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Republic of the Philippines  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City  
NINETEENTH (19th) CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No.  _____ 
Introduced by: Hon. Ma. Victoria Co – Pilar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Cancer is currently the leading cause of death in the developed world and 
second leading cause of death in the developing world including the Philippines. 
According to a study conducted by the University of the Philippines, 189 of every 
100,000 Filipinos are afflicted with some form of cancer while 4 (four) die every 
hour or 96 (ninety-six) fatalities each day.   
While a small portion Filipinos can afford to go to other countries for 
diagnostic treatments, the rest who do not have the means simply suffer and die. 
It is criminal to think that our countrymen are forced to choose between basic 
necessities or treatment.  This is a preventable reality as we have specialists and 
talented oncologists who can treat Filipinos, but not enough facilities for such. 
Now more than ever, there is a need to establish a specialty hospital 
because of this alarming epidemic. By providing the platform and the facility to 
encourage the exchange of ideas and information for the prevention of cancer 
thru information dissemination and mass education, we are giving our people a 
chance to fight back. It is also with zealous hope that thru this, we can give our 
researchers the means to study and develop better treatments or even a cure for 
the various forms of this disease.  
It is our hope that by establishing this center, we can make the treatment 
of cancer more affordable to our less fortunate.  
In view of this foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
August 1, 2022
10:55 am
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Republic of the Philippines  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City  
NINETEENTH (19th) CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No.  _____ 
Introduced by: Hon. Ma. Victoria Co - Pilar 
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AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH AND 
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TREATMENT INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1, Short Title – This Act shall be known as the “National 
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Cancer Research Institute of the Philippines Act” 
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SECTION 2, Declaration of Policy – The state shall establish, maintain 
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and ensure adequate health services to guarantee the well – being of every 
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Filipino. 
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SECTION 3, Creation of the National Cancer Research and Treatment 
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Institute of the Philippines – There is hereby created under the supervision of 
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the Department of Health, the National Cancer Research and Treatment Institute 
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of the Philippines. 
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SECTION 4, Board of Trustees - The National Cancer Research and 
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Treatment Institute of the Philippines shall be governed and its activities and 
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properties be directed and controlled and managed, by a Board of Trustees, 
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which shall be composed of a Chairman and six (6) members, all of whom to be 
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appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the 
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Department of Health.  
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The members of the Board of Trustees shall serve for a period of five (5) 
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years and / or until their successors shall have been appointed to fill the vacancy 
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shall hold office for the unexpired term of the member. Whenever a vacancy shall 
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occur in the board, the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold office for 
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the unexpired term of the member. 
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The Board shall elect a Chairman from among themselves, who shall be 
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the presiding officer of the Board of Trustees. The medical Director of the 
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Philippine National Cancer Center shall serve as Vice – Chairman of the Board. 
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Four (4) members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum to 
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transact business and any decision of such four (4) members on any matter duly 
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presented to the Board of Trustees shall constitute a valid and binding act of the 
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National Cancer Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines. 
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SECTION 5, Purpose and Objective – The National Cancer Research and 
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Treatment Institute of the Philippines shall have the following purpose and 
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objectives: 
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(a) To construct, establish, equip, maintain, administer and operate such 
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integrated medical institution or institutions that shall specialize in the 
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prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care, rehabilitation, and / or relief of 
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cancer in all its kinds and forms; 
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(b) To promote medical and scientific research relative to the prevention 
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and treatment of cancer; 
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(c) To assist universities, colleges, hospitals and research institutions in 
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their studies of cancer and encourage advanced training and 
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specialization of matters of, or affecting cancer 
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(d) To conduct fact-finding investigations on cancer related fields 
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throughout the country or elsewhere, and to report, publish and 
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disseminate information on the prevention and treatment of all forms 
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of cancer; 
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(e) To finance, sponsor, hold or participate in congresses, conventions, 
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conferences, seminars, workshops and training programs on cancer 
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and/or related fields in the Philippines or abroad; 
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(f) To encourage and assist in the education and training of physicians, 
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nurses, health officers, social workers, and medical and technical 
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personnel in the practical and scientific implementation of services to 
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cancer patients; 
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(g) To assist universities, hospitals and research institutions in their 
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studies on cancer, oncology and other related fields, to encourage and 
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grant scholarships for advanced training and specialization in 
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oncology and related fields, and to support educational programs of 
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value to general public health; 
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(h) To provide psychosocial support services and counseling to the patient 
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and family members, 
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(i) To simulate the formation of other organizations on the national, 
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provincial, city and/or local levels, and to coordinate the various 
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efforts and activities of such organization for the purpose of achieving 
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a more effective approach to the common problem relative to the 
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purposes and objectives enumerated herein; and 
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(j) To be the national center for excellence in oncology and treatment of 
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cancer the Philippines. 
