SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
RI3PUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session, 
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'13 JUL-3 FI2 :42 
SENATE 
S_B_No_~42 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda" 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to provide the enabling law for the implementation of the 
provision on local sectoral representation as provided for under Republic Act No. 
7160 otherwise knows as the "Local Government Code of 1991". 
The Constitution' encourages non-governmental, community-based or 
sectoral organizations that promote the welfare of the nation (Article II, Section 23). 
It also respects the role of independent p'eople's organizations to enable the people 
to pursue and protect, within the democratic framework, their legitimate and 
collective interests and aspirations through peaceful and lawful, means. Consistent 
with these State policies, Article X, Section 9 provides that legislative bodies of local 
governments shall have sectoral representation as may be preScribed by law, which 
essentially provides a venue, fcir commul)ity-based organizations to participate in 
formal local governance processes. 
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,Local sectoral representation is an important step towards advancing the 
,decentralization in the Philippine governmental system. Decentralization, among 
others, seeks to bring the government closer to the people, make it more responsive 
to local needs, and 'harness the participation of grassroots communities in public 
policymaking. Participation of local sectoral groups in the local legislative bodies 
will help ensure that the, interests of the ,marginalized sectors are articulated and 
these will allow them to contribute in making decisions that directly affect their 
social, political-and economic concerns. 
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Section 41, par. C of RA. No. 7160 sought to pursue the Constitutional 
provisions on local sectoral representation. However, 15 years since the enactment of 
R.A. No. 7160, this important provision remains unimplemented because it requires 
an enabling law forthe same to be implemented. Tbis bill addresses the need for an 
enabling law to allow broader repreSentation and participation of community-based 
and people's organizations in local governance. 
In view of the foregOing, the iITJlllediate passage of this bill is sought . 
..::=----: LOlm~RDA " 
Senator 


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
'13 
JIJL -3 
P12 :42 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 342 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MANNER AND DATE OF ELECTION OF 
SECTORAL REPRESENTATIVES TO THE LOCAL SANGGUNIANS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is the policy of the State to uphold the 
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right of the people and their organizations to effective and reasonable participation 
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at all levels of social, political and economic decision-making. 
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SECTION 2. Definitions of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms 
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shall mean: 
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a) "Workers" refer to industrial workers or peasants; 
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b) "Sectoral Organization" refers to a group of citizens or coalitions of group of 
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citizens who share similar physical attributes or· characteristics, profession, 
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employment, interests or concerni and 
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c) "Commission" refers to the Commission on Elections. 
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SECTION 3. Election of Sectoral Representatives. - There shall be three (3) 
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sectoral representatives in the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod, and 
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Sangguniang Panlalawigan who shall be elected pursuant to this Act: one (1) from 
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the women sector, one (1) from the workers, and one (1) from any of the following 
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sectors: the urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, disabled persons, or any 
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other .sector as may be determined by the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang 
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Panlungsod or Sangguniang concerned, at least ninety (90) days prior to the holding 
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of the next local elections. As part of their requirements in the filing of candidacy, 
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said representatives shall submit a certification that they belong to a bonafide sector 
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organizi:\tion. For this purpose, sector organization is defined i:\S any organization 
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with a membership pf not less than fifty (50) registered voters from the urban poor, 
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indigenous cultural eommunities, disabled persons or any other sector. 
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. SECTION 4.· Date of Election. -
The first election. for the sectoral 
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representatives in· the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and 
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Sangguniang Panlalawigan shall be held simultaneously with the local elections on 
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the second Monday of May 2013. 
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The succeeding elections for the sectoral representatives in the Sangguniang 
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Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and. Sangguniang Panlalawigan shall be held 
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simultaneously with the succeeding local elections. 
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SECTION 5. Registration of Sectoral Organization. -
Any sector 
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organization with a mlCmbership of not less than fifty (50) registered voter may file 
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with the Commission a petition verified by its President or Secretary stating its 
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desire to participate in the' election of sectoral representatives, attaching thereto its 
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constitution, by-laws, program of government, list of officers, certificate or 
18' accreditation by a government agency, if any, and other relevant information as the 
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Commission may require. 
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the Commission shall post the petition in the office of the election officer and 
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in the bulletin board of each city or municipal hall. 
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The Commission shall, after due notice and hearing, resolve the petition 
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within fifteen (15) days from the.date it. was submitted for the decision but in no case 
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not later than one hundred eighty (180) days before election.· 
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' The. Municipal or City chapters of registered provincial, regional or 
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nationwide' sectoral organizations· shall be deemed registered: Provided, That the 
30 . local chapters shall notify and submit proof of chapter affiliation and registration of 
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such provincial, regional or nationwide sectoral organization to the City or 
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Municipal Election Officer. 
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SECTION 6. Manifestation to Participate in the Election. - Any registered 
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sedoral organization may file with the Commission, not later than ninety (90) days 
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before every election,.a manifestation of its desire to participate in the election. 
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SECTION 7. Removal or Cancellation of Registration. - The Commission 
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may motu prapio or upon verified complaint of any interested party, remove or 
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cancel, after due notice and hearing, the registration of any sectoral organization on 
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any of the following grounds: 
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a) It is a religious sect or denomination, organization or association organized 
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for religious purposes; 
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b) It advocates violence or unlawful means. to seek it goals; 
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c) It is a foreign organization; 
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d) It is receiving support trom any foreign government, foreign political party, 
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-foundation, organization, whether directly or through any of its officers or 
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members or indirectly through any of its officers or members or indirectly 
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through third parties for partisan election purposes; 
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e) It violates or fails to comply with law, rules and regulations relating to 
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elections; 
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f) It declares untruthful statements in its petition; or 
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-g) It has ceased to exist for at least one (1) year. 
