Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative Stella Luz A. Quimbo 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN BY 
INSTITUTIONALIZING ADDITIONAL REFORMS TO REVITALIZE YOUTH 
PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Our nation’s survival rests on how effective the present leaders are in providing 
leadership avenues for the young Filipinos. Because the COVID-19 pandemic still 
rages on, long term effects on governance are foreseen, and so long-term plans must 
be instituted in order to reap better governmental outcomes in the future. One key 
component that has to be included in any pathways to recovery from the pandemic is 
the training of aspiring leaders in the country who at a young age are passionate to 
serve the people.  
In this regard, the government should ensure that the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), as 
a fertile ground for future leaders, can truly enrich the participation of the youth in 
governance. The Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 has begun to take the 
initial steps necessary to empower young leaders in the community. Yet, there are 
aspects of the SK Reform Act which Congress could still improve on. One of the 
yearnings of the SK members is adequate compensation. Except the SK Chairman, 
who serves as an ex officio member of the Sangguniang Barangay, SK members do not 
receive any form of renumeration, in spite of the fact that they are part of the frontline 
team of the government in addressing the needs of those in the grassroots. .  
In response to these needs, this bill seeks to introduce further SK reforms. First, it 
grants monthly honoraria to all SK members in order to compensate them for their 
selfless service. The bill also empowers the SK to formulate its internal rules and 
appoint its secretary and treasurer for improved organizational efficiency. To give SK 
June 2, 2021
6:00 pm
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members the ability to voice out their concerns in the national stage and participate in 
governance at the national level, the SK chairpersons shall elect amongst themselves 
one representative to sit as an ex officio member of the National Youth Commission.  
These much-needed reforms are significant and urgent because it creates a better 
avenue for young leaders to train themselves in public service. SK members have been 
tapped by the barangay in providing immediate relief to the people during the 
pandemic and this is a testament to the important role that SK plays in nation-building 
and calamity response. They have likewise implemented youth programs in social 
media platforms to serve their constituencies. Increased government support to SK 
members will ensure that these young leaders are well-prepared as they take on bigger 
tasks as leaders of the nation in the future.  
In light of the need to immediately institute the proposed reforms to improve the 
Sangguniang Kabataan, the swift passage of this is earnestly sought.  
STELLA LUZ A. QUIMBO 
Representative 
Second District, Marikina City 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative Stella Luz A. Quimbo 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN BY 
INSTITUTIONALIZING ADDITIONAL REFORMS TO REVITALIZE YOUTH 
PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SEC. 1. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10742, otherwise known as the “Sangguniang 
Kabataan Reform Act of 2015”, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the Sangguniang Kabataan. – The 
Sangguniang Kabataan shall:  
“(a) x x x; 
“(e) Hold fund-raising activities which are in line with the Comprehensive 
Barangay Youth Development Plan, the proceeds of which shall be tax-exempt 
and shall accrue to the general fund 
of 
the 
Sangguniang 
Kabataan: 
Provided, however, That in the appropriation thereof, the specific purpose for 
which  such  activity  has  been  held  shall  be  first satisfied: Provided, further, 
That any appropriation thereof    shall be in accordance with existing applicable 
budget,  accounting  and  auditing rules and regulations, SUCH AS THOSE 
ISSUED BY THE 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
BUDGET 
AND 
MANAGEMENT (DBM)  AND THE COMMISSION ON AUDIT (COA); 
“(J) WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM THEIR ASSUMPTION 
TO 
OFFICE, 
THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN SHALL: 
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1) FORMULATE AND APPROVE ITS INTERNAL RULES AND 
PROCEDURES; 
2) APPOINT ITS SECRETARY AND TREASURER AND; 
3) SET THE SCHEDULE OF REGULAR SK MEETINGS AND SK 
ASSEMBLIES; AND 
 
[(j)] “(K) Exercise such other powers and perform such other   functions as may 
be prescribed by law or ordinance, or delegated by the Sangguniang Barangay 
or the Commission.” 
 
