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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF TI-IE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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_______________________ S_._N_o. ___ l_8_8 __ 2 ______________ ~!\~E~(~i 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Local Government Academy (LGA) is tasked to train and improve the managerial 
skills and technical capability of local government officials and personnel to make local 
government units more responsive to the demands of decentralization. To advance this objective, 
the LGA must be clothed with ample and standardized powers, functions and privileges. It must 
take a proactive response to the development needs of local governments and human resource 
, 
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development programs of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (D1LG). 
Presently, however, the LGA is attached to the DILG with limited powers, functions and 
privileges, as provided for under Executive· Order No. 262, otherwise known as "The 
, 
Reorganization Act of the Department of Local Government and for other Purposes," and as 
reiterated under Republic Act No. 6975, otherwise known as "The Department of the Interior and 
• Local Government Act of 1990." As such, it cannot effectively function in accordance with its 
mandate. 
This bill seeks to strengthen the LGA and transform it to a more autonomous corporate 
body, with the end in view of making its programs and related activities more responsive to the 
needs of its clients.' 
~'-
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.4W- l~ 
.. oJ" MIRIAM DEF~NSOR S1<.NTIfIO 
• This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1882 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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P:3 TI 
STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL G,OVERNMENT ACADEMY (LGA) 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I, Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Local Government Academy 
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Charter." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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develop and enhance the institutional capabilities of local government units (LGUs), including 
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the administrative and· technical capabilities of local government officials and employees, the 
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Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) personnel, and other government and 
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non-government personnel concerned with local government by enhancing the powers, duties, 
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and functions of the Local Government Academy, 
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SECTION 3, Name. - This entity shall be called the Local Government Academy, 
12. hereinafter referred to as the Academy or LGA. 
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SECTION 4. Powers. -.The Academy shall have the following powers: 
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(A) 
Adopt 'and alter a corporate seal; 
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(B) 
Take and hold by bequest, devise, gift, purchase or lease, either absolutely or in 
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trust for any of its purpose, any property, real or personal, without limitation as to amount or 
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values; to convey such property and tO'invest and reinvest any principal in such manner as will 
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promote its objectives; 
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(C) 
Promote its aims, enhance its operations or rehabilitate any of its physical 
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structure, facilities and purposes herein set out; 
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(D) 
Contract any obligation, or enter into any agreement necessary or incidental to the 
proper management of its corporate powers; and 
(E) 
Carry out capability-building programs with greater efficiency and effectiveness 
and perform any activity with all the powers conferred by a law or laws upon private or 
government owned or controlled corporations; and to do any and all of the acts herein set forth, 
to the same extent as judicial persons should do, and in any pati of the world, as a principal 
factor, agent or otherwise alone or in syndicate or otherwise in conjunction with any person, 
entity, pat'tnership, association or corporations, domestic or foreign, 
SECTION 5, Functions, -The Academy shall have the following functions: 
(A) 
Design and implement training and human resource development programs for 
local government units, executives and functionaries and the DILO personnel that will ultimately 
effect institutional developmellt sod organizational effectiveness; 
(B) 
Assist the DILO in promulgating policies, rules and regulations and other issues 
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relative to human resource development and training for LOUs that are responsive to their needs, 
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Training activities shall be preceded by trainins needs assessments to ensure customized and 
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relevant programs and shall also ensure the conduct of progress and impact in its evaluation of 
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LOU training programs; 
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(C) 
Establish and maintain a mechanism to enable the LOUs to access technical as 
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well as financial assistance in building institutional capabilities to respond to the needs of local 
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governance within the framework of local autonomy; 
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(D) 
Establish and maintain a continuing linkage and network with different 
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institutions and civil society groups for synergy in local government capability-building and to 
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cope with the technological and institutional needs of LOUs in the context of globalization; 
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(E) 
Develop a corps of efficient, effective and competent LOA staff provided with all 
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the remuneration and benefits needed for their enhancement and satisfaction; and 
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(F) 
Undertake rehabilitation, upgrading and expansIOn of its training center as a 
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venue for conducting efficient and effective'capability-building programs. 
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SECTION 6. Locations and Offices, -The Academy shall maintain a central office in the 
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Metro Manila area and three training and technical assistance centers: one (1) in Luzon, one (1) 
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in Visayas, and one (I) in Mindanao. 
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SECTION 7. Board of Trustees, - The Board of Trustees shall be the policymaking body 
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of the Academy which shall be composed of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government 
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as ex-officio Chairperson and the following members: 
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(A) 
President of the League of Provinces; 
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(B) 
President of the League of Cities; 
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(C) 
President of the League of Municipalities; 
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(D) 
President ofthe Liga ng mga Barangay; 
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(E) 
President of the League of Vice Governors; 
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(F) 
President of the League of Vice Mayors; 
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(G) 
Executive Director of the Academy; 
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(H) 'A representative from the academe; 
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(I) 
A representative from the private sector, who shall be appointed by the President 
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of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior and Local 
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Government. 
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The appointive members shall serve for a term of three (3) years without reappointment. 
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Appointment to any vacancy shall only be for the unexpired term of the predecessor. In no case 
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shall any trustee be appointed or designated in a temporary or acting capacity. The Chairperson 
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and members of the Board of Trustees shall be entitled to reasonable honorarium for the 
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performance of their duties and reimbursement and regulations of expenses incurred while 
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discharging their functions as such, subject to applicable civil service and government auditing 
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rules. 
