NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
23 DEC 12 P5 29
SENATE
received b\.
COMMITTEE REPORT NO.
Submitted jointly by the Committees on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship; 
Ways and Means; and Finance, on nFH 1 2 2023 ■
Re: Senate Bill No. 2513 Prepared by the Committees
Recommending its approval in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 605, 615, 1044, 1118, 
1145, 1552, 2172 and 2358, taking into consideration H. B. No. 7941
Sponsor: Senator Mark A. Villar
MR. PRESIDENT
The Committees on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship; Ways and Means; and 
Finance to which were referred Senate Bill No. 605, introduced by Juan Miguel 
"Migz" F. Zubiri, entitled:
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO INDUSTRY 
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Senate Bill No. 615, introduced by Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, entitled:


AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN THE 
PHILIPPINES, CREATING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT 
CENTER, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Senate Bill No. 1044, introduced by Sen. Joel Villanueva, entitled:
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY IN THE 
PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Senate Bill No. 1118, introduced by Sen. Loren B. Legarda, entitled:
AN ACT
PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY BY 
STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT 
COUNCIL, CREATING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT CENTER, PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR BAMBOO 
PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Senate Bill No. 1145, introduced by Sen. Win Gatchalian, entitled:
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN THE 
PHILIPPINES, CREATING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CENTER 
(BIDC), APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Senate Bill No. 1552, introduced by Sen. Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid, entitled:


AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT 
OF A VIBRANT BAMBOO INDUSTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING 
FOR ITS SCIENTIFIC PROPAGATION AND SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION, 
CREATING THE NATIONAL BAMBOO COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES 
(NBCP), ALLOCATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Senate Bill No. 2172, introduced by Sen. Jinggoy E. Estrada, entitled:
AN ACT
PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY BY 
STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT 
COUNCIL, CREATING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT CENTER, PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR BAMBOO 
PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Senate Bill No. 2358, introduced by Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr., entitled:
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN THE 
PHILIPPINES, CREATING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CENTER 
(BIDC), APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
and
taking into consideration House Bill No. 7941, introduced by Representatives 
Villafuerte (L.R.), Villafuerte (M.L), Horibata et al., entitled:
AN ACT
PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY BY 
STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT 
COUNCIL, CREATING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND


DEVELOPMENT CENTER, PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR BAMBOO 
PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
have considered the same and have the honor to report them back to the Senate with 
the recommendation that the attached Senate Biil No. _ 2513 prepared by the
Committees, entitied:
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN THE 
PHILIPPINES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
be approved in substitution of S.B. Nos. 605, 615,1044,1118, 1145,1552, 2172, and 
2358, taking into consideration H. B. No. 7941, with Senators Zubiri, Viliar C., 
Viilanueva, Legarda, Gatchalian, Lapid, Estrada, Revilia Jr., and Viliar M. as authors 
thereof.


Respectfully submitted:
Chairpersons
SEN. SONNY M. ANGARA
Committee on Finance; and 
Vice-Chairperson, Committee on Ways and 
Means
SEN. MARK A. VILLAR
Committee on Trade, Commerce and 
Entrepreneurship;
Vice-Chairperson, Committee on Finance; and 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEI^WIN GATCHALIAN
Cornmittee on Ways and Means; 
Vic^thairperson, Committee on Finance; and 
Member, Committee on Trade, Commerce and 
Entrepreneurship
Vice-Chairpersons
SEN. PIA S. CAYETANO
Senior Vice Chairperson, Committee on 
Finance;
Member, Committee on Trade, Commerce
and Entrepreneurship; and
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. MARIA LOURDES QTANCY S. BINAY
Committee on Trade, Commerce and 
Entrepreneurship;
Committee on Finance; and 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. IMEE R. MARCOS
Senior Vice Chairperson, Committee on 
Finance;
Member, Committee on Trade, Commerce
and Entrepreneurship; and
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. RAFFYT. TULFO
Committee on Trade, Commerce and 
Entrepreneurship;
Member, Committee on Ways and Means 
and
Member, Committee on Finance


