-.
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HoUSEBILLNo.10608
`.a'p lttrf e
Introduced  by:  Hon.  Keith  Micah ``Atty.  Mike" D.L. Tan
AN ACT
PROVIDING PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN  USING THE INTERNET
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This   bill   seeks  to   promote  the  safety  of  children  while   using  the  Internet  in
consonance with Section  3(2), Article XV,  of the  1987 Constitution, which  provides that,
``The  State  shall  defend  the  right  of  children  to  assistance,  including  proper  care  and
nutrition,  and  special  Protection  from  all  forms  of  nealect,  abuse,  cruelty,
exploitation, and other conditions Dreiudicial to their development" (emphas/s
supplied)|
It is  in  line with  Section  13, Article  11,  which  mandates the State to  promote and
protect  the  physical,   moral,  spiritual,   psychological,  and  social  well-being  of  children
and  in  pursuit  of the  principles  of the  United  Nations  Convention  on  the  Rights  of the
Child   (UNCRC),   which   recognizes   that  ``In   all   actions   concerning   children,   whether
undertaken  by  public  or  private  social  welfare  institutions,  courts of law,  administrative
authorities   or   legislative   bodies,   the   best   interests  of  the   child   shall   be  a   primary
consideration."
The  UNCRC also establishes that all  children  have a  right to education;  to  leisure,
play   and   culture;   to   obtain   appropriate   information;   to   freedom   of   thought   and
expression;   to   privaey  and   to  express  their  views  on   matters  that  affect  them   in
accordance  with  their  evolving  capacities.  It  also  protects  children  from  all  forms  of
violence,  exploitation  and  abuse  and  discrimination  of  any  kind  and  ensures  that  the
child's best interest should  be the primary consideration in any matters aifecting them.
The   measure   is   in   response  to  the  exponential   growth   and   impact  of  new
technologies that are  now thoroughly  integrated  into the  lives of countless children  and
young  people.
According  to  the  UNICEF,  ``The  proliferation  of  Internet  access  points,  mobile
technology  and  the  growing  array  of  Internet-enabled  devices  -  combined  with  the
immense resources to be found in eyberspace - provide unprecedented opportunities to
learn, share and communicate.'u
With  these  developments,  however,  are  the  risks  of  using  the  Internet.  These
include children  being exposed to inappropriate content for their age or to inappropriate
contact,   including   from   potential   perpetrators   of   sexual   abuse.   They   can   suffer
reputational  damage  associated  with   publishing  sensitive  personal   information  either
1  Guidelines for the  Industry on  Child  Online  Protection,  UNICEF,  2015  Edition


online   or   through   `sexting',   having   failed   to   fully   comprehend   the   implications   for
themselves and others of their long-term `digital footprints'.2
Privacy,  illegal  content,  harassment,  cyberbullying,  misuse  of  personal  data  or
grooming for sexual  purposes and abuse are issues that accompany the  use of Internet
by children that must be acted  upon with urgency and firmness.
The  2020  Child  Online  Safety  Index  (COSI),  the  world's  first-real-time  analytic
platform  to  help  nations  see  the  status  of  their  children's  online  safety  by  the  DQ
Institute,  an  international  think-tank  that  is  dedicated  to  setting  global  standards  for
digital  intelligence,  gave  the  Philippines  a  below  average  score  of  28.3  among  thirty
(30) countries that have the best online safety for children.
Accordingly,  the  report  shows  that  children  the  world  over  are  facing  ``eyber-
pandemic'',  specifically 8 -  12 years old  children  where  170/o  of them  experienced  risky
contact   or   offline    meeting    with    strangers   or   sexual    contact;    390/o   experienced
reputational   risks;   290/o  are  exposed  to   risky  content  (violent  or  sexual);   45°/o  are
affected  by  cyber-bullying;   13°/o  are  at  risk  for  gaming  disorder;   70/o  are  at  risk  for
social  media  disorder;  28°/o  experienced  cyber threats;  and  60°/o  are  exposed  to  cyber
risks.
