FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First )<-egulllr Sessioll 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S. B. No.gJ,08 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Public Welfare and Proper Plumbing System are the concern of all. These are 
underscored in the plumbing works of buildings. It is necessary that plumbing design 
and installation be undertaken by people with adequate academic and technical 
background in accordance with sound engineering practice and generally accepted 
standards. 
Some forty years ago, 1955, Congress enacted R.A. 1378, otherwise known as the 
Plumbing Law, which regulates the trade of master plumbers. High School graduates 
with five years plumbing experience used to dominate the trade. With the advent of 
high rise buildings their numbers are dwindling but sustaining. Master Plumbers with 
engineering expertise are coming about. Since then the law has become outmoded with 
provisions that do not harmonize with the times: To date the practice of plumbing is 
still considered a trade, although the act of plumbing works has become more complex 
with the emergence and expansion of all types of buildings design and construction, 
coupled by the trend of urbanization, the proliferation of urban centers, and the 
subsequent complexity o[ architectural and engineering works these all the more spell 
out the demand for plumbing engineer. 
The burgeoning plumbing industry dramatizes the need for the participation of 
Plumbing Engineers with good academic background in engineering to cope up with 
the new technology required. The time has come, after two scores to upgrade the 
plumbing profession. R.A. 1378 must give way to a new law for Plumbing Engineers. 
Plumbing Engineering must be accorded profeSSional acceptance and recognition. 
Section 1 (B), Item (15) of RA 6511, An Act Amending Republic Act 465, An Act 
to Standardize the Examination and Registration Fees charged by the National 
Examining Bonrds, and the other purposes, provide and lists down the Profession' of 
Plumbing Engineers as a preparation [or the regulation of the profession. For this 
reason, registered engineers who are holders of Master Plumbers Certificate have 
responded to the call o[ the times and bonded themselves together under one roof, the 
Philippine Institute of Plumbing Engineers (PIPE). Their move was backed up by 
colleges and universities who recognized the importance of plumbing engineering by 
offering it as a distinct course. Congress has to come up with the law to elevate the 
plumbing trade to one of professional engineering and in the interest of public welfare. 
Approval of this bill is urgently requested. 
ERO 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Firs t Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT REGULATING 
THE PRACTICE OF PLUMBING ENGINEERING 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate lind the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress Ilssernbled: 
SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Plumbing 
2 
Engineering Act", 
3 
4 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms: 
5 
6 
(a) Practice of Plumbing Engineering - The practice of Plumbing Engineering is a 
7 
professional and organized act of gathering physical data for an effective 
8 
performance in the design and installation of plumbing systems of buildings and 
9 
other structures. It shall embrace services, but not limited, to the following activities: 
10 
II 
(1) Consultations, designing, preparation of plans, specifications, estimates, 
12 
erection, installation and supervision of plumbing work including the 
13 
inspection and acceptance of materials used therein in connection with any of 
14 
the following: 
IS 
16 
a. Storm Drainage Piping Systems; 
17 
b. Soil Waste and Vent Piping Systems; 
18 
c. Hot and Cold Water Supply Piping System; 
19 
d. Private Sewage Disposal Systems; and 
20 
e. All other related piping installation within the building. 
21 
22 
(2) Extension, alteration and modifications of all pipings for fixtures, 
23 
equipment, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with any of the 
24 
above scope. 
2S 
26 
(3) The enumeration of sub-section (1) and (2) above shall not be construed as 
27 
excluding any other work requiring plumbing knowledge and application. 
28 
29 
(4) Engagement in the transfer of the knowledge and technology of plumbing 
30 
engineering in any institution of learning. 
31 
" , 


I 
SECTION 3. Creation and Composition of the Board of Plumbing 
2 
Engineering - There is hereby created a Board of Plumbing Engineering, hereinafter 
3 
called the Board, to be composed of a chairman and two (2) members to be 
4 
appointed by the President of the Philippines from a list of three (3) recomendees of 
5 
the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter called the commission for each 
6 
position, chosen in rank in the order of preference and from the list of five (5) 
7 
nominees for each position submitted by the accredited Integrated National 
8 
Organization of Plumbing Engineers and Master Plumbers. The first set of nominees 
9 
for the first composition may be submitted by the present association of Plumbing 
10 
Engineers unless the integrated shall have been set up for the purpose. The first 
II 
composition shall be organized not later than six (6) months from the effectivity of 
12 
this Act. 
