TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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25 AUG-6 P4:30
S. No
SENATE 
1068
RECEiVEf' "V.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION CAPACITY OF ALL 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 
1991", AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Public service must not only be accessible but also adaptive, responsive, and 
efficient. Digital transformation is no longer a luxury but it should be a standard by 
which effective governance must be measured.
During the 2023 State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" 
Marcos, Jr., he stated that "digitalization is the call of today; not the call of the future, 
but of the present. It is here. It is needed, and it is needed today. Government must 
fully embrace digitalization to provide better service to the people, through its vital 
frontline services and its back-end functions." Despite this national directive, many 
local government units remain unprepared and unequipped to deliver services using 
modern digital platforms.
The DICT and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and 
the Pacific discussed that a total of 1,634 LGUs in the country have implemented the 
Electronic Local Government Unit System. Of these, 771 are in Luzon, 408 are in the


Visayas, and 408 are in Mindanao. However, full implementation across essential 
services remains uneven. Only 828 LCDs have digitized business permit systems, 318 
have done so for barangay business clearances, 146 for building permits, and only 86 
for working permits. These figures show the disparity in digital capacity across 
localities.
This proposed measure seeks to amend the Local Government Code of 1991 to 
provide institutional support that will enable LGUs to adopt and sustain digital 
transformation initiatives.
During the 19th Congress, a similar measure was filed by then-Senator Juan 
Edgardo Sonny Angara. That measure was taken up in committee hearing and 
received feedback from government agencies, LGU representatives, and experts.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
INGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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25 AUG-6 P4 30
SENATE
S. No. 1068
RECEIVE® BY:.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION CAPACITY OF ALL 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 
1991" AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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 "Local Information and
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Communications Technology Officer Act'.
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the State to
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develop, harness, and integrate information and communication technology across all
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levels of government in the country to ensure transparent, accountable, efficient and
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participatory governance. Pursuant to this policy, the State shall provide for a local
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government position that will be responsible and accountable for the implementation
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of digital transformation in the local government units.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
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a) Digital Services - refer to public or private services that can be delivered
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through digital communication, such as Internet, mobile phone network that
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might include delivery of digital information, data or content or transactional
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services;
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b) Digital Skills - refer to a range of skills, encompassing a combination of
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behaviors, expertise, know-how, work habits, character traits, dispositions, and


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critical understanding on the use of digital devices, communication applications,
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and networks to access and manage information;
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c) Digital Technology- refers to any product or service that can be used to create,
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view, distribute, modify, store, retrieve, transmit, and receive information
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electronically in a digital form such as personal computers and devices like
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desktop, laptop, netbook, tablet computer, smart phones, games consoles,
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media players, e-book readers, as well as digital television, robots, personal
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assistant smart devices, and smart boards;
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d) Digital Tools - refer to technologies used for a given purpose or for carrying
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out a particular function of information processing, communication, content
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creation, safety or problem solving;
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e) Digital Transformation - refers to cultural, organizational and operational
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change of an organization, industry or ecosystem through a smart integration.
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of digital technologies, processes and competencies across all levels and
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functions in a staged and strategic way;
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f) Digitalization - refers to the adoption of digital technologies to upgrade
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business processes and models in order to create better ways of providing
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service and obtaining greater benefits;
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g) Digitization - refers to the technical conversion of physical, analog originals to
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digital copies by means of electronic devices;
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h) E-readiness (electronic readiness) - refers to a measure of the degree to which
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a country is prepared to partake in electronic activities and, thus, benefit from
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ICT in education;
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i) Innovation - refers to the creation of new ideas using new or existing
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technologies that results in the development of new or improved products,
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processes, or services, which are then spread or transferred across the market
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Sec. 4. Section 443 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local
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Government Code of 1991, hereinafter referred to as the "Code", is hereby amended
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to read as follows:
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"Sec. 443. Officials of the Municipal Government -
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"(a) There shall be in each municipality a municipal
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mayor, a municipal vice-mayor, sangguniang bayan members.


