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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo.__3644

Introduced by REP. JOSE CHRISTOPHER Y. BELMONTE,

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The proposed bill aims to address the unfortunate phenomenon of orphaned or
abandoned mines brought about by inadequate legislation prior to the passage of the Mining
Act of 1995. Abandoned mines pose environmental, health, safety and socio-economic
problems for communities, the mining industry, and government, both local and national.

Over the last three decades, some twenty-two (22) large-scale mines have shut down
prematurely for varying reasons. These include the following:
1. Acoje Mining Company, Inc. (AMCI) in Sta. Cruz, Zambales (Chromite);
2. Barlo Mining Corporation (BMC) in Mabini, Pangasinan (Copper);
. BatongBuhay Gold Mines Inc. in Pasil, Kalinga (Gold);
. Antamok Mines (BC-BAGO) in Itogon, Benguet (Gold);
. Benguet Consolidated Mining Corp. (BCMC) in Itogon, Benguet (Gold);
. Benguet Corporation-Dizon Copper/ Gold Mines (BCD) in San Marcelino, Zambales
(Copper);
7. Masinloc Chromite Mines-Benguet Corporation (MCM-BC) in Masinloc, Zambales
(Refractory Chromite);
8. Benguet Exploration Mine (BEM) in Tuba, Benguet (Gold);
9. Black Mountain Inc. (BMI) in Tuba, Benguet (Gold);
10. Filminera Resources Corporation (FRC) formerly Banahaw Mining and Development
Corp. in Rosario and Bunawan, Agusan del Sur (Gold);
11. CDCP-Basay Mine (CDCP-Basay) in Basay, Negros (Copper);
12. Ino and Capayang Mines (ICM) in Mogpog, Marinduque (Copper);
13. Heritage Mining Corp. (Alamag Processing Group) in Llorente, Eastern Samar
(Chemical Chromite);
14, Hixbar Gold Mining (HIXBAR) in Rapu-Rapu Island, Albay (Gold);
15. Romblon Marble Mining (RMM) in Romblon (Marble);
16. Palawan Quicksilver Mines (PQM) in Palawan (Mercury);

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17. Philippine Iron Mines (PIM) in Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte (Iron);

18. Philippine Pyrite Corporation (PPC) in Bagacay, Samar (Pyrite);

19. Silica Sand Mine (SSM) in Palawan (Silica);

20. Surigao Consolidated Mining Co., Inc. (SURICON) in Siana and Mapawa, Surigao
del Norte (Gold);

21. United Paragon Mining Corporation (UPMC) in Paracale, Camarines Norte (Gold);
and,

22. Vulean Mining Corporation (VMC) in Cordon, Isabela (Gold);

Due to the unplanned nature of their closure, these mines were effectively abandoned
by their operators and left unrehabilitated. Unfortunately, government regulators at the time
lacked the law to enforce remediation measures. These regulations came only in 1996, when
guidelines on mine rehabilitation and decommissioning were incorporated in the
implementing rules and regulations of the Mining Act of 1995. Today, modern large-scale
mines operate in accordance with "best practices” techniques, and government regulation has
greatly improved in monitoring both exploration and mining activities, as well regulating the
final stages of decommissioning and mine closure.

Left unrehabilitated, abandoned mine sites may degrade to form hazards to human
and animal life in the form of accessible adits, shafts and workings, as well as associated
pollution, such as acid drainage, from old workings and stockpiles. Visual degradation is an
issue in some areas, even if the site is not actively eroding. In some places, ongoing erosion
can affect land stability, as well as impact re-vegetation efforts and groundwater quality.

‘The greatest challenge for government is funding rehabilitation efforts. The objective
is to put a stable funding mechanism in place that can address the many issues posed by
orphaned or abandoned mines. While tapping existing revenue streams generated by mining
or creating a fund through a new levy on mining production are the most viable options, this
bill also seeks to introduce the concept of Public-Private Partnership in the rehabilitation of
abandoned mines. Effective partnerships will assist in dealing with the difficult issues posed
by abandoned mine sites, including pollution/contamination, land ownership, liability issues,
overlapping jurisdictions, and long-term management considerations. Public-Private
Partnerships can facilitate the design of cleanup and rehabilitation strategies that address the
foregoing concerns.

