Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

“ 301

House Bill No.

(

Introduced by AKBAYAN Party-List Representatives Walden F. Bello
and Arlene “Kaka” J, Bag-20

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The people’s right to information is an indispensable element of a functioning
representative democracy. The ideal of a “government by the people” presupposes that
the people have access to information on matters of public concern in order to
effectively exercise its governing power. The right to information is not only a political
imperative; it is also essential in the country’s economic life.

The free flow of information about the affairs of the government paves the way
for debate in public policy, and fosters accountability in government. It results in better
government policies as it provides the institutional foundation to a more responsive
government planning by enhancing the capacity of the public to provide timely feedback
to government. It widens the base for the generation of more knowledge about key
development issues, not only by research and academic institutions, but also by the
public at large. It promotes constructive and informed debate between and among
government and stakeholders and builds consensus around policy objectives and design.
All these promote more informed government interventions supported by a solid and
broad-based constituency.

A free flow of official information is also a vital safeguard against corruption and
rent seeking in government. The economic costs of corruption and rent seeking are well
known. There is loss in consumer surplus arising from higher prices, as well as loss in
output because resources are wasted in rent-seeking activities such as bribery. Secrecy
in government makes corruption and rent seeking flourish. It gives government officials
and rent seekers alike a wider room for maneuver and a greater cover for any evidence
in corruption. In contrast, transparency exposes the vested interests involved, leads to
the identification of corrupt officials, and eventually develops a more level playing field
among economic actors. .

A free flow of official information enhances the economic performance. The
availability of information on official rules, policies, programs, and resource allocation
enables the private sector to make sound long-term economic decisions. This, in turn,
advances economic efficiency and competitiveness.

The Philippine Constitution guarantees the right of its people to information on
matters of public concern. Sec. 7 of the Bill of Rights reads:


“The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be
recognized. Access to official records, and to documents, and papers pertaining
to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data
used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to
limitations as may be provided by law.”

Jurisprudence has so far clarified key aspects of the right of the people to
information on matters of public concern, particularly its nature and scope. As regards
its nature, the Supreme Court has proclaimed that the right to information is not a
private right, but a public right, which may be asserted by any citizen. Regarding its
enforceability, the Supreme Court has held that the Constitutional provisions on the
right to information are self executing,

Despite the Constitutional guarantee and the judicial affirmation of the right,
denial of access to information on matters of public concern in the Philippines remains
widespread. A comprehensive law on public access to official information that
complements the existing Constitutional guarantee and relevant jurisprudence can
mitigate this situation.

In particular, this legislation aims to:

(a) put in place a uniform, simple, speedy and effective means of enforcing the right
to information;

(b) provide a clear penalty for the unlawful denial of access to official information;
and,

(c) clarify further the scope of the guarantee by defining its coverage

Approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

WALDEN F. BELLO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

COult 801

House Bill No.

Introduced by AKBAYAN Party-List Representatives Walden F. Bello
and Arlene “Kaka” J. Bag-a0

AN ACT
IMPLEMENTING THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO INFORMATION ON
MATTERS OF PUBLIC CONCERN GUARANTEED UNNDER SECTION SEVEN,
ARTICLE THREE OF THE 187 CONSTITUION AND THE STATE POLICY OF
FULL PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF ALL ITS TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING PUBLIC
INTEREST UNDER SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT, ARTICLE TWO OF THE 1987
CONSTITUION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Freedom of Information
Act of 2010”

SEC.2, Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the right of the people to
information on matters of public concern, and adopts and implements a policy of full
public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest, subject to the
procedures and limitations provided by this Act. This right is indispensable to the
exercise of the right of the people and their organizations to effective and reasonable
participation at all levels of social, political and economic decision making,

SEC.3. Coverage. ~ This Act shall cover all government agencies as defined under
Section 4 of this Act.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

(a) “Information” shall mean any knowledge, record, document, paper,
report, letters, contract, minutes and transcript of official meetings, maps,
books, photographs, data, research materials, film, sound and video recordings,
magnetic or other tapes, electronic data, computer stored data, or any other like
or similar data or material recorded, stored or archived in whatever form or
format, which are made, received or kept in or under the control and custody of
any government agency pursuant to law, executive order, rules and regulations,
ordinance or in connection with the performance or transaction of official
business by any government agency.

