FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Uivst Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

913

House.

Introduced by Representative Susan A. Yap

EXPLANATORY NOTE,

In economic parlance, efficiency is best achieved if there is competition as the tension
of the different interests of the agents will ultimately result in an equilibrium, provided that
they are in the same level playing field. In a competitive regime, there are incentives 10
improve and perceived fairness because in the end, the choice will be determined by welfare-
maximizing consumers

Such beliefs are not new to the Philippines; Section 19, Article XIT of the 1987
Philippine Constitution explicitly prohibits certain anti-competitive policies such as
monopolies (unless public intezest so requires) and restraint of trade. Article 186 of the
Revised Penal Code, meanwhile, provides for the sanctions in the for those who engage in
such practices while the Civil Code allows the collection of damages arising from unfair
competition, Numerous special laws and statutes were likewise enacted to address this
problem such as the Corporation Code of the Philippines (BP 68), The Revised Securities Act
(BP 178), the Price Act (RA 7581), the Consumer Act of the Philippines (RA 7394), the
Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (RA 8293), the Downstream Oil Deregulation
\cc (RA 8479), the Antidumping Act (RA $752) and the Electric Power Industry Reform Act
(RA 9136), among others. Despite these, however, enforcement remains lacking because of
lundranees such as the lack of cransparency, constraints of regulatory bodies, and a unified
legal framework for the enforcement of such laws.

This bill, thus, seeks to pur in place @ compreheasive competition law that not only
provides the sanctions to the acts that constitute unfair trade pi ices, bur also addresses the
stumbling blocks inherent in implementing a competitive regime, Applicable to all areas of
trade, industry and commercial economic activity, the proposed measure specifies cartels,
monopolies and abuse of power by virtue of the their dominance in the market as prohibited
acts that shall be accorded penalties of a fine of not less One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00)
and not exceeding Ten million pesos (Php10,000,000.00) if a natural person; by a fine of not
less than Ten million pesos (Php1,G00,000.00) bur nor exceeding One hundred million pesos
(Php 100,000,000.00) if a firm, and by imprisonment not exceeding ten (10) years, or both, at
the discretion of the court

Further, it mandares the conduct of a pre!

iminary mquiry by the Department of Justice,
in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry and or any other appropriate
government agencies, notwithstanding the mcumbent powers of the different regulatory
agencies, Any person or firm, which cooperates and furnishes any information, document of
data that constitutes as material evidence to the DOJ before or during the preliminary inquiry
shall be immune from any suit or charge including from affected parties and third parties

The Philippine economy is withou
few businessmen

acterized by a structure that lends a
z che market, This makes
1 and medium enterprises

in the field. Therefore, an effective competition policy will ensure a

doubt cha

d their families substa

power in controlli
entry more difficult, pressing down the development of mu
that wish to particip

ro, sm:



regime that will spell efficiency and help the country move to a higher growth path, ultimately
redounding to general public welfare - for businesses and consumers alike.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought

ke Tarlac



30

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Fant Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

House Bilt No. __ 913

Introduced by Representative Susan A. Yap

AN ACT
PENALIZING UNFAIR TRADE AND ANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES IN
RESTRAINT OF TRADE, UNFAIR COMPETITION, ABUSE OF DOMINANT
POWER, STRENGTHENING THE POWERS OF REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
\ND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be 11 enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

CHAPTER 1
TITLE AND DECLARATION OF POLICY

= This Act sh

ppetition Ad of

ration 9 onal mandate that the State shall
regulate or prohibit monopolies > requires and that no combinations in
restraint of trade or unfair compe

4) promote and enhs

, industry and all commercial
ecunomic activities;

b) prevent the concentration of economic power in a few persons who threaten to control
the production, trade, or indus competition, distort, manspulate or constrict the discipline of
free matkets, of tamper with the free play of the market forces and eventually destroy free and open
markets; and,
© penalize all forms of unfaie
. with the objective of protect

nt-competitive conduct and combinations in restraint
\d advancing consumer welfare.

