NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1795
o( tijf g.ro’ftarp
23 JAN 30 All 32
RtCEIVED B'/:
Introduced by Senator MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE PROMOTION AND DELIVERY OF MENTAL HEALTH 
SERVICES IN BASIC EDUCATION THROUGH THE HIRING AND 
DEPLOYMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It 
affects the way we think, feel, behave, and act. It is important since it impacts our 
decision making process and how we relate to others.
Mental health promotion and early intervention strategies may produce the 
greatest impact on people's health. It may allow for more effective healthcare 
pathways by acting on the problem before the same becomes worse. It minimizes the 
impact of any potentially serious health condition. Indeed, mental health promotion 
or early intervention in young people is an investment for the future.
The Department of Health estimated that at least 3.6 million Filipinos faced 
mental health issues during the pandemic. Sadly, we fail to recognize that poor mental 
health can interfere with one's ability to think clearly and make healthy decisions. We 
neglect the fact that being emotionally healthy can promote productivity and 
efficiency.
Just recently, on January 20, 2023, a 13-year-old male student was stabbed by 
his 15-year-old classmate inside the Culiat High School. Further, on January 23, 2023,


a senior high school student died after falling from the ninth floor of a building inside 
the school premises. We do not want more of these cases in the future. These 
underscored the importance of prioritizing students' mental health.
Thus, this bill aims to strengthen the promotion and delivery of mental health 
services in basic education through the hiring and deployment of mental health 
professionals. This bill also seeks to establish Mental Health and Well-being Offices in 
every schools division. This is to address the mental, emotional, and developmental 
needs of learners and personnel of the DepEd.
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
lUEL
Senator
LAPID


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1795
(it
0( tllf f?-\'rrc't:-l,.'»
23 JAN 30 All :32
RECEIVED BV;
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
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AN ACT
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STRENGTHENING THE PROMOTION AND DELIVERY OF MENTAL HEALTH
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SERVICES IN BASIC EDUCATION THROUGH THE HIRING AND
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DEPLOYMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND
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APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Basic Education Mental
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Health and Well-Being Promotion Act."
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Section 2. Purposes. - The purposes of this Act are as follows:
a. Enable the Department of Education (DepEd) to recruit, train, 
and hire additional mental health professionals, sustain their 
well-being, competencies, professional growth, and career 
development in the DepEd;
b. Adequately address the mental, emotional, and developmental 
needs of learners as well as the teaching and non-teaching 
personnel through the mental health professionals;
c. Promote the emotional, psychological, and mental health well­
being of learners and teachers so as to enhance their classroom 
and learning preparedness, including those learners identified 
as children in conflict with law, students at risk of dropping out.


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learner-victims of Violence Against Women and Children, and 
learners-victims of other related forms of child abuse and 
criminal acts;
d. Support teachers and other education personnel in improving 
classroom management through the conduct of behavioral and 
other guidance related interventions to improve the learners' 
well-being, emotional and psycho-social development, daily 
disposition and career decision making. Likewise, train the 
teachers and other education personnel in developing 
awareness and skills to enable them to identify early warning 
signs of mental health problems and the need for mental health 
interventions;
e. Establish linkages with the community through the promotion 
of mental health programs and activities geared for the 
development of learners;
f. Support parents, guardians, and concerned stakeholders in 
improving the school behavior and ensuring the academic 
success of their children;
g. Remove the emotional, behavioral, and psycho-social barriers 
to learning so as to enhance the classroom atmosphere in order 
to achieve a child-friendly, inclusive, safe, and positive learning 
environment; and
h. Provide after care support in the treatment of mental health 
concerns of clients.
Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a. Counseling - refers to a dynamic face to face or online 
interaction between the counselor and the counselee, where 
the counselor employs various methods, approaches or