(b) “Government Agency” shall include the executive, legislative and judicial
branches as well as the constitutional bodies of the Republic of the Philippines


including, but not limited to, the national government and all its agencies,
departments, bureaus, offices and instrumentalities, constitutional commissions
and constitutionally mandated bodies, local governments and all their agencies,
regulatory agencies, chartered institutions, government owned and controlled
corporations, including wholly-owned or controlled subsidiaries, government
financial institutions, state universities and collages, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines including the offices of Senators and Representatives, the Supreme
Court and all lower courts established by law.

(c) “Official records” shall refer to information produced or received by a
public officer or employee, or by a government agency in an official capacity or
pursuant to a public function or duty, and is not meant to be a stage or status of
the information.

(d) “Public records” shall include information required by law, executive
orders, rules, or regulations to be entered, kept and made publicly available by a
government agency.

SEC.5. Presumption. — There shall be a legal presumption in favor of access to
information. Accordingly, government agencies shall have the burden of proof of
showing by clear and convincing evidence that the information requested is exempted
from disclosure by this Act.

SEC.6. Access to Information. — Government agencies shall make available to the
public for scrutiny, copying and reproduction in the manner provided by this Act, all
information pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well as government
research data used as basis for policy development, regardless of their physical form or
format in which they are contained and by whom they were made.

SEC.7. Exceptions. ~ Subject to the qualifications set forth in Section 8 of this Act,
access to information may be denied when:

(a) The information is specifically authorized to be kept secret under guidelines
established by an executive order, and in fact properly classified pursuant
thereto: Provided, that 1) The information directly relates to national defense
and its revelation will cause grave damage to the internal and external defense
of the State; 2) The information requested pertains to the foreign affairs of the
Republic of the Philippines, when its revelation unduly weaken the negotiating
position of the government in an ongoing bilateral or multilateral negotiation or
seriously jeopardize the diplomatic relation of the Philippines with one or more
states with which it intends to keep friendly relations; Provided further, That the
executive order shall specify the reasonable period by which the information
shall be automatically declassified or subject to mandatory declassification
review, and that any reasonable doubt as to classification and declassification
shall be settled in favor of the right to information;

(b) The information requested pertains to internal and external defense and law
enforcement, when the revelation thereof would render a legitimate military or
law enforcement operation ineffective, unduly compromise the prevention,
Detection or suppression of a criminal activity, or endanger the life or physical
safety of confidential or protected sources or witnesses, law enforcement and
military personnel or their immediate families. Information relating to the details
of the administration, budget and expenditure, and management of the defense
and law enforcement agencies shall always be accessible to the public.

{c) The information requested pertains to the personal information of a natural
person other than the requesting party, and its disclosure will constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of his or her personal privacy, unless it forms part of a
Public record, or the person is or was an official of a government agency and the


information relates to his or her public function, or the person has consented to
the disclosure of the information;

(d) The information requested pertains to trade, industrial, financial or comme:
secrets of a natural or judicial person other than the requesting party, obtained
in confidence by, and/or filed with a government agency, whenever the
revelation thereof will seriously prejudice the interest of such natural or judicial
person in trade, industrial, financial or commercial competition, unless such
natural or judicial person has consented to the disclosure of the information;

(e) The information is privileged from production in legal proceedings by law or by
the Rules of Court, unless the person entitled to the privilege has waived it;

(f) The information requested is exempted by law or the Constitution, in addition to
those provided in this section;

(g) The information requested is obtained by any committee of either House of
Congress in executive session, whenever such information falls under any of the
foregoing exceptions; and

(h) The information requested consists of drafts of decisions by any executive,
administrative, judicial or quasi-judicial body in the exercise of their adjudicatory
functions whenever the revelation thereof would reasonably tend to impair the
impartiality of verdicts, or otherwise obstruct the administration of justice

For letters (b) to (h) of this section, the determination whether any of these
grounds shall apply and shall be the responsibility of the head office of the
government agency in custody or control of the information, or any responsible
central or field officer/s duly designated by him.