SEC 2. Section 10 of the same Act is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 10. Qualifications. – An official of the Sangguniang Kabataan, either 
[elective] ELECTED or [appointee] APPOINTED must be a citizen of the 
Philippines, a qualified voter of the Katipunan ng Kabataan, a resident of the 
barangay for not less than one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the 
elections, at  least eighteen (18)  years  but not more than twenty-four (24) years 
of age on the day of the elections, able to read and write Filipino, English, or 
the local dialect, must not be related   within   the   second   civil   degree   of 
consanguinity   or   affinity   to   any incumbent elected national  official  or  to  
any  incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay 
official, in the locality where he or she seeks to be elected, and must not have 
been convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude: 
PROVIDED, THAT THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN TREASURER 
MUST BE AT LEAST EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS BUT NOT MORE THAN 
THIRTY (30) YEARS OF AGE ON THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT: 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN 
CHAIRPERSON 
SHALL 
APPOINT 
A 
TREASURER 
WITH 
AN 
EDUCATIONAL, AND/OR CAREER BACKGROUND RELATING TO 
BUSINESS 
ADMINISTRATION, 
ACCOUNTANCY, 
FINANCE, 
ECONOMICS, OR BOOKKEEPING: PROVIDED, FURTHERMORE, THAT 
ONLY IF NO PERSON MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS CAN THE SK 
CHAIRPERSON 
CONSIDER 
OTHER 
SUITABLE 
NOMINEES: 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT APPOINTED SK TREASURERS SHALL 
UNDERGO A MANDATORY BOOKKEEPING TRAINING FROM AND 
BE DULY CERTIFIED BY THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA) BEFORE ASSUMPTION OF 
OFFICE: 
PROVIDED, 
FINALLY, 
THAT 
THE 
APPOINTED 
SK 
TREASURERS SHALL BE PRIORITIZED IN THE ALLOCATION OF 
APPROPRIATE TESDA SCHOLARSHIP.” 
 
SEC. 3. Section 15 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 15. Sangguniang Kabataan Treasurer.– The Sangguniang Kabataan 
treasurer, WHO SHALL BE A BONDED OFFICER, shall: “x x x.” 
 
SEC. 4. Section 16 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 


 
 
 
“SEC. 16. 
Privileges 
of 
Sangguniang Kabataan Officials. – (a) All 
Sangguniang Kabataan officials in good standing, whether elected  or 
appointed, shall, during their incumbency: 
 
“(1) x x x; 
 
“(2) BE EXEMPT FROM TAKING ANY OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE 
NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (NSTP); 
 
“x x x; 
 
[“(6) The 
Sangguniang Kabataan 
chairperson 
shall 
have 
the 
same 
privileges enjoyed by other Sangguniang Barangay officials under this Act 
subject to such requirements and limitations provided herein;] 
 
“(6) THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE 
SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN TREASURER AND SECRETARY, SHALL 
RECEIVE A MONTHLY HONORARIUM, CHARGEABLE AGAINST THE 
SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN  FUNDS,   IN  ADDITION   TO  ANY 
OTHER COMPENSATION  PROVIDED BY THIS ACT AND SHALL BE 
GRANTED 
AT 
THE 
END 
OF 
EVERY 
REGULAR 
MONTHLY 
SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN MEETING: PROVIDED, THAT THE 
MONTHLY HONORARIUM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE MONTHLY 
COMPENSATION 
RECEIVED 
BY 
THEIR 
SK 
CHAIRPERSON: 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT NOT MORE THAN 25% OF THE 
SANGUNNIANG KABATAAN FUNDS SHALL BE ALLOCATED FOR 
PERSONNEL SERVICES. THE DBM SHALL ISSUE THE NECESSARY 
GUIDELINES IMPLEMENTING THIS PROVISION. 
 
“THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS MAY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL 
HONORARIUM  AS 
WELL AS 
SOCIAL 
WELFARE 
CONTRIBUTIONS AND HAZARD PAY TO THE SANGGUNIANG 
KABATAAN CHAIRPERSON AND THE ELECTED AND APPOINTED 
MEMBERS THROUGH THEIR OWN LOCAL ORDINANCES PROVIDED, 
THAT THE HONORARIUM AS STATED IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE 
SUBJECT TO THE POST-AUDIT JURISDICTION OF THE COMMISSION 
ON AUDIT (COA); 
 
“(7) BE ENTITLED TO APPROPRIATE CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBILITY,  
PURSUANT TO RULES AND REGULATIONS ISSUED BY THE CIVIL 


 
 
SERVICE COMMISSION: PROVIDED, THAT THE SK OFFICIAL HAS 
RENDERED THEIR FULL 
TERM 
OF OFFICE; AND 
 
“(8) 
THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN 
CHAIRPERSON 
SHALL 
HAVE THE SAME PRIVILEGES ENJOYED BY OTHER SANGGUNIANG 
BARANGAY OFFICIALS UNDER 
THIS 
ACT 
SUBJECT 
TO 
SUCH 
REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS PROVIDED HEREIN.” 
 
SEC. 5. Section 19 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
"SEC. 19. Succession and Filling up of Vacancies.– (a) In case a Sangguniang 
Kabataan chairperson refuses to assume office, fails to qualify, voluntarily 
resigns, dies, is permanently incapacitated, is removed from office, the 
Sangguniang Kabataan member who obtained the highest  number  of  votes  
in the election immediately preceding shall assume the office of the 
chairperson, for the unexpired portion of his or her term. In case said member 
refuses   to   assume   the   position   or   fails to qualify, the Sangguniang 
Kabataan member obtaining  the  next  highest  number  of  votes shall assume 
the position of the chairperson for the unexpired portion of the term: 
PROVIDED,THAT, IF THE REASON FOR THE VACANCY DOES NOT 
FALL UNDER THE CONDITIONS STATED ABOVE, THE MAYOR OF 
THE CONCERNED BARANGAY SHALL APPOINT AN OFFICER-IN-
CHARGE (OIC) FROM A LIST OF AT LEAST THREE (3) NOMINEES AS 
SUBMITTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN 
MEMBERS: 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE APPOINTED OIC MUST 
MEET 
THE QUALIFICATIONS SET UNDER SECTION 10 OF THIS ACT. 
 
"x x x." 
 
SEC. 6. Section 20 of the same Act is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 20. Sangguniang Kabataan Funds.– The Sangguniang Kabataan funds 
shall be governed by the following provisions: 
 
“(a) All the income of the barangay derived from whatever source shall accrue 
to its general fund and shall, at the option of the barangay concerned, be kept 
as trust fund in the custody of the city or municipal treasurer or be deposited 
in a bank preferably government-owned, situated in or nearest to its area of 
jurisdiction. Such funds shall be disbursed in accordance with the provisions 
of this Act. Ten percent (10%) of the general fund of the barangay shall be set 
aside for the Sangguniang Kabataan. The Sangguniang Barangay shall 


 
 
appropriate the Sangguniang Kabataan funds in lump-sum which shall be 
disbursed [solely] for youth development and empowerment purposes; 
 
“(b) xxx; 
 
“(c) All Sangguniang Kabataan funds shall be allocated in an annual budget, 
and if the funds allow, in a supplemental budget in accordance with the 
adopted Annual Barangay Investment Program. Both the Comprehensive 
Barangay Youth 
Development 
Plan 
and 
Annual 
Barangay 
Investment Program shall give priority to programs, projects and activities that 
will promote and [ensure the equitable access to quality education, 
environmental protection, climate change adaptation, disaster 
risk 
reduction and resiliency, youth employment and livelihood, health and anti-
drug abuse, gender sensitivity, sports development, and capability building 
which emphasizes leadership training; and] ATTAIN THE THRUSTS OF 
THE PHILIPPINE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN SUCH AS HEALTH, 
EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, 
GLOBAL 
MOBILITY, 
ACTIVE 
CITIZENSHIP, 
GOVERNANCE, SOCIAL EQUITY AND INCLUSION, 
PEACE-BUILDINGAND SECURITY, AND 
ECONOMIC 
EMPOWERMENT, SUCH AS: 
 
