NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
s.No. 695
of li)r • rcrnn
*22 JUL18 A10:14
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, 3R.
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PARTICIPATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY 
ORGANIZATIONS (CSOs) IN THE PREPARATION AND AUTHORIZATION 
PROCESS OF THE ANNUAL NATIONAL BUDGET, PROVIDING EFFECTIVE 
MECHANISMS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution provides that, "The State shall 
encourage non-governmental, community-based or sectoral organizations that 
promote the welfare of the nation." Further, Article XIII Section 16 ensures that, 
"The right of the people and their organizations to effective and reasonable 
participation at all levels of social, political, and economic decision-making shall not 
be abridged. The State shall, by law, facilitate the establishment of adequate 
consultation mechanisms."
In recognition of the role and contribution of civil society organizations (CSOs) 
in nation-building, this bill seeks to institutionalize their participation in one of the 
most important aspects of governance - the budget process. The ""People's 
Participation In the National Budget Process Act of 202Z' provides for mechanisms 
for the accreditation and participation of the CSOs in the preparation and 
authorization of the annual national budget. It also seeks to grant privileges and 
incentives to accredited CSOs to encourage wider participation in the process.
This measure was filed by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson in the 18th Congress.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is highly 
recommended.
A/
RAMON/BONG REVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
695
3^<0ffitp of tijf rrprorj
•22 JUL18 A10 :14
RECEIVED BY:
S. No.
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PARTICIPATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY 
ORGANIZATIONS (CSOs) IN THE PREPARATION AND AUTHORIZATION 
PROCESS OF THE ANNUAL NATIONAL BUDGET, PROVIDING EFFECTIVE 
MECHANISMS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the People's Participation
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in the National Budget Process Act of2022’.
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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facilitate the establishment of adequate consultation and feedback mechanisms to
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promote meaningful and effective participation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
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in the preparation and authorization of the annual national budget in order to ensure
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that the annual appropriations will be an instrument of development that is reflective
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of the national objectives, strategies and plans beneficial to the people.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
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defined as follows:
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(a) Accreditation refers to the registration process of CSOs with the National
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Government Agencies (NGAs) and Government Owned and Controlled
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Corporations (GOCCs), in order to allow them to participate in the
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preparation and authorization of the annual national budget.
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(b) Accredited CSOrefers to CSOs that have fulfilled the requirements in Section
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5 of this Act.


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(c) Budget Call refers to the budget document issued by the Department of 
Budget and Management (DBM) and sent to all NGAs and GOCCs, which 
contains the policy guidelines and procedures in the preparation of the 
annual budget, including the budget preparation calendar for any given 
year. The issuance of a budget call signals the beginning of the budget 
preparation phase.
(d) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) include non-government organizations 
(NGOs), cause-oriented groups, people's organizations, cooperatives, trade 
unions, professional associations, faith-based organizations, media groups, 
indigenous peoples movements, foundations, and other citizen groups 
formed primarily for social and economic development, which monitor 
government projects, engage in policy discussions, and actively participate 
in collaborative activities with the Government.
(e) Conflict of Interest refers to a condition which occurs when a CSO or any of 
its key officers are involved in multiple interests which prevents an impartial 
or unbiased attitude towards their participation in the national budget 
process.
(f) Constructive Engagement refers to a partnership between Government and 
counterpart CSOs marked by sustained dialogue towards problem solving 
while respecting and retaining the focus on assertion for reforms.
(g) Government-Owned or Controlled Corporation (GOCC) refers to any agency 
organized as a stock or non-stock corporation, vested with functions relating 
to public needs whether governmental or proprietary in nature, and owned 
by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines directly or through its 
instrumentalities either wholly, or, where applicable as in the case of stock 
corporations, to the extent of at least a majority of its outstanding capital 
stock.
(h) National Government Agency (NGA) refers to a unit of the National 
Government, including the Judiciary, both Houses of Congress, and 
Constitutional Offices.
(i) Participation Mechanisms refer to the means by which CSOs can participate 
meaningfully and effectively in the government process of formulating and


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authorizing an annual national budget that is responsive to the needs of the
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different sectors in our society.
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Sec. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all NGAs and GOCCs whose budget
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is included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 5. Accreditation. - The application for accreditation for the Senate, the
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House of Representatives, the Judiciary, and the Constitutional Offices shall be filed
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at the Office of the Secretary, the Secretary-General, the Supreme Court Clerk of
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Court, and the Office of the Chairman, respectively. The application for accreditation
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for other NGAs and GOCCs may be filed at their respective regional or central offices.
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The application form shall be prescribed by each office and the application for
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accreditation shall be accompanied by the following documents:
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(a) Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the applicant CSO;
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(b) Certificate of Registration and/or other such similar documents, issued by
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an appropriate government agency tasked to register civil society
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organizations, such 
as but not limited to, the Securities and Exchange
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Commission, Bureau of Labor Relations, Housing and Land Use Regulatory
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Board, Insurance Commission, and the Cooperative Development Authority;
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(c) The list of officers, directors, trustees and members;
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(d) Duly audited financial statements for the past three (3) years showing the
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assets and liabilities of the organization;
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(e) Full disclosure of the sources of funds; and,
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(f) Full disclosure of service contracts with other NGAs, CSOs, 
private
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corporations, other CSOs, and other engagements which may result in
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conflict of interest.
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Upon approval of the application, the head of the concerned NGA or GOCC shall
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issue the certification of accreditation. This shall be valid for three (3) years following
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its issuance except for the certificate of accreditation issued by the Senate and the
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House of Representatives, which shall be valid for the entire term of the Congress
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under which such certificate of accreditation was issued.
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No application for accreditation shall be disapproved, except upon due notice
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and hearing. The decision of the head of the concerned NGA or GOCC shall be
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rendered within twenty (20) working days from the time of the filing of the application.


