1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. TEODORICO T. HARESCO, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish a Special Economic Zone in Western Aklan 
encompassing the municipalities of Ibajay, Tangalan, and Malay, including the Island of 
Boracay. As one of the prime tourism hotspots in the Visayas, West Aklan has been a 
long-standing choice for foreign and domestic investments. It has also developed a 
vibrant agri-aquaculture and manufacturing industries which produces thousands of 
goods and services exported, only to the nearby provinces, but also to Metro Manila and 
abroad. It is also gifted with abundant and diverse natural resources, efficiently utilized 
based on principle of sustainable development. Furthermore, through the years of 
aggressive development programs, West Aklan has also developed the necessary 
transportation infrastructure, renewable energy sources, and skilled manpower sufficient 
to sustain future prospects of development. 
Founded on the principle of an all-encompassing economic growth, this Bill aims 
to promote countryside development through the spread and diversification of economic 
investments currently centered and contained on a number of economic hotspots 
towards the less-developed yet potentially-capable areas of West Aklan. Apart from 
uplifting the welfare of the rural folk, this measure also aims to decongest and prevent 
the cramming of people and industries from the present economic hotspots in the 
province, such as Boracay Island, thus promoting constant ecological balance. 
The proposed West Aklan Economic Zone is envisioned as a self-subsistent 
center of industry, commerce and investment that will promote economic development 
and accelerated employment in West Aklan and nearby provinces. Likewise, it shall also 
provide tax-based incentives for businesses, especially to Micro Small and Medium 
Enterprises, within its area of operations, as well as non-tax incentives such as trade 
policies and grant of permanent residence status to potential investors. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this Bill is earnestly sought. 
TEODORICO “NONONG” T. HARESCO, JR. 
April 26, 2021
4:38 pm
9255


2 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. TEODORICO T. HARESCO, JR. 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE IN WEST AKLAN, PROVINCE OF 
AKLAN, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE WEST AKLAN SPECIAL ECONOMIC 
ZONE AUTHORITY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
the Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER 1 
1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
2 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “West Aklan Special 
3 
Economic Zone Act." 
4 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is declared the policy of the State to 
5 
encourage, promote and accelerate the sound and balanced industrial, economic and 
6 
social development of the country.  The establishment of special economic zones shall 
7 
attract legitimate and productive foreign investments in strategic locations in the country. 
8 
It shall generate employment, enhance productivity, and increase individual and family 
9 
incomes, thereby enhancing the quality of life of the Filipino people. 
10 
CHAPTER II 
11 
CREATION OF THE ECONOMIC ZONE 
12 
SEC. 3.  Creation of the West Aklan Special Economic Zone. - In accordance 
13 
with the foregoing declared policy and subject to the concurrence of the concerned local 
14 
government units (LGUs) of West Aklan affected by the zone, there is hereby 
15 
established a special economic zone, hereinafter referred to as the West Aklan 
16 
Ecozone. The West Aklan Ecozone shall cover certain parts of Barangays Aslum, 
17 
Bagacay, Colongcolong, Laguinbanwa, and Poblacion in the Municipality of Ibajay, 
18 
certain parts of Barangays Poblacion, Baybay, and Tagas in the Municipality of 
19 
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3 
 
Tangalan, and certain parts of Barangay Caticlan and the Island of Boracay, in the 
1 
Municipality of Malay. The specific metes and bounds of the West Aklan Ecozone shall 
2 
be more particularly defined in a presidential proclamation that shall be issued for this 
3 
purpose: Provided, That the lands embraced therein shall be public lands and 
4 
contiguous to one another. 
5 
SEC. 4. Creation of the West Aklan Special Economic Zone Authority 
6 
(WASEZA). - There is hereby created a corporate body to be known as the “West Aklan 
7 
Special Economic Zone Authority”, hereinafter referred to as the WASEZA, which shall 
8 
manage and operate the West Aklan Ecozone, in accordance with the provisions of this 
9 
Act. This corporate franchise shall expire in fifty (50) years counted from the first year 
10 
after the effectivity of this Act, unless otherwise extended by Congress. It shall be 
11 
organized within one hundred eighty (180) days after the effectivity of this Act. 
12 
SEC. 5. Governing Principles. - The West Aklan Ecozone shall be managed 
13 
and operated by the WASEZA, created under Section 4 of this Act, under the following 
14 
principles: 
15 
 
