Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 716 
Introduced by REP. ALEXANDER T. PIMENTEL 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The City of Bislig stands as the first city of Surigao del Sur. As the seat 
1 
of Paper Industries Corporation (PICOP), one of the then major industries of 
2 
the Philippines, it was both a national center for trade and commerce. 
3 
Nevertheless, with the cessation of the PICOP operations in Surigao del Sur in 
4 
the 1990s, so did the decline of the steady economic growth in the province. 
5 
6 
Special economic zones were created to lay alternative areas of 
7 
investment across the Philippines. They are intended to disperse economic 
8 
development which has been confined in the main metropolitan areas. By 
9 
introducing industrialization, rural communities are given equitable access to 
10 
the said growth giving its people employment opportunities and growth. The 
11 
same also contributes to the overall economic development of the country in 
12 
establishing competitive centers. 
13 
14 
This Bill seeks to reintroduce decentralization, self-reliance and self-
15 
sustenance to a geographic periphery of Surigao del Sur. This proposed 
16 
creation of the Bislig City Special Economic Zone shall again harness Bislig 
17 
City and the contiguous areas within and around their immediate vicinities 
18 
maximizing them as an engine of socio-economic development in Caraga 
19 
Region. 
20 
21 
The approval of this Bill is earnestly sought. 
22 
REP. ALEXANDER T. PIMENTEL 
July 1, 2025
8:23 am


2  
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 716 
Introduced by REP. ALEXANDER T. PIMENTEL 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE IN THE CITY OF BISLIG, 
PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL SUR, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE BISLIG 
SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE AUTHORITY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:  
CHAPTER 1  
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Bislig Special 
1 
Economic Zone Act." 
2 
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is declared the policy of the State to encourage, 
4 
promote, and accelerate the sound and balanced industrial, economic, and social 
5 
development of the country.  The establishment of special economic zones shall attract 
6 
legitimate and productive foreign investments in strategic locations in the country. It 
7 
shall generate employment, enhance productivity, and increase individual and family 
8 
incomes, thereby enhancing the quality of life of the Filipino people. 
9 
10 
CHAPTER II  
11 
CREATION OF THE ECONOMIC ZONE 
12 
13 
SEC. 3.  Creation of the Bislig Special Economic Zone. – In accordance with 
14 
the foregoing declared policy and subject to the concurrence of the concerned local 
15 
government units (LGUs) of Surigao del Sur, there is hereby established a special 
16 


3   
economic zone, hereinafter referred to as the Bislig Special Economic Zone or Bislig 
1 
Ecozone. The Bislig Ecozone shall cover a particular area in the City of Bislig, Province 
2 
of Surigao del Sur, the specific metes and bounds of which shall be more particularly 
3 
defined in a presidential proclamation that shall be issued for this purpose: Provided, 
4 
That the lands embraced therein shall be contiguous to one another.  
5 
  
6 
SEC. 4. Creation of the Bislig Special Economic Zone Authority. – There is     
7 
hereby created a body corporate to be known as the Bislig Special Economic Zone 
8 
Authority, hereinafter referred to as the BISSEZA, which shall manage and operate the 
9 
Bislig Ecozone, in accordance with the provisions of this Act. The corporate life of the 
10 
BISSEZA shall expire in fifty (50) years counted from the first year after the effectivity 
11 
of this Act, unless otherwise extended by Congress. It shall be organized within one 
12 
hundred eighty (180) days after the effectivity of this Act.  
13 
  
14 
SEC. 5. Governing Principles. – The BISSEZA shall manage and operate the   
15 
Bislig Ecozone, under the following principles:  
16 
  
17 
a) 
Within the framework and limitations of the Constitution and applicable provisions 
18 
of  
19 
Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code, as amended, the Bislig 
20 
Ecozone shall be developed into and operated as a decentralized, self-reliant and 
21 
self-sustaining industrial, commercial, trading, agro-industrial, tourist, banking, 
22 
financial, and investment center with suitable residential areas;  
23 
  
