s RECEIVED -

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI

Quezon City, Manila 93 Aus 2016
a ne
SEVENTEENTH CONGRES$ Ww: 3°49 fo
First Regular Session ey
House Bill No,__# 44} pres>a70w unr
WON
A SERVICE

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ROSE MARIE ‘BABY’ J. ARENAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the 2015 annual survey of Transparency International, an
internationally accepted yardstick, the Philippines ranked 95th out of 186
countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2015, scoring
35/100. The index corruption shows the relative degree of corruption by
ranking countries. While this is better than our 2010 ranking of 134" out
of 178 countries, we went down 10 notches from our ranking of 85th out
of 175 countries in 2014.

The stark reality, however, remains the same - that ours is a society
that has been crippled by corruption, in all forms - from simple theft, graft,
bribery, embezzlement, to the complexities of the crime of plunder.
Indeed, corruption happens in all levels of government and affects people
from all sectors, and has become, sadly, a way of life for many of us.

The cost of corruption a year at P250 billion can buy us more than
a million homes, can rehabilitate more than 5 million hectares of
damaged farmlands, can build more than 500,000 classrooms, can pay for
the annual health care of 210 million indigent families, or provide 50
million scholarship programs from the Commission on Higher Education.

The difficulty in combating corruption lies in its very nature of being
committed behind closed doors and well beyond the purview of the public
eye. This is where the importance of obtaining credible witnesses, with
reliable information regarding the corrupt practices of government
officials or employees comes into place.

The prosecution of high ranking officials for these misdeeds has
brought the issue of corruption to the front and centre of public attention
but because it has become endemic, a more radical approach has to be


developed to fight this disease, and this includes expanding and
institutionalizing the protection of whistleblowers.

Whistleblowers are the best source of exposes and yet they are
also the most vulnerable being subject to reprisals that affect all aspects
of their life. The protection of whistleblowers is a key element in putting
our drive against corruption into high gear.

This proposed legislation seeks to encourage whistleblowers to
come out in the open to put an end to the corrupt acts of government
officials and employees. At the same time, it aims to strengthen the
present machinery in ensuring the full protection and security of these
brave witnesses against any form of retaliation or ostracism. A
rewards and benefits system will also be established in order to ensure the
livelihood and welfare of these whistleblowers.

In order, however, to protect the public, a rigid procedure will also
be enforced in order to prevent any abuse of the provisions of this Act as
well as to prevent false testimonies that will only wreck more havoc into
our society.

In view of the above premises, the immediate approval of this bill is

urgently sought.
EM, BA} J. ARENAS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

244u

House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ROSE MARIE ‘BABY’ J. ARENAS

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE PROTECTION, SECURITY AND BENEFITS OF
WHISTLEBLOWERS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled.

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Whistleblower
Protection, Security and Benefit Act of 2014.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Public Office is a public trust. It is the policy of
the State to promote and ensure full accountability in the conduct of its officers and
employees, and exact full retribution from those who shall engage in graft and corrupt
practices. Towards this end, the State shall:

(a) _ maintain honest and high standards of integrity in the public service;

(b.) safeguard the national interest through the investigation and
prosecution of corrupt and erring public officials and employees; and

(c) _ encourage and facilitate the disclosure of corrupt conduct and practices in
the public service by providing protection, security and benefits to
whistleblowers,

Nothing in this Act shall diminish or restrict the entitlement, receipt or
enjoyment by a whistleblower of more or higher benefits provided under existing laws.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms are hereby
defined as follows:

(a) "Acts constituting graft and corruption" refer to any conduct, act or
omission of public officers and employees solely, or in cooperation or conspiracy with
private persons which are covered by, or constitute as violations of:


(1) Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt
Practices Act”;

(2) Sections 7, 8 and 9 of Republic Act No, 6713, otherwise known as the “Code of
Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees”;

(3) Republic Act No. 7080, entitled “An Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of
Plunder”;

(4) Presidential Decree No. 46, entitled "An Making Punishable for Public
Officials and Employee to Receive, and for Private Persons to Give, Gifts on Any
Occasion, Including Christmas”;

(5) Title VII of Book Two of the Revised Penal Code on “Crimes Committed by
Public Officers”,

(b) “Council” refers to the Whistleblower Benefits and Protection Council
created pursuant to Section 29 of this Act.

