Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 222

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
GRANTING ENHANCED PROTECTION TO CONSUMERS, FURTHER
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7394 OR THE
“CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES,” AS AMENDED

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution affirms the State’s duty to safeguard the rights and
welfare of consumers. Specifically, Article XVI, Section 9 states that “The State shall protect
consumers from trade malpractices and from substandard or hazardous products.” It further
emphasizes the need to regulate industries for the protection of consumers and the promotion

of general welfare.

Republic Act 7394, or the Consumer Act of the Philippines. was first enacted into law
in April 1992 to give effect to this constitutional mandate. Over the years, it has undergone
several amendments to address the emerging consumer protection issues in the country. such
as those of Republic Act 11706 and Republic Act 11765. However. despite these amendments.
the current landscape still demands a more updated legal framework.

This measure seeks to strengthen the law and reinforce existing consumer protection
laws by preventing fraudulent businesses such as pyramid schemes, Ponzi schemes, digital
scams, and other deceptive practices that continue to endanger the financial well-being of

Filipino consumers.


In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

CRISPIN DIEGO “PING” D. REMULLA


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, __ 222

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
GRANTING ENHANCED PROTECTION TO CONSUMERS, FURTHER
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7394 OR THE
“CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES,” AS AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Enhanced Consumer Act
of the Philippines”.
SEC. 2. Article 2 of Republic Act No. 7394, as amended, is hereby amended to read as.
follows:
“Article 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect
the interests of [the] consumer, promote [his] THEIR general welfare and [to]
establish standards of ETHICAL conduct for OFFLINE AND ONLINE
business and industry.
Towards this end, the State shall implement measures to achieve the
following objectives:
[a)_protection against hazards to-health- and safety


1 ©) _ involvement-ef-consumerrepresentatives inthe formulation-of
2 socialand economic policies]

3 “A) DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A STRONG CONSUMER
4 PROTECTION POLICY THAT WILL ENSURE THE ACCESS OF
5 CONSUMERS TO QUALITY, SAFE, AND NON-HAZARDOUS
6 PRODUCTS AND FAIR, EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC
7 AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL
8 PROTECTION;

9 B) UPHOLD STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR
10 INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN THE PRODUCTION AND
u DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES TO CONSUMERS,
2 INCLUDING INTERNET TRANSACTIONS;

B C) ENCOURAGE SELF-REGULATION IN THE ADVERT!

14 INDUSTRY TO ENHANCE AND ENSURE CONSUMER PROTECTION
15 THROUGH THE ADOPTION AND OBSERVANCE OF A CODE OF
16 ETHICS CONSISTENT WITH THIS ACT AND ITS IMPLEMENTING
7 RULES AND REGULATIONS;

18 D) PREVENT ENTERPRISES FROM ENGAGING IN ABUSIVE
19 BUSINESS PRACTICES;

20 E) FACILITATE THE RECOGNITION OF INDEPEND!

21 CONSUMER GROUPS;

2 F) FOSTER INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE FIELD
23 OF CONSUMER PROTECTION;

24 G) ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF MARKET
25 CONDITIONS THAT ARE FREE FROM HOARDING AND HELP
26 CONSUMERS MAKE WELL-INFORMED CHOICES; AND

27 H) PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION TO
28 FACILITATE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS
29 WHICH BALANCE THE RESOURCES AND THE NEEDS OF THE
30 CONSUMERS, THEREBY REDUCING THE RATE OF HOUSEHOLD
31 INSECURITIES.”

32 SEC. 3. A new Article 4 is hereby inserted after Article 3 of Republic Act No. 7394, as

33 amended, and the subsequent articles shall be renumbered accordingly:


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“ARTICLE 4. CONSUMER RIGHTS. — THE GOVERNMENT, IN
MAINTAINING AND STRENGTHENING THE PROMOTION OF
CONSUMER INTEREST AND WELFARE IN RELATION TO BUSINESS
AND INDUSTRY PRACTICE AS WELL AS THE PRODUCTION AND
DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS, SHALL ADOPT
MEASURES AND FORMULATE POLICIES TAKING INTO ACCOUNT
THE EIGHT (8) BASIC CONSUMER RIGHTS. EVERY CONSUMER
SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THE:

A) RIGHT TO BASIC NEEDS — EVERY CONSUMER SHALL
HAVE ACCESS TO BASIC AND ESSENTIAL GOODS AND SERVICES,
SUCH AS ADEQUATE FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, HEALTHCARE,
EDUCATION, PUBLIC UTILITIES, WATER AND SANITATION;