CHAPTER 2
SCOPE, AND APPLICATION, DEFINITION OF TERMS

SEC. 3. Scope and Appheation. - Vois Act shall be enforceable within the territory of the
Republic of the Philippines and shall apply ¢o all areas of trade, industry and commercial economic
activity. It shall likewise be applicable to intern substantial effects an the Republic
of the Philippines including those that result from acts done outside the Republic of the Philippines

The Act shall apply to: (a) all firms as defined hereunder and all their commercial
apreements, Actions or transactions involving goods, services or intellectual property; and, (b) all
datural persons who, acti 1 or employee of a firm, shall
hibited under this Act

their capacity as owner, manag,

authorize, engage or aid in the commission of re

rictive practices



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SEC. 4, Definition of Terms. -As used in this Act, the following terms shall be defined as:

(a) Cartel shall mean a combination of firms, providing goods in relevant markets, acting or
joined together to obtain a shared monopoly to contsal production, sale and price, or to obtain
control in any particular industry or commodity, or a group of firms that agree to restrict trade to
their murual benefit, which may or may not be ©:

Ic shall also refer to firms or section of firms having common interest designed to prevent
extreme or unfair competition and allocate markets, and to promote the exchange of knowledge
resulting fom scientific and technical research, exchange of patent rights and standardization of
products;

(b) Competition shall mean the process by which economic agents, acting independently in a
market, limit each other's ability to conteol the prevailing conditions in che market:

(©) Control refer to at least nwenty percent (20°) ownership, directly or indirectly, of a firm
or a group of firms by another firm;

(@) Fiem shall include any person, partnership, combir
engaged directly or indirectly in any economic activity: Provided, ‘That, two firms, one of which is
controlled by the other, shall be treated as one firm: Prossided, firtber, ‘That wo or more firms that ace
controlled by a single firm shall be treated as one firm;

(© Goods shall include all types of goods a

() Market shall refer to a place or venue for commerci y. which may extend beyond
the borders of the Republic of the Philippines, where articles are bought or sold. It shall also refer to
the geographical or economic extent of commercial demand:

(g) Monopoly shall mean a privilege or undue advantage of one or more firms, consisting in
the exclusive right to carry on a particular business or trade, and/or manufacture a particular
product, article or object of trade, commerce or industey. [ts a form of market structure in which
one or only a few firms dominate the total sales of a product or service;

(h) Monopoly Power shall refer to a situation where a firm, either by itself or acting in
collusion with other firms, is in a position to control a relevant market for the sale of a particular
good or service by fixing its prices, excluding competitor firm, or controlling the market in a specific
geographical area; and,

() Relevant Market shall refer to the line of commerce in which competition has been
resteained. It shall also refer (© the geographic area involved, including all reasonably substitutable
goods, and all nearby competitors, to which consumers could tura if the resteaint or abuse results in
the significant increase in pric

1 international

on oF association in any form,

dl services;

acti

CHAPTER 3
PROHIBITED ACTS

SEC. 5. Cartels It shall be unlawful for firms providing goods in relevant markets to join
together to monopolize, or to control production in a particular industry or commodity, the sale and
price of such good, and to agree to restrict trade for their mutual benefit, which may or may not be
on an international scale. This shall also include an association by agreement of firms or sections of
firms having common interests designed co promote the interchange of knowledge resulting from
scientific and technical researches, exchange of patent rights and standardization of products.

Restrictive agreements resulting from cartel-like behavior of firms, in any form, are hereby
jperse decmed illegal. These shalll include, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Ageeements to fix selling price of goods or other terms 0}

(b) Agreements to limit supply or output;

(© Agreements to divide the market, whether by volume of sales or purchase or by territory,
by type of goods sold, by customers or sellers, or by any other means;

(@ Agreements exclude or limit dealings with particular suppliers or sellers from supplying
or selling goods, or customers from acquiring or buying goods; and,

(©) Agreements to fix setting price ac auctions or in any other form of bidding. There shall be
a ptima facie case for the existence of a cartel if and when the Deparunent of Trade and Industey
(TP or concemed regulatory agency finds that ovo or more persons or firms competing for the

sale;



