Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINErEENTII coNGREss
Second Regular Session
House Bill No.
9419
n`ITRODucED 8¥ REPRESENTATlvES RALPH WENDEL p. TULFo,
]OCELYN P. TULFO, ERWIN T. TULFO, EDVIC G. YAP, AND ERIC G0 YAP
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PHILIPPINE eHEALTH SYSTEM AND SERVICES
IN SUPPORT 0F UNIVERSAL HEALTII CARE, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article  11,  Section 15  Of the 1987 Constitution provides  that the State  shall
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness
among them. As we continue to live in the digital age, it becomes imperative to adopt
measures providing health services vis-a-vis technological advances to elevate the
people's right to health to a right to eHealth.
Telehealth  or  eHealth  involves  the  use  of  technology  in  the  diagnosis,
treatment,     monitoring,     and     management    of    patients,     including     video
teleconferencing, remote patient monitoring, mobile health applications, and more
traditional methods of communication such as text, emall, voice, and video calls.1
However,  in  the  Philippines,  there  is  still  no  existing  legal  framework  for  the
implementation of telehealth despite its effeetivity in improving health outcomes and
lowering risks of hospitalization and readmission.2
Although the pandemic may have already been lifted globally, it has exposed
us to the benefits of telehealth, a safer and more convenient healthcare alternative. By
adopting a holistic framework establishing a National eHealth System, this proposed
bill  endeavors  to  address  present  barriers  to  telehealth,  such  as  poor  internet
connectivity, technological illiteracy, and lack of access to gadgets.3
1  Noceda,  A.V.G.,  Acierto,  L.M.M.,  Bertiz,  M.  cf  al.  Patient satisfaction  with  telemedicine  in  the
Philippines during the COVID~19 pandemic: a mixed methods study. BMC HcaJffr Scrz7 Res (2023).
2 Kichloo, A., Alhosfa, M., Dettloff, K., Wani, F., El-Amir, Z., Singh, I., AIjadah, M., Chakinala, R. C.,
Kanugula, A. K., Solanki, S., & Chugh, S. (2020). Telemedjcine, the current COVID-19 pandemic and
the  future:  a  narrative  review  and  perspectives  moving forwaLrd  in  the  USA.  Fanz.ky  "cci!.cz.#c  flHd
community health, 8(3), e000530.
3 Macariola, A. D„ Santarin, T. M. C., Villaflor, F. J. M., Villalum, L. M. G., Yonzon, R. S. L., Fermin, I.
L., Kee, S. L., AIDahoul, N„ Karim, H. A., & Tan, M. J. T. (2021). Brea]chg Barriers Amid the Pandemic:


By institutionalizing the Philippine eHealth system, we seek to provide a safe,
efficient, and effective alternative that addresses the needs of Filipino patients and an
improved health system in the digital age.
In view
RALPH
the foregoing, the urgent passing of this bill is earnestly sought.
wl
NDEL P. TULFO
RIepresentative
2nd District Of Quezon
ACT-CIS Partylist
'esentative
IS Partylist
ERIC G0 YAP
Rapresentative
Lone District Of Benguet
The Status of Telehealth in Southeast Asia and its Potential as a Mode of Healthcare Delivery in the
Philippines. Frond.crs 1.71 phamacoJog]/,12, 754011.
2


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HouseBinNo.9419
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO,
]OCELEN P. TULFO, ERVIN T. TULFO, EDVIC G. YAP, AND ERIC G0 YAP
1       AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PHILIPPINE eHEALTH SYSTEM AND SERVICES
2            IN SUPPORT OF UNIVERSAL HEALTII CARE, AND APPROPRIATING
3                                                             FUNDS THEREFOR
4
Be it e.pee.ted ly the Senate and the House Of Representatives Of the Philippines, in congress
assembled:
ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. SJlorf ri.fJc. - This Act shall be known as the "eHealth System and
10      Services Actof2023".
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12          SEC. 2. Dccharfltr.o# a/PoJI.ey. -It is the policy of the state to protest and promote
13      the right  to  health  of all  Filipinos and  instill  health consciousness  among them.