13 
14 
SECTION 4. Qualificatibns of Members of the Board - A member of the 
15 
Board shall at the time of his/her appointment, possess the following qualifications: 
16 
17 
(a) Natural born citizen and resident of the Philippines; 
18 
(b) Must be at least forty (40) years of age; 
19 
(c) Must be a Plumbing Engineer holding a valid Certificate of Registration and a 
20 
valid Professional License as a Plumbing Engineer having a degree of 
21 
Bachelor of Science in Engineering and an active practitioner in Master 
22 
Plumber/Plumbing Engineering for not less than ten (10) years prior to 
23 
appointment; 
24 
(d) Must not be a member of the faculty of any school, academy, institute, college 
25 
or university where a regular course in Plumbing Engineering is being 
26 
taught, nor have pecuniary interest in or administrative supervision over any 
27 
such institution of learning; 
28 
(e) Must not, for a period of three (3) consecutive years prior to appointment, be 
29 
connected with a review center or with any group or m y association where 
30 
review classes or lectures in preparation for the licensure examination are 
31 
offered or conducted at the time of appointment; and 
32 
(f) Must not have been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude. 
33 
34 
SECTION 5. Term of Office - The members of the Board shall hold office for 
35 
a term of three (3) years and until their successors shall have been appointed and 
36 
qualified. Of the members of the Board first appointed under this Act, one (1) 
37 
member shall be appointed and hold office for three (3) years; and one (1) member 
38 
for two (2) years, one (1) member for one year. 
39 
40 
The Chairman or member of the Board may be re-appointed for another term 
41 
but in no case shall he serve continuously for more than six (6) years. Each member 
42 
of the Board shall qualify by taking the proper oath of office prior to the assumption 
43 
in the performance of duties. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the board 
44 
within the term of a member shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term 
45 
only. 
46 
47 
SECTION 6. Compensation of the Board Members - The Chairman and 
48 
members of the Board shall receive compensation and allowances comparable to the 
49 
compensation and allowances received by existing Professional Regulatory Boards 
50 
with Professional Regulation tommission (PRC), hereinafter referred to as the 
5 I 
Commission, as provided for in the Ceneral Appropriations Act. 
52 
2 


SECTION 7. Vacancy and Removal of Board Members - Any vacancy 
2 
occurring in the membership of the Board within the term of a member shall be 
3 
filled for the unexpired portion of the term only. The President may remove any 
4 
member of the Board, upon the recommendation of the Commission, on the 
5 
following grounds: 
6 
7 
(a) Neglect of duty or incompetence; 
8 
(b) Violation or tolerance of the violation of this Act or the Code of Ethics or 
9 
Technical Standards for Plumbing Engineers; 
10 
(c) Final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude. 
II 
12 
He/She shall be given due notice and hearing where his/her right to be 
13 
heard and to defend him/ herself, assisted by counsel, shall be respected in a proper 
14 
administrative investigation the commission shall conduct. 