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SECTION 6, Government Contribution – The Government shall 
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contribute 
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the necessary land, building, equipment and facilities to the National Cancer 
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Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines. 
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SECTION 7, Property of the Center – The property of the National 
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Cancer Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines shall consist of real, 
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personal, mixed and other types of property, new owned or reserved for, or may 
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hereafter be given, donated, acquired, transferred or conveyed to the National 
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Cancer Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines by the government, 
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its branches and instrumentalities, any foreign government, as well as by trust, 
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foundations, corporations, or persons, alien or domestic, in order to carry out its 
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purposes and objectives as set forth herein. 
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SECTION 8, Powers – For the attainment and / or furtherance of the 
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above enumerated purpose and objectives, the National Cancer Research and 
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Treatment Institute of the Philippines, acting through its Board of Trustees, shall 
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have the following orders and functions, among other things: 
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(a) To contract and be contracted with; 
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(b) To adopt by-laws, rules and regulations not contrary to law to govern 
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the administration and operation of the affairs of the National Cancer 
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Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines; 
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(c) To purchase, receive, take grand, holed, convey, sell, lease, pledge, 
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transfer, convey, exchange, mortgage and otherwise deal with such 
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property of whatever nature the transaction of the lawful business of 
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the National Cancer Research and Treatment Institute of the 
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Philippines may reasonably and necessarily require subject to the 
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limitations prescribed by law; 
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(d) To obtain loans, borrow funds and/or arrange financing or credit 
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assistance of whatever kind and nature from all lawful sources, 
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whether domestic or foreign and whether government or private, and 
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to mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber any of its properties and 
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assets for the purpose of securing or guaranteeing the performance or 
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fulfillment of any obligation it may undertake for itself or for other 
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entities in which it may be interested; 
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(e) To invite foreign cancer specialists and similar experts in the various 
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medical fields to train the personnel or trainees or residents of the 
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National Cancer Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines; 
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(f) To advance the training of personnel in Philippine conventions, 
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conferences, congresses, seminars to accomplish the purpose and 
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objectives of the National Cancer Research and Treatment Institute of 
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the Philippines; 
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(g) To exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary to 
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carry out the purposes of the National Cancer Research and Treatment 
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Institute of the Philippines. 
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SECTION 9, Tax Exemption on Donations – All donations, contributions 
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or endowment which may be made by entities or persons to the National Cancer 
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Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines shall be exempt from income 
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and gift taxes. 
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The National Cancer Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines 
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shall be exempt from the payment of all taxes, charges and fees imposed by the 
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government or any political subdivision or instrumentality thereof. 
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SECTION 10, Appointment, Promotion; Terms and Conditions of 
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Employment – The National Cancer Research and Treatment Institute of the 
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Philippines and its officers and employees shall be covered by the Civil Service 
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Law, rules and regulations, and by the office of the Compensation and Position 
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Classification. The officers and employees of the National Cancer Research and 
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Treatment Institute of the Philippines shall be appointed or promoted pursuant 
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to management policies and / or appropriate merit and fitness system as may be 
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adopted by the Board. 
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SECTION 11, Assistance from Government Offices – The National 
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Cancer Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines may call upon any 
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department, bureau, offices and agency or instrumentality of the Government, 
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including government – owned and controlled corporations, for such assistance 
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as it may need in the pursuit of purposes and objectives. 
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SECTION 12, Appropriations – The amount of one billion pesos is hereby 
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appropriated for the initial operation of the National Cancer Research and 
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Treatment Institute of the Philippines which shall be charged to the 
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appropriations of the Department of Health under the current General 
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Appropriations Act. Thereafter, the necessary amount to support the continued 
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operation and maintenance of the National Cancer Research and Treatment 
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Institute of the Philippines shall be included in the annual General 
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Appropriations Act.  
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SECTION 13, Auditing – The books of accounts of the National Cancer 
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Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines shall be subject to periodic 
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auditing by the Commission on Audit. 
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SECTION 14, Annual Report – The National Cancer Research and 
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Treatment Institute of the Philippines shall render to the Department of Health 
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an annual report on its operations and accomplishments. 
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SECTION 15, Effect of Dissolution – If for any reason, the National 
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Cancer Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines is dissolved, its 
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properties and assets remaining at the time of such dissolution, its properties and 
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assets remaining at the time of such dissolution shall revert to the Philippine 
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Government for disposition in accordance with law. 
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SECTION 16. Separability Clause – If any provision of this Act is held 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in 
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force and effect. 
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SECTION 17. Repealing Clause – All laws, decrees, orders and rules and 
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regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
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repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 18. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved. 
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