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same relevant market perform uniform or complementary acts among themselves which tend 10
bring about autficial and unreasonable 2 the price of any goods or when they
simultaneously and unreasonably increase the prices of their competing goods thereby lessening
competition among them:

crease

EC. 6. Monopolies. - It shall be unlawful for any firm to willfully monopolize, or knowingly
attempt to monopolize, the trade of goods or any part of the trade or commerce within the Republic
of the Phibppines or with ertitory, As prohibited in this Act, the essential
clements of the crime of monopolization aze the possession of monopoly power and its willful
acquisition, maintenance or abuse (© exclude competitors fom any part of trade, commerce or
industey as distinguished 'from natural growth or development of a firm as a consequence of a
superior product, business acumen or historic accident: Pronided, ‘That, a firm that has at least fifty
percent (50%) of the relevant market as found and certified by the Department of Trade and
Industry or the Concerned regulatory agency shall be deemed a monopoly or in dominant position.

ny fore!

country ©

SEC. 7. Monopoly Power or Abuse of Market Power by One ie Dominant Position, ~ It shall be
unlawful for one or more firms with market power within relevant markets to abuse their monopoly
power or dominant position, by engaging in unfair methods of competition, or engaging in unfair or
deceptive tuade practices, Or entering into agreements, combinations in the form of trust or
otherwise, or conspiracy, with the purpose and effect to prevent, restrict, or distort competition,
Abusive agreements such as, but nor limited co, any of the following, shall be deemed to fall under
the crime of abuse of monopoly power or marker power by onc in dominant position:

A. Price Fixing - Any agreement to fix the selling price of pods or other terms of sale, with
the purpose and effect of creating a monopoly or cartel, of lessening competition.

B. Bid Rigging - Any agreement to fix price at auctions or in any other form of bidding, with
the purpose and effect of creating a monopoly or cartel, or lessening competition. In determining
whether there is price fixing or bid rigging, the following circumstances may be considered:

(D generally, any considered evidence that two sellers of similar goods have agreed to set the
price of their goods, to sell oaly a certain amount of their goods, or to sell only to a limited number
of buyers of consumers;

(2) a drastic change in prices of goods and services involving more than one seller of similar
goods of different brands, particularly if the changes in prices take place in equal amount and about,
the same time;

(3) a seller refusing to sell based on an agreement with competitor;

(@ the same firm has repeatedly been the low bidder who has heen awarded contracts for'a
certain service or a particular bidder seems to win bids on a fixed-rotation;

(S) there is an unusual and unexplainable difference berween the winning bid and all other
ids; and,

(G) the same bidder bids substantially higher on some bids tha
logical cost reason to explain the difference.

C. Limitation and Control of Markets -Any agreement to limit or control production,
markets, technical development, or investment with the purpose and effect of creating a monopoly
or cartel, or lessening competition.

1D, Market Allocation - Any agreement to divide the marker, whether by volume of sales or
purchase or by territory, by type of goods sold, by customers or sellers or by any other means, with
the purpose and effect of creating a monopoly or cartel, oF lessening competition

IE, Arrangements to Share Markets or Sources of Supply - Any agreement to share matkets
or sources of supply of raw materials, with the purpose and effect of creating a monopoly or cartel,
or lessening competition.

P. Price Discrimination - Any agreement prescribing or charging, directly or indirectly,
discriminatory pricing terms or conditions in the supply or purchase of goods of like grade and
quality with the purpose and effect of creating 2 monopoly or cartel, or substantially: lessening
competinon: Provided, That nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit permissible price
differentials unless the same shall have the effect of preventing, restricting or distorting competition:

‘on others, and there is no,



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Provided, further, That for the puspose of this section, the following shall be considered permissible
price differentials:

(1) Socialized Pricing - Socialized pricing for the less fortunate sector of the economy;

Q) Volume Discounts - Price. differentials which reflect an allowance for differences in the
cost of manufacture, sale, or delivery resulting from differing methods or quantities in which the
goods are sold or delivered to the purchasers;

(3) Competitive Pricing - A price differential or other terms of sale in response to the
competitive price of payments, services or facilities furnished by 2 competitor;

(4) Bona fide Selection of Customers - The selection of customers om bona fide transaction;

and,

(5) Price Differentials Due to Changing Market Conditions or Marketability of Goods - Price
changes from time to time in response to changing conditions affecting the market or the
marketability of the goods concerned such as, but not limited to, actual or imminent deterioration of
perishable goods, obsolescence of seasonal goods, distr
good faith in discontinuance of business.