Interestingly, for all the perceived dangers posed by abandoned mines, people living
in the vicinity of these mines still favour their reopening. After all, these mines had provided
employment for residents of the host communities when they were in operation, as well as for
those in nearby areas. Mining companies were seen as stable sources of income compared to
farming and fishing, which were among the more common means of livelihood of towns that
also had mining sites.

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

Li bove de

JOSE CHRISTOPHER Y, BELMONTE
Representative, 6" District, Quezon City



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.__ 3644

Introduced by REP. JOSE CHRISTOPHER Y. BELMONTE

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE REHABILITATION OF ORPHANED OR ABANDONED MINES,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7942, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE "PHILIPPINE MINING ACT OF 1995"

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Chapter I Section 3 of Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the
Philippine Mining Act of 1995, is hereby amended as follows:

"SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in and for purposes of this Act,
the following terms, whether in singular or plural, shall mean

(a) Abandoned Mine refers to a mine covered by a mining lease contract or
any of the mineral agreements defined under this Act, which is closed
without proper decommissioning or has not been in actual operation
for a reasonable period of time, and whose mining contractor cannot be
found or for which the mining contractor is unable or unwilling to
carry out rehabilitation and/or remediation works.

(b) Ancestral lands XXX XXX XXX.
(c) Block or meridional block XxX XXX_—_XXX.
(4) Bureaw XXX XXX XXX,
(©) Carrying capacity XXX XXX XXX,
(f Contiguous zone XXX_XXX_—_XXX.
(g) Contract area XXX XXX_—XXX
(h) Contractor XXX XXX__XXK,

(i) Co-production agreement (CA) XXX XXX_OXXX.


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Decommissioning refers to the activity or process that begins after
cessation of prospecting activities or mineral production, including
metallurgical plant production. It involves, among others, the removal
of unwanted infrastructure, making excavations and waste repositories
safe and stable and surface rehabilitation with a view to negate or
minimize any adverse environmental impacts remaining after cessation
of mineral production. It includes the after-care or maintenance that
may be needed.

Department XXX XXX XXX.
Development XXX XXX XXX,

Director XXX XXX, XXX.

Ecological profile or eco-profile. XxX XXX__XXX.
Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) Xxx xxx
XXX.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) XXX XXX__XXX.
Exclusive economic zone XXX —-XXX_—XXX.

Existing mining/quarrying right XxX XXX___Xxx.
Exploration XXX XXX_XXX,

Financial or technical assistance agreement XXX XXX
XXX.

Force majeure XXX_XXX XXX.
Foreign-owned corporation XxX XXX XXX.

Government XXX XXX XXX,

Gross output XXX XXX XXX,

Indigenous cultural community Xxx XXX_XXx.

Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) XXX XXX XXX,
Mineral processing XXX__XXX XXX,

Mine Rehabilitation refers to the process used to repair the impacts of
mining on the environment. The long-term objectives of rehabilitation
can vary from simply converting an area to a safe and stable condition
to restoring the pre-mining conditions as closely as possible with all
the area's environmental values intact and establishing a land use
capability that is functional and proximate to the land use prior to the
disturbance of the mine area.

Mine wastes and tailings Xxx XXX Xxx.

Minerals XXX XXX XXX,

Mineral agreement XXX XXX XXX,

Mineral land XXX —-XXX_—OXXX,

Mineral resource XXX —-XXX_—_XXX,

Mining area XXX XXX XXX.

Mining operation XXX XXX XXX,
Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) XxX XXX_—_XXx.
Net assets XXX —OXXX_—_XXX,

Offshore XXX XXX XXX,

Onshore XXX XXX XXX,

Ore XXX —-XXK_—XXX,

Permittee XXX XXX XXX,

Pollution control and infrastructure devices XXX XXX,
XXX.