(©) "Employee" refers to any person who is made to suffer work by, or who
renders service for, an employer. The term shall include public officers and employees
as defined in this Act as well as any person considered an "employee" under the Labor
Code.

(a) "Employer" refers to any individual, partnership, association, corporation or
entity, including the government, or any person or group of persons who shall directly
or indirectly for or on behalf of said individual, partnership, association, corporation or
entity, hires an employee as defined in this Act.

(e) "Government" refers to the National Government and any of its subdivisions,
agencies or instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled
corporations and their subsidiaries, and the Local Government Units.

(8 "Informant" refers to any person who has personal knowledge or access to
data, events or information, of any conduct constituting graft and corruption as defined
under this Act by public officer/s and employee/s, and who shall deliberately disclose of
individual, collective or organized conduct constituting graft and corruption as provided
in this Act.

(g) “Program” refers to the “Whistleblower Protection, Security and Benefit
Program” which the Council shall formulate and implement pursuant to this Act.

(h) Public officer” refers to any person holding any public office in the
Government of the Republic of the Philippines by virtue of an appointment, election or
contract.


(i) "Whistleblower" refers to an informant admitted into the Program of the
Council in accordance with this Act and its Rules and Regulations.

(j) “Reprisal” refers to any negative or obstructive response or reaction to a
disclosure made under this Act aimed at, pertaining to, or against a whistleblower or
any of the members of the family and relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity
or affinity, including but not limited to criminal, civil or administrative proceedings
commenced or pursued against said whistleblower or any of the members of the family
or relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity as well as reprisal in the
workplace.

(k) "Reprisal in workplace" refers to any discriminatory conduct or policies
against a whistleblower which affect promotion or job assignment including undue
negative performance appraisal, unusual and unwarranted close monitoring by
supervisors, unwarranted criticisms or avoidance by co-employees, blacklisting from
other job opportunities or prejudicial transfers by reason of a disclosure made under
this Act.

SEC. 4. Coverage - Conduct constituting graft and corruption, whether
commenced or consummated before the effectivity of this Act, refers to any conduct, act
or omission of public officers and/or employees solely, or in cooperation or conspiracy
with private persons which are covered by, or amount to violations of Presidential
Decree No. 46; Republic Act No. 3019; Sections 7, 8 and 9 of Republic Act No. 6713;
Republic Act No. 7080; and Title VII of Book Two of the Revised Penal Code on “Crimes
Committed by Public Officers”,

SEC. 5. Admission to the Program. ~ informants, whether from the public or
private sector, may be admitted into the Program by the Council: Provided, that all the
following requisites concur:

(a) The disclosure is voluntary, in writing and under oath;

(b) The disclosure relates to acts constituting graft and corruption under Section
3(a) of this Act;

(c) Such disclosure is necessary for an effective and successful investigation or
prosecution, or essential for the acquisition of material evidence not yet in the
possession of the Whistleblower’s Protection Council;

(d) The information given by the informant can be corroborated; and

(e) The information disclosed leads to a successful gathering of evidence and/or
conduct of investigation sufficient to sustain the filing of criminal, administrative
or civil cases.

SEC. 6. Necessity of Testimony. - The testimony of a whistleblower in court
shall not be necessary for the entitlement to the protection, security and benefits under
this Act, subject to the provision of Section 17 herein. In the event that the
whistleblower's testimony is determined by the Council to be necessary and


indispensable to the success of an investigation or the prosecution of a case, the
whistleblower shall as far as practicable be placed under the Witness Protection
Program in accordance with Republic Act 6891, otherwise known as the “Witness
Protection, Security and Benefit Act’.