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techniques to enhance the counselee's intrapersonal and 
interpersonal deveiopment and competencies;
b. Guidance associate - refers to a piantiila-'QQS\Wo'c\ in the DepEd 
which shail be filled-in by a graduate of a Bachelor's Degree in 
Psychology, or any related courses and who must have earned 
a minimum of tweive (12) units of Behavioral Science subjects 
and two hundred (200) hours of supervised practicum or 
internship experience on guidance and counselling, preferably 
in a school or community setting;
c. Guidance counseior- refers to an individual who possesses a 
license or certification granted by the Professional Regulation 
Commission (PRC) and holds a minimum master's degree in 
Guidance and Counseling, Guidance, or Counseling without 
prejudice to those registered under the grandfather clause of 
R.A. 9258, otherwise known as the "Guidance and Counseling 
Act of 2004," and is competent to perform guidance and 
counselling, career guidance and implement mental health 
programs;
d. Guidance services specialist- refers to the specific position of 
Guidance Counselor in the DepEd piantiHa\Nho is charged with 
the duty to care for the mental health and well-being of learners 
and school employees;
e. Guidance teacher - refers to a regular teacher who is given 
additional assignments related to guidance and counselling 
services aside from a teaching load, to augment the lack of 
Guidance Counselors. They shall be selected by the school 
heads based on their leadership skills, and competence in 
handling guidance related concerns. Preferably, a Guidance 
Teacher has a background in psychology, values education, or 
has earned academic units in guidance and counseling;


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f. Mental health - refers to a state of well-being in which the 
individual realizes one's own abilities and potentials, copes 
adequately with the normal stresses of life, displays resilience 
in the face of extreme life events, works productively and 
fruitfully, and is able to make a positive contribution to the 
community;
g. Mental health professional - refers to a medical doctor, nurse, 
guidance counselor, psychologist, or any other appropriately 
trained and qualified person with specific skills relevant to the 
provision of mental health services;
h. Mental health program - refers to the system of services 
designed to maintain the state of well-being of an individual in 
order for the individual to realize its own abilities and potential, 
cope adequately with the normal stresses of life, display 
resilience in the face of extreme life events, work productively 
and fruitfully, and be able to make a positive contribution to the 
community;
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Mental health services - refer to the psychological, psychiatric 
or neurologic activities and programs along the whole range of 
mental health support services including promotion, prevention, 
treatment and aftercare, which are provided by mental health 
facilities and mental health professionals;
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Psychoiogist - refers to a natural person who has undergone 
professional training in and possesses clinical skills in 
psychotherapeutic intervention and assessment for mental 
health problems, has been granted a license to practice the 
profession of Psychology and is registered with the PRC, and 
holds a master's degree in Psychology, without prejudice to 
those granted licenses under the grandfather clause of R.A.


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10029, otherwise known as the "Philippine Psychology Act of
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2009";
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k. Psychometrician - refers to a natural person who has obtained
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professional training in psychological assessment, possesses a
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license to practice the profession of psychometry and registered
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with the PRC, holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology, without
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prejudice to those granted licenses under the grandfather of
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R.A. 10029, otherwise known as the "Philippine Psychology Act
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of 2009"; and
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I. Psychosociai probiem - refers to a condition indicated by the
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existence of dysfunctions in a person's behavior, thoughts, and
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feelings that have been brought by sudden, extreme, prolonged
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or cumulative stressors in the physical or social environment.
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Section 4. Estabiishment of a Schooi Levei Mentai Heaith and Weii-being
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Office in Every Schoois Division. - There is hereby established, under the
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administration and supervision of the DepEd, a Mental Health and Well-being Office
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in every schools division level which is primarily tasked to address the mental,
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emotional, and developmental needs of learners and personnel of the DepEd.
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A sufficient number of Guidance Counselors and Guidance Services Specialist
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positions shall be created within the schools division offices in order to cater to the
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needs of learners and personnel, according to minimum standards to be determined
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by the DepEd and Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Civil Service
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Commission (CSC) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
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The schools division level Mental Health and Well-being Office shall be headed
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by qualified Mental Health Professional with a position of Guidance Services Specialist
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V (Salary Grade 24).
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Section 5. Hiring and Depioyment of Mentai Heaith Professionais. - Subject to
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the guidelines set by the CSC and the DBM, the DepEd shall provide for the hiring and
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deployment of Mental Health Professionals such that each public elementary,
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secondary, vocational institution, and offices in the different governance levels of the
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DepEd shall have mental health professionals or mental health service providers within
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five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act.
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Until such time that there are adequate Mental Health Professionals, the DepEd
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may deploy guidance teachers and other similarly qualified employees to provide
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school-based mental health services: Provided, That they undergo sufficient capacity
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building as determined by the DepEd and supervised by qualified Mental Health
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Professionals within the school or the schools division office in their provision of mental
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health services: Provided further, That they receive honoraria as just compensation
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for providing such services, subject to the guideiines set by the DBM and the
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Commission on Audit.
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Notwithstanding the provisions of R.A. No. 9258, public education institutions
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may hire, as may be necessary, graduates with relevant background in psychology or
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similar fields, who may not yet qualify as Mental Health Professionals, to provide
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school-based mental health services: Provided, That they undergo sufficient capacity
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building training as determined by the DepEd and shall be supervised by qualified
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Mental Health Professionals within the schools division level in their provision of mental
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health services: Provided further. That they meet the relevant qualifications and are
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licensed as Mental Health Professionals within three (3) years from the date when
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they were hired.
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The DepEd shall establish mechanisms to maximize existing mental health
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services offered by other government agencies such as agencies attached to the DOH
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and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
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Section 6. Professionai and Career Deveiopment of Mental Health
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Professionals. - The DepEd shall, in coordination with the DBM, CSC, DOH, and PRC:
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a. Prepare a uniform career and personnel development plan that 
shall include provisions on personal wellness, merit promotion, 
performance evaiuation, in-service training, post graduate