A  study  by  cybersecurity  company  Surfshark,  on  the  other  hand,  found  that
Filipino  children's  exposure  to  online  risks  such  as  eyberbullying,  phishing  and  hacking
was the second-highest in the world.3
Thus,   the    imperativeness   of   creating    a    clear   and    predictable   ``legal    and
regulatory  environment  which  supports  businesses  and  other  thirds  parties  to  meet
their responsjbjlities to safeguard children's rights throughout their operations..."4
In this  light, the  proposed  legislation  gears towards the adoption  of a  regulatory
policy where an effective  mechanism for the development of protection or safeguarding
policy    to    identify,    prevent,    and    mitigate    the    adverse    impacts    of    information
communication technology on children  may be established.
It  primarily engages the  participation  of relevant stakeholders with  an  interest in
online  child   protection   such   as   industry   players  and   educators   insofar  as  they  are
among the key stakeholders in the child online protection ecosystem.
Industry  players,   in   particular,   have  enormous   responsibility  to   help   promote
awareness  of the  online  safety  of  children  by  building  robust  checks  and  balances  to
identify   the    user   and    provide   children   with   a    conducive   online   environment.    A
regulatory  framework  such  as  those  that  provide  certain  obligations  for  companies  to
detect,  block and/or remove harm against children from  platform  services, as well  as to
2  Ibid.
3   Filipino   kids   are  the   second   most  vulnerable   to   online   threats  globally  -  study,   Ramon
Royandoyan,                               Philstar.com,                               April                               26,                               2022
(https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/04/26/2176906/filipino-kids-are-second-most-
vulnerable-online-threats-globally-study#:~:text=MANILA°/o2C%20Philippineso/o20-
O/o20Filipinoo/o20kidso/o20are,secondo/o2Dhighesto/o20in%20the°/o20world.)  Accessed  on  20  June
2024
4   Guidelines   for   policy-makers   on   Child   Online   Protection,   International   telecommunication
union,  2020


provide  clear  reporting  routes  and  access  to  support  is  certainly  imperative  if children
are to be protected online.5
According    to    DQ    Institute,    ``Social    media,    gaming,    telecom,    and    device
companies   must   include   child   online   safety   as   a   core   business   principle
(Emphasis supplied)."
This proposal  builds on the  UN  Guiding  Principles on  Business and  Human  Rights,
which  call   on   businesses  to   meet  their  responsibility  to   respect  children's   rights   by
avoiding any adverse impacts linked to their operations, products or services.
The  bill  mandates  mobile  service  providers,  internet  service  providers,  content
providers,  online  retailers,  app developers,  and  user-generated  content,  interactive and
social   media   providers  to  create  a  safe  and  age-appropriate  digital  environment  for
children   of   diverse   ages;   identify,   prevent   and   mitigate   the   adverse   impacts   of
information  and  communications  technologies  on  children's  rights;  and  create  a  safer,
more enjoyable digital environment for children.
It   requires   online   users   to   submit   a   valid   proof   of   identification   prior   to
registration   for   social   media   services   and   provides   protection   of   children's   online
privacy.
Following  the   recent  enactment  of  a   law  in   Florida,   USA  that  restricts  social
media  use for children, the  measure also provides for a  ban on  children  under  14 years
of age from  having social  media accounts.
This  bill  draws  from  the  broad  recommendations  of the  Child  Online  Protection
(COP)     Initiative,     a     multi-stakeholder     network     launched     by    the     International
Telecommunication    Union    (ITU),    a    UN    specialized    agency    for    information    and
communication technologies.
In view thereof, approval of this bill  is earnestly sought.
EE-
Keith Micah "Atty. Mike" D.L. Tan
4th  District, Quezon
5  Ibid.


Republic of the  Phil.ippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSEBILLNo.      10608
Introduced  by:  Hon.  Keith  Micah ``Atty.  Mike'' D.L. Tan
AN ACT
PROVIDING PROTECTION  FOR CHILDREN USING THE INTERNET
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  the  House  of  Representatives  of the  Philippines  in
Congress assembled :
SECTION  1.  77.£/e. -This Act shall  be  known as the ``Child Online  Protection Act."