B) RIGHT TO CHOOSE — EVERY CONSUMER SHALL HAVE
THE RIGHT TO SELECT FROM A VARIETY OF GOODS AND
SERVICES OFFERED AT COMPETITIVE PRICES, EITHER SOLD IN
PERSON OR ONLINE, WITH AN ASSURANCE OF SATISFACTORY
QUALITY;

©) RIGHT TO BE HEARD — EVERY CONSUMER SHALL BE
ENTITLED TO EXPRESS INTEREST, TO BE INVOLVED, HEARD, AND
CONSIDERED IN THE FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
GOVERNMENT POLICIES;

D) RIGHT TO REDRESS - EVERY CONSUMER SHALL HAVE
ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE REMEDIES FOR MISREPRESENTATIO!
SUBSTANDARD OR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS OR UNSATISFACTORY
SERVICES;

E) RIGHT TO CONSUMER EDUCATION — EVERY
CONSUMER SHALL HAVE ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
NEEDED TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES AND UNDERSTAND THE
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF
THEIR DECISIONS THROUGH THE USE OF ALL AVAILABLE AND
CONVENIENT MEANS;

F) RIGHT TO SAFETY - EVERY CONSUMER SHALL BE
PROTECTED AGAINST HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS, PRODUCTION
PROCESSES, AND SERVICES;



fT G) RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT - EVERY
2 CONSUMER SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND WORK IN AN
3 ENVIRONMENT THAT IS NEITHER THREATENING NOR
4 DANGEROUS, AND ALLOWS A LIFE OF DIGNITY AND WELL-
5 BEING; AND
6 H) RIGHT TO INFORMATION ~ EVERY CONSUMER SHALL
7 BE PROVIDED WITH INFORMATION NECESSARY TO MAKE AN
8 INFORMED CHOICE ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND SHALL BE
9 PROTECTED AGAINST DISHONEST OR MISLEADING
10 ADVERTISING AND LABELING.”
u SEC. 4, A new Article 5 is hereby inserted after the new Article 4 of Republic Act No.
12 7394, as amended, and the subsequent articles shall be renumbered accordingly:
B “ARTICLE 5. CONSUMER RESPONSIBILITIES. ~ N RELATION
4 TO THE BASIC RIGHTS GRANTED IN THE PRECEDING ARTICLE,
15 EVERY CONSUMER SHALL EXERCISE THE FOLLOWING
16 RESPONSIBILITIES:
7 A) CRITICAL AWARENESS — EVERY CONSUMER SHALL BE
18 VIGILANT AND INFORMED ABOUT THE USE, PRICE, SOURCE, AND
19 QUALITY OF GOODS AND SERVICES;
20 B) ACTION - EVERY CONSUMER SHALL ASSERT THE
21 RIGHT TO TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT ONE’S RIGHTS AS A
22 CONSUMER ARE AMPLY PROTECTED;
23 ©) SOCIAL CONCERN ~ EVERY CONSUMER SHALL BE
24 AWARE OF THE IMPACT OF ONE’S CONSUMPTION ON OTHER
25 CITIZENS ESPECIALLY THE MARGINALIZED GROUPS;
26 D) ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ~ EVERY CONSUMER
27 SHALL BE CONSTANTLY AWARE OF THE IMPACT OF HUMAN
28 ACTIVITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT. THE CONSUMER SHOULD
29 RECOGNIZE THE OBLIGATION OF INDIVIDUALS AND OF SOCIETY
30 IN GENERAL TO UTILIZE NATURAL RESOURCES SUSTAINABLY
31 AND RESPONSIBLY, AND TO SECURE AND PROTECT THE EARTH
32 FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS; AND
33 E) SOLIDARITY - CONSUMERS SHALL ORGANIZE

34 THEMSELVES INTO GROUPS OR ASSOCIATIONS TO STRENGTHEN


THEIR POSITION IN THE FORMULATION OF POLICIES AIMED AT
ADVANCING AND PROTECTING THEIR INTERESTS.”