G, Exclusivity Arrangement - Any agreement imposing restrictions on the lease or contract
for sale or trade of goods concerning where, to whom, or in what forms goods may be sold or
traded, such as, but not limited to fixing prices, or giving preferential discounts, or rebate upon such
price, or imposing conditions not to deal with competing firms, where the purpose of such
agreement is to lessen competition: Provided, That nothing contained herein shall prohibit or render
unlawful permissible franchising, licensing or exclusive distributorship agreements.

H. Tie-In Arrangements - Any agreement making the supply of particular goods dependent
upon the purchase of lease of other goods from the supplier or his consignee, where the purpose
and effect of such sale or lease or such condition is to substantially lessen competition or to create a
monopoly or cartel.

1. Boycott - Any concerted refusal to sell or conspiracy not to sell oF to stop doing business
on the part of the suppliers of any goods, unless for a legitimate purpose, such as but not limited to:

(1) Defaulting Borrowers - refusal by one or more credit institutions to extend loans to
defaulting debtors;

(2) Defaulting Buyers - refusal by one or more manufacturers or sellers to sell on credit to
defaulting customers; and,

3) Violators of Intellectual Property Rights -refusal by manufacturers or sellers to have any
commercial dealings with one or more firms who violate the intellectual property rights of the
owners of patents, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property.

ss sides under court process, or sale on

CHAPTER 4
PENALTIES

SEC. 8. Penalties. - Without prejudice to the violation of other laws, any firm that shall be
found to have violated Sections 5, 6 and 7 of this Act, or any combination thereof, shall, for each
and every violation, be punished by a fine of not less One million pesos (Php1,000,000.00) and not
exceeding Ten million pesos Php10,000,000.00) if a natural person; by a fine of not less than Ten
million pesos (Php10,000,000.00) but not exceeding One hundred million pesos
(Php100,000,000.00) if a firm, and by imprisonment not exceeding ten (10) years, or both, at the
discretion of the court.

CHAPTER 5
ENFORCEMENT.

SEC. 9. Preliminary Inquiry - The Depastment of Justice (DOJ), in coordination with the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTD, other regulatory and/or appropriate government agency,
shall motu propio, upon the filing of a verified complaint by an interested pasty or upon referral by the
concerned regulatory agency, initiate a preliminary inquiry for the enforcement of this Act based on
reasonable grounds,


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SEC. 10. Powers of Concerned Regulatory genes. - Norwithstanding the provisions of the
preceding section, the exercise of regulatory powers by different government agencies over an
industry or a sub-sector of an industry shall be cumulanve and shall nor be construed in any way as
derogating from the power and authority of the concerned agency. The government agencies shall
cuoperste and coordinate with one another in the exercise of their powers in order to prevent
overlap, 10 share confidential information, or for other effective measures,

SEC. 11. Power to Investigate. The DOJ may, through its duly authorized inquiring officer, by
written notice, require a firm or natural person to produce a specified document, of to provide
specitied information which the DOJ considers as relevant sts investigation. The inquiring officer,
upon the authority granted by the Secretary of Justice, shall engage the services of consultants or
experts (© aid in the inquiry. He shall also make use of any available or analogous means under
existing laws and procedures to determine if any provision of this Act has been violated. Hor this
purpose, be shall have the power punish for contempt any firm which does not comply with the
notice or order for document, information or such other relevant matters and to impose a fine not
exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (Php 100,006)

order.

) for non-compliance with each notice oF

SEC. 12. Seipincrimination and Privileged Communication Eavtusion, ~ Pursuant to the preceding

section, a person subject of any investigation by the DOJ shall produce the specified document or
information when so requited by written notice: Provided, ‘That no person shall be excused from
disclosing any document or information to the inguiting officer on the ground that the disclosure of
the information or document may be inctimination: Provided, owerer. ‘That such document or
snfopngtion produeed by the person subject of invest not be admissible as evidence
against him in criminal proceedings: Prov aij, Thar such document or information shall he
admissible in evidence in civil proceedings including 1
implementation of this Act.