SEC.  2.  Oec/arafy.on  of Po//.cy.  -  Consistent  with  Section  13,  Article  11  of  the
Philippine Constitution, the State  recognizes the vital  role of the youth  in  nation-building
and  promotes  and  protects  their  physical,  moral,  spiritual,  intellectual,  and  social  well-
being.  It  is also the  poliey of the  State to  provide  special  protection  to children  from  all
forms  of  abuse,  neglect,  cruelty,  exploitation  and  discrimination  and  other  conditions,
prejudicial to their development,
The   best   interests   of  children   shall   be  the   paramount  consideration   in   all
actions  concerning  them,  whether  undertaken  by  public  or  private  institutions.  Every
effort   shall    be   exerted   to   promote   the   welfare   of   children   and   enhance   their
opportunities for a  useful and  happy life.
Towards  this  end,  the  State  shall  vigorously   promote  online   protection   for
children  by securing their interactions and transactions in the Internet.
S;HC. 3. -Defiinition of Terms..
(a)``Application    developer''    or    ``app    developer"    refers    to    a     professional
responsible   for   designing   and   coding   functional   software   programs   and
applications;
(b) "Child"  refers to  person  below  eighteen  (18)  years  of age  or those  over  but
are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse,
neglect, cruelty, exploitation  or discrimination  because of a  physical  or mental
disabjljty or condition;
(c) ``Content  provider"  refers  to  an  entity  that  supplies  material  such  as  text,
music, or images for use on websites;
(d)``Internet  service  provider''  refers  to  a  public  telecommunication  entity  (PTE)
or  value-added  service  (VAS)  provider  duly  authorized  by  or  registered  with
the  National  Telecommunications  Commission  (NTC)  that  provides  users  or
other  entities  with  data  connection  allowing  access  to  the  internet  through
physical  transport  infrastructure,  and  such  access  is  necessary  for  internet
users   to   access   content   and   services   on   the   internet,   and   for   content
providers to publish or distribute materials online;


(e)``Mobile   service   provider''   refers   to   a   public   telecommunications   entity   or
virtual      network      operator,      or      an      entity      that      provides      mobile
telecommunications service to subscribers;
(f)  ``Notice and takedown" refers to a  procedure or process for the swift removal
of illegal  content;
(g)``Online  retailer"  refers  to  a  business  that  sells  goods  over the  internet and
transports goods by mail or parcel delivery;
(h)``Social  media''  refers  to  a  digital  technology  that  allows  the  sharing  of  ideas
and   information,   including   text   and visuals,   through   virtual   networks   and
communities;
(i)  ``Social  media  platform" refers to an  online forum, website, or application that
satisfies each of the following criteria:
(a)Allows  users  to  upload  content  or  view  the  content  or  activity  of  other
users;
(b)Ten  percent  or  more  of the  daily  active  users  who  are  younger  than  16
years  of age  spend  on  average  2  hours  per  day  or  longer  on  the  online
forum,  website,  or  application  on  the  days  when  using  the  online  forum,
website,  or  application  during  the  previous  12  months  or,  if  the  online
forum,   website,   or   application   did   not   exist   during   the   previous   12
months, during the previous month;
(c) Employs  algorithms  that  analyze   user  data  or  information  on   users  to
select content for users; and
(d) Has any of the following addictive features:
(1)  Infinite scrolling, which  means either:
(i)  Continuously  loading  content,  or  content  that  loads  as  the  user
scrolls down the page without the need to open a separate page; or
(ii)  Seamless  content,  or the  use  of pages with  no visible  or apparent
end or page breaks.
(2)  Push   notifications   or   aler[s   sent   by   the   online   forum,   website,   or
application  to  inform  a  user  about  specific  activities  or  events  related
to the user's account.
(3)  Displays  personal  interactive  metrics that indicate the  number of times
other  users  have  clicked  a  button  to  indicate their  reaction  to  content
or have shared or reposted the content.
(4)  Auto-play  video  or  video  that  begins  to   play  without  the  user  first
clicking on the video or on a  play button for that video.
(5)  Live-streaming   or   a   function   that   allows   a   user   or   advertiser   to
broadcast live video content in  real-time.