SEC. 5. Article 4 (k) of Republic Act No. 7394, as amended, is hereby amended to read

as follows:

“Article [4:] 6. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term:

XxX
k) “Chain distribution planS” [or-“pyramid-seles sehemes”means-sales
devioes whereby «person upon condition thachemakes an investment;is granted

nature—of the-plan.| OR “PSEUDO-INVESTMENTS” REFER TO ANY
BUSINESS STRUCTURE, SALES OR MARKETING PLAN OR SCHEME
SUCH AS:

1) “PYRAMID SALES SCHEME” REFERS TO A SALE DEVICE
OR PLAN WHEREBY, UPON CONDITION THAT AN INVESTMENT IS
MADE BY WAY OF PURCHASING GOODS OR PAYING A FEE, A
PERSON IS GRANTED BY A MANUFACTURER OR THE
MANUFACTURER’S REPRESENTATIVE THE RIGHT TO SELL
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AS WELL AS RECRUIT ONE OR MORE
ADDITIONAL PERSONS WHO WILL BE GRANTED SUCH RIGHT TO
RECRUIT, UPON CONDITION OF MAKING SIMILAR INVESTMENTS;

2) “PONZI SCHEME” REFERS TO A BUSINESS STRUCTURE
OPERATED BY A PERSON OR GROUP, NATURAL OR JURIDICAL,
WHERE THERE IS NO TRUE PRODUCT OR SERVICE BEI
OFFERED IN EXCHANGE FOR THE INVESTMENT AND WHERE THE
MONEY TENDERED BY NEW INVESTORS ARE PAID TO EARLIER
INVESTORS;

3) “TELEMARKETING FRAUD” REFERS TO A SCHEME
WHERE HIGH PRESSURE SALES TACTICS ARE MADE OVER THE



PHONE WITH THE INTENT TO MAKE THE INVESTOR BUY INTO A
FRAUDULENT OR NON-EXISTENT INVESTMENT OFFERING; AND

4) “TECHNOLOGY FRAUD” REFERS TO A SCHEME WHEREIN
INVESTORS ARE DECEIVED INTO MAKING PURCHASES OF OR
INVESTMENTS ON NON-EXISTENT PRODUCTS, THROUGH THE
INTERNET OR DIGITAL PLATFORMS.”

Xxx"

SEC. 6. A new Article 54 is hereby inserted after the renumbered Article 53 of Republic
‘Act No. 7394, as amended, and the subsequent articles shall be renumbered accordingly:

“ARTICLE 54. BILLING STATEMENTS AND OTHER
TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS. - BILLING STATEMENTS AND OTHER
TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS MAY BE SENT IN PRINTED OR
ELECTRONIC FORM AT THE OPTION OF AND WITHOUT ANY
ADDITIONAL COST TO CONSUMERS. THE CONSUMERS’ RIGHT TO
SELECT THE MODE IN WHICH THEY RECEIVE THEIR BILLING
STATEMENTS AND OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS MAY NOT
BE CONDITIONED ON THE VALUE OF THE PRODUCTS OR
SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE TRANSACTION.”

SEC. 7. Article 53 of Republic Act No. 7394, as amended, is hereby amended to read

as follows:

“Article [53-] 56. Chain Distribution Plans or [Pyramid-Sales-Sehemes-]
PSEUDO-INVESTMENTS. — Chain distribution plans or [pyramid—seles
sehemes] PSEUDO-INVESTMENTS shall not be employed in the sale of

consumer products.”

SEC. 8. Article 64 of Republic Act No. 7394, as amended, is hereby amended to read

as follows:

“Article [64-] 67. Fraudulent Practices Relative to Weights and Measures.
~— The following acts relating to weights and measures are prohibited:

XXX

“L) FOR ANY PERSON TO CONCEAL OR DESTROY (1) A
FALSE OR COUNTERFEIT SEAL, STICKER, BRAND, STAMP, TAG,
CERTIFICATE, LICENSE OR DYE, OR (2) AN ALTERED, TAMPERED,
VANDALIZED SCALE, BALANCE, WEIGHT, OR MEASURE TO
PREVENT DISCOVERY AND SEIZURE; OR