ation sl

vse arising fom or i connection 10 the

Nothing in this section shall compel the disclosure of privileged communication: Provided,
That the person who refuses to disclose the informauion or produce the document or other material
required by the inquiring officer in relation 10 the preliminary inquiry being conducted shall
nevertheless be obliged to give the name and address of the firm to whom, or by whom, or on
whose behalf, such privileged communication was n

SEC. 13. Immunity from Suit, ~ Any person or firm which cooperates or furnishes any
information, document or data to the DO] before or dusing the conduct of the preliminary inquiry
that constcutes material € wed by the DOJ under this Act shall be immune from
any suit or charge including from affected parties and third parties: Pruvuded, fnther, That any person
or firm which cooperates or furnishes information, document or data to the DOJ in connection to
an investigation being conducted shall not be subjected to any form of reprisal or discriminatio
Provided, furthermore, ‘That such reprisal or discrimination shall be considered a violation of this Act
and subjected to the penalties provided for under Section &: Provided, final, That, notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 17 hereof, the firm which cooperates with the DOJ in its investigation
shall be entitled to a reward equivalent to qwenty percent (20%) of any monies paid by the firm
subject of the inquiry, or the monetary relief recovered from court action.

idence as determi

SEC. 14. Termination of Preliminary Inquiry. - Tne Department of Justice, after considering the
stacements made, or documents or articles produced, in the course of an inquiry conducted by it,
shall terminate the preliminary inquiry by issuing a resolution ordering its closure if no violation oF
infringement of. this Act is found; or by issuing a ols contendere resolution; oF 10, singly oF
cumulatively, (a) endosse the findings to the regulatory agency for the imposition of administrative
fines; (b) institute a civil case for damages; or (c) file a criminal case for violation of this Act or other
relevant laws: Provided, That, for purposes of this Act, the preliminary inquiry referred to in Section 9



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of this Act shall fulfill the requirements of 2 prclimmary investigation: Provided, further, That the
resolution shall not be subjected to any petition for review.

SEC. 15. Nolo Contendere Resolution, - Any firm under inquiry under the provisions of this Act
may submit to a mols contendere resolution at any time before the termination of the preliminary
inquiry by: a) the payment of an amount within the range of penalties provided for under Section 8
b) by entering into an undertaking to effectively stop and rectify the acts complained against, make
restitution to the affected parties, whether or not the parties are complainants or witnesses: and, ©)
by submitting regular compliance reports as may be disected: Proridrd, ‘Vhat, five percent (5%) of the
amounts paid under this section shall equitably accrue 10 the government agencies involved in the
inquiry: Provided, furtber, ‘Vhat a nolo contendere resolution shall not bar any inquiry for the same or
simular acts if continued or repeated

SEC. 16, Court Action, - fn addition to any criminal action, the DOJ, when instituting the civil
action, shall bring it in the name of the R
persons residing in the Philippines, to secure treble damages for any monetary injury sustained by
such natural persons by reason of any violation of this Act plus the cost of suit and a reasonable
automney’s fee

plic of the Philippines, as puns patriae, on behalf of

SEC. 17. Bifict of Binal Judement. “The final judgment in an action brought under the
preceding section shall be rs judicada as to any chim by any person on whose behalf such action was
brought: Provided, ‘That such person notifies the court having jurisdiction of the case within the
period! given by the court: Pronded, juather, That such period shall not be less than ninety (90) days.

SEC, 18. Distribution of Monetary Relicf Recovered. - The monetary relief recovered in a civil
action under Section 15 of this Act shall be distributed in the following manner: (1) as determined
and to be authorized by the Regional Trial Court having jurisdiction of the case; (2) ten percent
(10%) of the total amount of monetary relief shall acerue to the DO) to be used in the enforcement
of this Act; and, (3) the remainder of which toral amount of monetary relief shall be deemed a civil
penalty by the Regional ‘Trial Court and shall be deposited to the National ‘Treasury as part of the
yeneral fund of the government: Proviid, Th distribution procedure adapted by the Regional
Trial Coure shall afford each person having an interest in the monetary relief a reasonable
opportunity to secure his appropriate portion of the net monetary relief obtained

SEC. 19, Bvidential Eieet of « Pinal Judgment. ~ Any final judgment rendered in any. civil ot
criminal action brought by the DO] on behalf of the People of the Philippines under this Act to the
cffect that a defendant has violated any or all of the provisions of this Act shall be prina facie
evidence against such defendant in any civil action brought by any other party against such
defendant under this Act as to all matters respecting which said judgment would be an estoppel as
berween the parties concerned.