15 
16 
SECTION 8. Powers and Duties of the Board - The Board shall exercise the 
17 
following specific powers, functions, duties and responsibilities: 
18 
19 
(a) To promulgate and adopt the rules and regulations necessary for carrying 
20 
out the provisions of this Act; 
21 
(b) To supervise the examination, registration, licensure and practice of 
22 
Plumbing Engineering and Master Plumbing in the Philippines; 
23 
(c) To administer oaths in connection with the successful examinees entering 
24 
the practice of Plumbing Engineering and Master Plumbing; 
25 
(d) To issue the Certificate of Registration to successful examinees; 
26 
(e) To issue, suspend, revoke, or reinstate the Certificate of Registration and 
27 
Professional License for the practice of the Plumbing Engineering profession; 
28 
(f) To adopt an official seal of the Board; 
29 
(g) To look into the conditions affecting the practice of the professions and 
30 
whenever necessary, adopt such measures as may be deemed proper for the 
31 
enhancement and maintenance of high professional and ethical standards of the 
32 
professions; 
33 
(h) To ensure, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education 
34 
(CI-lED), that all educational institutions offering Plumbing Engineering education 
35 
comply with the policies, standards and requirements of the course prescribed by 
36 
CI-IED in the areas of curriculum, faculty, library and facilities; 
37 
(i) To prescribed and/or adopt a Code of Ethics and a Code of Technical 
38 
Standards for the practice of the Plumbing Engineering professions; 
39 
U) To hear and try administrative cases involving violations of this Act, its 
40 
implementing rules and regulations, the Code of Ethics / Technical Standards and 
41 
for the purpose, to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to secure the 
42 
appearances of witnesses and the production of documents in connection therewith; 
43 
(k) To prescribe guidelines for the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) 
44 
program in coordination with the accredited integrated National Association of 
45 
Professionall'lumbing Engineers; 
46 
(I) To prepare, adopt issue or amend the syllabi of the subjects for 
47 
examina tion. 
48 
(m) To approve, issue, limit or revoke temporary special permit license to 
49 
practice Plumbing Engineering; 
50 
(n) Discharge such other duties and functions as may be deemed necessary 
51 
for the enhancement of the Plumbing Engineering professions and the upgrading, 
52 
development and growth of Plumbing Engineering education in the Philippines; 
53 
3 


SECTION 9. Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its Records, Secretariat 
2 
and Support Services - The Board shall be under the administrative supervision of 
3 
the Commission. All records of the Board, including the application for examination, 
4 
examination papers and results, minutes of deliberation, administrative cases and 
5 
other investigations involving Plumbing Engineers shall be kept by the Commission. 
6 
The Commission shall designate the Secretary of the Board and shall provide the 
7 
secretariat and other support services to implement the provisions of this Act. 
8 
9 
SECTION 10. Annual R~lport - The Board shall, at the close of each calendar 
10 
year, submit an annual report to the President of the Philippines through the 
II 
Professional Regulation Commission, giving detailed account of its recommendation 
12 
for the adoption of measures that will upgrade and improve the conditions affecting 
13 
the practice of Plumbing Engineering in the Philippines. 
14 
15 
SECTION 11. Examinations Required - All applicants for registration for the 
16 
practice of Plumbing Engineering shall be required to undergo and pass a written 
17 
technical examination provided for in this Act. 
18 
19 
SECTION 12. Qualifications of Applicant for Plumbing Engineering 
20 
Examination - Every applicant for Plumbing Engineer examination shall establish 
21 
the following: 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
Hel she is a citizen of the Philippines or a foreigner whose country 
state has reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of the 
profession; 
Of Good Moral Character; and 
Within five yeas upon approval of this Act, a graduate of any BS 
degree in Engineering or Architecture may qualify for the 
examination provided. 
That hel she is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Plumbing 
Engineering in a school, academy, institute or college duly 
recognized by the Government. 
34 
SECTION 13. Fraudulent Application - The Board may suspend or revoke a 
35 
Certificate of Registration obtained through misrepresentation made in the 
36 
application for examination. 
37 
38 
SECTION 14. Scope of Examinations - The examination for Plumbing 
39 
Engineering shall basically cover the following subjects: 
40 
41 
a. Mathematics; 
42 
b. Theory and Practice of Plumbing 
43 
c. Hydraulic and Plumbing Principles 
44 
d. Plumbing Design and Installation 
45 
f. Plumbing Laws and National Codes 
46 
g. Laws on Obligations and Contracts 
47 
h. Code of Ethics of the Profession 
48 
49 
The said subjects and their syllabi maybe amended by the Board so as to 
50 
conform to technological changes brought about by continuing trends in the 
5 I 
profeSSion. 
52 
4 


SECTION 15. Rating in the Board Examination - To be qualified as having 
2 
passed the board examination for Plumbing Engineers, a candidate must obtained a 
3 
weighted general average of seventy (70%) with no grade lower than fifty-five 
4 
percent (55%) in any given subject must take the examination in the subject or 
5 
subjects where he/ she obtained a grade below fifty-five percent (55%). 