President XXX —-XXX_—OXKX.


(ar) Private land XXX XXX XRX,

(as) Public land XXX XXX XXX,
(at) Qualified person XXX_OXXX XXX
(au) Quarrying XXX XXX XXX,
(av) Quarry permit XXX XXX XXX,
(aw) Quarry resources XXX OXXX_—_XXX,
(ax) Regional director XXX OXXX__XKX,
(ay) Regional office XXX_XXX KX,

(az) Remining refers to maximizing and recovering the remaining minerals
from the rejects or wastes of abandoned or decommissioned mines or
mining operations;

(ba) Secretary XXX XXX XXX,
(bb) Special allowance XXX XXX XXX,
(be) State XXX XXX XXX.
(bd) — Utilization XXX -XXX_—UXXX,"

C., 2. Chapter XI Section 63 of Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the Philippine
Mining Act of 1995, is hereby amended as follows:

“Sec. 63, Mines Safety and Environmental Protection. All contractors and
permittees shall strictly comply with all the mines safety rules and regulations
as may be promulgated by the Secretary concerning the safe and sanitary
upkeep of the mining operations and achieve waste-free and efficient mine
development [Personnel of the Department involved in the implementation of
mines safety, health and environmental rules and regulations shall be covered
under Republic Act No. 7305.| SUBJECT BUT NOT LIMITED, TO THE
FOLLOWING RULES:

(a) TAILINGS IMPOUNDMENT, A CONTRACTOR MUST, AS FAR AS
PRACTICABLE, BUILD ITS TAILINGS IMPOUNDMENT FACILITY
AWAY FROM CRITICAL WATERSHED DRAINAGE AREAS AND
ENSURE THAT THE IMPOUNDMENT FACILITY WILL NOT
ENDANGER CRITICAL WATERSHED AREAS OR LOW LYING
VALLEYS IN THE EVENT OF EXTRAORDINARY CLIMATE OR
WEATHER CONDITIONS, TAILING IMPOUNDMENTS AND DAMS
MUST MEET INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR LARGE DAMS
AT ALL TIMES, AND TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE
FOLLOWING KEY SITE SELECTION PARAMETERS:

(1) THE STORAGE CAPACITY REQUIRED OF THE FACILITY;

(2) THE SITE AVAILABILITY, | GEOTECHNICAL = AND
GEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS, THE HYDROLOGY OF THE
AREA, AND THE EASE OF THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS;

(3) LAND OWNERSHIP, RIGHTS AND BOUNDARIES;

(4) RARE OR PROTECTED FLORA AND FAUNA;

(5) BORROW MATERIALS AVAILABLE AND LOCALITY;

(6) SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT AND  FLOOD/RIVER
DIVERSION;

(7) ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS;

(8) PROXIMITY TO LOCAL RESIDENTS/INFRASTRUCTURE;

(9) PROXIMITY TO LOCAL DRINKING WATER;


(10) SEEPAGE CONTROL;
(11) GEOLOGY AND SEISMIC CONDITIONS;

(b) PRESERVATION OF TOPSOIL. THE REMOVED TOPSOIL OR THE
MORE PRODUCTIVE HORIZONS OF THE SOIL SHALL BE
-VED FOR OTHER US

(c) RECYCLING OF WATER RESOURCES. WATER USED IN MINING
OPERATIONS SHALL BE RECYCLED. MINING CONTRACTORS
SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FOR THE METHODS OR
EQUIPMENT FOR THE RECYCLING OR REUSE OF WATER.
RELEASED CONTAMINATED WATER SHALL BE TREATED
ACCORDINGLY TO MEET NATIONAL STANDARDS. RELEASED
WATER MUST AT LEAST BE EQUIVALENT IN QUALITY TO THE
BASELINE WATER QUALITY,

(d) PROHIBITION FROM USING ACID-GENERATING WASTE ROCK TO
BUILD ROADS OR DAMS. TO PREVENT OR MITIGATE ACID MINE
DRAINAGE, THERE SHALL BE A PROHIBITION AGAINST USING
ACID-GENERATING WASTE ROCK TO BUILD ROADS OR DAMS
OR OTHER INFRASTRUCTURES. THE USE OF SUCH MATERIALS
SHALL ONLY BE USED AFTER TREATMENT TO NEUTRALIZE
THE EFFECT OF ACID MINE DRAINAGE.