a) 
Within the framework and limitations of the Constitution and applicable provisions of 
16 
the Local Government Code, the West Aklan Ecozone shall be developed into and 
17 
operated 
as 
a 
decentralized, 
self-reliant 
and 
self-sustaining 
industrial, 
18 
commercial/trading, agro-industrial, tourist, banking, financial and investment center 
19 
with suitable residential areas; 
20 
b) 
The West Aklan Ecozone shall be provided with transportation, telecommunications 
21 
and other facilities needed to attract legitimate and productive investments, 
22 
generate linkage industries and employment opportunities for the people of West 
23 
Aklan and its neighboring towns and cities; 
24 
c) 
The West Aklan Ecozone may establish mutually beneficial economic relations with 
25 
other entities or enterprises within the country or, subject to the administrative 
26 
guidance of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Philippine Economic Zone 
27 
Authority (PEZA), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), with foreign 
28 
entities or enterprises;  
29 
d) 
Foreign citizens and companies owned by non-Filipinos in whatever proportion may 
30 
set up enterprises in the West Aklan Ecozone, either by themselves or in a joint 
31 
venture with Filipinos in any sector of industry, international trade and commerce 
32 


4 
 
within the West Aklan Ecozone; 
1 
e) 
The West Aklan Ecozone shall be managed and operated as a separate customs 
2 
territory thereby ensuring the free flow or movement of goods and capital within, into 
3 
and out of its territory, and shall likewise provide incentives such as tax and duty-
4 
free importations of raw materials, capital, and equipment to registered enterprises 
5 
located therein. However, exportation or removal of goods from the territory of the 
6 
West Aklan Ecozone to other parts of the Philippine territory shall be subject to 
7 
customs duties and taxes under Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the 
8 
“Customs Modernization and Tariff Act” and other relevant tax laws of the 
9 
Philippines; 
10 
 
f) 
The areas comprising the West Aklan Ecozone may be expanded or reduced when 
11 
necessary. For this purpose, the West Aklan Ecozone, in consultation with the 
12 
LGUs, shall have the power to acquire either by purchase, negotiation or 
13 
condemnation proceedings, any private land within or adjacent to the West Aklan 
14 
Ecozone for the following purposes: (1) consolidation of lands for zone 
15 
development; (2) acquisition of right of way to the West Aklan Ecozone; and (3) the 
16 
protection of watershed areas and natural assets valuable to the prosperity of the 
17 
West Aklan Ecozone; 
18 
 
g) 
Goods manufactured by a West Aklan Ecozone enterprise shall be made available 
19 
for immediate retail sale in the domestic market, subject to the payment of 
20 
corresponding taxes on raw materials and other regulations that may be formulated 
21 
by the WASEZA together with the PEZA, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the 
22 
DTI.  However, in order to protect domestic industries, a Negative List of industries 
23 
shall be drawn up and regularly updated by PEZA. Enterprises engaged in 
24 
industries included in such Negative List shall not be allowed to sell their products 
25 
locally; 
26 
 
h) 
The defense of the West Aklan Ecozone and the security of its perimeter fence shall 
27 
be the responsibility of the national government in coordination with the WASEZA 
28 
and the LGUs. 
29 
SEC. 6. Capitalization. - The WASEZA shall have an authorized capital stock of 
30 
Two billion (2,000,000,000.00) no par shares with a minimum issue of Ten pesos 
31 
(₱10.00) each, the majority shares of which shall be subscribed and paid for by the 
32 
National Government and the LGUs embracing the West Aklan Ecozone. The Board of 
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5 
 