(e)``User-generated   content"   refers   to any   form   of  visual   media   that   is
created   by   users  of  an   online  system,   and   made accessible  via   social
media;
S;EC. 4.  Creating  a  Safe and Age-Appropriate Online  Environment for Children. -
In  pursuit  of  creating  a  safe  and  age-appropriate  digital  environment  for  children  of
diverse  ages,  mobile  service  providers,  internet  service  providers,  content  providers,
online   retailers,   app  developers,   and   user-generated   content,   interactive  and   social
media  providers shall:


(a) Develop  a  child  protection  or  safeguarding  poliey  to  identify,   prevent,  and
mitigate  the  adverse  impacts  of  information  communication  technology  on
children;
(b) Integrate  due  diligence  on  child  online  protection  issues  into  risk assessment
frameworks at the organizational  and  product or technology levels to  identify
adverse   impacts   on   children   that   are   directly   linked   to   their   operations,
products or services;
(c) Establish  operational-level  grievance  and  reporting  mechanism  for any child's
rights  violations   such   as   inappropriate   content  or  contact  and   breach   of
privacy;
(d) Use customer terms and conditions and/or acceptable use  policies to explicitly
state   the   company's   position    on   the   misuse   of   its   services   and   the
consequences of any abuse;
(e)Develop   notice  and  take  down   (NTD)  and   reporting   processes  that  allow
users    to     report     inappropriate    content    or    contact    on     the     specific
profile/location where it was observed;
(f)  Employ   appropriate   technical   measures   to   prevent   underage   access   and
exposure to  inappropriate  content or services  such  as  parental  control  tools,
age-differentiated  experiences  with  password-protected  content,  block/allow
lists,  purchase/time controls, opt-out functions, filtering and  moderating;
(g) Ensure  that  content  and  services  that  are  not  age-appropriate  for  all  users
are   marked   with   prominent   display   options   to   control   access   or  offered
together with age verification,  if possible.
(h)Adapt   and   implement   heightened   default   privacy   settings   for   collection,
processing,  storage,  sale  and  publishing  of personal  data,  including  location-
related  information and  browsing  habits gathered from children;
(i)  Offer   clear   reporting   tools   and   develop   processes   to   act   on   reports   of
inappropriate  content,  contact  and  misuse  and  provide  detailed  feedback to
service users on the reporting  process; and
0)  Monitor  where,  when,  and  how  children  may  encounter  potentially  harmful
advertising messages intended for another market segment.
S;EC. 5.  Identification, Prevention and Mitigat.Ion of the Adverse Impacts of ICT. -
Internet  service  providers  shall  identify,  prevent  and  mitigate  the  adverse  impacts  of
information    and    communications    technologies    on    children's    rights    and    identify
opportunities to support the advancement of children's rights.
Towards this end,  ISPs shall:
(1) Identify  customers' age where  appropriate  and  implement a  suitable  solution
to  individual  services;
(2) Provide  mechanisms  such  as  parental  control  software  and  tools that enable
parents to  manage their children's access to Internet resources in the form of
white   lists,   content   filters,    usage   monitoring,   contact   management,   or
time/program  limits;
(3)Within  the  service  itself,  at the  point of uploading  content,  include  reminders
about   such   topics   as   the   type   of   content   that   is   considered   to   be
inappropriate;  and
(4) Provide children with  information on safer Internet use on the landing  page.
S;EC. 6,  Promoting  Enjoyable Digital  Environment for Children. -User-generated-
content,   interactive   and   social   media   service   providers   shall   create   a   safer,   more
enjoyable   digital   environment   for   children   of  diverse   ages   by  taking   the   following
actions:


(1) Communicate  in  customer-friendly  language  within  the  terms  of service  and
user  guidelines  a  clear  set  of  house  rules  that  define  (a)  the  nature  of the
service and what is expected of its users,  (b) what is and  is not acceptable  in
terms of harmful content,  behaviors,  (c) language as well as prohibiting  illegal
usage; and (d) consequences of any breach;
(2) Enforce  minimum  age  requirements  and  take  steps  to  identify  and  remove
underage users who have misrepresented their age to gain access; and
(3) Protect younger users from  uninvited communication  and ensure that privacy
and  information-collection  guidelines are  in  place;
(4) Review  hosted  images  and  videos  and  delete  the  inappropriate  ones  when
found; and
(5) Ensure that secure  passwords are  used  as a  step towards  protecting  children
in gaming and other social  media settings and develop tools that actively seek
to  remove  content  that  is  illegal  or  in  breach  of the  terms  of condition  and
service  as  well  as  tools  to  prevent  uploading  of  known  illegal  content to  the
site.
S;EC. 7 .  Electronic Identification  Requirement. -Socj+aJ media prow-iders ilnd cfNheT
similar online  platforms shall  require online  users to submit a valid  proof of identification
prior to registration for their services.