(¢) REHABILITATION OF ABANDONED MINES. ALL ABANDONED
MINES, SHALL, UPON IDENTIFICATION AND
RECOMMENDATION BY THE MINES AND GEO-SCIENCES
BUREAU (MGB) BE DECLARED OPEN FOR MINING
APPLICATION, AND ALL PRIOR MINING RIGHTS OR
CONTRACTS OVER THE SAME SHALL BE RESCINDED,
WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO ANY LEGAL ACTION FOR BREACH OF
CONTRACT OR DAMAGES THAT THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
MAY HAVE AGAINST THE CONTRACTOR THAT ABANDONED
THE PROJECT.

FOR THIS PURPOS!
FOLLOWING ACTIVITI

THE MGB SHALL CONDUCT THE

(1) CONDUCT A SCOPING STUDIES OF ALL ABANDONED MINES.
AND MINERAL BMOCE SING IMPACT ARI

(3) PROVID! THE ORMAT! ION NECESSARY TO A‘ AND
CHARACTERL. PHI TE;

(4) DEFINE THE COS AND RISKS; AND

(5) DEVELOP A REHABILITATION PROGRAM TO PRIORITIZE
THE AREAS TO BE REHABILITATED TO MITIGATE
OBSERVED AND POTENTIAL THREATS TO HUMAN

HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

MINE SITE REHABILITATION PLANS SHALL AIM TO ESTABLISH
A LAND USE CAPABILITY THAT IS FUNCTIONAL AND


PROXIMATE TO THE LAND USE PRIOR TO THE DISTURBANCE
OF THE MINE AREA, UNLESS OTHER MORE BENEFICIAL LAND
USES ARE PREDETERMINED AND AGREED IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND LGUS.

WHERE FEASIBLE, ABANDONED MINES SHALL BE REOPENED
TO MINING APPLICATION BY QUALIFIED PERSONS TO
MAXIMIZE ITS MINERAL POTENTIAL, RECOVER THE
REMAINING MINERALS FROM THE MINE OR ITS WASTE, AND
FUND ITS FINAL DECOMMISSIONING AND REHABILITATION.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IN CASE THE ABANDONED MINE
IS REOPENED FOR MINING OPERATIONS, FIFTY PERCENT (50%)
OF THE NET MINING REVENUE, CORRESPONDING TO THE
GOVERNMENT’S SHARE THEREIN, SHALL BE SET ASIDE TO
FUND THE FINAL MINE REHABILITATION AND
DECOMMISSIONING PLAN (FMRDP)."

SEC. 3. Chapter XV Section 89 of Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the Philippine
Mining Act of 1995, is hereby amended as follows:

“Sec, 89. REHABILITATION FEE, Filing Fees and other Charges. ALL
CONTRACTORS WITH ACTIVE MPSA AND FTAA SHALL PAY TO.
THE NATIONAL TREASURY, FOR DEPOSIT IN A FUND, A
REHABILITATION FEE EQUIVALENT TO THE MINE WASTES AND
TAILINGS FEE AS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS ACT, SUCH FEE SHALL.
BE PAID NO LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE END OF EACH
CALENDAR QUARTER BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST CALENDAR
QUARTER OCCURRING Al DECEMBER 31, 2014, AND ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 2024.

The Secretary is also authorized to charge reasonable filing fees and other
charges as he may prescribe in accordance with the implementing rules and
regulations.”