14     Towards this end, the state shall institutionalize a system of providing wide access to
15      quality  health  information  and  services  using  information  and  communication
16      technology (ICT), referred to as the Natiorml eHealth System (NEHS), resulting in
17      better health outcomes for every Fhipino, and further recognizing whole-of-society
18      and -government approaches.
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20          The NEHS shall be comprehensive, integrated, interoperable, progressive, secure,
21      and sustainable based on best current and future practices, and shall facilitate inter-
22      agency and inter-sectoral coordination at various levels of governance covering both
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1      the  public  and  private  sectors.  It  shall  recognize  eHealth  as  supplemental  and
2      complementary with other healthcare delivery methods to the extent allowable by
3      existing  laws,   provide   and   support  healthcare   delivery,   including   diagnosis,
4     consultation,  treatment,  transfer  of care  of  patient,  exchange  Of  health  data  and
5      education, especially in medically uuserved and underserved geographically isolated
6      and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
7
8           SEC. 3. Ob/iectr.t7cs. -This Act shall provide a holistic framework that establishes a
9      NEHs, whichshali:
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11                (a) Set policies, standards, priorities, plans, programs, and projects that promote
12                      and ensure streandined and safely regulated delivery of eHealth services to
13                      reduce  inequalities,  and  achieve  universal  health care  and better  health
14                       outcomes;
15
16                @) aarify   roles   of   agencies,   institutions,   and   entities   regarding   their
17                      performance  and  accountabilities in building national  and  local eHealth
18                      capacity and measuring results; and
19
2o                (c) Enable the citizenry with suitable access to their own health information
21                      needed for better management and control of their own health.
22
23           SEC. 4. Scapc fl#d Appzi.caft.OEL -This Act covers all existing healthcare providers
24      and   health~related   entities   developing   and   using   eHealth   systems,   services,
25      applications, and tools, whether public or private. It shall cover all eHealth solutious,
26      services, and applications including relevant standard equipment in the field of health
27     and ancillary services that use Ier and are complementary to existing mjrfuum
28      modalities or standards of health care and other means of access to inforrmtion.
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SIC. 5. Deftriitior. Of Terns. - As used in t:his ALct..
(a)  CompJjfl7if  eHgfljffr  Se7".cos  flr!d  AppJ}.catio71s  refer  to  solutious,  products,  aLnd
irmovatious that are compliant with defined architecture of eHealth standards
that enable services and systems, allow for interoperabfiity Of health services
and  information  across  geographic,  organizational,  network  and  vendor
boundaries, and ensure data protection in accordance with Republic Act (R.A.)
No. 10173, otherwise known as the ``Data Privacy Act'', and other related laws
and issuances.
¢) eHeflzffe Dfl£# Sc".cos refer to key architectural data registries Of the health sector
enterprise  needed  to  enable  and  support  large  scale  health  information
interoperabflity and exchange;
(c) cHeflz£¢   Sysfe"   refers   to   the   interplay   Of   enabling   (governance   and
accountability;  strategy  and  investment;  human  resources;  standards  and
interoperability; monitoring and compliance; research and development) and
foundational (infrastructure; services and applications) elements essential for a
successful national eHealth implementation;
(d) £Zccfro7t{.c  Hcozffe  or  eHcoZ#i  refers  to  the  use  of  cost€ffective  and  secure
information communications technology for health, also referred to as digital
health;
(e) £Zccfro7".c Hc¢Jfjz Rgcord (£HR) refers to a computerized health record used to
capture, store, access, and share information Of a patient between and across
health care providers and health-related entities;
(f)  £fecfro7!!.c Medz.coj Record (£MR) refers to a computerized medical record used to
capture, store, and share information Of a patient between health care providers
in an institution or organization;
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(g) £lectro#z.c PIfcscrl.pfrorz  (ep7iescn.pfro#)  refers to a system that allows healthcare
providerstowriteandsendprescriptiousinanautomatedorelectronicwayto
a pharmacy with capability to receive such;
qu) Geographically  Isolated  and  Disadvantaged  Areas   (GIDAs)  refer  to  baral\8aLys
specifically   disadvantaged   due   to   the   presence   of   both   physical   and
sacioeconomic factors. For a barangay to be classified as GIDA, both physical
and scx=ioeconomic factors must be present.