6 
7 
SECTION 16. Report of Ratings - The board shall submit to the commission 
8 
the rating obtained by each candidate within twenty (20) calendar days after the 
9 
examination, unless extended for just cause. Upon the release of the results of the 
10 
examination, the board shall send by mail the rating received by each examinee at 
II 
his given address using the mailing envelope submitted during the examination. 
12 
13 
SECTION 17. Re-examination - An applicant who fails to pass the 
14 
examination for the third time shall be allowed to take another examination only 
15 
after the lapse of one year. 
16 
17 
SECTION 18. Oath - All successful candidates in the examinations shall be 
18 
required to take an oath of profession before the Board or any PRC Official 
19 
authorized by the PRC to administer oaths, prior to entering upon the practice of the 
20 
Plumbing Engineering profession. 
21 
22 
SECTION 19. Certificate of Registration and Professional License - A 
23 
Certificate of Registration' shall be issued to applicants who pass the examination for 
24 
Plumbing Engineers subject to payment of registration fees. 
25 
26 
The Certificate of Registration of a Professional Plumbing Engineer shall bear 
27 
the signatures of the Chairman of the Board and its member attested by the 
28 
Secretary of the Professional I~egulation Commission and stamped with the official 
29 
seal of the Board indicating that the person named therein is a registered Plumbing 
30 
Engineer. 
31 
32 
A professional license bearing the registration number, date of issuance, 
33 
expiry date and duly signed by the Chairman of the Board, shall likewise be issued 
34 
to every registrant, upon payment of the professional fees. No person shall practice 
35 
Plumbing Engineering in the manner contrary to herein provided. A license is 
36 
entitled to practice the profession with all the privileges appurtenant thereto until 
37 
the expiration of the validity of his license. 
38 
39 
SECTION 20. Seal and Use of Seal - (a) Each registrant shall, upon 
40 
registration, obtain the seal of such design as the Board of Plumbing Engineering 
41 
may adopt. Plans and specifications prepared by, or under the direct supervision of 
42 
a registered Plumbing Engineer, shall be stamped with said seal during the validity 
43 
of the professional license. No person shall stamp or seal any document with the 
44 
seal of a registrant after his professional license has expired, lost its validity, unless 
45 
he has been reinstated at the practice and/ or unless his license has been renewed. 
46 
47 
(b) No officer or employee of the government, chartered cities, provinces and 
48 
municipalities now or hereafter charged with the enforcement of laws, ordinances or 
49 
regulations relating to all Plumbing Engineering practices shall accept or endorse 
50 
any plumbing plans or documents which have not been prepared and submitted in 
51 
full accord with the provisions of this Act, nor shall any payment be approved by 
52 
any such officer for any work, the plans and documents of which have not been 
53 
prepared, signed and sealed by a duly licensed Plumbing Engineer. 
5 


(c) No Plumbing Engineer shall sign his name, affix his seal or use any other method 
2 
of signature on plans, specifications or other documents made by under another 
3 
Plumbing Engineer's supervisiQn unless the same is made in such manner as to 
4 
clearly indicate the part of such work actually performed by him; and no person, 
s 
except the Plumbing Engineer in charge, shall sign for any branch of work or any 
6 
function of Plumbing Engineering practice not actually performed by him. The 
7 
Plumbing Engineer in-charge shall be fully responsible for all plans, specifications 
8 
and other documents issued under his seal or authorized signature. 
9 
10 
The Board shall formulate, adopt and promulgate all necessary rules and 
11 
regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions relating to the design 
12 
of the seal, the signing and sealing of drawings, specifications, reports and other 
13 
documents by Plumbing Engineers. 
14 
15 
(d) Plans and documents duly signed, stamped or sealed as instruments of service 
16 
are the property and documents of the Plumbing Engineer. 