SEC. 4. Establishment of an Abandoned Mine Rehabilitation Trust Fund (AMRTE). There is
hereby created an Abandoned Mine Rehabilitation Trust Fund (AMRTF) to fund
rehabilitation of abandoned mines, which fund shail be administered by the Secretary of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, The fund shall consist of amounts
deposited in the fund, from time to time derived from:
(a) The rehabilitation fees levied under Section 89 of this Act;
(b) Any user charge imposed on contractors for land reopened to mining operations under
Section 76 (c), after allowed expenditures have been deducted;
(c) Recovered money as provided for under this title;
(d) Interest income earned by the AMRTF; and
(e) Donations by persons, corporations, association and foundations for the purpose of
this chapter.

SEC. 5. Use of the AMRTF. The AMRTF may be used for the following purposes:
(a) Reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by past
mining operations, including but not limited to reclamation and restoration of


abandoned surface mine areas, abandoned processing areas, and abandoned mine
waste storage areas; planting of land adversely affected by past mining to prevent
erosion and sedimentation; prevention, abatement, treatment, and control of water
pollution created by mine drainage including restoration of stream beds, and
construction and operation of water treatment plants; prevention, abatement, and
control of mine subsidence; and establishment of self-sustaining programs to insure
private property against damages caused by land subsidence resulting from
underground mining;

(b) Acquisition and fling of voi
entryways;

(c) Acquisition of land as may be necessary to properly rehabilitate and reclaim an
abandoned min

(d) All other neces:

s and sealing of abandoned mine tunnels, shafts and

ry expenses to accomplish the purpose of this Act.

SEC. 6. The Abandoned Mine Rehabilitation Trust Fund (AMRTE) Committee. An AMRTF
Committee shall be created and shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

(a) Set priorities of abandoned and orphaned mines for rehabilitation;

(b) Manage, operate, monitor, and administer the AMRTF that shall be established and
deposited in a Government depository bank in accordance with the provisions of these
implementing rules and regulations;

(c) Resolve issues involving rehabilitation programs that shall be implemented;

(d) Hire credible experts to do independent studies and researches on the environmental,
engineering and sociocultural impacts of the projects in order to assist it in making
judicious decisions;

(e) Deputize an MMT to serve as its monitoring arm with the regional Office concerned
taking the lead role;

() Maintain independent and specific books of records for all transactions of the
AMRTF;

SEC. 7. Composition of the AMRTF Committee. The AMRTF Committee shall be composed
of the following:

(a) The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources as Chair;

(b) The secretary of Interior and Local Government as Co-Chair;

(c) The Director of the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau as Member;

(d) The Director of the EMB as Member;

(e) A Representative from the LGU as Member;

(f) A Representative from the NGOs and community organizations, including

People's Organizations, church or civic organizations, as Member; and,
(g) A Representative from the mining industry as Member.

In case the Chair and/or Co-Chair cannot personally attend a meeting or function of
the AMRTF Committee, he/she shall designate or appoint a representative who shall be duly
authorized in writing to have full power and authority to act in his/her behalf.

‘The MGB shall provide the technical, secretariat and administrative supports, as may
be deemed necessary, to the Committee.

SEC. 8. Meetings of the AMRTF Committee. The Committee shall hold quarterly meetings:
Provided, That any member of the Committee may call a special meeting as he/she may deem
necessary: Provided, further, That notices of the meetings stating the date, time, place and


agenda therefore shall be sent by the Committee Chair or Co-Chair to all members at least ten
(10) working days before the intended date of the meetings. In all meetings, the presence of at
least four (4) members shall constitute a quorum to conduct business. The meetings shall be
presided by the Chair or, in his/her absence, by the Co-Chair. In the absence of the Chair and
the Co-Chair, the meetings shall be presided by cither of their representatives. Unless
otherwise provided herein, a majority vote of the members present in the meeting shall be
required to give effect to any resolutions or decisions of the Committee. The presiding officer
of the meeting shall not vote in any matter brought before the Committee except in case of a
tie.