For   Philippine-based   users,   government-issued   identification   cards,   including
barangay certification of identity shall  be sufficient proof of identification for purposes of
this Act.
Existing   members  shall   be  required  to  submit  a  valid   identification  card  as  a
condition for continuing  membership on their platform.
S;EC. 8.  Prohibit.ing Social  Media Accounts for Children  Below Fourteen  (14) Years
of Age.  -A  social  media  platform  shall  prohibit  a  child  who  is  younger  than  fourteen
(14) years of age from  entering  into a  contract with a  social  media  platform to  become
an account holder.
In  furtherance  of  this  prohibition,  a  social  media  platform  shall  terminate  any
account  held  by  an  account  holder  younger  than  14  years  of age,  including  accounts
that the  social  media  platform  treats  or categorizes  as  belonging  to  an  account  holder
who   is   likely  younger  than   14  years   of  age   for   purposes   of  targeting   content  or
advertising,   and   provide   ninety   (90)   days   for   an   account   holder   to   dispute   such
termination.  Termination  shall  be  effective  upon  the  expiration  of  the  90  days  if  the
account holder fails to effectively dispute the termination.
A  social  media  platform  shall  prohibit  a  child  who  is  14  or  fifteen  (15)  years  of
age  from  entering  into  a  contract with  a  social  media  platform  to  become  an  account
holder,  unless the  child's  parent or guardian  provides consent for such  child  to  become
an account holder.
SEC.  9.  Priofect7.on of Ch;./dren'5 Pr/.wacy.  -  Mobile  network operators  are  hereby
prohibited  from  collecting,  using  or  disclosing  personal  information  from  children  in  a
manner that violates  the  provisions  of this  Act.  An  operator  of such  website  or  online
service or the operator's agent shall  not  be  held  liable for any disclosure  made  in  good
faith  and  following  reasonable  procedures  in  responding  to  a  request  for  disclosure  of
personal  information to the parent of a child as provided  under this Act.


S;EC.  LO.  Collection  of  Personal  Information  from  Children.  -The  c;diLeckion  Of
personal  data  from  children  by  any  website  or  online  service  directed  to  children  may
be allowed  provided that the following  requirements are complied with:
(a)The   operator   provides   notice   on   the   website   or   online   service   of  what
information    is    collected    from    children,    how    the    operator    uses    such
information, and the operator's disclosure practices for such information; and
(b)The  operator  obtains  verifiable  parental  consent  for  the  collection,  use  or
disclosure of personal  information from children.
SEC.  11.   Mien  Consent /s IVof Requ7+ec/.  -Verifiable  parental  consent  shall  not
be required  under the following circumstances:
(a) Online contact information  collected  from  a  child that is  used  only to  respond
directly  on  a  one-time  basis  to  a  specific  request  from  the  child  and  is  not
used to recontact the child and  is not maintained  in  retrievable form from the
Operator;
(b)A request for the name or online contact information of a  parent or child that
is  used for the sole  purpose of obtaining  parental  consent or providing  notice
under   this   Section    and    where    such    information    is    not    maintained    in
retrievable  form  by  the  operator  if  parental  consent  is  not  obtained  after  a
reasonable time;
(c) Online contact information  collected  from  a  child that is  used  only to  respond
more than once directly to a specific request from the child and is not used to
recontact the child  beyond the scope of that request:
(i)  If,  before  any additional  response after the  initial  response to the  child,
the  operator  uses  reasonable  efforts  to  provide  a  parent  notice  of the
online  contact  information   collected  from  the  child,  the  purposes  for
which  it is to be used, and an opportunity for the parent to request that
the operator make no further use of the information and that it is not be
maintained  in  retrievable form;  or
(ii) without notice to the  parent in  such  circumstance as the  Department of
Information and Communication and Technology (DICT)  may determine
are  appropriate,  taking  into  consideration  the  benefits  to  the  child  of
access to information and services, and  risks to the security and  privacy
of  the   child,   in   rules  and   regulations   promulgated   for  the   effective
implementation of this Act.