SEC. 7. Memorandum of Agreement with the Whistleblower. - As a pre-
requisite to the admission into the Program and availment of the protection, security
and benefits under this Act, a whistleblower shall enter into a Memorandum of
Agreement with the Whistleblower’s Council which shall set forth the whistleblower’s
responsibilities including the following:

(a) To provide information to and testify before all inquiries, in aid of legislation,
and before any law enforcement official concerning any appropriate proceeding in
connection with or arising from the disclosure of acts constituting graft and corruption

(b) To avoid a commission of a crime involving moral turpitude;

(c) To take all necessary precautions to avoid detection by others of the facts
concerning the protection provided under this Act;

(d) To cooperate with respect to all reasonable requests of officers and
employees of the government who are providing protection under this Act; and

(e) To regularly inform the appropriate program official of the whistleblower’s
current activities and address.

SEC. 8. Breach of the Memorandum of Agreement. - Substantial breach of the
Memorandum of Agreement shall be a ground for the immediate termination of the
protection and benefits provided under this Act. The Council shall send notice to a
whistleblower concerned, stating therein the reason for such termination. In view
thereof, a whistleblower shall be afforded reasonable time to take appropriate and
necessary protection and security measures.

In addition, the whistleblower shall return all the financial rewards received
pursuant to Section 17 of this Act.

SEC. 9. Protection against other Actions. - A whistleblower or an informant
who has made a disclosure under this Act shall not be subject to any liability in any
proceeding. Any disclosure made or any document submitted to the Council shall be
inadmissible in evidence against the whistleblower.

This protection shall also operate as immunity in favor of a whistleblower or
informant against any action or proceeding taken against the whistleblower by any
person subject of a disclosure, by reason thereof and acts in relation to subject of
disclosure.

SEC. 10. Defense of Privileged Communication. - A whistleblower or the
informant who has made a disclosure under this Act shall have, as defense in any other
inquiry or proceeding, the absolute privilege with respect to the subject matter of the
disclosure or information given to the proper authorities.


Any information given to the Council by the whistleblower or informant shall be
privileged communication.

SEC. 11. Confidentiality. - Except as allowed by this Act, during and after a
disclosure, and throughout and after any proceeding taken thereafter, a whistleblower
or an informant is entitled to absolute confidentiality about:

(a) Whistleblower’s identity;
(b) The subject matter of the disclosure; and
(©) The person to whom such disclosure was made.

There shall be no such confidentiality of identity if a whistleblower or an
informant makes a public disclosure of a conduct constituting graft and corruption
unless, notwithstanding such public disclosure, the whistleblower has taken means and
measures obviously intended to preserve anonymity.

SEC. 12. No Breach of Duty of Confidentiality. - A whistleblower or an
informant who has made a disclosure under this Act, on whom a provision of law,
regulation, issuance, practice or other convention, imposes a duty to maintain
confidentiality with respect to any information disclosed, is considered not to have
committed a breach thereof.

SEC. 13. Confidential Information. - No person to whom a disclosure has been
made or referred shall divulge any information that may identify or tend to identify a
whistleblower or informant or reveal the subject matter of such disclosure, except
under the following circumstances:

(a) The whistleblower or the informant consents in writing prior to a disclosure
of an information;

(b) The disclosure is indispensable and essential as determined by the Council,
having regard to the necessary proceedings to be taken after the disclosure; or

(c) The disclosure or referral is made pursuant to an obligation under this Act.

The prohibition on disclosure under this Section shall apply to any person who
has become privy to any confidential information in his official capacity.

SEC. 14. Protection against Disciplinary Action or Reprisals, - A whistleblower
who has made or is believed or suspected to have made a disclosure under this Act is
not liable to disciplinary action for making said disclosure.

Prohibited acts under this section include reprisals in a workplace or prejudicial
conduct towards a whistleblower, such as: discriminatory actions behind policies and
procedures, unwarranted reprimand, punitive transfers, malicious referral to a
psychiatrist or counselor, and unfounded or baseless poor performance reviews. Other
prejudicial actions include obstruction of an investigation, withdrawal of essential
resources, undue reports and the attachment of false personnel file or notes.



To this end, any employer who shall discourage and impose sanctions or
reprisals based on workplaces interaction, which shall include workplace ostracism,
questions and attacks on motives, accusations of disloyalty and dysfunction, public
humiliation, and the denial of work or promotion, or who encourages, causes or does
retaliatory action or reprisal against the whistleblower or anyone believed or suspected
to be one, shall be liable for an offense defined under this Act.