1)Physicalfactorsarecharacteristicsthatlimitthedeliveryofand/oraccess
to basic health services to communities that are difficult to reach due to
distance, weather conditions, and transportation difficulties; and
2)  Socioeconomic factors are social, cultural, and economic characteristics
of the community that limit access to and utilization Of health services;
(i)  Hcflz£J! Passport refers to the portable personal health record of a patient linked
to the electronic health/ medical record whereby patients exercise control;
¢)  HeflzfJz Sccior £#fenyr!.sc A7ichffecfrore refers to the blueprint on which eHealth
services and applications shall be developed, implemented, and scaled up; and
® Information  and  Communications  Technology  refers  to  al:1 tedrohogies  i or  tine
commurrication of information, which includes dataL, application or information
systems, internet, network, connectivity, telecommunications, among others.
SEC. 6. Inyze#te#ft.#gAgeney. -The Department of Health (DOH) shall be the lead
28      implementing agency to carry out the provisions of this Act, including its components.
29     The DOH shall strengthen and transform its existing Knowledge Management and
30      Information Technology service (KMITS) into a full-fledged bureau, to be named as
31      the National eHealth Information and services Bureau (NeHISB), which shall perform
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1      the  overall  management and  administration  of this  Act.  CoITesponding  plantilla
2      positions shall be created for this purpose.
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4          The Bureau shall also serve as a secretariat of the eHealth policy and coordirmtion
5      Council as provided in section 7 hereof.
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7          set. 7. Regiorial and Local Implei'i'tentatiort stwctwes and staf f ing pattern ~ To
8      assist in the implementation of this Act and supjeet to the approval of the Department
9      Of Budget and Management, the DOH, in consultation with the Philippine Health
10      Insurance    Corporation    (PhilHealth),    the    Department    of    Information    and
11      Communications Technology (DICT), and the Department of science and Technology
12      (DcrsT) shall determine the regional and local implementation structures and create
13      divisions or units as it may deem necessary, and shall appoint officers and employees
14     with permanent appointments and supported with an adequate yearly budget in
15      accordance with the civil service law, rules, and regulations.
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17          Setting up of the regional and local implementation structures shall support the
18      organization and integration of local health systems into province- and city-wide
19      health system in accordance with R.A. No.11223, otherwise known as the "Universal
20      Health care Act" and other related issuances.
ARTICLE 11
GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
25          SEC. 8. Creation of the eHeaith poliey and coordinatiott council. ~ There shat:i be
26     created an independent body to be known as the eHealth policy and coordination
27      Council (eRECC) to provide and promote relevant policies and guidelines for the
28      effective coordination and implementation of this Act. The council shall be composed
29      of the following key officials:
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31          (a)   Secretary, DOH -Chairperson
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a)  Secretary, DICT - Co{hairperson
(c)   President & Chief Executive Officer, PhilHealth - CoThairperson
Members:
(d)  Secretary, DcrsT;
(e)   Secretary, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA);
(f)   Secretary, Department Of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);
(g)  Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);
th)  Secretary, Department of Budget and Management (DBM);
(i)   Chancellor, University of the philippines -Manila (UPM);
¢)    Chairperson, Professional Regulation commission orRC);
qc)  Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education (CITED);
(I)   Chairperson, National privacy commission (NPC);
(in) National Statistician, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
(n)  One (1) representative from the Philippine Hospital Association q'HA);
(o)  one (1) representative from the Private Hospital Association of the Philippines
18                   a?HApi);
19          (p)  One (1) representative from the provincial Health officers Association of the
20                  Philippines (PHOAP);
21           (q)  One (1) representative from the Association of Municipal Health officers of the
22                  Philippines (AMHOP);
23           (r)   Two (2) representatives from professional medical or health societies;
24          (s)   One (1) representative from patients group; and
25           (t)   One (1) representative from the lcT industry associations.
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27          The heads of government agencies may be represented by an official whuse rank
28      shall not be lower than an Assistant secretary or its equivalent. Members representing
29      the private sector shall be appointed by the Fhesident of the philippines not later than
30      thirty (30) days after the date of enactment of this Act and shall serve for a term of
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1      three (3) years, renewable upon recommendation of the council for a maximum of
2      two (2) consecutive terms.