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a secretary to the sangguniang bayan, a municipal treasurer, 
a municipal assessor, a municipal accountant, a municipal 
budget officer, a municipal planning and development 
coordinator, a municipal engineer/building official, a municipal 
health officer and a municipal civil registrar [7]. A 
MUNICIPAL INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER (ICTO) SHALL ALSO BE 
APPOINTED: PROVIDED, THAT THE MUNICIPALITY 
HAS THE OPTION TO APPOINT AN ICTO OR MERGE 
SUCH POSITION TO AN EXISTING POSITION OR 
OFFICIAL IN A RELATED OFFICE, UNIT OR 
DEPARTMENT IN THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT: 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IF THE MUNICIPALITY 
SHALL APPOINT AN ICTO, THE MUNICIPALITY HAS 
THE OPTION TO SET THE RANK, REMUNERATION AND 
OTHER EMOLUMENTS OF THE MUNICIPAL ICTO 
SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND 
REGULATIONS.
"(b) XXX 
"(c) XXX 
"(d) XXX 
"(e) XXX."
Sec. 5. Section 454 (a) of the Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 454. Officials of the City Government 
"(a) There shall be in each city a mayor, a vice-mayor, 
Sangguniang panlungsod members, a secretary to the 
sangguniang panlungsod, a city treasurer, a city assessor, a 
city accountant, a city budget officer, a city planning and 
development coordinator, a city engineer, a city health officer, 
a city civil registrar, a city administrator, a city legal officer, a 
city veterinarian, a city social welfare and development 
officer, and a city general services officer [7]. A CITY ICTO


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SHALL ALSO BE APPOINTED: PROVIDED, THAT THE 
CITY HAS THE OPTION TO APPOINT AN ICTO OR 
MERGE SUCH POSITION TO AN EXISTING POSITION 
OR OFFICIAL IN A RELATED OFFICE, UNIT OR 
DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT: 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IF THE CITY SHALL 
APPOINT AN ICTO, THE CITY HAS THE OPTION TO SET 
THE RANK, REMUNERATION AND OTHER 
EMOLUMENTS OF THE CITY ICTO SUBJECT TO 
EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.
"(b) XXX 
"(c) XXX 
"(d) XXX 
"(e) XXX."
Sec. 6. Section 463 (a) of the Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 463. OfTicials of the Provincial Government.
"(a) There shall be in each province a governor, a vice- 
governor, members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, a 
secretary to the sangguniang panlalawigan, a provincial 
treasurer, a provincial assessor, a provincial accountant, a 
provincial engineer, a provincial budget officer, a provincial 
planning and development coordinator, a provincial legal 
officer, a provincial administrator, a provincial health officer, 
a provincial social welfare and development officer, a 
provincial general services officer, a provincial agriculturist, 
and a provincial veterinarian, [7]. A PROVINCIAL ICTO 
SHALL ALSO BE APPOINTED; PROVIDED, THAT THE 
PROVINCE HAS THE OPTION TO APPOINT AN ICTO OR 
MERGE SUCH POSITION TO AN EXISTING POSITION 
OR OFFICIAL IN A RELATED OFFICE, UNIT OR 
DEPARTMENT IN THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT: 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IF THE PROVINCE SHALL


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APPOINT AN I CTO, THE PROVINCE HAS THE OPTION
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TO SET THE RANK, REMUNERATION AND OTHER
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EMOLUMENTS OF THE PROVINCIAL ICTO SUBJECT TO
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EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.
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"(b) XXX
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"(c) XXX
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"(d) XXX
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"(e) XXX."
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Sec. 7. A new Article XXI is hereby inserted in the Code and all subsections
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shall be re-sectioned, accordingly. Article XXI shall read as follows:
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"ARTICLE XXI
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"THE LOCAL 
INFORMATION AND
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COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
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"SECTION 491-A. QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS,
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AND DUTIES. - (A) NO PERSON SHALL BE APPOINTED
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AS INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
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TECHNOLOGY OFFICER UNLESS HE OR SHE IS A
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CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF THE
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED, OF GOOD
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MORAL CHARACTER, A HOLDER OF A COLLEGE
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DEGREE ON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
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TECHNOLOGY, COMPUTER SCIENCE,COMPUTER
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ENGINEERING, DATA SCIENCE, ELECTRONICS AND
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COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING OR OTHER
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COURSES DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO ANY OF THE
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AFOREMENTIONED COURSES FROM A RECOGNIZED
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COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, AND A FIRST GRADE CIVIL
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SERVICE ELIGIBLE OR ITS EQUIVALENT. HE OR SHE
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MUST HAVE ACQUIRED EXPERIENCE IN
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INFORMATION 
AND 
COMMUNICATIONS
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TECHNOLOGY AND RELATED EXPERIENCES FOR AT
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LEAST FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE PROVINCE