SEN. CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
Committee on Finance; and
Member, Committee on Trade, Commerce
and Entrepreneurship
SEN. R0NALD^n^4^0" DELA ROSA
Committee on I 
Member, Committee^n Trade, Commerce and 
Entrepreneurship; and 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. CHRISTOPHER "BONG" GO
Committee on Finance;
Member, Committee on Trade, Commerce
and Entrepreneurship; and
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
Committee on Finance;
Member, Committee on Trade Commerce and
Entrepreneurship; and
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. GRACE POE
Committee on Finance; and 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. RISA HONTIVEROS 0
Committee on Finance;
Member, Committee on Trade, Commerce and
Entrepreneurship; and
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. FRANCIS "TOL" N. TOLENTINO
Committee on Finance; and 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
Committee on Finance
Members
SEN. ALAN PETER S. CAYETANO
Committee on Finance
SEN. MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
Committee on Finance; and 
Committee on Ways and Means


SEN. CYNTNIA A. VILLAR
Committee on Finance; and
Member, Committee on Trade, Commerce
and Entrepreneurship
SEN. RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA
Committee on Finance;
Member, Committee on Trade, Commerce and
Entrepreneurship; and
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. CHRISTOPHER "BONG" GO
Committee on Finance;
Member, Committee on Trade, Commerce
and Entrepreneurship; and
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
Committee on Finance;
Member, Committee on Trade Commerce and
Entrepreneurship; and
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. GRACE POE
Committee on Finance; and 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. RISA HONTIVEROS
Committee on Finance;
Member, Committee on Trade, Commerce and
Entrepreneurship; and
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. FRANCIS "TOL" N. TOLENTINO
Committee on Finance; and 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
Committee on Finance
Members
SEN. ALAN PETER S. CAYETANO
Committee on Finance
SEN. MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
Committee on Finance; and 
Committee on Ways and Means
G-l


SEN. ROBINHOOD C. PADILLA
Committee on Finance
SEN. FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO
Committee on Finance 
Member, Committee on Ways and Means
RAMON
I^BpfiG^EVILIA
JR.
SEN. RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
Committee on Finance *e-sig


Ex-Officio Members:
SEN. LORENLEGARDA
President Pro-Tempore
Senior Vice-Chairperson, Committee on Finance
SEN. iOEL VILLANUEVA
Majp/ity Fioor Leader
SEN. AQUILINO "KOKO" PIMENTEL III
Minority Fioor Leader
HON. JUAN MIGUEL "MIGZ" F. ZUBIRI
Senate President
8


Ex-Officio Members
LOREN LEGARDA
President Pro-Tempore
JOEL VILLANUEVA
Majority Leader
“Will interpellate"
SEN. AQUZQNtf "koicO" PIMENTEL in
Mimnty Floor Leader
*e-sig
HON. JUAN MIGUEL "MIGZ" ZUBIRI
Senate President
8-1


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2513
of the ffe.ri '1.1.
23 DEC 12 P5:30
RECEIVED B>':
(In Substitution of S.B. Nos. 605, 615, 1044, 1118, 1145, 1552, 2172 and 2358, 
taking into consideration H. B. No. 7941)
Prepared by the Committees on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship; Ways and 
Means; and Finance, with Senators Zubiri, Viilar C., Villanueva, Legarda, Gatchalian, 
Lapid, Estrada, Revilla Jr., and Viilar M. as authors thereof
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN THE 
PHILIPPINES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Kawayan Act".
2 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to foster a self-reliant
3 
and independent economy that supports indigenous, scientific and technological
4 
capabilities, and skills improvement.
5 
The State aims to promote and support industries that generate employment,
6 
especially in rural areas, reduce poverty, foster a sustainable environment, integrate
7 
cultural development, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
8 
Recognizing the strategic importance of bamboo as a sturdy, versatile, and
9 
renewable material that can be a sustainable source of livelihood and a catalyst for
10 
agro-industrial productivity, the State shall ensure the integrated and continuous
11 
development of the Philippine bamboo industry through policies and programs that
12 
will encourage bamboo planting, accelerate the development of bamboo-based
13 
products and designs, and promote Philippine bamboo products in the domestic and