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SECTION 8. Duties and Functions of the Board. - The Board of Trustees shall have the 
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following duties and functions: 
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(A) 
Prepare and or adopt policies, guidelines, rules and regulations necessary for 
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smooth and orderly operations and for the enhancement and development of its personnel; 
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(B) 
Prepare and/or approve the organizational structure and staffing pattern for its 
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officers and employees; All positions shall be governed by compensation and position 
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qualification system and qualification standards approved by the board based on a 
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comprehensive job analysis and audit of actual duties and responsibilities. The compensation 
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plan shall be comparable to the prevailing compensation plans in the private sector and shall be 
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periodically review by the Board no more than every three (3) years without prejudice to a yearly 
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merit review or increases based on productivity and profitability. 
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(C) 
Approve courses of training study for LOUs and training fees required for training 
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programs as well as for the rental of LOA facilities; 
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(D) 
Approve work plans and budget proposals of the Academy for consideration of 
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appropriate agencies and other funding institutions, both local and foreign; 
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(E) 
Review periodically the administration and programs, performance and 
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accomplishments of the LOA; and 
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(F) 
Perform such other duties as may be required by law. 
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SECTION 9. Officers of the Academy. - The Academy shall be headed by an Executive 
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Director, who shall be assisted by three (3) Deputy Directors for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. 
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The Executive Director and the Deputy Directors shall be appointed by the President of the 
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Philippines upon recommendation of the Board of Trustees. The Executive Director and Deputy 
23' Directors shall have passed the Career Executive Service Officers Exam or its equivalent and/or 
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shall satisfy the qualification standards required by the Civil Service Commission. 
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The Executive Director shall have the following duties and responsibilities: 
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(A) 
Recommend to the Board of Trustees, the measures and policies which he/she 
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believes are necessary to carry out the purposes of the Academy and all matters pertinent to its 
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operations including tne enhancement and developrrient of its' personnel; 
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(B) 
Recommend to the Board of Trustees the programs and projects of the Academy 
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and coordinate and administer the same; 
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(C) 
Direct and supervise the operations and internal administration of the Academy, 
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and delegate administrative responsibilities to the appropriate officer or employee in accordance 
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with its rules and regulations; . 
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(D) 
Submit an annual report to the Board of Trustees setting forth the 
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accomplishments of the Academy during the year, its financial operations and status; 
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(E) 
Appoint, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations, all subordinate 
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officers and employees, who shall enjoy security of tenure and may be removed only for cause in 
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accordance with the law; , 
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(F) 
Engage the services of experts/consultants either on full-time or part-time basis, 
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as may be required in the performance of his or her functions and duties; and 
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(G) 
Exercise such other powprs and discharge such other functions as may be vested 
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by the Board. The Executive Director shall be the ex-offiCio secretary of the Board of Trustees 
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and shall head the secretariat of the Board, 
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SECTION 10. Financial Resources of the Academy, - The financial resources of the 
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Academy shall comprise of: 
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(A) 
Funds from the government appropriation for the LGA for its initial operations 
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and funds from international and national organizations, foundations, as well as from the private 
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sector; 
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(B) 
Voluntary contributions; 
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(C) 
Income from training and the use of training facilities, sale of publications, 
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materials and other services; and 
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(D) 
The Academy may also receive non-financial contributions, services, equipment, 
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and vehicles needed for its operations. 
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SECTION 11. Exemption from Taxes. - Any provision of existing laws to the contrary 
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notwithstanding, any donatio~, contribution, bequest, subsidy, or financial aid which may be 
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made to the Academy shall be exempt from taxes of any kind, and shall constitute allowable 
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deductions in full fro~ the 'income of the donors or givers for income tax purposes, 
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The LGA, its assets, acquisitions, including grants and donations, and income from its 
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operations and transactions shall be exempt from any and all taxes, fees, and assessments, direct 
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or indirect, imposed by the Republic Of the Philippines or any of its political subdivision or 
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taxing authority thereof, except import taxes, duties, and fees, 
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SECTION 12, Appropriation Clause, - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions 
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of this Act shall be included in the appropriations of the year following its enactment into law, 
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Thereafter, such amount as is necessary for the continued operation of the LGA shall be included 
lOin the annual General Appropriations Act as a distinct and separate item, 
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SECTION 13, Transitory Provisions, - All functions, powers, duties, and responsibilities 
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of the existing LGA presently attached to the DILG, as well as all assets, properties, funds, 
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indebtedness, or liabilities, including its budgetary appropriations, shall be transferred to the 
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Academy created under this Act, subject to the conditions that may be established by the 
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Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Commission on Audit (COA), and the 
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Office of the President (OP), 
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Pending full implementation of the LGA organizational structure and staffing pattern 
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under this Act, all officials and employees of the present LGA shall continue to exercise their 
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powers, discharge their duties, functions, and responsibilities, and receive their salaries and 
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allowances until they shall be given notice of separation or position in accordance with Civil 
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Service Laws, Rules and Regulations but shall not exceed one (1) year from the approval hereof. 
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SECTION 14, Separability Clause, - If any provision of this Act or part thereof is held 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
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remain valid and subsisting, 
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SECTION IS. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 6975, Executive Order No. 262, 
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and all other laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive orders, letters of instruction, 
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administrative orders, rules, and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this 
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Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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