Directors of the WASEZA may, with the written concurrence of the Secretary of Finance, 
1 
sell shares, representing not more than forty per centum (40%) of the capital stock of the 
2 
WASEZA to the general public under such policy as the Board and the Secretary of 
3 
Finance may determine. The National Government and the LGUs shall in no case own 
4 
less than sixty per centum (60%) of the total issued and outstanding capital of the 
5 
WASEZA. 
6 
 
The amount necessary to subscribe and pay for the shares of the National 
7 
Government to the capital stock of the WASEZA shall be included in the annual General 
8 
Appropriations Act. For LGUs, the funds shall be taken from their internal revenue 
9 
allotment and other local funds. 
10 
SEC. 7. Principal Office of the WASEZA. - The WASEZA shall maintain its 
11 
principal offices at Ibajay, Tangalan, and Malay, Province of Aklan, but it may establish 
12 
branches within the Philippines as may be necessary for the proper conduct of its 
13 
business. 
14 
SEC. 8.  Powers and Functions of the WASEZA. - The WASEZA shall have 
15 
the following powers and functions:  
16 
a) 
To operate, administer, manage, and develop the West Aklan Ecozone according 
17 
to the principles and provisions set forth in this Act, 
18 
b) 
To register, regulate, and supervise the enterprises in the West Aklan Ecozone in 
19 
an efficient and decentralized manner, subject to existing laws; 
20 
c) 
To coordinate with LGUs and exercise general supervision over the development 
21 
plans, activities and operations of the West Aklan Ecozone; 
22 
d) 
To regulate and undertake the establishment, construction, operation  and 
23 
maintenance of public utilities, other services, and infrastructure in the West Aklan 
24 
Ecozone such as light and power, shipping,  barging, stevedoring, cargo handling, 
25 
hauling, warehousing, storage of cargo, port services or concessions, piers, 
26 
wharves, bulkheads, bulk terminals, mooring areas, storage areas, roads, 
27 
telecommunications, transport, bridges, terminals, conveyors, water supply, and 
28 
storage, sewerage, drainage, airport operations in coordination with the Civil 
29 
Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and such other services or 
30 
concessions or infrastructure necessary or incidental to the accomplishment of the 
31 


6 
 
objectives of this Act;  
1 
e) 
To construct, acquire, own, lease, operate and maintain on its own or through 
2 
contracts, franchise, licenses, bulk purchase from the private sector or permits 
3 
under any of the schemes allowed in Republic Act No. 6957, otherwise known as 
4 
the “Build-Operate-Transfer Law” as amended, or joint venture, adequate facilities 
5 
and infrastructure required or needed for the operation and development of the 
6 
West Aklan Ecozone, in coordination with appropriate national and local 
7 
government authorities and in conformity with applicable laws thereon; 
8 
f) 
To approve plans, programs, and projects of the West Aklan Ecozone to be 
9 
submitted to the Regional Development Council for inclusion and inputs to the 
10 
overall regional development plan;  
11 
g) 
To operate on its own, either directly or through licenses to others, tourism-related 
12 
activities, including games, amusements, recreational and sports facilities, subject 
13 
to the approval and supervision of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming 
14 
Corporation (PAGCOR);   
15 
h) 
To raise or borrow, within the limitation provided by law, and subject to the 
16 
approval or opinion of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 
17 
(BSP), as the case may be, adequate and necessary funds from local or foreign 
18 
sources, to finance its projects and programs under this Act and for this purpose, to 
19 
issue bonds, promissory notes and other forms of securities, and to secure the 
20 
same by a guarantee, pledge, mortgage, deed of trust or an assignment of all or 
21 
part of its property or assets; 
22 
i) 
To protect, preserve, maintain. and develop the forests, beaches, coral and coral 
23 
reefs, and maintain ecological balance within the West Aklan Ecozone. 
24 
Notwithstanding the power of the WASEZA to create rules for such purpose, the 
25 
rules and regulations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
26 
(DENR) and other government agencies involved in the above functions shall be 
27 
implemented by the WASEZA; 
28 
j) 
To create, operate or contract to operate such functional units or offices of the 
29 
WASEZA as it may deem necessary; 
30 
k) 
To adopt, alter and use a corporate seal, contract, lease, buy, acquire, own or 
31 