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OR CITY, OR AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS IN THE CASE 
OF THE MUNICIPALITY.
"THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INFORMATION AND 
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OFFICER SHALL BE 
MANDATORY FOR THE PROVINCIAL, CITY AND 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.
"(B) THE INFORMATION AND 
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OFFICER SHALL:
"(1) FORMULATE MEASURES FOR THE 
CONSIDERATION OF THE SANGGUNIAN AND 
PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO 
THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, IN CARRYING OUT 
MEASURES TO ENSURE THE DIGITIZATION OF PUBLIC 
DOCUMENTS, DIGITALIZATION OF GOVERNMENT 
PROCESS AND OVERALL DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION 
OF GOVERNMENT
"(2) DEVELOP PLANS AND STRATEGIES AND 
UPON APPROVAL THEREOF BY THE LOCAL CHIEF 
EXECUTIVE IMPLEMENT THE SAME, PARTICULARLY 
THOSE WHICH HAVE TO DO WITH DEVELOPING, 
HARNESSING, INTEGRATING AND UTILIZING 
INFORMATION 
AND 
COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY FOR THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION 
OF GOVERNMENT AND RELEVANT PURPOSES;
"(3) IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING DUTIES 
AND FUNCTIONS, THE INFORMATION AND 
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY OFFICER SHALL:
"(i) TAKE CUSTODY OF AND BE ACCOUNTABLE 
FOR ALL PROPERTIES, REAL OR PERSONAL, OWNED 
BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT AND THOSE 
GRANTED TO IT IN THE FORM OF DONATION,


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REPARATION, ASSISTANCE AND COUNTERPART OF 
JOINT PROJECTS;
"(ii) WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE LOCAL CHIEF 
EXECUTIVE, ASSIGN RESOURCES TO LOCAL 
OFFICIALS OR OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS, WHO BY 
LAW, ARE ENTITLED TO SUCH SPACES;
"(iii) RECOMMEND TO THE LOCAL CHIEF 
EXECUTIVE, THE REASONABLE PURCHASE, LEASE OR 
RENTAL RATES OF DIGITAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE 
IMPLEMENTATION OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION;
"(iv) DEVELOP, MAINTAIN AND SUPERVISE ALL 
OTHER INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF THE 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT;
"(v) COLLATE AND DISSEMINATE 
INFORMATION REGARDING INFORMATION AND 
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS AND 
SERVICES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO THE 
PUBLIC;
"(vi) PERFORM DATABASE AND RECORD 
MANAGEMENT WITH RESPECT TO RECORDS OF 
OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS OF THE LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT UNIT; AND
"(vii) PERFORM ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS 
PERTAINING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF THE 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENFORCE POLICIES IN 
RELATION THERETO;
"(4) BE IN THE FRONTLINE OF INFORMATION 
AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS 
AND SERVICES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN 
PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE SECTOR;


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"(5) DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, AND EVALUATE ALL
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PROGRAMS AIMED AT ENSURING THAT ALL
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PERSONNEL UNDER HIS OR HER SUPERVISION
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INCLUDING HIMSELF OR HERSELF ARE CONSTANTLY
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TRAINED OR EXPOSED TO KNOWLEDGE IN
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INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
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AND OTHER RELEVANT AREAS;
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"(6) RECOMMEND TO THE SANGGUNIAN AND
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ADVISE THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ON ALL OTHER
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MATTERS RELATIVE TO INFORMATION AND
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COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY; AND
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"(C) EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AND
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PERFORM SUCH OTHER DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS AS
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MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY LAW OR ORDINANCE."
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Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared
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as unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not
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affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect,
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Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
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rules and regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the
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provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. - 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.
Approved,