SEC. 8. Qualifications. — Even if the information fails under the exceptions set
forth in the preceding section, access to information shall not be denied if:

{a) The information maybe reasonably severed from the body of the information
which would be subject to the exceptions;

(b) The public interest in the disclosure outweighs the harm to the interest sought
to be protected by the exceptions; or

(c) The requesting party is either House of Congress, or any of its Committees and
the disclosure is to be made in executive session, unless the disclosure will
constitute a violation of the Constitution.

SEC.9. Procedure of Access. — (a) Any person who wishes to obtain information
shall submit a request to the government agency concerned personally, by mail, or
through electronic means. The request shall state the name and preferred contact
information of the requesting party, and reasonably describe the information required,
the reason for the request of the information and the preferred means by which the
government agency shall communicate such information to the requesting party:
Provided, That the stated reason shall not be used as a ground to deny the request or
to refuse the acceptance of the request, unless such reason is contrary to law. If the
request is submitted personally, the requesting party shall show his current
identification card issued by any government agency, or government or private
employer or school, or a community tax certificate. If the request is submitted by mail
or through electronic means, the requesting party may submit a photo static or
electronically scanned copy of the identification, or other convenient means as
determined by the agency.

(b) The request shall be stamped by the government agency, indicating the date
and time of receipt and the name, rank, title and position of the receiving public officer
or employee with the corresponding signature, and a copy thereof furnished to the
requesting party. In case the request is submitted by electronic means, the government


agency shall provide for an equivalent means by which the requirements of this
paragraph shall be met.
(c) The request may indicate the following preferred means of communication:

(1) A true copy of the information in permanent or other form;

(2) An opportunity to inspect the information, using equipment normally available
to the government agency when necessary;

(3) An opportunity to copy the information using personal equipment;

(4) A written transcript of the information contained in an audio or visual form;

(5) A transcript of the content of an information requested, in print, sound or visual
form, where such transcript is capable of being produced using equipment
normally available to the government agency;

(6) A transcript of the information from shorthand or codified form; or

(7) Other reasonable means or format.

(d) A government agency may communicate the information requested in a form
other than the preferred means whenever such preferred means would unreasonably
interfere with the effective operation of the agency, or be detrimental to the
preservation of the record.

(e) The government agency shall comply with such request within seven (7)
working days from the receipt thereof.

(f) The time limits prescribed in this Section for the production of the requested
information may be extended whenever there is a need for any of the following:

(1) To search for and collect the requested information from field facilities or
other establishments that are separate from the office processing the
request;

(2) To search for, collect and appropriately examine a voluminous amount of
separate and distinct information which are demanded in a single request;

(3) Consultation, which shall be conducted in all practicable speed, with another
government agency or among two (2) or more components of the
government agency having substantial interest in the determination of the
request; and

(4) To consider fortuitous events or other events due to force majeure or other
analogous cases.

(g) The government agency shall in writing or through electronic means, notify
the person making the request of extension, setting forth the reasons for such extension
and the date when the information shall be made available: Provided, That no such
notice shall specify a date that would result in an extension of more than fifteen (15)
working days from the original dea

SEC. 10. Access Fees. — Government agencies may charge a reasonable fee to
reimburse the actual cost of reproduction, copying or transcription and the
communication of the information requested.

SEC. 11. Notice of Denial. — If the government agency decides to deny the
request, in whole or in part, it shall, within seven (7) working days from the receipt of
the request, notify the person making the request of such denial in writing or though
electronic means. The notice shall clearly indicate the name, rank, title or position of
the person making the denial, and the grounds for the denial. In case the denial is by
reason of claimed exemption, the denial shall also state clearly the legitimate aim or


interest sought to be protected in the confidentiality, and the facts and circumstances
invoked showing the substantial harm to, or frustration of, the legitimate aim or interest
that will result in the disclosure of the information. Failure to notify the person making
the request of the denial, or of the extension, shall be deemed a denial of the request
for access to information.