SEC. 9. The Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT). An MMT shall be deputized by the
AMRTF Committee to serve as the monitoring arm of said Committee and shall be composed
of the following:

(a) A Representative from Regional Office as Head;

(b) A Representative from Department Regional Office as Member;

(c) A Representative from the FMB Regional Office as Member;

(d) A Representative of the Contractor/Permit Holder as Member.

(e) A Representative from the affected community(ies) as Member;

(f) A Representative from the affected ICCs, if any, as Member; and,

(g) A Representative from an environmental NGO.

The MMT may request the AMRTF Committee for technical assistance when deemed
necessary, The Head of the MMT shall submit to the AMRTF Committee, at least five (5)
working days before the scheduled regular meetings of the latter, a report on the status and/or
result of its monitoring activities.

SEC. 10. Authorized Person to carry out rehabilitation activities. In the case of abandoned
mines where no mining application has been filed or approved, the AMRTF Committee may
authorize a person to carry out all or any of the rehabilitation activities enumerated under
Section 78 of this Act on land on which an abandoned mine exists

SEC. 11. Notice of entry. (a) An Authorized Person entering land under this part must give
the owner and the occupier of the land written notice of the entry—
(1) if the carrying out of rehabilitation activities is necessary to preserve life or
property—within 10 business days after the entry is made; or
(2) otherwise—before entering the land.
(b) The written notice must state the following —
(1) when the entry was, or is to be, made;
(2) the purpose of the entry;
(3) that the Authorized Person is permitted under this Act to enter the land without
consent or a warrant;
(4) the rehabilitation activities carried out or proposed to be carried out.

SEC. 12. Obligation of authorized person in carrying out rehabilitation activities. An
authorized person who enters land under this part—
(a) must not cause, or contribute to, unnecessary damage to any structure or works on the
land; and,
(b) must take all reasonable steps to ensure the person causes as little inconvenience, and
does as little other damage, as is practicable in the circumstances.


SEC. 13. Final Relinquishment of Rehabilitated Areas. The Contractor/Authorized Person
shall prepare and submit a Final Rehabilitation Report (FRR) with third party Environmental
‘Audit (EA) for approval by the AMRTF Committee, if, based on the assessment of the
Contractor/Permit Holder, that the objectives of rehabilitation have been achieved

The AMRTF Committee may, after due review and evaluation of the FRR with EA,
conduct field validation of the reported accomplishments, recommend revision/s to the
submitted report, and/or require additional rehabilitation works to be undertaken: Provided,
That if residual care is still needed, the Contractor/Permit Holder shall submit a Site
Management Plan detailing how the identified residual rehabilitation commitments are to be
managed: Provided further, That the AMRTF Committee shall issue a Certificate of Final
Relinquishment to the Contractor/Authorized Person signifying approval of the FRR with EA
and freeing, the Contractor/Authorized Person from any further obligations in so far as the
rehabilitated area/s are concerned.

SEC. 14. Penalties. Any person, corporate officer, agent or director, on behalf of a mining
contractor, who knowingly makes any false statement, representation or certification, or
knowingly fails to make any statement, representation or certification required in this section
shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than One Million Pesos
(Php1,000,000.00) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

‘The MGB shall conduct such audits of mineral production and the payment of fees
under this subchapter as may be necessary to ensure full compliance with the provisions of
this chapter. For purposes of performing such audits the MGB shall, at all reasonable times,
upon request, have access to, and may copy, all books, papers, and other documents of any
person subject to the provisions of this chapter. The MGB may at any time conduct audits of
any mining and reclamation operation, including without limitation, processing plants, as
may be necessary in the judgment of the MGB to ensure full and complete payment of the
fees under this subchapter.

SEC.15. Separability Clause. If any of the provision of this Act is held or declared to be
unconstitutional or invalid by a competent court, the other provisions hereof shall continue to
be in force as if the provisions so annulled or voided had never been incorporated in this Act.

. 16. Repealing and Amending Clause. All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 17. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,