24 
b) 
The Bislig Ecozone shall be equipped with transportation, telecommunications, 
25 
and other facilities needed to attract legitimate and productive investments, 
26 
generate linkage industries and employment opportunities for the people of Bislig 
27 
City and those in neighboring towns and cities;  
28 
  
29 
c) 
The Bislig Ecozone may establish mutually beneficial economic relations with 
30 
other entities or enterprises within the country or, subject to the administrative 
31 
guidance of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Economic Zone 
32 
Authority (PEZA), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), with foreign 
33 
entities or enterprises;   
34 
  
35 
d) 
Foreign citizens and companies owned by non-Filipinos in whatever proportion 
36 
may set up enterprises in the Bislig Ecozone, either by themselves or in a joint 
37 


4   
venture with Filipinos in any sector of industry, international trade and commerce 
1 
within the Bislig Ecozone;  
2 
  
3 
e) 
The Bislig Ecozone shall be managed and operated as a separate customs 
4 
territory thereby ensuring the free flow or movement of goods and capital within, 
5 
into and out of its territory, and shall likewise provide incentives subject to Title XIII 
6 
of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended. However, exportation or 
7 
removal of goods from the territory of the Bislig Ecozone to the other parts of the 
8 
Philippine territory shall be subject to customs duties and taxes under Republic 
9 
Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act” 
10 
and other relevant tax laws of the Philippines;  
11 
  
12 
f) 
The areas comprising the Bislig Ecozone may be expanded or reduced when 
13 
necessary through a presidential proclamation issued for the said purpose. For 
14 
this purpose, the BISSEZA, in consultation with the LGUs, shall have the power 
15 
to acquire either by purchase, negotiation or condemnation proceedings, any 
16 
private land within or adjacent to the Bislig Ecozone for the following purposes: (1) 
17 
consolidation of lands for zone development; (2) acquisition of right of way to the 
18 
Bislig Ecozone; and (3) the protection of watershed areas and natural assets 
19 
valuable to the prosperity of the Bislig Ecozone;  
20 
  
21 
g) 
Goods manufactured by a Bislig Ecozone enterprise shall be made available for 
22 
immediate retail sale in the domestic market, subject to the payment of 
23 
corresponding taxes on raw materials and other regulations that may be 
24 
formulated by the BISSEZA together with the PEZA, the Bureau of Customs, 
25 
Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the DTI.  However, in order to protect domestic 
26 
industries, a Negative List of industries shall be drawn up and regularly updated 
27 
by the PEZA. Enterprises engaged in industries included in such Negative List 
28 
shall not be allowed to sell their products locally; and  
29 
  
30 
h) 
The defense of the Bislig Ecozone and the security of its perimeter fence shall be  
31 
the responsibility of the national government in coordination with the BISSEZA and 
32 
the concerned LGUs.  
33 
  
34 
SEC. 6.  Development Goals of the Bislig Ecozone. – The BISSEZA shall   
35 
determine the development goals of the Bislig Ecozone within the framework of national 
36 
development plans, policies, and goals. The Chairperson-Administrator shall, upon 
37 


5   
approval by the Board of the BISSEZA, submit the Bislig Ecozone plans, programs, 
1 
and projects to the Regional Development Council for inclusion IN the regional 
2 
development plan.  
3 
  
4 
SEC. 7. Capitalization. – The BISSEZA shall have an authorized capital stock of  
5 
two billion (2,000,000,000) no par shares with a minimum issue of Ten pesos 
6 
(Php10.00) each, the majority shares of which shall be subscribed and paid for by the 
7 
national government and the LGUs embracing the Bislig Ecozone. The Board of 
8 
Directors of the BISSEZA may, with the written concurrence of the Secretary of Finance, 
9 
sell shares, representing not more than forty per centum (40%) of the capital stock of 
10 
the BISSEZA to the general public under such policy as the Board and the Secretary of 
11 
Finance may determine. The national government and the LGUs shall in no case own 
12 
less than sixty per centum (60%) of the total issued and outstanding capital of the 
13 
BISSEZA.  
14 
  