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Failure to act on the application shall be deemed an automatic approval of the
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application for accreditation of the concerned CSO, and the issuance of a certificate of
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accreditation shall necessarily ensue.
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Sec. 6. CSO Participation. - In the interest of transparency, CSO participation
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shall be a component in the preparation and authorization of the annual national
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budget. All NGAs and GOCCs shall be required to formulate and adopt guidelines
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outlining the mechanism for the accreditation and active participation of the CSOs in
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the preparation and authorization of the annual national budget.
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The DBM shall ensure that the NGA or GOCC has complied with the above
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mentioned requirement.
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Accredited CSOs, through their duly authorized representatives, shall be
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allowed to participate as resource persons in the budget hearings to be conducted by
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the appropriate Committees of each House of Congress, provided that they comply
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with the guidelines to be issued by both Houses of Congress.
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Notwithstanding their participation in the budget hearings to be conducted by
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the appropriate Committees of each House of Congress as provided in the preceding
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paragraph, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the
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Committee on Finance of the Senate shall schedule one (1) hearing day for the
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presentation of the positions of accredited CSOs on the budget.
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Sec. 7. Priviieges and Incentives. - An accredited CSO shall enjoy the following
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privileges and incentives:
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(a) To have similar participation rights accorded to NGOs in the Local
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Development Councils pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160
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otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991" in setting the
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direction of economic, social and other coordinating development efforts in
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the national level;
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(b)To receive notices and participate as resource persons through its duly
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authorized representatives in any regular and consultative public meetings,
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hearings, conferences, and dialogues on matters related to the preparation
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and authorization of the annual national budget;
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(c) To be allowed to observe at the budget deliberations and at the bicameral
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conference;


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(d) Access to copies of the budget proposal submitted by the NGAs or GOCCs
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to the DBM;
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(e) To provide position papers to the DBM on the budget proposal of NGAs or
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GOCCs submitted pursuant to the budget call;
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(f) To submit its own alternative or proposed budget or position paper;
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(g) Access to issuances such as, but not limited to policy orders, circulars and
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memoranda that are related to the budget;
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(h) Access to the documents prepared by the DBM for submission to Congress
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by the President as a basis for the General Appropriations Bill required under
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Article VII, Section 22 of the Constitution;
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(i) To present written proposals on projects and activities of the government
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entities whose budget is under deliberation; and,
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(j) Immediate access to stenographic notes and committee reports released by
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both Houses including the bicameral conference committee report. The
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bicameral conference committee meetings and all other meetings related or
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associate thereto shall be recorded and made accessible immediately to
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promote transparency and to allow members of both Houses to easily
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determine how conflicting provisions in the proposed national budget were
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reconciled or resolved prior to the submission thereof for ratification by both
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Houses of Congress.
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Sec. 8. Notice to CSOs. - Notice to CSOs may be sent through electronic mail,
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facsimile machine, postal mail, posting at the website of the NGA or GOCC concerned,
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or any available official means of transmitting the same. Any of the said modes of
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sending notices shall be deemed compliance to the requirements under Section 7(a)
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of this Act.
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Sec. 9. Conflict of Interest - It is the responsibility of the CSO to inform the
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NGA or GOCC of a conflict of interest in their work with the concerned agency, if and
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when such a situation arises.
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However, if the NGA or GOCC deems that the CSO has a conflict of interest
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with the work of such NGA or GOCC, the latter shall give the applicant-CSO an
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opportunity to explain and prove that the conflict of interest does not exist.


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Sec. 10. Cancellation of Accreditation. - Upon receipt of a verified complaint
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in writing, which charges the holder of a certificate of accreditation of having procured
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their certificate of accreditation by fraud or deceit, the head of the NGA or GOCC shall
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notify and serve a copy of the complaint to the CSO concerned, who shall be given an
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opportunity to be heard.
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Inaction by the NGA or GOCC on the said complaint within twenty (20) working
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days from the receipt of such complaint shall be deemed a dismissal of the complaint
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against the CSO involved.
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Sec. 11. Non-Accredited CSO. - Non-accredited CSOs may still participate in
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the budget process by submitting position papers for the consideration of the NGA or
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GOCC and by attending and observing public consultations. They may be invited to
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expound on their critique or proposals when said institutions deem it fit. Nothing in
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this Act shall be construed to deprive non-accredited CSOs the rights, privileges, and
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incentives accorded to them by the Constitution, existing laws, executive orders, rules
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and regulations and other issuances.
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Sec. 12. Public and Timely Disclosure of Budget Documents and Other Reiated
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Data. - In order for CSOs to participate in an informed manner, the NGA or GOCC
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shall post in their official websites or other public posting areas, budget documents to
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which CSOs shall have access, as provided for under Section 7 of this Act.
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Sec. 13. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary
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to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or
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amended accordingly.
Sec. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,