1 
international markets. Toward this end, it shaii establish a roadmap for the sustainabie
2 
production, utiiization, propagation, marketing, and promotion of bamboo as furniture,
3 
food, construction and design material, and other uses and provide substantiai and
4 
attractive incentives to help stimulate the bamboo industry.
5 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
6 
a) Bamboo refers to tropicai or semi-tropical fast-growing grass usualiy
7 
having hollow culms and Iignocellulose matrix;
8 
b) 
Bamboo Industry refers to the industry associated with the planting and
9 
cultivation of bamboo for sustainable raw materials and bamboo-based
10 
products, including, but not limited to, handicrafts, bamboo shoots,
11 
bamboo utilized for construction purposes, bamboo for industriai
12 
production involving mechanized processing of iarger volumes of culms,
13 
such as for flooring, iaminated furniture, chopsticks, mat boards,
14 
charcoal, paper and pulp, biomass, peilets, textiles, and unprocessed
15 
bamboo culms utilized in appiications such as scaffolding and traditional
16 
construction;
17 
c) 
Bamboo Processing refers to the process of conversion of bamboo for
18 
various products and applications;
19 
d) 
Bamboo Plantations refer to aggregates of clumps occupying a specific
20 
area and sufficiently uniform in composition (species), age, spacing, and
21 
condition as to be distinguished from the natural and/or existing bamboo
22 
stands; and
23 
e) 
Bamboo Natural Stands refer to sporadically distributed and existing
24 
clumps with different bamboo species occurring in a given area.
25 
Sec. 4. The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap (PBIDR). -
26 
There shall be a Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap, which sets forth
27 
a comprehensive national strategy for the Philippine bamboo industry and provides
28 
specific programs and projects, including the timeline for the propagation,
29 
deveiopment and management, processing, utilization, business development, and
30 
commercialization of the Philippine bamboo and bamboo products. It shaii be a five-
31 
year roadmap subject to regular review and updating and shall be supported by an


1 
annual work and financial plan for the effective impiementation of the law. The
2 
roadmap shall be guided by the following objectives, among others:
3 
a) To make available a sufficient supply of bamboo raw materials for various
4 
industries and end 
products;
5 
b) To establish vibrant bamboo enterprises for domestic and international
6 
markets;
7 
c) To develop bamboo-based communities with elevated Income and freedom
8 
from poverty;
9 
d) To establish a policy environment supportive to the development of the bamboo
10 
industry;
11 
e) To use bamboo as a medium to help attain the country's desire for sustainable
12 
environmental sustainability and climate change adaptation and mitigation;
13 
f) To realize a significant contribution of the bamboo industry to the Phiiippine
14 
economy and to inclusive growth; and
15 
g) Identify other necessary activities approved by the Council.
16 
Sec. 5. Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council. - The Philippine Bamboo
17 
Industry Development Council, created under Executive Order No. 879, series of 2010,
18 
hereinafter referred to as the Council, is hereby reconstituted and shall be composed
19 
of the following:
20 
a) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as Chairperson;
21 
b) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as
22 
Vice-Chairperson;
23 
c) Secretaries of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Science
24 
and Technology (DOST), the Department of Interior and Local Government
25 
(DILG), and the Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
26 
(NCIP), as members; and
27 
d) Three (3) representatives from the private sector and non-governmental
28 
organizations (NGOs) involved in the bamboo industry and agriculture as
29 
members, who shall serve for a term of three (3) years and may be re-
30 
appointed once. The DTI Secretary shall appoint them from a list of at least six
31 
(6) nominees submitted by different organizations and associations.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 
29
The Council shall meet quarterly and may hold special meetings whenever the 
need arises to consider urgent matters upon the call of the Chairperson or any of the 
Council members: Provided, That each Council member may designate his/her 
representatives whose rank shall not be lower than an Assistant Secretary or its 
equivalent.
The Council shall be assisted by a Secretariat headed by an Executive Director. 
Other member agencies of the Council shall provide additional administrative and 
technical staff support on secondment or detailed arrangement to the secretariat upon 
the determination by the Council of the necessity for such augmentation. The 
appointment of officers and employees of the secretariat shall be in accordance with 
the civil service laws.
Sec. 6. Powers and Functions of the Council. - The Council shall have the 
following powers and functions, among others:
a) 
Formulate and publish the PBIDR, which shall be updated and revised 
periodically as may be determined by the Council;
b) 
Identify specific programs and projects aligned with the PBIDR;
c) 
Identify the specific roles, and ensure compliance and coordination among 
government agencies for the attainment of the goals laid out in the PBIDR;
d) 
Lead the creation of, and serve as the host organization to maintain a 
national and integrated information system related to bamboo, including 
but not limited to, plantations, population, species, workers and 
beneficiaries, investors, product demands and supplies, and costs and 
benefits for market research, and continuous research and development 
to advance sustainable bamboo industry development practices;
e) 
Identify sources of financing and facilitate credit windows with 
government financial institutions to expand bamboo industry 
development;
f) 
Promote the establishment of additional processing facilities that would 
accelerate the production and commercialization of bamboo and various