7 
 
otherwise dispose of personal or real property of whatever nature, to sue and be 
1 
sued, and to carry out its functions and duties as provided for in this Act; 
2 
l) 
To issue certificates of origin for products manufactured or processed in the West 
3 
Aklan Ecozone in accordance with prevailing rules of origin and the pertinent 
4 
regulations of the PEZA, the DTI and the Department of Finance (DOF); 
5 
m) 
To establish one-stop shops for the issuance of all necessary permits, clearances, 
6 
licenses, and other similar certifications to conduct such activities intended to 
7 
improve the ease of doing business within the West Aklan Ecozone, in coordination 
8 
with government agencies having jurisdiction over activities therein: Provided, That 
9 
all government agencies are directed to provide and extend utmost and full 
10 
cooperation to the WASEZA in the establishment of such one-stop shops;   
11 
n) 
To ensure that the area covered by the West Aklan Ecozone is secure at all times: 
12 
Provided, That in the event that the assistance of the AFP or PNP is necessary, 
13 
the AFP or PNP shall not interfere in the internal affairs of the WASEZA, except to 
14 
provide the necessary security and defense, or law enforcement assistance, as the 
15 
case may be: Provided finally, That expenses of the AFP or PNP in the West Aklan 
16 
Ecozone shall be borne by the national government; 
17 
o) 
To exercise such powers as may be essential, necessary or incidental to the 
18 
powers granted to it hereunder, as well as those that shall enable it to carry out, 
19 
implement and accomplish the purposes, objectives and policies of this Act; and 
20 
p) 
To issue rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of this Act as may be 
21 
necessary to accomplish and implement the purposes, objectives and policies 
22 
provided herein. 
23 
q) 
To perform such other functions as may be provided by law. 
24 
 
SEC. 9.   Board of Directors of the WASEZA. - The powers of the WASEZA 
25 
shall be vested in and exercised by a Board of Directors, hereinafter referred to as the 
26 
Board, which shall be composed of the following: 
27 
a) 
The Chairperson, who shall at the same time be the administrator of the WASEZA; 
28 
b) 
Six (6) members consisting of: 
29 
 
30 
1) The Governor or a duly-authorized representative from the Provincial 
31 


8 
 
Government of Aklan; 
1 
2) Two (2) mayors, as elected by the West Aklan League of Mayors; 
2 
3) One (1) representative from the Congressional District Office; 
3 
4) One (1) representative from the investor’s group; and 
4 
5) One (1) representative from among the workers in the West Aklan ecozone. 
5 
 
6 
The Vice-Chairperson shall be selected from among the members of the Board. 
7 
 
The representative from the Provincial Government and the mayors of the 
8 
municipalities covered by the ecozone shall serve as ex-officio members of the Board, 
9 
whose terms in the Board correspond to their terms as elected officials. 
10 
 
The Chairperson-Administrator and the members of the Board, except the ex-
11 
officio members, shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines to serve for a 
12 
term of six (6) years, unless sooner separated from service due to death, voluntary 
13 
resignation or removal for cause. In case of death, resignation or removal for cause, their 
14 
replacements shall serve only the unexpired portion of the respective terms. 
15 
 
The Chairperson-Administrator must be a Filipino citizen, of good moral 
16 
character, of proven probity and integrity, and a degree- holder in any of the following 
17 
fields: economics, business, public administration, law, management or their equivalent, 
18 
and with at least ten (10) years relevant working experience, preferably in the field of 
19 
management or public administration. 
20 
 