Any employee who refuses to follow orders of employers that would cause them
to violate any provision of this Act shall likewise be protected from reprisals and
retaliatory action in the workplace.

For purposes of this protection, an applicant for employment shall be deemed an
employee and entitled to such protection: Provided however, That an employer of a
whistleblower shall be notified through a certification issued by the Council, within a
period of thirty (30) days from the date when the whistleblower last reported for work:
Provided further, That an employer shall have the option to remove said whistleblower
from employment after securing a clearance from the Council and the Department of
Labor and Employment in case of a prolonged absence due to transfer or permanent
relocation under this Act or R.A No. 6981.

SEC. 15. Security and Protection of a Whistleblower - When determined to be
necessary and appropriate by the Council, a whistleblower, even if the disclosure is
made in confidence, shall be entitled to personal security. For this purpose, the Council
may request any law enforcement agency for assistance. Should, at anytime, the identity
of the whistleblower be revealed, or anonymity compromised, the whistleblower may,
upon the recommendation of the Council, be placed under the coverage of the Witness
Protection Program in accordance with R. A. No. 6981, in addition to the other benefits
under this Act.

SEC. 16. Confidentiality of the Proceedings. - All proceedings before the
Council involving application and/or enjoyment of the benefits under this Act, including
any action taken thereon, shall be confidential in nature. No information or documents
given or submitted in support thereof shall be released except upon written order of the
Council, and provided such disclosure shall not endanger the life of a whistleblower.

SEC. 17. Financial Rewards for Whistleblowers. - The whistleblower shall be
entitled to a corresponding monetary reward in accordance with the following stages:

Ifthe case is susceptible | Ifthe case is not susceptible |

Stages of pecuniary estimation of pecuniary estimation _|
| Upon admission into the |
| program _ P 200,000.00 P 100,000.00

Upon filing of the case with the
Office ofthe Ombudsman __| _P. 100,000.00 P_50,000.00



Upon completion of the T
testimony of the whistleblower P.100,000.00

For cases susceptible to pecuniary estimation, such as plunder, forfeiture of ill-
gotten wealth, bribery, malversation and damage or injury to government, the
whistleblower shall be entitled to an additional reward of ten percent (10%) of the
actual amount recovered by final judgment.

SEC. 18. Return of the amount received as financial rewards, - A
whistleblower admitted into the program who deliberately and voluntarily gives false
or misleading information in connection with conduct constituting graft and corruption
as defined under this Act or who unjustifiably recants testimony shall, in addition to the
penalties provided in Section 21 and Section 22 of this Act, be required to return all the
amounts received as financial rewards.

SEC. 19. Abstract. - All government agencies, offices, bureaus and local
government units, including government-owned or controlled corporations, whether or
not with original charters, shall conspicuously display an abstract of this Act and the
rights and protections of whistleblowers or informants, including the obligations of
employers under this Act. Such abstract shall be provided in the rules and regulations to
be promulgated pursuant to Section 31 of this Act.

All government agencies, offices, bureaus and local government units, including
government-owned and controlled corporations, whether or not with original charters,
are likewise required to put in place internal procedures for dealing with
whistleblowers or informants, consistent with the provisions of this Act and the Rules
and Regulations. Said internal procedure shall be widely disseminated to all the
employees.

SEC. 20. Credibility of a Whistleblower. - In all cases, the fact of the entitlement
of the whistleblower to the protection and benefits provided in this Act shall not be
admissible in evidence to diminish or affect the whistleblower's credibility.

SEC. 21. Penalty for Giving False and Misleading Information. - The penalty
of imprisonment of not less than the penalty imposed upon the person against whom
the false and misleading information and/or disclosure has been made shall be imposed
upon a whistleblower who deliberately and voluntarily gives false or misleading
information in connection with acts constituting graft and corruption under this Act. If
the offender is a public officer or employee, the penalty of dismissal from the service
and the accessory penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification from holding public
office shall be also be imposed. In addition, the offender may be held criminally and
civilly liable under existing laws.