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
bamboo products in the domestic and international markets and identify 
land areas devoted to bamboo plantations;
g) 
Promote the estabiishment and creation of bamboo farm tourism camps 
in coordination with the Department of Tourism (DOT);
h) 
Impiement mechanization of production in the bamboo industry through 
the provision of machinery and equipment;
i) 
Harmonize and institutionaiize fragmented capacity-building, business 
mentoring, and entrepreneurship programs, of relevant government 
agencies for farmers, farm workers, processors, designers, and other 
stakehoiders in the bamboo industry;
j) 
Strengthen market access, iinkage and promotion of Phiiippine bamboo 
and iocaliy made bamboo-based products through extensive marketing 
strategy;
k) 
Promote the establishment of an agri-insurance program for bamboo 
plantations and farmers;
l) 
Coordinate and partner with the private sector, people's organizations and 
NGOs, and state colieges and universities in providing technical assistance 
to bamboo farmers and the industry commensurate to the size of the 
bamboo plantation or farm;
m) 
Accept grants, donations, and contributions from local and international 
donors, and such similar sources of funds for the irnplementation of this 
Act, subject to the usual budget, accounting and auditing rules and 
regulations;
n) 
Appoint the officiai representative of the Philippines to international 
bamboo organizations;
o) 
Submit annual reports on the status of the implementation of the roadmap 
and the bamboo industry development in the country to the office of the 
President, the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and 
Entrepreneurship, and the House of Representatives Committee on Trade 
and Industry;
p) 
Recommend to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the 
required yearly appropriations for the pian and implementation of the


1 
bamboo industry development programs and ensure the inclusion of
2 
proposals, through program convergence budgeting to avoid duplication
3 
of funding for similar programs, activities and projects by the
4 
implementing agencies; and
5 
q) Promulgate rules and regulations, and exercise such other powers and
6 
functions as may be necessary to carry out effectively the attainment of
7 
the purposes and objectives of this Act.
8 
Sec. 7. Executive Director. - By a vote of a simple majority of all its members,
9 
the Council shall appoint an Executive Director who shall head the secretariat and
10 
serve as the administrative officer of the Council. The appointee must possess
11 
competencies and knowledge in bamboo industry development and shall have a fixed
12 
term of six (6) years and may be reappointed, subject to the approval of the Council.
13 
With the concurrence of the Council, the Executive Director shall determine the
14 
staffing complement as to the organizational structure, staffing pattern, and
15 
compensation system of the Secretariat.
16 
Sec. 8. Use of Bamboo in Environmental Rehabilitation, Conservation, and
17 
Protection Programs of the National Government - The DENR shall use bamboo as
18 
the planting material for at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its annual reforestation
19 
and rehabilitation programs, especially in provinces and towns that are engaged in or
20 
have the potential to engage in bamboo-based industries, or where trees are difficult
21 
to grow because of poor site quality, susceptibility to erosion or adverse and steep
22 
gradients. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) shall likewise encourage mining
23 
contractors and permit holders to plant bamboo outside the disturbed areas mining
24 
sites, subject to pertinent rules and conditions as determined by relevant agencies.
25 
Sec. 9. Use of Assistance Funds for Small and Medium Bamboo Enterprises. -
26 
Twenty percent (20%) of DOST's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) assistance
27 
funds such as the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) and the
28 
Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) venture capital program shall
29 
be allocated to bamboo-based enterprises.
30 
Sec. 10. Promotion of Bamboo Products in Domestic and International Markets.
31 
- The DTI, the DOT, and their attached agencies mandated to promote domestic
32 
products, shall be directed to conduct aggressive marketing and trade campaigns of