15 
The amount necessary to subscribe and pay for the shares of the national 
16 
government to the capital stock of the BISSEZA shall be included in the General 
17 
Appropriations Act. For the LGUs concerned, the funds shall be taken from their internal 
18 
revenue allotment and other local funds.   
19 
  
20 
SEC. 8. Principal Office of the BISSEZA. – The BISSEZA shall maintain its   
21 
principal office in the City of Bislig, Province of Surigao del Sur, but it may establish 
22 
liaison offices within the Philippines as may be necessary for the proper conduct of its 
23 
business.  
24 
  
25 
SEC. 9.  Powers and Functions of the BISSEZA. – The BISSEZA shall have the 
26 
following powers and functions:  
27 
  
28 
a) 
To operate, administer, manage, and develop the Bislig Ecozone according to the 
29 
principles and provisions set forth in this Act;  
30 
  
31 
b) 
To register, regulate, and supervise the enterprises in the Bislig Ecozone in an 
32 
efficient and decentralized manner, subject to existing laws;  
33 
  
34 
c) 
To coordinate with LGUs and exercise general supervision over the development 
35 
plans, activities, and operations of the Bislig Ecozone;  
36 
  
37 


6   
d) 
To regulate and undertake the establishment, construction, operation, and 
1 
maintenance of public utilities, other services, and infrastructure in the Bislig  
2 
Ecozone such as light and power, shipping,  barging, stevedoring, cargo handling, 
3 
hauling, warehousing, storage of cargo, port services or concessions, piers, 
4 
wharves, bulkheads, bulk terminals, mooring areas, storage areas, roads, 
5 
telecommunications, transport, bridges, terminals, conveyors, water supply and 
6 
storage, sewerage, drainage, airport operations in coordination with the Civil 
7 
Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and such other services or concessions or 
8 
infrastructure necessary or incidental to the accomplishment of the objectives of 
9 
this Act;   
10 
  
11 
e) 
To construct, acquire, own, lease, operate, and maintain on its own or through 
12 
contracts, franchise, licenses, bulk purchase from the private sector or permits 
13 
under any of the schemes allowed in Republic Act No. 6957, otherwise known as 
14 
the “Build Operate-Transfer Law”, as amended, or joint venture, adequate facilities 
15 
and infrastructure required or needed for the operation and development of the 
16 
Bislig  Ecozone, in coordination with appropriate national and local government 
17 
authorities and in conformity with applicable laws thereon;  
18 
  
19 
f) 
To approve plans, programs, and projects of the Bislig Ecozone to be submitted 
20 
to the Regional Development Council for inclusion in the regional development 
21 
plan;   
22 
  
23 
g) 
To operate on its own, either directly or through licenses to others, tourism-related 
24 
activities, including games, amusements, recreational and sports facilities, subject   
25 
to the approval and supervision of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming  
26 
Corporation;    
27 
  
28 
h) 
To raise or borrow, within the limitation provided by law, and subject to the 
29 
approval of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), as the 
30 
case may be, adequate and necessary funds from local or foreign sources, to 
31 
finance its projects and programs under this Act and for this purpose, to issue 
32 
bonds, promissory notes, and other forms of securities, and to secure the same 
33 
by a guarantee, pledge, mortgage, deed of trust or an assignment of all or part of 
34 
its property or assets;  
35 
  
36 


7   
i) 
To protect, preserve, maintain, and develop the forests, beaches, corals and coral 
1 
reefs, and maintain ecological balance within the Bislig Ecozone. Notwithstanding 
2 
the power of the BISSEZA to create rules for such purpose, the rules and 
3 
regulations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other 
4 
government agencies involved in the above functions shall be implemented by the 
5 
BISSEZA;  
6 
  
7 
j) 
To create, operate or contract to operate such functional units or offices of the 
8 
BISSEZA as it may deem necessary;  
9 
  