SEC. 22. Penalty for Coercing, Inducing or Compelling an Informant or
Whistleblower to Give False and Misleading Information. - The penalty of
imprisonment of not less than the penalty imposed upon the person against whom the


information and/or disclosure has been made shall be imposed upon any person who
coerces, induces, compels an informant or whistleblower to give false or misleading
information in connection with acts constituting graft and corruption under this Act. If
the offender is a public officer or employee, the penalty of dismissal from the service
and the accessory penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification from holding public
office shall be also be imposed. In addition, the offender may be held criminally and
civilly liable under existing laws,

SEC. 23. Penalty for Unjustified Recantation. - The unjustifed recantation of
testimony by a whistleblower shall constitute an offense and shall be punishable by a
Penalty of imprisonment of not less than four (4) years but not more than six (6) years,

SEC. 24. Penalty for Reprisal against Whistleblower. - The penalty of
imprisonment of not less than (6) years but not more than twelve (12) years or a fine of
not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php100,000.00) or both at the discretion
of the court shall be imposed upon any person who shall commit any act of reprisal as
defined in this Act against a whistleblower and/or hinders, delays, prevents or
dissuades said whistleblower from:

(a) Attending, assisting or testifying before any investigating agency or quasi-
judicial body or judicial;

(b) Reporting to a law enforcement officer or judge the commission or possible
commission of an offense, or a violation of conditions of probation, parole, or release
pending judicial proceedings;

(c) Seeking the arrest of another person in connection with the offense;

(d) Causing a criminal prosecution, or any proceeding for the revocation of a
parole or probation; and

(c) Performing and enjoying the rights and benefits under this Act or attempt to
doso:

In addition, the penalty of dismissal from the service and the accessory penalty
of perpetual absolute disqualification from holding public office shall be imposed upon
an offender who is a public officer or employee,

SEC. 25. Penalty for Violation of Confidentiality. —- The penalty of
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than six (6) years shall be
imposed upon any person who shall violate the protection of confidentiality of a
Protected disclosure under Sections 10, 11, 13 and 16 of this Act. The penalty of
dismissal from the service and the accessory penalty of temporary absolute
disqualification from holding public office shall also be imposed upon an offender who
is a public officer or employee. In addition, the offender shall be civilly liable to
indemnify the whistleblower or informant in such amount of damages as may be
awarded and deomod reasonable by a compotont court


SEC. 26, Penalty for Reprisal in the Workplace. - The penalty of imprisonment
of not more than six (6) years but not more than twelve (12) years shall be imposed
upon any person who shall commit any act of reprisal in a workplace as defined in this
Act, against an employee who is a whistleblower or believed or suspected to be one.
The penalty of dismissal from the service and the accessory penalty of temporary
absolute disqualification from holding public office shall also be imposed upon an
offender who is a public officer or employee. In addition, the offender shall be civilly
liable to indemnify the whistleblower in such amount of damages as may be awarded
and deemed reasonable by a competent court.

Toward this end, an aggrieved whistleblower shall be entitled to the provisional
remedy of injunction against any reprisal in the workplace, prejudicial conduct, or
discriminatory treatment by reason of whistleblowers disclosure.

The proceedings herein shall be independent of any action that an aggrieved
person may take before the Civil Service Commission or the Department of Labor and
Employment for unfair or discriminatory practices, back wages, or other labor disputes,
or before other quasi-judicial agencies that may or may not have arisen from a
disclosure or believed or suspected disclosure.

SEC. 27. Penalty for Discriminatory Hiring. The penalty of imprisonment of
not more than six (6) months shall be imposed upon any person or employer who shall
deny a qualified applicant for employment, or who shall reject an application for
employment solely on the ground that an applicant is a whistleblower or informant for
the State. If the offender is a corporation, partnership, association, or any juridical
person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the owner, president, partner, manager,
and/or any responsible officer who participated in the commission of the offense.

The penalty of dismissal from the service and the accessory penalty of
suspension of the right to hold public office shall also be imposed upon the offender
who is a public officer or employee.

In addition, the offender shall be civilly liable to indemnify the whistleblower in
such amount of damages as may be awarded and deemed reasonable by a competent
court.