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4          The government agency-members of the council shall have the authority to act
5      upon and decide on all urgent matters pending the formation of the council and the
6     appointment of members from the private sector by the president of the philippines.
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8           SEC. 9. Poavcrs fl#d D#f{.cs a/the co#rict.i -The council shall exercise the following
9      powers and functions:
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11                 (a) Define and promote overall eHealth policies, standards, and regulations at
12                        all levels of healthcare system, public and private;
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14                 ap) Ensure integration and coordination of national and local eHealth strategies
15                        and initiatives; and
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17                 (c) Submit  yearly  assessments  and  accomplishment  reports  to  the  Senate
18                      Committee on Health and Demography and the House of Representatives
19                      Committee on Health for performance mohitoring and evaluation.
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21           SEC.10. Crefl£{.o# a/ the s#b-Sfrocfrorc or MccJ!fl#f.sin -The council shall create
22      multi-sectoral groups, composed of both the private and  public sectors to ensure
23      broader stakeholder participation and for the furtherance of its objectives.
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25          Setting up of the sub-structures or mechanisms shall be in accordance with the
26      Universal Health care Act and other related issuances.
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janHCLE Ill
sTANDARDs AND INTERopERABILrly
4          SEC.11. HcaJth Sector £#ferpr.se ArcJit.fect%rtL  -The Nells shall be operated
5      within a health sector enterprise architecture that aligns and ensures that health and
6      health-related  data  are  made  available  and  accessible  anytime  and  anywhere  to
7     various stakeholders, business processes for health are streamlined and integrated,
8      and services and applications are usable, safe, efficient, and effective, following the
9      health care business model provided under the universal Health care Act and other
10      related issuances.
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12          Rationalization for safety and cost effectiveness, scope and standards for design,
13      and use of technologies in the health sector shall also be defined in this architecture.
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15          All health care providers and health-related entities shall adopt a health enterprise
16      architecture as defined and guided by the council.
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18           SEC.12.  Sto#dflrids  Cor#pli.fl#ce.  -All  healthcare  providers  and  health-related
19      entities shall comply with the data standards to allow interoperability and health
2o      information exchange, and ensure data protection in accordance with the Data privaey
21      Act and other related laws and issuances.
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23           These  standards  shall  include,  1.rtfgr flzie,  patient  identifier,  healthcare  provider
24      identifiers, terminology and messaging standards, and shall be in accordance with the
25      Philippine  eGovernment  interoperability  framework  security  and  other  relevant
2 6      standards.
jrmTlcLE IV
SERVICES AND APPLICATIONS
31          SBC.  13.  Rationalization  Of  eHealth  Services  and  Applications.  -  Design,
32      development, and implementation of eHealth services and applications shall focus on
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1      the automation and interoperability of the various mandatory business processes and
2      data  services  in  the  health  sector  as  laid  out  in  the  Health  Sector  Enterprise
3      Architecture and which may be subjected to health technology assessment and shall
4     comply with regulatory requirements.
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6          SEC.14. Scope of eHealth services and Applications. -eHealth shall inchnde the
7      followingareas:
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9          (a) Mandatory eHealth Data services:
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1)  Master person Index
2)  Master Provider quuman Resources) Index
3)  Master Fachity Index
4)  Terminology or Health services Registry
5)  National Immunization Registry
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16          ap) Compliant eHealth services and Applications, including but not limited to:
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1)  Electronic Health Record and Electronic Medical Record
2)  ehaboratory and eprescription
3)  Health passport
4)  Health Data/Information Exchange
5)  Health Facility Operations and Management
6)   Disease Registries
7)  Telehealth/ Telemedicine and Mobile Health (mHealth)
8)  Human Resources in eHealth
9)  Supply chain Management
10) Enterprise Resource Planning
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ARTICLE V
TELE€I.TH
4          SEC.15. Regulations of Telehealth services and eHeaith Reidted Devices. -The
5      Council,  through the DOH,  shall establish  and  maintain a  regulatory  system for
6      telehealth services and eHealth-related devices.