10 
k) 
To adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal; contract, lease, buy, acquire, own or 
11 
otherwise dispose of personal or real property of whatever nature; sue and be 
12 
sued; and otherwise carry out its functions and duties as provided for in this Act;  
13 
  
14 
l) 
To issue certificates of origin for products manufactured or processed in the Bislig 
15 
Ecozone in accordance with prevailing rules of origin and the pertinent regulations  
16 
of the PEZA, the DTI, and the Department of Finance (DOF);  
17 
  
18 
m) 
To establish one-stop shops for the issuance of all necessary permits, clearances, 
19 
licenses, and other similar certifications to conduct such activities intended to 
20 
improve the ease of doing business within the Bislig Ecozone, in coordination with 
21 
government agencies having jurisdiction over activities therein: Provided, That all 
22 
government agencies are directed to provide and extend utmost and full 
23 
cooperation to the BISSEZA in the establishment of such one-stop shops;   
24 
  
25 
n) 
To ensure that the area covered by the Bislig Ecozone is secure at all times: 
26 
Provided, That the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or the Philippine 
27 
National Police (PNP) shall not interfere in the internal affairs of the BISSEZA 
28 
except to provide the necessary security and defense, or law enforcement 
29 
assistance, as the case may be: Provided, finally, That expenses of the AFP or 
30 
the PNP in the Bislig Ecozone shall be borne by the national government;  
31 
  
32 
o) 
To exercise such powers as may be essential, necessary or incidental to the 
33 
powers granted to it by this Act, as well as those that shall enable it to carry out, 
34 
implement and accomplish the purposes, objectives, and policies set forth in this 
35 
Act; and  
36 
  
37 


8   
p) 
To issue rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of this Act as may be 
1 
necessary to accomplish and implement the purposes, objectives, and policies 
2 
provided herein.  
3 
  
4 
 SEC. 10.   Board of Directors of the BISSEZA. – The powers of the BISSEZA    shall 
5 
be vested in and exercised by a Board of Directors, hereinafter referred to as the Board, 
6 
which shall be composed of the following:  
7 
  
8 
a) 
A Chairperson, who shall at the same time be the administrator of the BISSEZA;  
9 
b) 
A Vice-Chairperson who shall be elected from among the members of the Board 
10 
of  
11 
Directors;   
12 
c) 
Members consisting of:  
13 
1) The Governor of the Province of Surigao del Sur or a duly-authorized 
14 
representative from   the Provincial Government of Surigao del Sur;  
15 
2) One (1) of the mayors of the municipalities covered by the ecozone;  
16 
3) One (1) representative from the investors’ group; and  
17 
4) One (1) representative from among the workers in the Bislig Ecozone.  
18 
  
19 
The Governor or the Governor’s duly authorized representative and the mayors 
20 
of the municipalities within the ecozone shall serve as ex officio members of the Board, 
21 
whose terms in the Board shall correspond to their terms as elected officials.  
22 
  
23 
The Chairperson-Administrator and the members of the Board, except for the 
24 
representatives of the investors and workers groups and the ex officio members, shall 
25 
be appointed by the President of the Philippines to serve for a term of six (6) years, 
26 
unless sooner separated from service due to death, voluntary resignation or removal 
27 
for cause.  In case of death, resignation or removal for cause, their replacements shall 
28 
serve only the unexpired portion of the respective terms. No person shall be appointed 
29 
as a member of the Board unless the person is a Filipino citizen, of good moral 
30 
character, of proven probity and integrity, and a degree holder in any of the following 
31 
fields: economics, business, public administration, law, management or their 
32 
equivalent, and with at least ten (10) years relevant working experience, preferably in 
33 
the field of management or public administration.  
34 
  
35 
The members of the Board, except the ex officio members, shall each receive 
36 
per diem allowance at rates to be determined by the Department of Budget and 
37 
Management in accordance with existing rules and regulations: Provided, however, 
38 