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scholarship grants, research grants, suggestions and incentive 
award system;
b. Match the salary grades of Mental Health Professionals related 
items with respect to the provisions of R.A. No. 6758, otherwise 
known as the "Compensation and Position Classification Act of 
1989", as amended;
c. Align the qualifications and standards for Mental Health 
Professionals with R.A. No. 10968, otherwise known as the 
"Philippine Qualifications Framework Act";
d. Revisit the DepEd organizational structure in order to provide 
competent and professional personnel who shall provide 
supervision and technical assistance to Guidance Counselors at 
the school levels;
e. Review, revise, and develop the duties and responsibilities of 
mental health professionals in accordance with the laws 
enacted to regulate their respective professions;
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Prepare a performance evaluation plan that considers the 
improvement of individual counselor efficiency and 
organizational effectiveness: Provided, That each counselor 
shall be informed regularly by their immediate supervisor of the 
results of the evaluation of their performance;
g. Provide for the institutionalization of the Basic Education Mental 
Health Manual; and
h. Provide periodic training and skills upgrading and development 
courses to Mental Health Professionals.
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Section 7. Salary Scale. - The career and salary scales of Mental
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Health Professional in schools shall provide for a gradual progression from a minimum


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to a maximum salary by means of regular increments, to be given regularly based on
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merit and competencies as similarly given to Master Teachers.
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The entry level of Mental Health Professionals shall not be lower than Salary
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Grade 16. Guidance Associates and Psychometricians shall have as entry level Salary
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Grade 11.
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Section 8. Benefits. - The Mental Health Professionals shall enjoy the rights
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and privileges as provided for in the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, Mental
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Health Act, and other pertinent laws.
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Section 9. Programs and Projects Related to Mental Health. - The DepEd shall
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provide for sufficient resources for mental health programs and projects designed to
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maintain and address the mental health and well-being of learners and personnel.
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Section 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation
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of this Act shall be included in the DepEd budget in the annual General Appropriations
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Act.
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Section 11. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - There is hereby
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created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) on Basic Education Mental
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Health Program to monitor and oversee the implementation of the provisions of this
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Act. The JCOC shall be composed of five (5) members each from the Senate and from
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the House of Representatives, respectively, including a member of the minority from
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each chamber, to be chaired jointly by the chairpersons of the Committees on Basic
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Education of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The four (4) other
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members from each chamber, one of whom should come from the minority members,
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shall be designated, respectively, by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of
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the House of Representatives.
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Section 12. Sunset Review. - Within five (5) years from the effectivity of this
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Act, or as the need arises, the JCOC shall conduct a systematic evaluation of the
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performance and accomplishments of agencies that implemented this Act, including
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its impact on the education sector and economic development, for purposes of
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determining remedial legislation.
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Section 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days
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from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall, in consultation with the
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DBM, CSC, DOH, DSWD, PRC and other concerned stakeholders, formulate and issue
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rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
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Section 14. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held
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invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force
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and effect.
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Section 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees,
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instructions, rules and regulations contrary or inconsistent with any provision of this
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Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.
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Section 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,