SEC. 12. Implementation Requirements. — (a) For the effective implementation
of this Act, all government agencies shall prepare a Freedom of Information Manual,
with the end view of facilitating easy access to information, which shall include the
following:

(1) The location and contact information of the head, regional, provincial and
field offices, and other established places where the public can obtain
information or submit requests;

(2) The types of information it generates, produces, holds and/or publishes;

(3) A description of its record-keeping system;

(4) The person or office responsible for receiving requests for information;

(5) The procedure for filing of requests personally, by mail, or through identified
electronic means;

(6) The standard forms for the submission of requests and for the proper
acknowledgment of the request;

(7) The process for the disposition of the request, including the routing of the
Fequest to the person or office with the duty to act on the request, the
decision-making, and the grant or denial of access and its implementation;

(8) The procedure for the administrative appeal of any denial for access to
information;

(9) The schedule of fees;

(10) The process and procedure for the mandatory disclosure of information
under Section 14 of this Act;

(11) Should the agency lack the capacity to comply with Section 14 (a) of this
Act, a brief description of its plan to facilitate compliance within three (3)
years from the approval of this Act; and

(12) Such other information, taking into consideration the unique
characteristics of an agency, that will help facilitate the effective
implementation of this Act.

(b) The Judiciary shall prepare a similar manual as directed by the Supreme
Court;

(c) The foregoing information shall also be posted in its website and bulletin
boards, and be regularly updated;

(d) In no case shall the absence of the aforementioned Manual be a reason for
the denial of any request for information made in accordance with this Act.

SEC. 13. Remedies in Cases of Denial. — (a) In all government agencies other
than the judicial branch:

(1) Every denial of any request for access to information may be appealed to the
person or office next higher in authority, following the procedure mentioned
in Section 12 (a)(8) of this Act: Provided, That the appeal must be filed within
fifteen (15) calendar days from filing. Failure of the government agency to.
decide within the aforestated period shall constitute a denial of the appeal;
and


(2) Instead of appealing or after the denial of the appeal, the person denied
access to information may file a verified complaint with the Office of the
Ombudsman, praying that the government agency concerned be directed to
immediately afford access to the information being requested. Such
complaint shall be resolved by the Office of the Ombudsman within sixty (60)
calendar days from filing, or earlier when time is of the essence, taking into
account factors as the nature of the information requested, context of the
request, public interest and danger that the information requested will
become moot. The Office of the Ombudsman shall promulgate its special
rules of procedure for the immediate disposition of complaints filed pursuant
to this Section. Unless restrained or enjoined, the decisions of the Office of
the Ombudsman shall immediately become executory, without prejudice to
review in accordance with the Rules of Court.

(3) Instead of filing a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman, whenever a
request for information is denied originally or on administrative appeal, the
requesting party may file a verified petition for mandamus in the proper
court, alleging the facts with certainty and praying that judgment be
rendered ordering the respondent, immediately or at some other time to be
specified in court, to disclose the information and pay the damages sustained
by the requesting party by reason of the denial. The procedure for such
petition shall be summary in nature.

(4) In resolving a complaint or petition brought under the preceding paragraphs
(2) and (3), the Ombudsman or the court is empowered to receive the
information subject of a claim of exception under Section 7 herein and
examine them in camera to determine the sufficiency of the factual and legal
basis of such claim, when such sufficiency cannot be reasonably determined
through evidence and circumstances apart from the information.

(b) In the Judicial Branch — The Judiciary shall be governed by such remedies as
promulgated by the Supreme Court.

(c) The remedies under this Section are without prejudice to any other
administrative, civil or criminal action covering the same Act.

(d) The remedies available under this Act shall be exempt from the rules on non-
exhaustion of administrative remedies and the application of the provisions
of Republic Act No. 9285, otherwise known as the Alternative Dispute
Resolution Act of 2004.

(e) In case the requesting party has limited or no financial capacity, the Public
Attorney's Office shall be mandated to provide legal assistance to the
requester in availing of the remedies provided under this Act.