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SECTION 8. Certified List of Certified Registered Sectoral Organization. -
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The Commission shall, not later than sixty (60) days before an electiol}' prepare a 
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certified list of sectoral organizations who have manifested their desire to participate 
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in the election sectoral representatives in the local Sanggunian and distribut~ copies 
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thereof to. all precincts for posting in the polling places on election day. 
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SECTION 9. Nomination of an Official Sectoral' Representative. - Each 
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registered sectoral organization shall be entitled to nominate only one candidate fOf 
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a city or municipality: Provided, That the sectoral organization concerned is 
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registered with the Commission one hundred eighty (180) days before the day of 
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election. 
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SECTION 10: Qualifications. - No person may be elected as sectoral 
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representative unless he is: 
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(a) A citizen of thePhilippines; 
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(b) A registered voter in the city' or municip,)tlity where he intends to be elected; 
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(c) A resident therein for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the day of 
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the election; 
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' (d) Able to read and write Filipino or any other local language or dialect; 
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' (e) At least twenty-three (23) years of age on election day in the case of sectoral 
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representative 
in 
the 
Sangguniang 
Panlalawigan 
or 
Sangguniang 
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Panlungsod; eighteen (18) years of age in the case of Sangguniang bayan; and 
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(f) A member of a registered sectoral organization. 
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SECTION 11. Disqualifications. - The following are disqualified as a 
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candidate for sectoral representative: 
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(a) Those sentenced by final judgment for an offense involving moral turpitude 
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or for an offense punishable by one (1) year or mote imprisonment, within 
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' two (2) years after serving sentence; 
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' (b) Those r~moved from office as a r,esult of an administrative case; 
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(c) Those convicted by final judgment for violating oath of allegiance to the 
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Rep-qblic of the Philippines; 
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(d) Those with dual allegiance; 
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(e) Fugitives from justice in a criminal or noncpolitical case here or abroad; 
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(f) Fiiipinos who are permanent residents of a foreign country or those who have 
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acquired the right to reside abroad and continue to avail of said right after 
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January 1, 1992; or 
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(g) Insane persons ,declared as such by a competent authority unless 
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subsequently dechtred by competent authority that such person is no longer 
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insane. 
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SECTION 12. Certificate of Candidacy. - In addition to Section 73 of the 
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Omnibus Election Code, no certificate of candidacy shall be accepted' or giver due 
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course without a certificate of nomination. 
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SECTION 13. Filing of Certificate. of Candidacy. -
The certificate of 
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candidacy for, sectoral representatives shall be filed with the City or Municipal 
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Election Officer not lC)-ter than sixty (60) days before the day of election by the head 
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of the sectoral organization or by the nominance or by their duly authorized 
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representatiyes. 
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SECTION 14. Substitute of Candidate in case of .Death, Disqualification or 
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Withdrawal. - If, after the last day for filing of certificates of candidacy, a candidate 
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dies, withdraws or is disqualified for any cause, he may only be substituted by a 
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person belonging to, and certified by· the same sectoral candidate who died, 
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withdrew or was disqualified. The certificate of candidacy for the office affected 
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may be filed in accordance with the preceding section not later than midnight of the 
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day of election. 
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SECTION. 15. Disqualification Case. - Petitions for disqualification of 
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candidates shall be filed not later than seven (7) days from the las~ day of filing for 
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certificates of candidacy. The courts shall give priority to cases of disqualification of 
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candidates for sectoral r~presentatives by reason of violation of Section 68 of the 
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Omnibus Election Code. As amended, and Section 11 of this Act, to the end that final 
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judgment shall rendered not later than ten (10) days before the day of election. 
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SECTION 16. Manner of Voting. - Every voter is entitled to one vote for a 
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candidate. of only one sector he wants represented in the Sangguniang concerned. 
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'SECTION 17. Vacancy. :.. If a permanent vacancy 0ccurs in the seats reserved 
17. for sectoral representatives, the Sangguniang concerned shall notify the local chief 
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executive not later than seven (7) days of the existence of such vacancy. Thereafter, 
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the concerned locaf chief executive shall, not later than fifteen (15) days from said 
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certification, appoint a qualified person nominated by the winning sectoral 
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organization to fill the vacancy. 
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The appointed sectoral representative in the concerned Sangguniang shall 
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serve only the unexpired term of their predecessors. 
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SECTION 18. Term of Office. - The term of office of sectoral representatives 
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shall be co-extensive with the term of the regularly elected members of their 
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respective sanggunians. 
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SECTION 19. Designation of Other Dates for Certain Pre-Election Acts. - If 
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it shall no longer be reasonably possible to observe the periods and dates prescribed 
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by law for certain pre-election acts, the Commission shall fix other perIods and dates 
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in order to ensure the accomplishment of election activities so voters shall not be 
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deprived of their right to suffrage. 
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SECTION 20. Applicability. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, 
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otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, and Batas Pambansa BIg. 
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881 as amended, also known as the Omnibus Election Code, and other elections laws 
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consistent herewit~, shall likewise apply to this Act. 
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SECTION 21. Rules and Regulations. - The Commission shall, within fifteen 
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(15) days after the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations necessary 
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to carry out the purpose of this Act and shall consult its accredited citizens' arms 
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and registered sectoral organizations for this purpose. 
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SECTION 22. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this 
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Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, other parts or provisions hereof not 
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affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 23. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative rule or regulation contrary to, or 
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, is hereby repealed, modified or 
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amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 24. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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