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8          SEE.16.  Standards  Of Practice  and  Certif tcation  Of Individ:uals  and Entities
9      Prou{.dt.#g Tefeheflzth scrof.cos. -To complement the regulations of telehealth services
10     and eHealth-related devices, the pRc and the DOH, in consultation with philHealth,
11      UPM  -  National  Telehealth  Center,  DICT,  the  academia,  medical  and  specialty
12      societies, non-government organizations, the private and business sectors, shall set
13      the standards of practice and implement a certification mechanism for health care
14      providers and health-related entities providing telehealth services.
ARTICLE VI
IIUMAN RESOURCES
19           SEC.17. H#r#¢r{ Rcso#rce t.# cHeflzfh -The human resource for eHealth are health
20      care professionals who shall plan, design, build, operate, use, maintain, and support
21      the eHealth services and applications.
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23          The DOH, PRC, CHED, DICT, and Technical Education and skills Development
24      Authority   (TESDA),   in  consultation   with  medical   and   specialty   societies,   IT
25      professional   associations,   and   the   academia,   shall   establish   the   minimum
26      competencies  and  impose  the  same  on  health,  health~related,  and  digital  health
27      professionals. This shall be part of the curriculum of health and health-related courses.
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29          SEC.18. Human Resource f or eHealth Development plan. -The DOH, PRC, CHED ,
30      and  TESDA shall  formulate  the Human Resource for eHealth Development Plan
31      which shall develop new curricula, integrate changes in existing cuITicula, create
32     formal and non-formal training programs, and continuing professional development
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1      programs concerning the practice of eHealth. There shall also be creation of persormel
2      service items, plantilla positions, and other employment opportunities for hunran
3     resources in governlnent hospitals and institutions to manage and emble eHealth in
4     healthcare and related services.
janTlcLE VII
INFRASTRUCTURE
SEC. 19. rcT Irl4#sfro4ch¢re. - The DICT, in coordination with DOH, PhilHealth,
10     and DasT, shall establish and maintain the necessary national IcT infrastructure to
11      implement eHealth services and applications.
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13          SEC. 20. N¢£z.o#¢J Hc¢Jth I)¢to cc"£gr. -The philHealth, in coordination with the
14      COH,  DICT,  and  DOST,  shall  establish and  maintaLin the Nationd  eHealth Data
15     Center, and implement an agile and sustainable data management and govermnce
16     fralnework and system in support to the universal Health care Act and in compliance
17      with the Data privacy Act of 2012 for data protection.
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ARTlcLE vm
STRATEGY AND INVESTMENT
22          SEC. Z1. National eHealth Strategic Framework and Plan. -The Councfl shall
23      spearhead the development and monitoring of strategic framework and plan to serve
24      and guide the operations of a NEI.rs.
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26          SEC. 22. Financing the eHealth strategic Framework and plan -Financing for the
27     NEHs by the COH, PhilHealth, and other parfuers, as defined by the council, shall
28      be made available to scale up eHealth implementation at the national level.
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30           SEC. 23. PH.z7¢fe sector p¢rf..cf.p¢fi.OEL -The DOH shall promulgate rules regarding
31      the  participation  of  the   private   sector  in  the  provision  of  eHealth  services,
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applications, and ICT infrastructure, including public-private partnerships, and other
suitable aITangements.
ARTICLE IX
MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE
SEC. 24. Mo#I.tort.ng fled Corxpzi.¢#c& -The Council shall measure and monitor the
performance and progress of the implementation of this Act.
