SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1579
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•17 SEP-6 P3--43
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Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE FILIPINO IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
The proposed measure seeks to create a national identification system, where 
Filipinos will only need one ID card for all government transactions. This is 
endeavored to mainly cut down the bureaucratic red tape that has long hobbled the 
efficient and effective delivery of government services. With the roll-out of such 
system, trust in government may hopefully be restored, resulting in turn in closer, 
smoother, more mutually beneficial government and citizen relations.
Such an ID system shall also help promote financial inclusion, as several Bangko 
Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) surveys suggest that many Filipinos remain unbanked— 
that is, without access to formal financial services—because they lack the necessary 
government-issued identification to open bank accounts. With the national ID 
system, both rich and poor Filipinos would only need one ID to become part of the 
formal financial system.
While the data embodied by each national ID shall comprise a national database 
of every person’s information, safeguards will be in place such that each person’s 
right to privacy is preserved and protected. And as several countries around the 
world have already adopted similar policies, the best practices shall be employed for 
the system’s roll-out across the Philippines.
Many legislators, including the undersigned, have filed and pushed for this 
measure. Now that promoting more efficient and stream-lined government services 
has become a national imperative, the swift passage of the foregoing measure is 
earnestly sought.
NNY ANGARA


)
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1579
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'17 SEP-6 P3 43
RECEIVi.O ijV 
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Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE FILIPINO IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Filipino Identification System Act.”
2 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is the policy of the State to promote a just
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and dynamic social order that shall ensure the prosperity and independence of the
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nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social
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services and improved quality of life for all. Towards this end, an effective
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identification system is hereby established to facilitate transactions with the
7 
government and to simplify the processes relative to public and private services.
8 
SEC. 3. The Filipino Identification System. -  The Filipino Identification System
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herein referred to as the “ID system” is hereby established and instituted as an
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economic and social tool towards the attainment of a progressive society through the
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provision of efficient services to all Filipinos. The identification system shall provide
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official identification of all citizens of the Republic of the Philippines through the
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issuance of the Filipino Identification Card (Filipino ID card). It shall gradually concert
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and consolidate all existing Government-initiated identification systems into one
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integrated and efficient identification system.
16 
SEC. 4. The Filipino Identification Card (ID) Card. -  Every Filipino, whether
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residing in the Philippines or abroad, is mandated to register personal information


1 
required by the ID system, and upon application shall be issued a non-transferrable
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Filipino ID card with an ID number that shall be valid for life, subject to replacement
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only under the following circumstances:
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(a) When a child reaches the legal age of eighteen (18) years old;
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(b) When there is change in name and family name by virtue of court order or by
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application of law, such as a married woman adopting the 
surname of the
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husband:
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(c) For lost or destroyed ID card; and
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(d) For other revisions that may be deemed necessary by the cardholder such as
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changes in the facial features due to age or medical intervention.
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Filipino cardholders upon reaching the age of sixty (60) years old are required to
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renew their Filipino ID card, free of charge.
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The Filipino ID card shall be made of tamper-proof security material. It shall have
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on its face the imprinted photograph, name, birth date, gender, date of issue,
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signature of owner, the corresponding individual serial number issued by the
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Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and such other data as may be deemed
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necessary. The Filipino ID card shall also have the capability to store at least the
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biometric data of the individual cardholder.
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The initial application and issuance of the Filipino ID card shall be free of charge 
as part of the government’s social service responsibility. A replacement fee shall be 
paid by the cardholder.
22 
The pertinent details for applicants with preexisting government issued
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identification card shall be utilized and honored as reference in the issuance of the
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Filipino ID card.
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SEC. 5. Roles and Functions of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 
and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through the Philippine Embassies 
and Consular Offices. -  The PSA, as the implementing agency, shall determine, 
validate and administer the data and materials required to avail of the benefits of the 
identification system.
2


1 
The DFA, in coordination with the PSA, shall handle the registration of Filipinos
2 
residing abroad. The abovementioned government offices shall create a special unit
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which shall be responsible for:
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(a) Accepting applications for a Filipino ID card;
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(b) Processing of such applications: and
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(c) Releasing the Filipino ID card to the applicants.
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SEC. 6. Registration. -  Upon the effectivity of this Act and when the ID system
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has become operational, every Filipino residing in the Philippines shall apply for the
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registration and issuance of the Filipino ID card at the Local Civil Registry Office
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(LCRO) of the city of municipality where one is a resident. Likewise, every Filipino
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residing abroad shall apply for the registration and issuance of the Filipino ID card at
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the nearest Philippine Embassy or consular office of the country where they are
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residing. The PSA, through the LCRO or the Philippine Embassy or consular offices
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abroad, is mandated to issue a Filipino ID card within ninety (90) days from the
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registration of live birth.
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The parents or the legal guardian of the minor, incompetent, or disabled person
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shall be responsible for the application and safekeeping of the issued Filipino ID
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card.
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The PSA, through the LCRO, is directed to conduct mobile registration to ensure
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the registration of all Filipinos including indigenous Filipinos and those in the remote
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communities.
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SEC. 7. Features Involving the Private Sector and the Local Government
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Units. -  The PSA shall encourage the cooperation of the private sector and the local
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government units (LGUs) in granting additional benefits and privileges to Filipino ID
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cardholders.
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SEC. 8. Functional Uses of the Filipino ID Card. -  The Filipino ID card shall be
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presented and honored in transactions requiring the identity, status, birth and all
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other personal circumstances such as the following:
3