“(1) 
STUDENT 
STIPENDS, 
FOOD, 
BOOK 
AND 
TRANSPORTATION 
ALLOWANCES, 
AND 
OTHER 
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT WILL REDUCE 
THE INCIDENCE OF OUT-OF- SCHOOL YOUTH AND DROP-
OUTS 
 
“(2) SPORTS AND WELLNESS PROJECTS TO ADDRESS 
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, TEENAGE PREGNANCY, 
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES; 
 
“(3) SKILLS TRAINING, SUMMER EMPLOYMENT, CASH-FOR-
WORK, 
ON-THE-JOB 
TRAINING, 
AND 
LIVELIHOOD 
ASSISTANCE; 
 
“(4) PROJECTS PROMOTING THE PARTICIPATION OF THE 
YOUTH AND THEIR INITIATION IN AGRICULTURAL, FISHERY, 
AND FORESTRY ENTERPRISES; 
 
“(5) PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT WILL LOCATE THE 
YOUTH 
AT 
THE 
FOREFRONT 
OF 
ENVIRONMENTAL 


 
 
PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS, AND 
ENLIST 
THEIR 
INVOLVEMENT 
IN 
CALAMITY 
PREPAREDNESS 
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION AND OTHER DISASTER-
RELATED ACTIVITES; AND 
 
“(6) CAPACITY-BUILDING FOR GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION 
AND LEADERSHIP, AND VALUES EDUCATION; 
 
“(7) PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES 
THAT 
ADDRESS 
CONTEXT-SPECIFIC 
AND 
INTERSECTIONAL 
VULNERABILITIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE. 
 
“(d) xxx; AND 
 
“(e) THE SK MAY SET ASIDE AN AMOUNT FOR THE SK MANDATORY 
AND CONTINUING TRAININGS 
TO 
COMPLEMENT 
THE 
TRAINING FUND HEREIN PROVIDED UNDER SEC. 29. THE TOTAL 
AMOUNT APPROPRIATED FOR TRAINING SHALL NOT BE MORE 
THAN FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) OF THE SK FUND. THE SK MAY ALSO 
CONSULT NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs) AND 
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS (CSOs) ACCREDITED BY THE 
NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
MANDATORY PROGRAMS AND TRAININGS FOR ITS OFFICIALS.” 
 
SEC. 7. Section 21 of the same Act is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 21. Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan. – (a) There shall be an 
organization of the Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan to be known as 
follows: 
“(1) x x x 
 
“(3) x x x 
 
“(D) DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE SK PEDERASYON. – THE SK 
PEDERASYON AND THE LOCAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 
(LYDC) 
SHALL 
DRAFT THE LOCAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT 
PLAN (LYDP). THE PEDERASYON AND THE LYDC SHALL CONVENE 
QUARTERLY TO ENSURE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LYDP AND 
ALIGNMENT 
OF 
COMPREHENSIVE 
BARANGAY 
YOUTH 
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND 
ANNUAL 
BARANGAY YOUTH 
INVESTMENT PROGRAM TO THE LYDP. THE PEDERASYON SHALL 


 
 
ALSO CASCADE INFORMATION AND FACILITATE KNOWLEDGE 
TRANSFER TO THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCALITIES. 
 
“(E) 
THE PRESIDENTS 
OF 
THE 
PANLALAWIGANG 
PEDERASYON NG MGA SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN 
AND 
THE 
PRESIDENTS OF THE PANLUNGSOD NA PEDERSAYON NG MGA 
SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN OF 
HIGHLY URBANIZED  CITIES 
AND INDEPENDENT COMPONENT CITIES SHALL ELECT, AMONG 
THEMSELVES,  ONE  (1) REPRESENTATIVE FROM  LUZON, ONE (1)  
REPRESENTATIVE FROM 
VISAYAS, 
AND ONE (1) 
REPRESENTATIVE FROM MINDANAO TO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF 
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL CREATED UNDER SECTION 14 OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8044 OR THE ‘YOUTH IN NATION-BUILDING 
ACT’.” 
 