ARTICLE X
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
13           SEC. 25. RcscarcJl fled DcocJoj..menf. -Consistent with R.A. No.10532, otherwise
14      known as the "Philippine National Health Research System Act of 2013'', and the
15     mandate  of the  DOST,  the  REF  -  Philippine Council  for Health Research and
16      Development  (DOST-PCIIRD),  in  consultation  with  DOH,  PRC,  CHED,  DICT,
17      PhilHealth, UPM -National Telehealth center, the academia, regional health research
18      consortia, medical and specialty societies, non-governlnent organizations, the private
19      and  business  sectors,  shall  ensure  the  development  of  new  eHealth  services,
20      applications, and innovations through:
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(a) Formulation  of eHealth research  priority  areas  under the  National  Unified
Health Research Agenda (NUREA) and other research agendas;
@) Funding and mobfiizing resources for researches on eHealth, including creation
of formal and non-formal capability building programs for the development of
a  pool  of  eHealth  researchers  and  irmovators,  which  are  aligned  with  the
research agenda;
(c) Establishment and  strengthening  of centers of excellence  of eHealth policy
studies, research, and development; and
(d) Establishment   and   adherence   of   mechanisms   that   strengthen   eHealth
innovation research and strategy to the health technology assessment process
as provided under the Universal Health Care Act, and that integrate explicit use
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1                of evidence into the policy and decision-making process and national eHealth
2               standards, and support the growth of research consortia on eHealth.
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4          A separate  unit within the  FCHRD  shall  handle  and  manage  eHealth-related
5      activities and programs. The human resource requirement of such a unit shall be
6     determined by pcrmD in consultation with DOH, Civil service comdsion (CSC),
7      and DBM.
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9          SEC. 26. Funding souse f or Research and Development. -The DOH, ThilHealth,
10      RET, DICI, CHED, and DILG shall allocate at least 1% of their respective armual
11     regular budget in support of eHealth research and development. Other government
12      agencies, state universities and colleges (SUCs), private entities, and non-goverrment
13      organizations are encouraged to provide financial support for eHealth research and
14      development.
ARTICLE XI
ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES
T9          SEC. 2:7. Rules and procedures f or Adndttistrative violations and comphiuts. -
20     The  Council  shall  promulgate  rules  and  procedures  relating  to  administrative
21      violations and complaints, insofar as they relate to the establishment and operations
22      Of the national eHealth system.
ARTICLE in
NISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
27          SEC. 28. Tmusi.fony protJisi.ous. -The transformation of KNITs into a full-fledged
28      Bureau and the formulation of the internal organic structure and regional and local
29     implementation structures, staffing pattern, operating system, and the revised budget
30      of the Department for health information technology shall be completed within six (6)
31      months from the effertivity of the Implementing Rules and Regulations ¢RR) of this
32     Act, during which tine, the existing KMI'rs and regional and local implementation
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1      personnel shall continue to serve in holdover capacities until a full and permanent
2     Bureau is constituted and functioning, and new appointments are issued.
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4          SEC. 29. Apprapr!.fltr.o#s. -The amount needed for the initial implementation of
5      this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year's appropriation of the DOH for
6      health information technology.
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8          For the succeeding years, the amount needed for eHealth in the DOH budget and
9      in the budget of other agencies with specific mandates provided in this Act shall be
1o     based on the strategic plan formulated by the Council, in coordination with other
11      stakeholders. The amount shall be included in the National Expenditure Program
12      (NEP) as basis for the General Appropriations Bill.
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14          Further, other sources Of funds can come from the Private Sector Participation
15      Program, Joint DOH-PhilHealth-DICT-DcrsT undertakings on eHealth, and Medium-
16     Term   Information   and   Communications   Technology   Harmonization   Institute
17     qul"I).
18
19           SEC. 30. rrxpzcffle#f±.#g R#Jcs fl#d Regr4haf!.ous. -Within one hundred eighty (180)
20      days from the effectivity of this Act, the secretary of DOH, after consultation with the
21      Secretaries  of  DICT  and  DOST,  the  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of
22     PhilHealth, the chancellor of UPM, the chairperson of the PRC, the chairperson of
23      CHED,  the  National  Statistician  of  rsA,  and  representatives  of  medical  and
24      paramedical assex:iatious and societies, and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the
25      necessary rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act.
26
27           SEC.  31.  Sap¢+#bi.Z{.ty  Czfl#sc.  -If  any  provision  of  this  Act is  held  invalid  or
28      unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full
29      forceand effect.
30
16


1           SEC.  32.  RapcaJ..#g C!¢#s&  -  All  general  and  special  laws,  decrees,  executive
2     orders, prorlamatiors and administrative regulation, or any parts thereof, which are
3      inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
4
5           SEC. 33. £#ech.t7..fry. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
6     in the official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
7
8           Approve d,
17