9   
That the total per diem allowance collected each month shall not exceed the equivalent 
1 
of four (4) meetings unless and until the President of the Philippines has fixed a higher 
2 
rate for the per diem allowance for the members of the Board, such allowance shall not 
3 
be more than Ten thousand pesos (Php10,000.00) for every Board meeting.  
4 
  
5 
SEC. 11. Organization and Personnel. – The Board of Directors of the BISSEZA 
6 
shall provide for its organization and staff. The Board shall appoint and fix the 
7 
remuneration and other emoluments of its officers and employees in accordance with 
8 
existing laws on compensation and position classification. The Board shall have 
9 
exclusive and final authority to promote, transfer, assign, reassign, or remove officers 
10 
of the  
11 
BISSEZA, any provision of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding. The 
12 
ChairpersonAdministrator shall execute the decisions of the Board.  
13 
  
14 
The officers and employees of the BISSEZA, including all members of the Board, 
15 
shall not engage directly or indirectly in partisan activities nor take part in any election, 
16 
except to vote.  
17 
  
18 
No officer or employee of the BISSEZA, shall be removed or suspended except 
19 
for cause, as provided by civil service rules and regulations.  
20 
  
21 
  
SEC. 12. Powers and Duties of the Chairperson-Administrator. – The    
22 
Chairperson-Administrator shall have the following powers and duties:  
23 
  
24 
a) 
To direct and manage the affairs of the BISSEZA in accordance with the policies  
25 
of the Board;  
26 
  
27 
b) 
To establish the internal organization of the BISSEZA under such conditions that 
28 
the Board may prescribe;  
29 
  
30 
c) 
To submit an annual budget and necessary supplemental budget to the Board 
31 
for  
32 
its approval;  
33 
  
34 
d) 
To submit within thirty (30) days after the close of each fiscal year an annual 
35 
report to the Board and such other reports as may be required;  
36 
 


10   
e) 
To submit to the Board for its approval, policies, systems, procedures, rules, and 
1 
regulations that are essential to the operation of the Bislig Ecozone;  
2 
  
3 
f) 
To recommend to the Board the remuneration and other emoluments of its 
4 
officers and employees in accordance with existing laws on compensation and 
5 
position classification;  
6 
  
7 
g) 
To create a mechanism in coordination with relevant agencies for the promotion 
8 
of industrial peace, the protection of the environment, and the advancement of 
9 
the quality of life in the Bislig Ecozone; and  
10 
  
11 
h) 
To perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board or which are 
12 
necessary or incidental to the office.   
13 
  
14 
SEC. 13.  Legal Counsel. – The BISSEZA shall have its own internal legal 
15 
counsel who shall be under the supervision of the Government Corporate Counsel. 
16 
When the exigencies of business and operations demand it, the BISSEZA may engage 
17 
the services of an outside counsel either on a case to case or on a fixed retainer basis.  
18 
  
19 
CHAPTER III INCENTIVES TO ECOZONE ENTERPRISES AND INVESTORS  
20 
  
21 
SEC. 14.  Investors Visa. – Any foreign national who invests an amount of Two 
22 
hundred thousand US dollars (US$200,000.00) in a registered enterprise, either in cash  
23 
or equipment, shall be entitled to an investor's visa: Provided, That the foreign national 
24 
has the following qualifications:  
25 
  
26 
a) 
Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age;  
27 
b) 
Must not have been convicted by final judgment of a crime involving moral 
28 
turpitude;  
29 
c) 
Must not be afflicted with any dangerous or contagious disease;   
30 
d) 
Must not have been confined in an institution for any mental disorder or disability; 
31 
and  
32 
e) 
Must be financially capable as borne out by credible and verifiable evidence.   
33 
  
34 
With an investor's visa, an alien shall be entitled to reside in the Philippines while 
35 
the investment subsists. The alien investor should submit an annual report, in the form 
36 
duly prescribed for the purpose, to prove that the investment in the country subsists. 
37 


11   
Should said alien investor withdraw the investments from the Philippines, then the 
1 
investor's visa issued to said alien shall automatically expire and be withdrawn.   
2 
  