1 
(a) All transactions with the government, including:
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(1) Application for passport and driver’s license;
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(2) Filing of applications for any services and benefits offered by the
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Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Social Security
5 
System (SSS), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)
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and the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF); and
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(3) Application for clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation
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(NBI), courts, prosecutor and the police;
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(b) Proof of identity, status, age and address for admission in all learning
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institutions as well as for employment purposes;
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(c) Availment of benefits or privileges afforded by law to senior citizens;
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(d) Proof of identity, status, age and address for transactions in banking and
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financial institutions;
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(e) Voting identification purposes; and
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(f) Such other purposes and uses which the PSA may prescribe.
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When the Filipino ID card is presented to any government agency for
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identification purposes, no other additional identification card shall be required.
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Except in instances allowed under the provisions of Republic Act No. 9225 or
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“The Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003”, the Filipino ID card shall
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motu proprio be rendered invalid and ineffective upon the loss of Filipino citizenship.
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SEC. 9. Change of Personal Status and Residence. -  Any person who intends
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to effect changes in his Filipino ID including change in personal status, residence, or
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any material data, shall have the duty to inform the LCRO, the embassy or consular
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office where the person is residing, within a certain period as shall be prescribed by
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the PSA.
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SEC. 10. Protection Against Unlawful Disclosure of Information/Records. -  
No person may publish, disseminate or give to third parties or entities including 
government enforcement agencies any information obtained in connection with the 
application for the Filipino ID card, including the use thereof except in the following 
cases:


1 
(a) When the holder of the Filipino ID card expressly authorizes the disclosure of
2 
such information to a third person, entity or agency:
3 
(b) In the event of accident, disaster or fortuitous events, when information on the
4 
medical history of the holder such as the blood type or special medical needs or
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other relevant information are needed by medical institutions and health service
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workers:
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(c) When the interest of public health or safety so requires: and
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(d) Upon the order of any competent court.
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Any information obtained as a result of unlawful disclosure under this Act shall be
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inadmissible as evidence in any criminal proceedings against the holder of the
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Filipino ID card.
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SEC. 11. Safeguards on the Filipino ID. -  The PSA, as repository of all data,
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shall create and maintain a Filipino Citizen Registry that will contain the registered
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records and information of persons issued with the Filipino ID card. The PSA, as the
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main issuing authority of the official Filipino ID card, shall institute the necessary
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measures to safeguard the information provided in the Filipino ID card. No such
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information shall be released to any agency, office or instrumentality, government or
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otherwise, nor shall it be used against any person except in cases stipulated in
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Section 10 of this Act.
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The PSA, in pursuance of its mandated statistical function, may generate and
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release aggregated information from the Filipino Citizen Registry in the form of
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summaries and statistical tables: Provided, That no reference to an individual shall
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appear and that no person can be readily identified in the released information.
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The information in the Filipino Citizen Registry shall be categorized in a manner
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that allows proper safeguards in data access, security, and change management.
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SEC. 12. Penal Provisions. -  Any person who knowingly uses false information
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in applying for the issuance of Filipino ID card or procures one through fraud and
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utilizes the card in an unlawful manner shall be punished with a fine of not less than
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fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than five hundred thousand pesos
5


1 
(P500,000.00) or an imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than
2 
two (2) years, or both, at the discretion of the court.
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Any person who shall willfully and unjustifiably refuse to accept, acknowledge or
4 
recognize the Filipino ID card as the only official identification of the owner thereof
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shall also be punished with the same penalties or imprisonment stated in the
6 
preceding paragraph.
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Any public official or employee who connives with the offender in committing the
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acts mentioned in the last two (2) preceding paragraphs or, on his own, causes the
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issuance of an unauthorized Filipino ID card or approves the application for the
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same, despite the knowledge of the existence of fraud or false information, shall
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suffer the corresponding penalties imposed in the last two (2) preceding paragraphs
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and shall suffer the penalty of perpetual disqualification from government service.
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The penalties imposed in this section shall be in addition to those imposed on
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acts punishable by existing penal and other laws, including acts of omission.
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SEC. 13. Failure to Present Filipino ID Card. -  Failure of any person to present
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a Filipino ID card when transacting business with the government or with private
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entities requiring its use and presentation shall not be a ground to deny or limit the
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grant of basic government and private service as long as such transaction is
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qualified under existing laws.
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SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within ninety (90) days upon
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approval of this Act, the PSA, in coordination with relevant agencies such as the
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DFA, the National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of Interior
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and Local Government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the
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Department of Science and Technology, the Commission on Elections, the GSIS, the
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SSS, the PhilHealth and the Bureau of Immigration, shall promulgate rules and
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regulations and exchange existing technologies and best practices on the issuance
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of identification cards to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.


1 
SEC. 15. Funding. -  The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this
2 
Act shall be included in the budget of the PSA and the DFA in the annual General
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Appropriations Act.
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SEC. 16. Separability Clause. -  If any provision, section or part of this Act shall
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be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or
6 
impair any other provisions, sections or parts hereof.
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SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
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which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
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accordingly.
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SEC. 18. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,