1 14 M. for any person to procure, OR COOPERATE IN, OR PROFIT
2 FROM THE commission of any such offense abovementioned by another.
3 Instruments officially sealed at some previous time which have remained
4 unaltered and accurate and the seal or tag officially affixed thereto remains intact
5 and in the same position and condition in which it was placed by the official sealer
6 or his duly authorized representative shall, if presented for sealing, be sealed
7 promptly on demand by the official sealer or his authorized representative without
8 penalty except a surcharge fixed by law or regulation.”
9 SEC. 9. Article 76 of Republic Act No. 7394, as amended, is hereby amended to read
10 as follows:
eT “Article [76:| 79. Prohibited Act on Labeling and Packaging. — It shall be
2 unlawful for any person, either as principal or agent, engaged in the [labeling-or
13 packaging] SALE, DISTRIBUTION, MANUFACTURING of any consumer
4 product, to display, SELL, or distribute, or to cause to be displayed, SOLD, or
15 distributed in commerce any consumer product whose package or label does not
16 conform to the provisions of this chapter.
7 CONSUMER PRODUCTS THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE
18 DATE LABEL REQUIREMENT SHALL NOT BE SOLD OR
19 DISTRIBUTED IN THE MARKET ONE (1) YEAR UPON THE
20 ENACTMENT OF THIS ACT.
aa The prohibition in this chapter shall not apply to persons engaged in the
22 business of wholesale or retail distributors of consumer products OR
23 CONSUMER PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED OUTSIDE THE
24 COUNTRY AND DIRECTLY SHIPPED FROM THE MANUFACTURER
25 TO CONSUMER BY MAIL OR OTHER DELIVERY SERVICES except to
26 the extent that such persons:
27 a) _ are engaged in the packaging or labeling of such products;
28 b) prescribe or specify by any means the manner in which such
29 products are packaged or labeled; or
30 c) having knowledge, refuse to disclose the source of the mislabeled
31 or mispackaged products.”
32 SEC. 10. Article 77 of Republic Act No. 7394, as amended. is hereby amended to read

33 as follows:


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“Article [74] 80. Minimum Labeling Requirements for Consumer

Products. - All consumer products domestically sold whether manufactured
locally or imported shall indicate the following in their respective labels of
packaging:

XXX

g) country of manufacture, if imported; [and]

h) _ if'a consumer product is manufactured, refilled or repacked under
license from a principal, the label shall so state the fact; AND

i) ITS “MANUFACTURING DATE”, “EXPIRATION DATE”,
AND IF APPLICABLE, THE “BEST BEFORE DATE”. THE UNIFORM
DATE LABEL MUST BE PRINTED CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY ON THE
LABEL IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER: MONTH, DAY, AND YEAR.
THE DAY AND THE YEAR MUST BE WRITTEN IN FIGURES, WHILE
THE MONTH MUST BE WRITTEN IN WORDS. THE TEXT MUST BE
IN A SINGLE EASY-TO-READ TYPE STYLE USING UPPER- AND
LOWER-CASE LETTERS IN THE STANDARD FORM. THE USE OF
“USE-BY”, “CONSUMER BEFORE”, “BEST IF USED BY” AND OTHER
SIMILAR PHRASES SHALL NOT BE USED AS DATE LABELS ON THE
PACKAGING OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS.

FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, “MANUFACTURING DATE”
REFERS TO THE DATE WHEN THE PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED OR
MADE BY THE MANUFACTURER; “BEST BEFORE DATE” REFERS.
TO THE DATE WHEN THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT BEGINS TO
DETERIORATE, BUT STILL ACCEPTABLE FOR CONSUMPTION
BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE; AND “EXPIRATION DATE”
REFERS TO THE DATE STATED ON THE LABEL OF FOOD, DRUG,
COSMETIC, OR SIMILAR CONSUMER PRODUCT AFTER THE
SAFETY, EFFICACY, QUALITY OR POTENCY MUST HAVE RUN I
COURSE.”

The following may be required by the concerned department in accordance
with the rules and regulations they will promulgate under authority of this Act:

XXX."

SEC. 11. Article 84 of Republic Act No. 7394, as amended. is hereby amended to read

as follows:


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“Article [84] 87. Additional Labeling Requirement for Food. — The

following additional labeling requirements shall be imposed by the concerned

department for food:

a) [expiry—or] MANUFACTURING DATE, expiration date,

[where] and WHENEVER applicable, THE BEST BEFORE DATE;

SE

as follows:

XXX."

'. 12. Article 86 of Republic Act No. 7394, as amended. is hereby amended to read

“Article [86:] 89. Labeling of Drugs. - The Generics Act, AND OTHER

LAWS AMENDATORY THERETO, shall apply in the labeling of drugs.
THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION SHALL ENSURE THAT
ALL DRUGS MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED LOCALLY
SHALL HAVE “MANUFACTURING DATE” AND “EXPIRATION
DATE” ON THEIR LABELS. THE UNIFORM DATE LABELS
REQUIRED MUST BE PRINTED CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY ON THE
LABEL IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER: MONTH, DAY AND YEAR.
THE DAY AND THE YEAR MUST BE WRITTEN IN FIGURES WHILE
THE MONTH MUST BE WRITTEN IN WORDS. THE TEXT MUST BE
IN A SINGLE EASY-TO-READ TYPE STYLE USING UPPER- AND
LOWER-CASE LETTERS IN THE STANDARD FORM.