17 
18 
SECTION 21. Indication of License and Professional Tax Receipt - The 
19 
Plumbing Engineer shall be required to indicate his professional license number, the 
20 
duration of validity, including the professional tax receipt number and the official 
21 
receipt number of the payment of his/her annual dues with the duly accredited 
22 
organization on the documents he signs, uses in connection with the practice of his 
23 
profession. 
24 
25 
SECTION 22. Grounds for Suspension and Revocation of License, 
26 
Cancellation of Temporary / Special Permit - The Board shall have the power, 
27 
upon due notice and hearing, to revoke or suspend the license of a Plumbing 
28 
Engineer, or to cancel a temporary / special permit for any cause specified in the 
29 
proceeding section, including but not limited to: 
30 
31 
(a) The use or perpetration of any fraud deceit in obtaining a certificate of 
32 
registration; 
33 
(b) For incompetence, negligence, or for abatement of the illegal practice of 
34 
Plumbing Engineering; 
35 
(c) Violation of the provisions of this Act, its implementing rules and regulations 
36 
and/ or violation of the policies of the Board including the Code of Ethics for 
37 
Plumbing Engineers. 
38 
39 
Provided, however, that such action of the Board shall, be subject to appeal to 
40 
the Commission, within fifteen (15) days from written notice. 
41 
42 
SECTION 23. Vested Rights: Automatic Registration of Practicing 
43 
Registered Master Plumbers/Plumbing Engineers - All practicing Master Plumbers 
44 
/ Plumbing Engineers who are registered at the time this Act takes effect shall 
45 
automatically be registered. As per qualification enumerated in Sec. 30 sub-section 
46 
(c). 
47 
48 
SECTION 24. Practice Not Allowed for Firms and Corporations - The 
49 
practice of Plumbing Engineering is a professional service, admission to which shall 
50 
be determined upon the basis of an individual's personal qualifications, for which 
51 
the Plumbing Engineer is responsible for the correctness of the plumbing work. 
52 
6 


No firm, company, partnership, association Or corporation may be registered 
2 
or licensed as such for the practice of Plumbing Engineering. Provided, however, 
3 
that persons properly registered and licensed as Plumbing Engineering may among 
4 
themselves or with a person or persons properly registered and licensed as 
5 
Plumbing Engineer may form and obtain registration with the Securities and 
6 
Exchange Commission (SEC) of a firm, partnership or association using the term 
7 
"Plumbing Engineer", but nobody shall be a member, partner or associate unless he 
8 
is a duly registered and licensed Plumbing Engineer, and the members who are 
9 
Plumbing Engineers shall only render work and services proper for a Plumbing 
10 
Engineers as defined in this Act. 
11 
12 
SECTION 25. Integration of Membership To One National Organization -
13 
Upon registration with the Board, the Registered Plumbing Engineers shall be 
14 
integrated to one National Organization in accordance with the Rules of Integration 
15 
adopted by the Supreme Court in integrating the members of the Philippine Bar. 
16 
The members shall receive the benefits and privileges appurtenance thereto. Those 
17 
who have been registered with the Board but not yet a member of the accredited 
18 
organization at the time of the effectivity of this act, shall be allowed to register as 
19 
member of the said organization within three(3) years after the effectivity of this act. 
20 
21 
SECTION 26. Foreign Reciprocity - No foreign Plumbing Engineer shall be 
22 
issued a temporary license to practice the Plumbing Engineer shall be issued a 
23 
temporary license to practice the Plumbing Engineering profession or consultancy 
24 
thereof or be entitled to any of the rights and privileges under this Act unless the 
25 
country of which he is a subject or citizen specifically permits Filipino Plumbing 
26 
Engineers to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or 
27 
citizens or such foreign state or country. 
28 
29 
ARTICLE VI 
30 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
31 
32 
SECTION 27. Implementing Rules and Regulations - Subject to the 
33 
approval of the Commission, the Board shall adopt and promulgate such rules and 
34 
regulations, induding the Code of Ethics for Plumbing Engineers to carry out the 
35 
provisions of this Act, which shall be effective after thirty (30) days following their 
36 
full publication in the Official Gazette or in a major daily newspaper of general 
37 
circula tion. 