The members of the Board, except the ex-officio members, shall each receive 
21 
per diem at rates to be determined by the Department of Budget and Management 
22 
(DBM) in accordance with existing rules and regulations: Provided, however, That the 
23 
total per diem collected each month shall not exceed the equivalent per diem for four (4) 
24 
meetings. Unless and until the President of the Philippines has fixed a higher amount of 
25 
per diem, the members of the Board shall receive per diem of not be more than Ten 
26 
thousand pesos (₱10,000.00) for every Board meeting. 
27 
SEC. 10. Organization and Personnel. – The Board of Directors of the 
28 
WASEZA shall provide for its organization and staff. The Board shall appoint and fix the 
29 
remuneration and other emoluments of its officers and employees in accordance with 
30 
existing laws on compensation and position classification. The Board shall have 
31 
exclusive and final authority to promote, transfer, assign, reassign, or remove officers of 
32 


9 
 
the WASEZA, any provision of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding. The 
1 
Chairperson-Administrator shall carry out the decisions of the Board. 
2 
 
3 
The officers and employees of the WASEZA, including all members of the Board, 
4 
shall not engage directly or indirectly in partisan activities nor take part in any election, 
5 
except to vote. 
6 
 
No officer or employee of the WASEZA, subject to civil service laws and 
7 
regulations, shall be removed or suspended except for cause, as provided by law. 
8 
 
 
SEC. 11. Powers and Duties of the Chairperson-Administrator. – The 
9 
Chairperson-Administrator shall have the following powers and duties: 
10 
a) 
To direct and manage the affairs of the WASEZA in accordance with the policies 
11 
of the Board; 
12 
b) 
To establish the internal organization of the WASEZA under such conditions that 
13 
the Board may prescribe; 
14 
c) 
To submit an annual budget and necessary supplemental budget to the Board for 
15 
its approval; 
16 
d) 
To submit within thirty (30) days after the close of each fiscal year an annual 
17 
report to the Board and such other reports as may be required; 
18 
e) 
To submit to the Board for its approval, policies, systems, procedures, rules, and 
19 
regulations that are essential to the operation of the West Aklan Ecozone; 
20 
f) 
To recommend to the Board the remuneration and other emoluments of its 
21 
officers and employees in accordance with existing laws on compensation and 
22 
position classification; 
23 
g) 
To create a mechanism in coordination with relevant agencies for the promotion 
24 
of industrial peace, the protection of the environment, and the advancement of 
25 
the quality of life in the West Aklan Ecozone; and 
26 
h) 
To perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board or which are 
27 
necessary or incidental to the office.  
28 


10 
 
SEC. 12.  Legal Counsel. - The WASEZA shall have its own internal legal 
1 
counsel under the supervision of the Government Corporate Counsel. When the 
2 
exigencies of businesses and operations demand it, the WASEZA may engage the 
3 
services of an outside counsel either on a case to case or on a fixed retainer basis. 
4 
 
 
CHAPTER III 
5 
INCENTIVES TO ECOZONE ENTERPRISES/INVESTORS 
6 
SEC. 13.  Investors Visa. - Any foreign national who invests an amount of Two 
7 
hundred thousand US dollars (US$200,000.00), either in cash or equipment, in a 
8 
registered enterprise shall be entitled to an investor's visa: Provided, That the foreign 
9 
national has the following qualifications: 
10 
a) 
Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age; 
11 
b) 
Must not have been convicted by final judgment of a crime involving moral 
12 
turpitude; 
13 
c) 
Must not be afflicted with any loathsome, dangerous or contagious disease;  
14 
d) 
Must not have been institutionalized for any mental disorder or disability; and 
15 
e) 
Must establish his financial capability and capacity through verifiable and credible 
16 
evidence.  
17 
As a holder of investor's visa, an alien shall be entitled to reside in the 
18 
Philippines while the investment subsists. For this purpose, the alien should 
19 
submit an annual report, in the form duly prescribed for the purpose, to prove that 
20 
the investor has maintained the investment in the country. Should said alien 
21 
withdraw the investments from the Philippines, then the investor's visa issued to 
22 
said alien shall automatically expire and be withdrawn. 
23 
The authority to issue visas and work permits shall remain with the Bureau of 
24 
Immigration (BI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), respectively: 
25 
Provided, That the BI and the DOLE shall implement measures to expedite the 
26 
processing of such visas and permits for workers in the West Aklan Ecozone and 
27 
coordinate with the WASEZA for the purpose of improving ease of doing business. 
28 
SEC.14. Fiscal Incentives. - Registered enterprises operating within the West 
29 
Aklan Ecozone may be entitled to pertinent fiscal incentives granted under Title XIII (Tax 
30 
Incentives) of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended. 
31 