SEC. 14. Mandatory Disclosure of Transactions Involving Public Interest. —

(a) Subject to Sections 7 and 8 of this Act, all government agencies shall

upload on their websites, which shall be regularly updated every fifteen (15) days, all
the steps, negotiations and key government positions pertaining to definite
propositions of the government, as well as the contents of the contract, agreement

or treaty in the following transactions involving publi

interest:

(1) Compromise agreements entered into by a government agency with any
person or entity involving any waiver of its rights or claims;

(2) Private sector participation agreements or contracts in infrastructure and
development projects under Republic Act No. 6957, as amended by Republic
Act No. 7718, authorizing the financing, construction, operation and
maintenance of infrastructure projects;


(3) Procurement contracts entered into by a government agency;

(4) Construction or concession agreements or contracts entered into by a
government agency with any domestic or foreign person or entity;

(5) Loans, grants, development assistance, technical assistance and programs
entered into by a government agency with official bilateral or multilateral
agencies, as well as with private aid agencies or institutions;

(6) Loans from domestic and foreign financial institutions;

(7) Guarantees given by any government agency to government-owned or
controlled corporations and to private corporations, persons or entities;

(8) Public funding extended to any private entity;

(9) Bilateral or multilateral agreements and treaties in defense, trade, economic
partnership, investments, cooperation and similar binding commitments; or

(10) _ Licenses, permits or agreements given by any government agency to any
person or entity for the extraction and/or utilization of natural resources.

A summary list of the foregoing information uploaded in the website shall be
posted in the bulletin boards of the concerned government agency.

(b) The information uploaded in the website under letter (a) of this Section may
be withdrawn after a period of three (3) years from the time of uploading: Provided,
That an abstract of the information withdrawn shall remain uploaded in the website,
containing a brief description of the transaction and an enumeration of the information
withdrawn, and indicating the dates of posting and withdrawal.

(c) Should an agency lack the capacity to comply with letter (a) of this Section,
the agency shall initiate a capacity-building program, or coordinate another appropriate
agency, to facilitate substantive compliance not later than three (3) years upon approval
of this Act.

SEC. 15. Keeping of Records. - a) Government agencies shall create and/or
maintain in appropriate formats, accurate and reasonably complete documentation or
records of their organizations, policies, transactions, decisions, resolution, enactments,
actions, procedures, operations, activities, communications, documents received or filed
with them and the data generated or collected. These shall include working files such as
drafts or notes, whenever these have been circulated within the agency for official
purpose such as for discussion, comment or approval or when these contain unique
information that can substantially contribute to a proper understanding of the agency
organization, policies, transactions, decisions, resolutions, enactments, actions,
procedures, operations, and activities;

(b) Government agencies shall identify specific and classes of official records in
their custody or control that have continuing historical, administrative, informational,
legal, evidentiary, or research value for preservation by such agencies or their legitimate
Successors, or for transfer to the National Archives of the Philippines. In addition, the
National Archives of the Philippines shall likewise identify specific and classes of official
records that it shall require agencies to prepare and transfer to it.

(c) In addition to the specific and classes of official records identified for
preservation under letter (b) of this Section, the following shall not be destroyed:

1) Records pertaining to loans obtained or guaranteed by the government;

2) Records of government contracts;

3) The declaration under oath of the assets, liabilities and net worth of public
officers and employees, as required by law; and


4) Records of official investigations on graft and corruption practices of public
officers;

(d) Government agencies shall prepare, following standards and period
promulgated pursuant to Republic Act No. 9470 or the National Archives of the
Philippines Act of 2007, a records management program that includes the following:

1) A records maintenance system for the creation, selection, classification,
indexing and filing of official records that facilitates easy identification,
retrieval and communication of information to the public;

2) A records maintenance, archival and disposition schedule providing a list of
records under current use, for retention by the agency, for transfer to the
National Archives, or for destruction; Provided, That destruction of the
official records may be implemented only upon approval of the National
Archives of the Philippines; and

3) A specification of the roles and responsibilities of agency personnel in the
implementation of such system and schedule.

(e) In addition to its function as repository of all rules and regulations issued by
agencies as provided under Book Vil, Chapter 11 of the Administrative Code of 1987, the
University of the Philippines Law Center, in coordination with the National Printing.
Office as the agency with exclusive printing jurisdiction over the Official Gazette, shall
maintain a database, and publish the same in print in the Official Gazette or in digital or
online form, the following: 1) All laws of the Philippines and their amendments, from
the period of the Philippine Commission to the present; 2) All presidential issuances
from November 15, 1935 to the present, including but limited, to executive orders,
presidential proclamations, administrative orders, memorandum circulars, general
orders, and other similar issuances; 3) A database of all appointments made by the
President of the Philippines; and 4) Opinions of the Secretary of Justice.