SEC. 8. Insert a new Section 23 of the same Act to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 23. MEMBERSHIP IN 
THE 
NATIONAL 
YOUTH 
COMMISSION. – THE PRESIDENTS OF THE PANLALAWIGANG 
PEDERASYON  NG  MGA SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN AND THE 
PRESIDENTS OF THE PANLUNGSOD NA PEDERASAYON NG MGA 
SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN 
OF HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES 
AND  INDEPENDENT COMPONENT CITIES SHALL ELECT, AMONG 
THEMSELVES, A REPRESENTATIVE WHO SHALL SIT AS AN EX-
OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION, 
CONSISTENT WITH SECTION 5 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8044, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘YOUTH IN NATION BUILDING ACT’.” 
 
SEC. 9. Section 25 of the same Act is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 25. Creation. – There shall be in every province, city, and municipality a 
Youth Development Office which shall be headed by a youth development 
officer with the rank of at least division chief. Such may be put under the Office 
of the Local Chief Executive, the Office of the Planning and Development, the 
Office of the   Social   Welfare or   in   any   other office deemed  appropriate  by  
the  local government unit. If the funds of the local government unit are 
sufficient, it can be a separate department with divisions and units for policy 
and planning, administration and finance, and programs and operations. In the 
event when the local government unit has exceeded the prescribed personal 
services limitations, the local chief  executive  may  designate  existing 
personnel whom  he or she  deems  fit  to  serve this  purpose  [until  such  time  


 
 
that  the  local government  unit  can  already  create  this this office]: 
PROVIDED, THAT A LOCAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICER SHALL 
BE APPOINTED WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF 
THIS ACT.” 
 
SEC. 10. Section 26 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 26. 
Funding. – THE 
LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT 
UNIT 
MAY 
APPROPRIATE NOT LESS THAN 1% OF ITS ANNUAL BUDGET FOR 
THE LOCAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, WHICH SHALL BE 
USED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LOCAL YOUTH 
DEVELOPMENT PLAN, CONVENING 
THE MEETINGS OF 
THE 
CONCERNED 
PEDERASYON 
NG 
MGA 
SANGGUNIANG 
KABATAAN AND LOCAL YOUTH 
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AS 
WELL AS 
ITS OPERATIONS AND EFFECTIVE FUNTIONING.” 
 
SEC. 11. Section 28 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 28. Components of the Mandatory Training Programs. - The Commission 
and the DILG with the assistance of the Development Academy of the 
 
Philippines (DAP), 
the Local 
Government Academy (LGA), the 
University of the Philippines-National 
College of Public Administration and 
Governance (UP-NCPAG), and in consultation with youth stakeholder shall 
jointly design and 
implement 
the mandatory and continuing training 
programs.  The 
mandatory 
training 
programs 
must 
include 
among 
others, 
the following components: (a)(1) The Philippine 
cultural history, political systems ethics and ideologies; (2) The Filipino as a 
nation builder (3) The Filipino youth and its role in nation-building; and (b) 
capability building on leadership, program 
and 
project 
development 
and sustainability, financial 
management, 
and 
accountability 
and 
transparency. 
 
“THE COMMISSION AND THE DILG MAY ALSO COORDINATE WITH 
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DepEd), COMMISSION   ON   
HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED), AND TESDA, FOR THE OFFERING OF 
RELEVANT COURSES 
THAT 
EMPHASIZE 
THE 
ROLE 
OF 
EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN NATION-BUILDING 
AND WOULD FURTHER ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE, NETWORK, 
AND CAPACITY OF 
SANGGUNIANG 
KABATAAN 
OFFICIALS 
AND LYDC MEMBERS TO CRAFT AND IMPLEMENT RELEVANT 
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT 


 
 
PLANS.” 
 
SEC. 12. Funding and Appropriations. – The amounts necessary to carry out the 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the Sangguniang Kabataan Funds 
or as may be authorized by the local government units pursuant to Section 4 of this 
Act. 
 
SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Interior and Local 
Government (DILG), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the 
Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the National Youth Commission (NYC), and 
other concerned government agencies shall promulgate the necessary implementing 
rules and regulations within sixty (60) days upon the effectivity of this Act. 
 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full 
force and effect. 
 
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and 
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 16. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of the general circulation. 
 
Approved,