THOSE WHICH CAN BE ADMINISTERED MULTIPLE TIMI

FOR PRODUCTS RECONSTITUTED PRIOR TO USE, AND
THE

LABEL SHALL INCLUDE THE PERIOD OF GUARANTEED SAFETY,
EFFICACY, AND QUALITY OF THE RECONSTITUTED
PREPARATION AFTER FIRST OPENING AT GIVEN STORAGE
CONDITIONS.”

as follows:

". 13. Article 87 of Republic Act No. 7394, as amended. is hereby amended to read

“Article [8%] 90. Additional Labeling Requirements for Cosmetics. ~The

following additional requirements may be required for cosmetics:

a) | MANUFACTURING DATE AND expiry or expiration date:

XXX."


1 SEC. 14. A new Article 93 is hereby inserted after the renumbered Article 92 of
2 Republic Act No. 7394, as amended, and the subsequent articles shall be renumbered
3 accordingly:

4 “ARTICLE 93. ENGLISH OR FILIPINO TRANSLATIONS OF

5 PRODUCT LABELS WRITTEN IN FOREIGN CHARACTERS OR

6 LANGUAGES. — CONSUMER PRODUCTS WITH PRODUCT LABELS

7 WRITTEN IN FOREIGN CHARACTERS OR LANGUAGE SHALL BE

8 ALLOWED ENTRY INTO THE COUNTRY AND INTRODUCED INTO

9 COMMERCE ONLY IF THEY HAVE A CORRESPONDING ENGLISH

10 OR FILIPINO TRANSLATION TO ENABLE THE AUTHORITIES TO
1 DETERMINE WHETHER THE PRODUCT HAS COMPLIED WITH ALL
12 THE OTHER LABELING REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS PROVIDE
13 THE CONSUMERS PROPER GUIDANCE ON THE CONTENTS AND
14 ORIGIN OF THE PRODUCT.”

15 SEC. 15. A new article 94 is hereby inserted after the new Article 93 of Republic Act
16 No. 7394, as amended, and the subsequent articles shall be renumbered accordingly:

17 “ARTICLE 94. OFFICIAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR
18 IMPORTED CONSUMER PRODUCTS. —- IMPORT DATA FROM THE
19 BUREAU OF CUSTOMS AND BUREAU OF IMPORT SERVICES OF
20 THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY SHALL BE
21 RECOGNIZED AS OFFICIAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION TO
22 VALIDATE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION RELATIVE TO A
23 PARTICULAR IMPORTED CONSUMER PRODUCT:

24 A) COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE;

25 B) NAME AND ADDRESS OF MANUFACTURER OR
26 EXPORTER;

27 c) NAME AND ADDRESS OF IMPORTER OR CONSIGNEE;
28 D) VALUE AND VOLUME OF SHIPMENT;

29 E) DATE OF ARRIVAL; AND

30 F) OTHER INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE
31 SHIPMENT IN QUESTION.”

32 SEC. 16. Article 116 of Republic Act No. 7394, as amended. is hereby amended to read

33 as follows:

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“Article [146:] 121. Permit to Conduct Promotion. — No person shall

conduct any sales [eampaigns, including _beauty-contest—national inch

sponsored_and_promoted_by_mantifaeturingenterprises| PROMOTION OF
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OR THE SALE THEREOF, THROUGH

AND WITH THE USE OF ALL FORMS OF MEDIA, INFORMATION
AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING BEAUTY
CONTESTS THAT ARE NATIONAL IN CHARACTER, SPONSORED
AND PROMOTED BY PRODUCERS, MANUFACTURERS,
DISTRIBUTORS, SUPPLIERS, IMPORTERS, RETAILERS OR THEIR
AGENTS without first securing a permit from the concerned department at [least
thirty-(30)-calendar] FIFTEEN (15) days prior to the commencement thereof.

oF aetivity-may-be-eondueted]: Provided, That any sales promotion campaign

using medical prescriptions or any part thereof or attachment [therete-for- raffles

ore promise-of reward] shall not be allowed, nor a permit be issued thereof.

SEC. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days after the
effectivity of this Act, the DTI, in coordination with the implementing agencies under this Act,
other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and
regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 18. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and
effect,

SEC. 19. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, letters
of instruction, proclamations or administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 20. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its

publication in the Official Gazette, or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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