SEC. 16. Promotion of Openness in Government. - (a) Duty to Publish
Information — Government agencies shall regularly publish, print and disseminate at no
cost to the public and in an accessible form, in conjunction with R.A. 9485, or the Anti-
Red Tape Act of 2007, and through their website, timely, true, accurate and updated key
information including, but not limited to:

(1) A description of its mandate, structure, powers, functions, duties and
decision-making processes;

(2) A description of the frontline services it delivers and the procedure and
length of time by which they may be availed of;

(3) The names of its key officials, their powers, functions and responsibilities,
and their profiles and curriculum vitae;

(4) Work programs, development plans, investment plans, _ projects,
performance targets and accomplishments, and budgets, revenue allotments
and expenditures;

(5) Important roles and regulations, orders or decisions; Provided, That they be
published within fifteen (15) calendar days from promulgation;

(6) Current and important database and statistics that it generates;

(7) Bidding processes and requirements; and

(8) Mechanisms or procedures by which the public may participate in or
otherwise influence the formulation of policy or the exercise of its powers.


(b) Accessibility of Language and Form — Every government agency shall
endeavor to translate key information into major Filipino languages and present them in
popular form and means.

(c) Improving Capability — Every government agency shall ensure the provision of
adequate training for its officials to improve awareness of the right to information and
the provisions of this Act, and to keep updated of best practices in relation to
information disclosure, records maintenance and archiving.

SEC. 17. Criminal Liability and Administrative Liability. — The penalty of
imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but not more than six (6) months shall be
imposed upon:

a) Any public officer or employee receiving the request under Section 9 of this
Act who shall fail to promptly forward the request to the public officer within
the same office or agency responsible for officially acting on the request
when such is the direct cause of the failure to disclose the information within
the periods required by this Act;

b) Any public officer or employee responsible for officially acting on the
request, who shall:

(1) Fail, to act on the request within the periods required by this Act;

(2) Knowingly deny the existence of existing information;

(3) Destroy information being requested for the purpose of frustrating
the requester’s access thereto;

(4) Claim an exception under Section 7 of this Act, or under the
Constitution, when the claim is manifestly devoid of factual basis; or

(5) Refuse to comply with the decision of his immediate supervisor, the
Ombudsman or the court ordering the release of information that is
not restrained or enjoined by a court.

¢) The head of office of the government agency directly and principally
responsible for the negotiation and perfection of any of the transactions
enumerated in Section 14(a) of this Act, who shall knowingly refuse, to direct
the mandatory posting or uploading of such transaction despite the agency
capacity to implement such directive. The same penalty shall be imposed
upon the public officer or employee who, despite a directive from the head
of office, shall fail, to post or upload any of the transactions enumerated in
Section 14(a) of this Act;

d) Any public officer or employee who shall destroy, or cause to destroy,
records of information covered by Section 15(c) of this Act;

e) Any public officer who formulates policies, rules and regulations manifestly
contrary to the provisions of this Act, and which policies, rules and
regulations are the direct cause of the denial of a request for information; or

f) Any public or private individual who knowingly induced or caused the
commission of the foregoing acts under this Section.

The foregoing shall be without prejudice to any administrative liability of the
offender under existing laws and regulations.

SEC. 18. Act Not a Bar to Claim of Right to Information Under the Constitution.
— No provision of this Act shall be interpreted as a bar to any claim of denial of the right
to information under Article Ill, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution.

SEC. 19. Separability Clause. ~ If, for any reason, any section or provision of this
Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, no other section or provision shall be affected.


SEC. 20. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, issuances or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act,
including Memorandum Circular No, 78 dated 14 August 1964 (Promulgating Rules
Governing Security of Classified Matter in Government Offices), as amended, and
Section 3, Rule IV of the Rules Implementing Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct
and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), are deemed repealed.

SEC. 21. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

10