CHAPTER 6
OTHER PROVISIONS

SEC. 20. Statute of imitations. - Any civil or criminal action to enforce any cause of action
arising from a violation of any provision of this Act shall he forever barred unless commenced
within ten years (10) years after the cause of action accrues. The running of the statute of limitation
shall be suspended during the pendency of any proceeding,

SEC. 21. Imposition of Fines by Regulatory Agen. - Notwithstanding any provisions of law,
regulatory agencies shall, in the conduct of their functions or duties, have the power to impose fines
i the amount not less than One hundred thousand pesos (PhplO0,OOO.00)} and not exceeding
Five million pesos (Php5,000,000.00), if a natural person; and not less than Five million pesos



WRone

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(Php3,000,000.00) and’ nor ‘exceeding Fifty million pesos (Php30,000,000.00) if a firm for each
violation of or non-compliance with an order ot notice of the regulatory agency.

Ten percent (10%) of such fines shall accrue 10 the buds
exclusive use in the enforcement of this Act

ct of the regulatory agency for the

SEC. 22, Prutubiion on the Assuance of Fempanary Restraining Orders, Preliminary Injunctions and
Preliminary Mandatory Injunctions. ~ Except for the Supreme Court, no other court shall issue any
temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction of preliminary mandatory injunction against the
regulatory agency in the exercise of its duties or functions: Provided, That, this prohibition shall apply
in all cases, disputes or controversies instituted by a private party, including, but not limited to, cases
filed by regulated firms or those claiming to have rights through such firms: Pronided, however, That,
this prohibition shall noc apply when the matter is of extreme urgency involving a constitutional
issue, such thar the non-issuance of a temporary restraining order will result in grave injustice and
itreparable injury to the public: Prowided, fertder, ‘That, the applicant shall file a bond, in an amount to
be fixed by the court, but in no case shall it be less than half of the imposable fines provided for
under Section 21 of this Act: Provided, finally, That in the event that the court finally decides that the
applicant was nor entitled to the relie? applied for, the bond shall sccrue in favour of the regulatory
sageney

Any temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction or prelininary mandatory injuncuon
issued in violation of this section is void and of no force and effect. Any judge who violates this
section shall be penalized by suspension of at least one (1) year without pay in addition to other
criminal, civil or administrative penalties.

The Supreme Court may designate regional trial courts ro act as cominissioners with the sole
function of receiving facts of the case involving the acts of the regulatory agency. ‘The designated
Reytonal Trial Court shall, within thitcy (30) days from the date of receipt of the referral, forward its
findings of facts to the Supreme Court for appropriate action

SEC. 23. Intellectual Property Rights. - The implementatio
without prejudice to the rights, liabilities and remedies under Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise
known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines: Provided, That, the exereise of intellectual
property tights shall not in any way be used to justify violations of this Act

of the provisions of this Act shall be

SEC. 24. Guidelines. -- The DOJ, in consultation with the DTT, shall prepare the necessary
guidelines for the implementation of this Act: Prunided, That, where the guidelines would apply to an
industry or a sub-sector of industry that is subject to the jurisdiction of a regulatory agency, the DOJ
shall, in preparing the guidelines, consult wich the concermed regulatory agency: Proveded, further, Vhat
the DO] may revise such guidelines i¢ deems necessary: Pruvided, Auwerer, That such revised guidelines
shall only take effect following its publication in wo newspapers ¢

general circulation.

SEC. 25. Separability Clause. If any clause, sentence, section or part of this Act shall be
adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or
invalidate the remainder of this Act, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence
paragraph, section, or part thereof directly involved in the controv.

SEG. 26. Repeating Clanse.- AMl provisions of law, orders, decrees, executive orders, including
cules and regulations or parts thereof, which are contrary 10 oF inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly

SEC. 27, Eiffectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least wo (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved