Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 3304 
Introduced by 
REPRESENTATIVE FRANZ S. PUMAREN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the Philippines, an average of 32 people die every day as a result of road accidents, 
according to the UN data. Data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported an 
increase in road accidents in 2024 compared to 2023 which also showed a 35% increase 
in road accident fatalities— 2,747 fatalities in 2024 compared to 2,030 fatalities in 2023. 
The same PNP data disclosed that 27,248 or 87.17 percent of the road accidents were 
caused by reckless driving such as bad overtaking, improper turning, speeding, drunk 
driving, overloading and using mobile phones while driving. On the other hand, the PNP 
data also showed that 790 road accidents were attributed to motor vehicle condition while 
725 cases were caused by poor road conditions.1 
Considering the numerous transportation-related accidents recorded, there is need to 
create an independent body dedicated to accident investigation and safety advocacy in 
order to continuously improve the safety transportation systems in the Philippines. 
This bill seeks to establish National Transportation Safety Board, with the core mission 
to determine the “probable cause” of transportation accidents and incidents. This 
independent agency shall focus on identifying the causes of these accidents with in depth 
analysis of factors (such as mechanical failures, human error, environmental conditions 
and regulatory shortcomings) with then end goal of making formulation of safety 
improvement standards for the implementation by the concerned government agencies. 
FRANZ S. PUMAREN 
 3rd District, Quezon City 
1  https://lto.gov.ph/news/lto-embarks-on-comprehensive-data-analysis-for-holistic-govt-intervention-on-road-
accidents-road-rage/ posted 19 APRIL 2025 
August 6, 2025
5:14 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
 TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 3304 
Introduced by 
REPRESENTATIVE FRANZ S. PUMAREN 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD, 
DEFINING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREOF 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "National Transportation Safety 
Board Act". 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
establish and maintain a safe, reliable and secure transportation system; promote and 
ensure a safe, a viable, efficient, and dependable transportation system as an essential 
instrument for national development and economic progress. The state is committed to 
the prevent accidents, reduce fatalities and injuries, save lives and to protect property and 
environment across all modes of transportation. 
Consistent with this policy, the State recognizes the necessity to create an independent 
non-regulatory agency, to be known as the National Transportation Safety Board to 
promote impartial and objective accident investigation, identify systematic safety issues, 
to issue actionable safety recommendations and serve as the focal point of transportation 
safety. 
Section 3. Creation of the National Transportation Safety Board. – Pursuant to 
the foregoing policy, there is hereby created a National Transportation Safety Board, 
hereinafter referred to as the "Board", which shall be attached to the Department of 
Transportation. 
Section 4: Coverage. - The NTSB shall cover all transportation accidents and/or 
mishaps within the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines whether land, air, or water 
or outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippine provided that aircraft, ship or any 
vehicle similar thereto Provided, that it is registered under Philippine laws. 


The NTSB shall also cover all types of accidents whether or not alarming nature which 
results in serious physical injury or loss of life or property or causing substantial damage 
to or destruction of property or surroundings. 
Section 5. Powers and functions of the NTSB. – The NTSB shall have the following 
powers and functions: 
a. To assess and systematize transportation safety standards in accordance with the 
international safety caliber of applicable conventions, treaties and best practices in 
transportation safety including those developed by transportation agencies, and 
recommend its implementation to all sectors of Philippine transportation; 
b. To conduct investigation and, if necessary, hearings concerning any transportation 
accident and incidents across all major mode of transportation including, maritime, 
air, or land, in order to determine the probable cause of thereof and identify safety 
issues that need to be addressed to prevent the same in the future. Provided, that 
other agencies mandated to investigate concurrently such accidents shall coordinate 
with, cooperate with and extend its full support to the Board during the conduct of 
investigation. Provided further, that the board may compel the presence of an 
indispensable party or organization or agency whether public or private, to any case 
or investigation conducted by the Board; 
c. To conduct  a broader and/or special studies to identify and address recurring safety 
problems or emerging issues. These studies may focus on specific technologies, 
human factors, or regulatory practices across different modes of transportation. 
Provided, that the Board shall not be prevented from making further inquiries on 
accidents subject of past investigations and shall require the investigating bodies to 
submit the pertinent records, reports, findings and recommendations; 
d. The board may collaborate and require the participation of the members of the 
academe and the non-government organizations in investigations that shall require 
their expertise and knowledge 
e. To promulgate transportation safety standards and recommend such standards to 
the concerned government agencies and/or private organization the adoption 
thereof; 
f. Prepare written reports regarding its investigations and special studies, including 
the findings and safety recommendations thereon and make such reports available 
to the public; 
g. Assess and evaluate the techniques and methods of accident investigation and 
prepare and publish from time to time the recommended procedures for accident 
investigations; 
Section 6: Compositions, Qualifications, and Appointments of the Members 
of the Governing Board. –  
a.  The Board shall be composed of seven (7) full-time Members, headed by a 
Chairman. who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines. A Member 
of the Board must be a natural-born citizen at the time of his/her appointment, 
and must have at least three (3) years of actual experience in the administration, 
operation and management of a transport utility firm or regulatory agency in either 


air, land, sea or rail transportation and knowledgeable in accident reconstruction, 
safety engineering or transportation and traffic safety: Provided, That three (3) of 
the full-time members must come from the commuting public, include ng a 
representative from organizations advocating for road safety. 
b. The members shall be Filipino citizens and residents of the Philippines, at least 
thirty-five (35) years of age, and persons of good moral character, unquestionable 
integrity, and recognized probity and competence. 
c. The Chairman shall have a term of five (5) years but may be renewed for a non-
extendible period of one (1) year: Provided, That the term of the initial appointees 
shall be staggered such that the Chairman shall hold office for a term of five (5) 
years, the next three (3) members for three (3) years and the other three (3) 
members for two (2) years. 
d. Upon the expiration of their respective terms, they shall continue to serve until 
their successor shall have been appointed and qualified. In case a member fails to 
complete his term, his successor shall only serve the unexpired portion of the term 
of his predecessor. 
e. A member may be removed from office by the President for cause in accordance 
with the Civil Service rules and regulations. 
f. In case of incapacity or absence of the Chairperson, the members shall choose from 
among themselves an acting Chairperson. 
g. The Board shall establish and maintain distinct appropriately staffed bureaus, 
divisions, or offices, to investigate and report on accidents involving each of the 
following modes of transportation: 
1. Aviation; 
2. Highway and motor vehicle; 
3. Pipeline, railroad, and tracked vehicle; and 
4. Marine transport carriers. 
SECTION. 7. Chairperson; Duties and Powers. - The Chairperson shall be the chief 
executive and administrative officer of the NTSB. The Chairperson shall: 
a. Administer oaths and issue subpoena duces tecum or subpoena ad testificandum: 
Provided, that subpoenas shall be issued under the signature of the Chairperson 
and may be served by any officer, personnel or employee of the NTSB as designated 
by the Chairperson; 
b. Execute and carry out the policies, decisions, orders, and resolutions approved by 
the Board; 
c. Direct and supervise the operations and internal administration of the NTSB, 
including enforcement of disciplinary actions; 
d. Sign appointments, make temporary assignments, rotate and transfer of personnel 
in accordance with law; 
e. Prepare the annual budget of the NTSB for approval by the Board; 
f. Supervise the expenditures of the NTSB; 
g. Delegate his/her authority, in whole or in part, to other officials of the NTSB in 
accordance with Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the Administrative 
Code of 1987, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Board; and 
h. Perform such other functions as may be authorized by the Board. 


Section 8: Duties and Powers of the Board. - The Board shall: 
a. Initiate and conduct studies on matters pertaining to safety in transportation and 
avoiding injury to persons and damage to property; 
b. Gather, analyze, maintain, and publish from time to time data and statistics on 
transportation accidents; 
c. Prescribe requirements for persons and institutions regarding data gathering, 
reporting, the preservation, proper handling, conservation, and protection of 
evidence, records files, and/or specimens related to any accident; 
d. Issue periodic reports to Congress, the President, and make them available to 
government agencies and instrumentalities, and non-government organizations 
concerned with transportation safety upon request, including owners of public 
transportation carriers who may be concerned with the findings of the Board and 
to interested persons. Such reports shall contain proposals for corrective measures 
to make the transportation of persons as safe and free from the risk of injury as 
possible, including steps to minimize human injuries from transportation 
accidents: Provided, the said reports shall be made public within sixty (60) days 
from its submission to the Congress or to the president, as the case may be;  
e. The Board may require and shall be furnished a copy of reports by the officials 
concerned on any transportation-related accident, The Board may order, if 
necessary, the autopsy, or require other tests of such persons as may be needed for 
the investigation of the accident; 
f. The Board may call the assistance of, and use any available services, equipment, 
facilities, of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Department of Transportation 
(DOTC), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of National Defense (DND), 
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine National Police 
(PNP), and other agencies and instrumentalities of the government; 
g. The Board may enter into such contracts, leases, agreements and other 
transactions as may be necessary in the conduct of its functions and duties; 
h. The Board may create advisory committees composed of qualified private citizens 
and government officials with whom the Board may consult in the implementation 
of its functions and duties, and to pay honoraria of these persons for meetings 
actually attended. Whenever necessary, the Board may likewise appoint or retain 
the services of recognized expense as consultants on the accidents under 
investigation. Such consultants shall be paid compensation as fixed by the Board: 
Provided, That not more than three (3) consultants shall be appointed for each 
accident being investigated Provided, funnel That no officer, external auditor, or 
legal counsel of any investigated: Provided, further, That no officer, external 
auditor, or legal counsel of any private company or enterprise primarily engaged 
in the transportation industry shall be eligible for appointment as a consultant of 
the Board within three (3) years from his retirement, resignation, or separation 
therefrom; 
i. Appoint advisory committees composed of qualified private citizens and officials 
of the national government and LGUs as appropriate; 
j. Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, accept voluntary and uncompensated 
services; 
k. Accept donations and gifts of money and other property; 


l. Enter into contracts with non-profit entities to carry out studies related to the 
duties and powers of the Board for its operating expenses; 
m. The Chairman of the Board may determine the number of committees that are 
appropriate to maintain effective liaison with other departments, agencies and 
instrumentalities of the national government and LGUs, non-government 
organizations, and independent standard-setting authorities that carry out 
programs and activities related to transportation safety. The Board shall designate 
a representative to serve in the committees; 
n. The Board or any officer, or employee designated by the Chairman, may conduct 
an inquiry to obtain information related to transportation safety; and 
o. (o) The Board or its designated officer or employee may require by order, a 
department, agency, or instrumentality of the national government, LGUs or a 
person, natural or juridical, which transports persons or goads, to submit to the 
Board a written report and answers to request and questions pursuant to the 
powers of the Board under thig Act. The Board shall prescribe the time within 
which the reports and the answers thereto must be submitted to its designated 
officer or employee. Copies of the report and the answers thereto Shall be made 
public within sixty (60) days from submission to the Board. 
SECTION 9. Quorum. - The presence of at least four (4) members shall constitute a 
quorum and the majority vote of members present shall be necessary for the adoption of 
any rule, ruling, order, resolution, decision or other acts of the Board.  
SECTION 10. Compensation. - The Chairman and the Members of the Board shall 
have the rank of a Department Undersecretary and Assistant Secretary, respectively. They 
shall receive the compensation and other emoluments corresponding to those of a 
Department Undersecretary and Assistant Secretary, respectively. 
SECTION 11. Offices of the NTSB. - For the proper management and effective 
implementation of the objectives of the NTSB, the following offices are hereby 
established: 
a. Office of the Executive Director. - The NTSB shall have an Executive Director who 
shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of 
the Board. The Executive Director must be at least thirty-five (35) years of age at 
the time of appointment, a member of the Philippine bar, and engaged in the 
practice of law for at least ten (10) years prior to the date of appointment. The 
appointee must not have been a candidate for any elective position in the elections 
immediately preceding the appointment. 
The Executive Director shall assist the Chairperson in the discharge of his 
functions as executive and administrative head of the Board and be responsible for 
the day-to-day management of the NTSB; record and report the proceedings of the 
Board; have custody of records, maps, profiles, reports, and other documents filed 
in connection with any case or proceedings before the NTSB; supervise the NTSB 
laboratory; and, perform such other functions as may be assigned by the 
Chairperson or the Board. 