1 
bamboo and bamboo products through domestic and international expositions, fairs
2 
and exhibits.
3 
The DTI shall likewise be mandated to scale up domestic investment promotion
4 
by hosting business-matching activities through its existing micro, small and medium
5 
enterprises programs, to prioritize the access of its shared services facilities, and to
6 
provide marketing assistance through its One Town One Product (OTOP) and other
7 
shows and concept stores for the bamboo industry.
8 
sec. 11. Research, Development and Innovation for the Bamboo Industry. -
9 
The DOST, in coordination with other government and private research institutions,
10 
shall conduct research and development on bamboo, innovate to develop more
11 
marketable bamboo-based products for both domestic and international consumers,
12 
and advance sustainable bamboo industry development practices.
13 
Sec. 12. Use of Bamboo in Public Schools and Government Facilities. - As far
14 
as practicable, at least twenty-five percent (25%) of all the annual school desks and
15 
armchairs requirement of all public elementary and secondary schools nationwide
16 
procured by the Department of Education (DepEd) shall be made from bamboo. The
17 
use of bamboo in furniture and fixtures of government facilities shall also be
18 
considered when feasible.
19 
Sec. 13. Incentives. - The following incentives shall be provided:
20 
a) The Board of Investments (BOI) shall classify bamboo farms/plantations,
21 
production or processing thereof, and other bamboo-related activities as
22 
preferred areas of investments under its Strategic Investments Priority
23 
Plan (SIPP) subject to pertinent rules and regulations;
24 
b) Nursery and plantation owners shall be exempt from the payment of rent
25 
for the use of public lands for commercial bamboo plantation subject to
26 
existing tenurial agreements with concerned government agencies;
27 
c) Bamboo plantation owners in public lands shall be exempt from the
28 
payment of forest charges that 
may be imposed by 
the national
29 
government;
30 
d) The produce of Bamboo plantations shall be accepted as among the
31 
collaterals for loans in government-owned or controlled banks, subject to
32 
its rules and regulations;


1 
e) Bamboo plantation developers and bamboo processors shall be given
2 
priority to access credit assistance and guarantee schemes being granted
3 
by government-owned, controlled and/ or supported financial institutions;
4 
f) Bamboo plantations shall not be required a cutting permit for harvesting
5 
nor shall their produce need a transport permit for transporting: Provided,
6 
That such plantation is registered with the Community Environment and
7 
Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the DENR;
8 
g) Bamboo plantations and plantation development equipment shall be
9 
covered by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC); and
10 
h) For tenured bamboo plantation owners, upon the premature termination
11 
of the tenurial agreement with no fault of the holder, all capital
12 
improvements, depreciable permanent and semi-permanent
13 
improvements such as roads, buildings, nurseries including the planted
14 
and standing bamboo and other intercrops, introduced and retained in the
15 
area, shall be evaluated and the holder shall be entitled to a fair
16 
compensation thereof, the amount of which shall be mutually agreed upon
17 
by both the DENR and the tenure-holder and in case of disagreement
18 
between them, by arbitration through a mutually acceptable and impartial
19 
third party adjudicator through the DENR.
20 
Sec. 14. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation
21 
of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the
22 
departments/agencies concerned. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the
23 
continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act
24 
(GAA).
25 
Sec. 15. Impiementing Ruies andReguiations. - Within six (6) months from the
26 
effectivity of this Act, the DTI, in consultation with other concerned government
27 
agencies, the academe, the private sector, and NGOs shall promulgate the necessary
28 
implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
29 
Sec. 16. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
30 
unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full force
31 
and effect.
8


1
2
3
4
5
6 
7
Sec. 17. Repealing Clause. -All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
letters of instruction, and administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
Sec. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette, or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,