11 
 
SEC. 15.  Banking Rules and Regulations. – Banks and financial institutions to 
1 
be established in the West Aklan Ecozone shall be under the supervision of the Bangko 
2 
Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and subject to existing banking laws, rules and regulations. 
3 
SEC. 16. Remittances. - In the case of foreign investments, a duly registered 
4 
entity or enterprise within the West Aklan Ecozone shall have the right to remit earnings 
5 
from the investment in the currency in which the investment was originally made and at 
6 
the exchange rate prevailing at the time of remittance, subject to the provisions of 
7 
Republic Act No. 7653, otherwise known as the “New Central Bank Act” as amended. 
8 
CHAPTER V 
9 
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHER ENTITIES 
10 
SEC. 17.  Supervision and Control. - For purposes of policy direction and 
11 
coordination, the WASEZA shall be under the direct control and supervision of the Office 
12 
of the President of the Philippines. 
13 
SEC. 18.  Development Goals of the West Aklan Ecozone. - The WASEZA 
14 
shall determine the development goals of the West Aklan Ecozone within the framework 
15 
of national development plans, policies and goals. The Chairperson-Administrator shall, 
16 
upon approval by the Board, submit the West Aklan Ecozone plans, programs and 
17 
projects to the Regional Development Council for inclusion and inputs to the overall 
18 
regional development plan. 
19 
SEC. 19. Relationship with Local Government Units. – Except as herein 
20 
provided, the LGUs comprising the West Aklan Ecozone shall retain their basic 
21 
autonomy and identity.  The Municipality of Magsaysay and San Jose, Province of West 
22 
Aklan, shall operate and function in accordance with the framework of the Constitution, 
23 
Local Government Code of 1991, and this Act. 
24 
In case of any conflict among the WASEZA, the LGUs and the National 
25 
Government on matters affecting the West Aklan Ecozone, other than national defense 
26 
and security matters, the decision of the WASEZA shall prevail. 
27 
SEC. 20. Audit. - The Commission on Audit (COA) shall appoint a full-time 
28 
auditor in the WASEZA or may assign such number of personnel as may be necessary 
29 
in the performance of their functions. 
30 
 


12 
 
 
CHAPTER V 
1 
MISCELLANEOUS 
2 
SEC. 21. Interpretation/Construction. - The powers, authorities and functions 
3 
that are vested in the WASEZA are intended to establish national self-sufficiency and 
4 
self-reliance in the advancement of and protection of the national integrity, enhancement 
5 
of national security, decentralization of governmental functions and authority, and 
6 
promotion of an efficient and effective working relationship among the WASEZA, the 
7 
National Government and the LGUs. Any interpretation of this Act shall consider such 
8 
intentions. In the event of conflict of interpretation and provided the intentions cannot be 
9 
harmonized, the provisions of this Act shall be construed in favor of an interpretation that 
10 
would tend to protect national security. 
11 
SEC. 22.  Applicability Clause. – Insofar as they are consistent with the 
12 
provisions of this Act, the provisions of Sections 30 to 41 of Republic Act No. 7916, 
13 
otherwise known as "The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995", as amended, shall 
14 
likewise apply to the West Aklan Ecozone. 
15 
SEC. 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The National Economic and 
16 
Development Authority (NEDA), in coordination with the DTI and DOF, shall formulate 
17 
the implementing rules and regulations of this Act within ninety (90) days after its 
18 
approval.  
19 
 SEC. 24. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be held 
20 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full 
21 
force and effect. 
22 
SEC. 25.  Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders or issuances or any 
23 
part thereof, which are inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed or amended 
24 
accordingly. 
25 
SEC. 26. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
26 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
27 
Approved, 
28