3 
The authority to issue visas and work permits shall remain with the Bureau of 
4 
Immigration (BI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), respectively: 
5 
Provided, That the BI and the DOLE shall implement measures to expedite the 
6 
processing of such visas and permits for workers in the Bislig Ecozone and coordinate 
7 
closely with  the BISSEZA to facilitate the conduct of business operations.  
8 
  
9 
SEC. 15.  Fiscal Incentives. – Registered enterprises of the Bislig Ecozone may    
10 
be entitled to pertinent fiscal incentives granted under Title XIII (Tax Incentives) of the 
11 
National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.  
12 
  
13 
SEC. 16. Banking Rules and Regulations. – Banks and financial institutions to      
14 
be established in the Bislig Ecozone shall be under the supervision of the BSP and 
15 
subject to existing banking laws, rules and regulations.  
16 
  
17 
SEC. 17. Remittances. – In the case of foreign investments, a duly registered   
18 
entity or enterprise within the Bislig Ecozone shall have the right to remit earnings to its 
19 
investors in the currency in which the investment was originally made and at the 
20 
exchange rate prevailing at the time of remittance, subject to the provisions of Republic 
21 
Act No. 7653, otherwise known as the “New Central Bank Act” as amended.  
22 
  
23 
CHAPTER IV  
24 
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHER ENTITIES  
25 
  
26 
SEC. 18.  Supervision and Control. – For purposes of policy direction and 
27 
coordination, the BISSEZA shall be under the direct control and supervision of the 
28 
Office of the President of the Philippines.  
29 
  
30 
SEC. 19. Relationship with Local Government Units. – Except as herein     
31 
provided, the LGUs comprising the Bislig Ecozone shall retain their basic autonomy and 
32 
identity.  The City of Bislig, Province of Surigao del Sur, shall operate and function in 
33 
accordance with the framework of the Constitution, the Local Government Code of 
34 
1991, as amended, and this Act.  
35 
  
36 


12   
In case of any conflict among the BISSEZA, the LGUs and the national 
1 
government on matters affecting the Bislig Ecozone, other than national defense and 
2 
security matters, the decision of the BISSEZA shall prevail.  
3 
SEC. 20. Audit. – The Commission on Audit shall appoint a full-time auditor for 
4 
the BISSEZA AND may assign such number of personnel as may be necessary to 
5 
assist the auditor in the performance of the auditor’s functions.  
6 
  
7 
CHAPTER V MISCELLANEOUS  
8 
  
9 
SEC.  21. Interpretation and Construction. – The powers, authorities and     
10 
functions that are vested in the BISSEZA are intended to establish national self-
11 
sufficiency and self-reliance in the advancement of and protection of the national 
12 
integrity, enhancement of national security, decentralization of governmental functions 
13 
and authority, and promotion of an efficient and effective working relationship among 
14 
the BISSEZA, the national government and the LGUs. Any interpretation of this Act 
15 
shall consider such intentions. In the event of conflict of interpretation and provided the 
16 
intentions cannot be harmonized, the provisions of this Act shall be construed in favor 
17 
of an interpretation that shall protect national security.  
18 
  
19 
SEC. 22.  Applicability Clause. – Insofar as they are consistent with the    
20 
provisions of this Act, the provisions of Sections 30 to 41 of Republic Act No. 7916, 
21 
otherwise known as "The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995", as amended, shall 
22 
likewise apply to the Bislig Ecozone.  
23 
  
24 
SEC. 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from 
25 
effectivity of this Act, the DTI shall, in coordination with the DOF and the National 
26 
Economic and Development Authority, formulate rules and regulations for the effective 
27 
implementation of the provisions of this Act.   
28 
  
29 
SEC. 24. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act shall be held 
30 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in 
31 
full force and effect.  
32 
  
33 
SEC. 25.  Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders or issuances or any 
34 
part thereof, which are inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed or amended 
35 
accordingly.  
36 
  
37 


13   
SEC. 26. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its   
1 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
2 
  
Approved,