(d)The   name   of   the   child   and   online   contact   information,   to   the   extent
reasonably  necessary to  protect the  safety  of a  child  participant on  the  site,
is:
(i) Used only for the purpose of protecting such safety;
(ii) not used to recontact the child or for any other purpose; and
(iii)  not disclosed  on the site;
If the operator uses reasonable efforts to provide a  parent notice of the name
and  online  contact  information  collected  from  the  child,  the  purposes for which  it  is
to be used, and an opportunity for the parent to request that the operator make no
further use of the information and that it not be maintained  in retrievable form; or
(e)The  collection,  use  or  dissemination  of  such  information  by  the  operator  of
such website or online service is necessary:


protect the security or integrity of its website;
take  precaution against liability;
to respond to judicial  process; or
to    provide    information    to    law    enforcement    agencies    or    for    an
investigation on a  matter related to public safety.
S;EC.    T2.    Role    of   the    Department    of    Information    and    Communications
rechno/ogy.  -    The  DICT  shall  be  the  primary  ageney  tasked  with  the  protection  of
children  using the Internet and the implementation of this Act.
SEC.  13.    Pub//.c Awanenes5 programs -The  DICT shall,  in  consultation  with  the
Philippine   Information   Agency   and   other   relevant  agencies   of  government,   private
sector,   and   civil   society   organizations,   develop,   lead,   undertake   and   coordinate   a
nationwide  program  to  heighten  public  awareness  and  involvement  in  furtherance  of
the  purposes of this Act. The  program  shall  utilize existing  resources and  efforts of the
national  government,  local  governments,   private  organizations,  and   non-government
organizations and  shall  include:
(a) Identifying, promoting, and encouraging best practices for Internet safety;
(b)   Establishing   and   carrying   out   a   national   outreach   and   Internet   Safety
Education   campaign    regarding    Internet   safety   utilizing   various    media    and
Internet-based resources;
(c)  Facilitating  access  to,  and  the  exchange  of,  information  regarding  Internet
safety to promote up-to-date knowledge regarding Internet safety; and
(d)  Facilitating  access to  Internet  safety  education  and  public  awareness  efforts
of the government,  nonprofit organizations, and other appropriate entities.
S;EC.   14.   Digital   Citizenship   Literary   Program,   -  The   promatJor\   Of   diigridJ
citizenship  literaay  program  shall   be  inculcated  in  all   levels  of  education   nationwide.
Consistent with  Section  5  of Republic Act  No.  10533,  or the ``Enhanced  Basic  Education
Act  of  2013'',  the  Department  of  Education   (DepEd)  shall  ensure  that  the  K  to   12
curriculum shall  be supported  by programs on digital  literaay.
The  Commission  on  Higher  Education  (CHED)  and  the  Technical  Education  and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall ensure the  promotion  of programs on  digital
cjtjzenshjp  literacy.
SEC.  15.  On//.ne Sarefy Coord/.nafors. -There shall  be appointed an Online Safety
Coordinator   (OSC)   in   all    primary   and   secondary   schools.   They   shall   ensure   the
protection of all students from  potential  harms that may occur through the Internet and
electronic  media  and  serve  as  the  main  contact  persons  on  all  online-related  issues.
OSCs   shall   act   as   auditor   of  online   safety   measures,   including   the   collection   and
recording of online safety incidents.
SEC.   16.  Pena/fy.es.  -  Violations  of  this  Act  shall  be  penalized  by  imprisonment
ranging  from  one  (1)  year  to  three  (3)  years  or  a  fine  of  not  less  than  Five  hundred
thousand     pesos     (Php500,000.00)     but     not     more     than     Two     million     pesos
(Php2,000,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the court.
SEC.  17.  Appnapr/.a£/.ons.  -The  amount  necessary to  carry  out the  provisions  of
this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated in the General Appropriations Act of the
year following its enactment into law and thereafter.


SEC.  18.  Separab/'//fy Cyause,  -  If for any  reason,  a  provision  or  part thereof is
declared  invalid,  other  provisions  not  affected  thereby  shall  remain  in  full  force  and
effect.
SEC.   19.   Rapea//.ng  Cyause.   -  All   Acts,   decrees,   executive   orders,   rules  and
regulations contrary or  inconsistent with  the  provisions of this Act are  hereby  repealed
or modified accordingly.
SEC.  20.  Effect7.vtfy Cyause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
its publication  in two (2)  national  newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,