State Subsidy Fund based on the following general criteria: 
     (a) Political representation, consisting of the incumbent President, Vice President, 
Members of Congress, Governors and City Mayors; 
     (b) Organizational strength and mobilization capability, which may include the number of 
political chapters, organizations nationwide and number of permanent members of the party 
paying their dues; and 
     (c) Performance and track record of the party, which may include its performance in the 
past elections and its ability to field candidates in the coming elections.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
SEC. 21. Effects of Accreditation.  – A duly accredited political party shall be entitled to the 
rights and privileges accorded under this Act. Likewise, the accredited political party shall be 
subject to the regulations set forth in this Act and its implementing rules as prescribed by the 
Commission. 
 
SEC. 22. Distribution of the Fund. – The total amount of the State Subsidy Fund released 
annually shall be distributed as follows: 
     (a) Five percent (5%) of the fund shall accrue to the Commission, to be used exclusively 
for monitoring purposes and the conduct of information dissemination campaigns and voters’ 
education;  
     (b) Thirty percent (30%) of the fund shall be proportionately and ratably distributed to 
accredited political parties represented in the Senate based on the number of seats obtained 
in the most recent general elections; and 
     (c) Sixty-five percent (65%) of the fund shall be proportionately and ratably distributed to 
accredited political parties represented in the House of Representatives based on the number 
of seats obtained in the most recent general elections.  
 
     The share of each of the accredited political parties in the State Subsidy Fund shall be 
released only upon proof that the concerned party has raised an amount equal to its share in 
the fund from membership dues and voluntary contributions:  Provided, That the party 
concerned that fails to raise an amount equal to its share in the fund shall only receive an 
amount equal to the amount raised from membership dues and voluntary contributions:  
Provided, further, That the balance, if any, from the share in the fund of the party concerned 
shall be forfeited and reverted to the General Fund of the government.  
 
SEC. 23. Schedule of Releases from the Fund.  – For purposes of this Act, all releases from 
the State Subsidy Fund during a non-election year shall be used exclusively for party 
development activities. Funds released during an election year shall be divided as follows: 
seventy-five percent (75%) shall be used for campaign expenditures, and twenty-five percent 
(25%) for party development activities. The Commission shall inform the accredited political 
parties of the schedule of releases as well as the amount of the subsidy allocated at the start 
of every fiscal year. 
 
SEC. 24. Management of the Subsidy.  – The accredited political parties availing of the 
subsidy shall maintain a separate financial account for the funds used to finance campaign 
activities and party development, respectively.  


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Every accredited political party shall submit to the Commission a detailed program of 
activities as well as the breakdown of expenditures drawn from the fund by the end of 
December of every fiscal year. No accredited political party shall be allowed to use the subsidy 
for purposes other than those indicated in this Act. 
 
CHAPTER  IV 
DISCLOSURES AND PERFORMANCE MONITORING 
 
SEC. 25. Audit of the State Subsidy Fund.  – The COA shall examine the financial reports 
of the accredited political parties on their use of the State Subsidy Fund. Membership dues 
and voluntary contributions to any accredited political party shall be accounted for separately 
under a different set of books of accounts, which shall be open to inspection by the COA. 
 
SEC. 26. Party Ethics.  – Accredited political parties shall institute internal control 
mechanisms to promote accountability and transparency. Accredited political parties shall 
likewise develop and enforce an internal code of conduct and ethical standards for its party 
members to uphold the values and standards of public life, and to formulate and implement 
disciplinary procedures for party members:  Provided, That the said program for internal 
controls, ethical standards and disciplinary procedures shall be duly submitted to the 
Commission and made available to the public. No political party shall select and nominate a 
candidate who has been convicted by final judgment for any criminal offense. 
 
SEC. 27. Full Disclosure.  – The officials of every accredited political party shall submit a 
sworn statement of their assets and liabilities to the Commission which shall be made available 
to the public at least six (6) months before elections. All accredited political parties and their 
candidates shall also be required to submit to the Commission and make a public disclosure 
of all contributions as well as expenditures incurred for the use of the State Subsidy Fund thirty 
(30) days after the elections. All these disclosures shall be made through the official website 
of the Commission and published in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
SEC. 28. Other Reports.  – The following shall be reported by the accredited political parties 
and their candidates:  
     (a) The amount of contributions for the elections, the date of receipt by the bank or by the 
duly authorized representative of the party and the full name and exact address of the person, 
whether natural or juridical, from whom the contribution was received;  
     (b) A full report of expenditures and receipts incurred during the campaign, including those 
which were drawn from the State Subsidy Fund, if any;  
     (c) Post-election disclosure statements as required under existing laws, which must be 
submitted to the Commission within thirty (30) days after election day. Late submissions shall 
be penalized with a fine in such amounts as may be determined by the Commission; and  
     (d) Detailed breakdown of expenditures for the party development activities charged 
against the State Subsidy Fund. The financial report covering the party development activities 
shall be submitted annually, at the end of every fiscal year. The subsidy for the succeeding 
year will not be released without the submission of the said report covering the preceding year. 
 