b. Office of Aviation Safety. - The Office of Aviation Safety shall conduct 
investigations of all aviation accidents and submit the corresponding reports and 
necessary transportation safety recommendations to the Board. 
c. Office of Maritime Safety. - The Office of Maritime Safety shall conduct 
investigations of all maritime accidents and submit the corresponding reports and 
necessary transportation safety recommendations to the Board 
d. Office of Surface Transportation Safety. - The Office of Surface Transportation 
Safety shall conduct investigations of road transportation, railroad, and pipeline 
accidents and submit the corresponding reports and necessary transportation 
safety recommendations to the Board. 
e. Office of Transportation Safety Standards. - The Office of Transportation Safety 
Standards shall prescribe safety standards in all transportation systems; establish 
and update transportation safety standards through continuing research and in-
depth studies; and oversee the implementation of the safety recommendations 
program of the NTSB. 
f. Office of Research and Engineering. - The Office of Research and Engineering shall 
provide technical advice and services to the NTSB; conduct research and carry out 
analytical studies and tests on all aspects of the NTSB's transportation accident 
investigation, accident prevention and safety promotion activities; conduct safety 
studies on specific safety issues; perform statistical analyses of transportation 
accidents and incident data; maintain archival records of the NTSB's accident 
investigation and safety promotion activities; and, support the NTSB's data 
processing, computing and information management requirements. 
g. Office of the General Counsel. - The Office of the General Counsel shall provide 
legal advice and assistance to the NTSB and its officers, personnel and employees; 
prepare rules, opinions and orders; and represent the NTSB in court actions and 
other proceedings. 
h. Office of Public Affairs. - The Office of Public Affairs shall provide the general 
public, including Congress and the national agencies, the transportation industry, 
and the media with current and accurate information concerning the activities, 
programs and objectives of the NTSB. 
i. Administration Office. - The Administration Office shall provide administrative 
support in the following aspects: budget; accounting and audit; human resource 
management; information and automatic data processing management; property, 
space, communications, facilities and transportation management; and, printing, 
publications, correspondence, procurement, contracting, and accident inquiry 
services. 
SECTION 12. Personnel. - Subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations, and the 
approval of the Department of Budget and Management, the Board shall determine its 
own staffing pattern and the number of personnel of the organization. The Board shall, in 
accordance with existing laws and policies, select, appoint, employ, and fix the 
compensation of such officers and employees, including investigators, and attorneys, as 
may be necessary to carry out its powers and duties. 
SECTION 13. Prohibited Interests. - The Chairperson, members of the Board, 
officers, and employees shall not, during their tenure, hold any other office or 