SEC. 28. Failure of an Employer to Post Abstract. - The failure to post an
Abstract required under Section 19 of this Act shall constitute an offense and shall be
punishable with a fine of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00) for the first
offense, The amount shall be doubled for every succeeding offense, and punishable with
imprisonment of not more than six (6) months at the discretion of the court. For this
purpose, the president, general manager, or head of agency, office or bureau shall be
held criminally liable and shall suffer the accessory penalty of suspension of the right to
hold public office.


SEC. 29. Failure to Act or Report to the Council. - Any person under obligation
to report a disclosure under this Act to the Council, who fails to do so within a period of
two (2) months, or who fails to act thereon or cause an investigation thereof, shall be
held liable and shall suffer the penalty of not more than one (1) month imprisonment or
a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000,00) at the discretion of the
court.

SEC. 30. Whistleblower Benefits and Protection Council. - A Whistleblower
Benefits and Protection Council is hereby created composed of the Overall Deputy
Ombudsman as Chairperson, and the following as members:

a) Prosecutor General, DOJ;

b) Chief Public Attorney, DOI:

©) Special Prosecutor, Ombudsman;

d) Witness Protection Program Director of the Department of Justice;

e) Executive Director, Anti-Money Laundering Council;

f) Director, Legal Service, Philippine National Police, in case the respondent is a
member thereof;

g) The Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in case
the respondent is a member thereof;

h) A representative from the Civil society/NGO involved in anti-corruption and
good governance to be appointed by the Chairperson of the Council, upon the
recommendation of the members thereof;

i) Arepresentative from the business sector to be appointed by the Chairperson
of the Council upon the recommendation of the Philippine Chamber of
Commerce and Industry.

SEC. 31. Powers and Functions of the Council. - In addition to its powers and
functions under existing laws, the Council shall have the following powers and
functions:

(a) Monitor, coordinate and evaluate all efforts relative to the implementation
and enforcement of the provisions of this Act;

(b) Evaluate the disclosure and qualification of whistleblowers or informants for
coverage within this Act, and make the appropriate decision on their admission to the
Program and their entitlement to the benefits extended herein: Provided, That the
Council shall render its decision on the admission of an informant to the Program and
the latter's entitlement to the benefits under this Act within fifteen (15) days from
receipt of the informant’s application and evidence;

(c) Undertake, in coordination and cooperation with the private and public
sectors, an information campaign to educate the public on the provisions and benefits of
this Act;

(d) Develop plans and implement programs to further encourage whistleblowers
or informants on graft and corrupt activities with a view to effective deterrence and/or
prosecution;

10


(e) Control and administer, consistent with the provisions and purposes of this
Act, the protection and benefits of whistleblowers in connection with the cases within
the coverage of Section 4 of this Act;

(0 Call upon, or deputize any department, bureau, office or any other
government agency or public official to assist in the effective implementation and
enforcement of this Act; and

(g) Grant immunity in accordance with the provisions of this Act and its
implementing rules and regulations.

SEC. 32. Creation of the Whistleblower Protection Service. - A protection
program for the benefit and protection of the whistleblowers in pursuit of the
provisions of this Act, and which is called the Office of the Ombudsman’s Whistle
Protection Service (WPS), is hereby created. The WPS shall be controlled and
administered by the Office of the Ombudsman and shall serve as the Secretariat of the
Whistleblower’s Protection Council.

The WPS shall be responsible for receiving and processing the application for
admission of an informant together with the evidence, and transmitting the same within
fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof for assessment and evaluation of the Council.

SEC. 33. Construction of Provisions. - In case of doubt, any provision of this Act
shall be construed in favor of the admission of the informant or whistleblower.

SEC. 34. Appropriations. -- The amount necessary to carry out the provisions
of this Act shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations.

SEC. 35. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within fifteen (15) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the Council shall promulgate such rules and regulations as
maybe necessary to implement the intent and purposes of this Act. Said rules and
regulations shall be published in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

SEC. 36. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act or the
application thereof shall be declared invalid or unconstitutional, the validity of other
parts or provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 37. Repealing Clause. -- All laws, decrees, executive issuances, rules and
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause, - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,