SEC. 29. Failure to Comply with Disclosure and Reporting Requirements.  – Failure of 
the accredited political party to comply with the provisions of this Act will result in its 
disqualification from receiving its share of the State Subsidy Fund.  The said unused funds 
shall revert to the General Fund of the National Treasury, and all the rights and privileges to 
which the party would have been entitled under this Act shall be forfeited.  
 
SEC. 30. Performance Monitoring and Reporting System. – The Commission and the COA 
shall jointly design and implement, in consultation with political parties, aggrupations or 
coalitions thereof, accredited citizens’ arms, the private sector and non-governmental 
organizations, and government agencies, an integrated political party development and 


9 
 
campaign subsidy performance monitoring and reporting system. The performance and 
monitoring system shall identify, define and operationalize a system of performance indicators 
and measures for party development and campaign subsidy deployment.  
          The Commission and the COA shall, based on the results of the implementation of the 
system, publish and disseminate annual reports on the development of political parties that 
have received subsidies and on the distribution, use and results of the campaign subsidies 
provided to political parties. 
 
SEC. 31. Publication and Dissemination of the Political Party Development and 
Campaign Subsidy Performance Reports. – The political party development and campaign 
subsidy performance reports shall be submitted to both the Senate and the House of 
Representatives of the Congress of the Philippines not later than June 30 of every year, and 
shall be made available to the public via the internet and mass media as a guide for the 
citizenry in evaluating political parties for the purpose of participating in their program of 
activities, and in supporting, affiliating with, or joining them. 
 
CHAPTER V 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
 
SEC. 32. Prohibited Acts.  – The following acts shall be prohibited:  
     (a) Misuse of funds received by political parties, both from the State Subsidy Fund and 
from voluntary contributions;  
     (b) Giving of voluntary contributions that goes beyond the allowable limits set under this 
Act and other existing laws; 
     (c) Inability to account for all incoming contributions from whatever source;  
     (d) Failure to submit pre-election as well as post-election disclosure statements to the 
Commission; and  
     (e) False reporting or any misrepresentation in the financial statement reports. 
 
SEC. 33. Penalties.  –    
     (a) Any candidate or official of any political party who violates any provision of this Act shall 
be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than twelve (12) 
years or a fine ranging from One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) to Five Hundred 
Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00), or both. One shall likewise be disqualified to hold public 
office. Any political party that violates any provision of this Act shall pay a fine of not less than 
Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) but not more than Five Million Pesos 
(P5,000,000.00). 
     (b) Any political party that fails to comply with any of the documentary requirements set 
forth in this Act shall be subject to administrative sanctions by the Commission, which shall 
include temporary or permanent cancellation of the party’s registration as well as payment of 
fines consistent with existing laws and regulations. 
 
     These penalties shall be applicable only to the punishable acts as stated in Section 32 and 
not to political turncoatism. 
 
SEC. 34. Lead Agency.  – The Commission is hereby mandated to administer and enforce 
the provisions of this Act.  
       For this purpose, there is hereby created, within the Commission, a Political Party and 
Campaign Finance Department, which shall perform the following functions: 
1. Assist the Commission in the registration and accreditation of political parties as 
provided in this Act and in other related laws; 
2. Receive, compile and safekeep all records and documents pertaining to political 
parties, including their organizational and financial reports; 


10 
 
3. Conduct examination, investigation and audit activities to determine compliance with 
the requirements of applicable laws and rules and to recommend appropriate action/s 
to the Commission.     
4. Perform such other functions as may be found necessary by the Commission. 
 
SEC. 35. Rules and Regulations. – Within thirty (30) days from its effectivity, the Commission 
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions 
of this Act, including those that shall provide for the proper organization of the Commission, in 
view of the creation of the Political Party and Campaign Finance Department. 
 
SEC. 36. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of the provisions 
of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 37.  Applicability of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881.  – The provisions of Batas Pambansa 
Blg. 881, as amended, otherwise known as the “Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines”, 
and other election laws not inconsistent with this Act shall apply suppletorily.  
 
SEC. 38. Separability Clause.  – If any part of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the 
other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain valid and effective. 
SEC. 39. Repealing Clause.  – All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 40. Effectivity Clause.  – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,