employment. Neither shall they engage in the practice of any profession or in the active 
management or control of any business which, in any way, may be affected by the 
functions of their office, nor shall they be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in 
any contract with, or in any franchise or privilege, granted by the government and its 
subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled 
corporations or their subsidiaries. They shall directly avoid conflict of interest in the 
conduct of their office. 
No spouse or relative by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree and no 
law, business or professional partner or associate of the Chairperson or Members may 
appear as counsel or agent on any matter pending before the Board or transact business 
directly or indirectly therewith. 
The disqualification shall apply during the tenure of the official concerned and one (1) 
year thereafter. 
Any violation of this section shall be a ground for removal from the NTSB as well as 
administrative, civil or criminal prosecution under applicable laws. 
SECTION 14. Recommendations of the Board. - The Board shall submit a 
recommendation regarding transportation safety to the appropriate government agencies 
of which they shall respond to each recommendation formally and in writing not later 
than thirty (30) days after receipt thereof. The failure on the part of the concerned agency 
to abide by the recommendation of the Board without any justifiable reason shall be a 
ground for administrative liability of the head of the agency or concerned official as well 
as other sanctions as provided under existing laws. 
The Board shall recommend to the appropriate government agencies the recall of any 
defective means of transportation and to cause the installation of the required part or 
parts to make it safe and notify not only the distributor or purchaser but also the public 
of such defect. It shall also recommend the grounding of any defective means of 
transportation pending the investigation of the cause or nature of its defect. Moreover, 
the Board may also recommend the denial, amendment, modification, suspension, or 
revocation of a certificate of public convenience, registration or franchise if the means of 
transportation, including the activities of a commercial carrier, have been found 
negligent, as well as suspension or revocation of license, as the case may be. 
SECTION 15. Disclosure, Availability, and Use of Information. –  
a. Except as provided in this section, any copy of record, information or report of 
investigation submitted to the NTSB shall be made available to the public upon 
request and payment  of reasonable cost; 
b. The Board shall not make the records available for purposes other than accident or 
incident investigation, unless the appropriate authority for the administration of 
justice determines that their disclosure outweighs the adverse domestic and 
international impact; 
c. The Board shall not disclose any information related to a trade secret except: 


1. To another department, agency, or instrumentality of the national 
government, when requested for official use; 
2. To a committee of Congress having jurisdiction over the subject matter to 
which the investigation is related, when requested by that committee; 
3. In a judicial proceeding under a court order that preserves the 
confidentiality of the information without impairing the proceeding; and 
4.  To the public: Provided, That such disclosure shall be for the protection of 
public health and safety: Provided, further, That the disclosure shall be 
made in a manner designed to protect and preserve its confidentiality. 
d.  The Board shall not publicly disclose any part of a cockpit voice recording or 
transcript of oral communications by and between flight crew members and 
ground station related to an accident or incident investigated by the NTSB: 
Provided, That the NTSB shall make public any part of the transcript that it deems 
relevant to the said accident or incident: 
1. When the NTSB holds a public hearing on the accident or incident; or 
2. When the NTSB makes public its findings relative to the said accident or 
incident. 
e. Except as provided in Section 15 (b) of this Act, the Board shall maintain the 
confidentiality of, and exempt from disclosure: 
1. Laboratory records provided to the Board; and 
2. Medical information related to the test or a review of the test voluntarily 
provided to the Board by the tested officer or employee. 
f. The Board may use a laboratory record of a person made available to it under this 
Act to develop an evidentiary record in its investigation of an accident or incident 
where the fitness of such person is at issue. 
SECTION 16. Non-admissibility as Evidence. - No part of a report of the NTSB 
related to a transportation accident investigation may be admitted as evidence or shall be 
used in any a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report. 
Furthermore, the NTSB shall have immunity from suits arising from its investigation, 
pronouncements, and findings. 
 
SECTION 17. Relationship with Other Government Agencies. - 
a. Nothing in this Act shall deprive other government agencies of performing their 
initial functions. including the investigation of accidents or making inquiries 
thereon, when those functions exist prior to the effectivity of this Act: Provided, 
That the Board, at its discretion, may require the submission of the records, 
findings, and recommendations of the investigation or inquiry; 