38 
39 
SECTION 28. Funding - Such sums as may be necessary to carry out the 
40 
proVisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the 
41 
year following its enactment into law and thereafter. Provided, however, that fifty 
42 
percent (50%) of the fees derived from examination, registration and licenses shall 
43 
be utilized by the Board of defray its administrative and other operational expenses, 
44 
including the enhancement of the Plumbing Engineering profession. 
45 
46 
SECTION 29. Enforcement - The Professional Regulation Commission shall 
47 
be the enforcement agency of the Board. As such, enforce its implementing rules and 
48 
regulations as adopted by the Board, conduct investigations upon complaints, 
49 
including violations of the Code of Conduct of the profession and prosecute when so 
50 
warranted. 
51 
7 


SECTION 30. Transitory Provisions - (a) The existing Board of Master 
2 
Plumbing shall continue to function in the interim until time as the new Board shall 
3 
be duly constituted pursuant to this Act. 
4 
5 
(b) Examination for Master Plumber shall cease to be conducted upon effectivity of 
6 
this Act. 
7 
8 
(c) Certificate of Registration without Examination shall be issued within a grace 
9 
period of two (2) years by the Board first constituted to applicant Who meet the 
10 
qualifications and requirements enumerated hereunder. 
11 
12 
(d) Registered Master Plumber to Professional Plumbing Engineer: 
13 
14 
(1) That he is a citizen of the Philippines and at least twenty one (21) years 
15 
old; 
16 
(2) That he is of good moral character; 
17 
(3) That he is aphysically and mentally healthy; 
18 
(4) That he is a registered and licensed Master Plumber at the same time he is 
19 
registered and licensed engineer and architect; 
20 
(5) That he is a registered and licensed Master Plumber with at least two (2) 
21 
years of college in Engineering and Architecture, two (2) years of plumbing 
22 
experience acceptable to the Board; or 
23 
(6) That he is a registered and licensed Master Plumber with at least three (3) 
24 
years of college in Engineering or Architecture and one (1) year experience 
25 
acceptable to the Board; or 
26 
(7) That he is a registered and licensed Master Plumber with at least four (4) 
27 
years experience in plumbing acceptable to the Board; or 
28 
(8) That he is a registered and licensed Master Plumber with at least two (2) 
29 
years plumbing experience and CPE units earned as prescribed by the CPE 
30 
Council and approved by the Board; 
31 
(9) That he is a registered and licensed Master Plumber with a combination of 
32 
college work, plumbing experience and CPE units earned as shall be 
33 
prescribed and approved by the Board. 
34 
35 
(e) A registered and licensed Master Plumber who does not qualify for automatic 
36 
registration for Plumbing Engineer as provided for in the preceding paragraph (d), 
37 
sub-section (c) Section 30, Article VI are therefore required to take the Bachelor 
38 
Science in Plumbing l~ngineering course to qualify for the Plumbing Engineering 
39 
examination. 
40 
41 
SECTION 31. Penalties - In addition to the administrative sanctions, any of 
42 
the provisions of this Act, upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of not less than 
43 
Fifty thousand pesos (I! 50,000.00) nor more than Two hundred thousand pesos (fl 
44 
200,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six (6) years, or both such fine and 
45 
imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. 
46 
47 
SECTION 32. Separability Clause - If any clause, provision, paragraph or 
48 
part hereof shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not 
49 
affect, invalidate or impair any other part thereof, but such judgment shall merely be 
50 
confined to the clause, provision, paragraph or part directly involved in the 
51 
controversy upon which such judgment has been rendered. 
52 
8 


• 
SECTION 33. Repealing Clause - Republic Act No. 1378 is hereby repealed. 
2 
All other laws, decrees, National Codes, executive orders, letter of instructions and 
3 
other administrative issuances and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
4 
provisions of this Act are hereby modified, suspended or repealed accordingly. 
5 
6 
SECTION 34. Effectivity - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
7 
its publication in full in the Official Gazette or major daily newspaper of general 
8 
circulation in the Philippines, whichever is earlier. 
9 
10 
AppYO'ued. 
9