b. The PNP or any other law enforcement agency shall continue to investigate and 
record accidents involving motor vehicles and/or pedestrians for this purpose, the 
Board shall prescribe a uniform and standard operating system for investigation of 
such accidents. which shall be mandatory on the part of the investigating body or 
person; 
c. The Board may require the submission of the records, findings, and/or 
recommendations of previous accidents and/or investigations of such accidents, 
from any government agency. For this purpose, the agency concerned shall 
transmit to the Board, within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof, said records, 
findings, and/or recommendations; and 
d. In the exercise of its powers, the Board shall take into consideration the 
provisions of any treaty entered into by the Republic of the Philippines with 
other countries relative to the investigation of accidents over which the Board 
assumed jurisdiction. 
SECTION 18. Disclosure, Availability, and Use of Information. - 
a. Except as provided in this section, any copy of the record, information or report of 
investigation submitted to the Board shall be made available to the public upon 
request and at reasonable cost, 
b. The Board shall not make the records available for purpose other than accident or 
incident investigation, unless the appropriate authority for the administration of 
justice determines that their disclosure outweighs the adverse domestic and 
international impact, 
c. The Board shall not disclose any information related to a trade secret, except: 
1. To another department, agency, or instrumentality of the national 
government, when requested for official use; 
2. To a committee of Congress having jurisdiction over the subject matter to 
which the investigation is related, when requested by that committee; 
3. In a judicial proceeding under a court order that preserves the confidentially 
of the information without impairing the proceeding; and 
4. To the public: Provided, that such disclosure shall be for the protection of 
public health and safety; Provided, further, that the information so 
disclosed will not be detrimental to public health and safety: Provided final, 
that the disclosure shall be made in a manner designed to protect and 
preserve its confidentiality. 
d. The Board shall not publicly disclose any part of a cockpit voice recording or 
transcript of oral communications by and between flight crew Members and 
ground station related to an accident or incident Investigated by the Board: 
Provided, That the Board shall make public any part of transcript the Board decides 
is relevant to the said accident incident: 
1. When the Board holds a public hearing on the accident or incident; or 
2. When the Board makes public its findings relative to the said accident or 
incident. 


e. Any law to the contrary notwithstanding the head of the concerned agency shall, 
upon order or written request by the Board provide the following information to 
the board: 
1. Any report or a confirmed positive toxicological test, verified as positive by 
the medico-legal officer of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), 
conducted on an officer or employee of the concerned agency under post-
accident, unsafe practice, or reasonable toxicological requirements of the 
concerned with the circumstances of an accident or incident under the 
investigative jurisdiction of the Board; and 
2. Any laboratory record documenting that the test is confirmed as positive. 
f. Except as provided in Section 10 (b) of this Act, the Board shall maintain the 
confidentiality of, and exempt from disclosure: 
1. Laboratory records provided to the board shall maintain the confidentiality 
of, and be exempt from disclosure; and 
2. Medical information related to the test or a review of the test voluntarily 
provided to the Board by the tested officer or employee. 
g. The Board may use a laboratory record made available to it under this Act to 
develop an evidentiary record in its investigation of an accident or incident if: 
1. The fitness of the tested officer or employee is at issue in the investigation; 
and 
2. The use of that record is necessary to develop the evidentiary records. 
SECTION 19. Appropriations. - The sum of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) is 
hereby appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated, for the initial organization and operations of the Board Thereafter, such 
sums, as may be necessary for the operations of the Board, shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 20. Annual Report. - The Board shall submit to the President and Congress 
an annual report at the end of every calendar year containing, among others: 
(a) Statistical and analytical information of accident or incident investigations 
conducted and reviewed by the Board during the preceding year; 
(b) A survey and summary of the recommendations made by the Board to reduce 
the likelihood of the recurrence of those accidents, together with the observed 
response to each recommendation; and 
(c) The uses of, disbursement form, and receipt to the Fund created in accordance 
with this Act. 
SECTION 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Board, In consultation with the DOJ, DOTC, PCG, DND, 
DPWH, PNP, and NBI, shall promulgate the implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) 


for the effective implementation of this Act. The IRR shall provide procedures geared 
towards streamlined processes and swift justice by observing timeline or deadline in 
rendering decisions and issuances, plain writing or easy-to understand instructions, and 
over-all improvement of the industry. 
SECTION 22. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provisions of this Act are 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other part or parts thereof which are not affected 
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 23. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances or 
rules and regulations, or portions thereof, that are inconsistent with this Act or any 
provision or provisions, thereof, are repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 24. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,