EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 898
'■? 
PJjj 13 PI
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE MECHANISMS TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF 
AFFORDABLE COLLEGE AND POST-GRADUATE TEXTBOOKS AND 
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS FOR THE POOR, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall protect 
and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take 
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. This constitutional provision 
mandates that access to quality education must be given priority by the government. But 
despite the passage of Republic Act No. 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality 
Tertiary Education Act,” there are still challenges that beset poor and underprivileged 
students. One such challenge is in the aspect of affordability of college education 
textbooks.
Millions of college students enroll each semester but affordable access to quality 
textbooks and supplemental learning materials remains wanting. College students often 
spend large amounts of money to purchase textbooks but find that such books are little 
used after the semester. Books are left to be stocked in a cabinet rarely, if ever, to be re­
read or re-used. This may be of little to no consequence to students and families with the 
means to purchase textbooks. However, for students who come from modest family 
backgrounds, the mere thought of purchasing textbooks is a financial obstacle to their 
dreams of higher education.


This proposed measure seeks to give life to the provisions of our Constitution 
which gives utmost priority to education. Under this bill, book rental distribution branches 
shall be established under the Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation. The Foundation will 
be tasked with the reproduction and acquisition of books needed in collegiate courses. 
This Foundation will allow students to rent instead of purchase the books they need for 
any given semester. Such a program will reduce the costs of college and post-graduate 
education.
Furthermore, a trust fund shall be established as a source of the funds to be used 
to purchase and reproduce the books needed by our college students in order to ensure 
the sustainability of this program.
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnesti
ht.
“ LITO” M. LAPID
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
..
SENATE
s. No. 898
TJS 13 01 :C9
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid
b
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE MECHANISMS TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF 
AFFORDABLE COLLEGE AND POST-GRADUATE TEXTBOOKS AND 
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS FOR THE POOR, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the “Cheaper Books for the
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Poor Act.”
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Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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give priority to education to foster social progress and promote holistic individual
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development. In this regard, the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens
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to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such
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education accessible and affordable to all.
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Towards this end, the State shall establish a mechanism whereby various
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stakeholders shall work together to identify ways to decrease the cost of college
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textbooks and supplemental materials for students while protecting the academic
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freedom of faculty members to provide high quality course materials for their students.
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In pursuit of this policy, the State shall institutionalize a mechanism that will
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ensure that poor college and post-graduate students will be provided with affordable
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textbooks and supplemental materials in order to lower the cost of higher education.
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Herewith, the State will establish an institution wherein students can borrow books at
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an affordable price or on a loan basis in order to lower the cost of purchasing college
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and post-graduate textbooks and supplemental materials.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall be
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construed as follows:
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a. College and Post Graduate Textbook - The term shall mean a textbook or a set
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of textbooks used for a course in tertiary and post-graduate education at an
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institution of higher education.
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b. Publisher - The term shall mean a publisher of college textbooks or
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supplemental materials used for a course in tertiary and post graduate
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education.
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c. Supplemental Material - The term shall mean educational material published or
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produced to accompany a college and post-graduate textbook.
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Sec. 4. 
Institutionalization of the Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation
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(PTRF). - There is hereby established and institutionalized a Philippine Textbook Rent
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Foundation (PTRF), herein referred to as the "Foundation" which shall serve as an
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attached agency of the Commission on Higher Education and which shall be tasked
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to promote and ensure the availability of affordable and cheaper college and post
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graduate textbooks to poor Filipino college students.
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The Foundation may establish various book rental distribution branches in the
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different provinces, cities or municipalities in the country, as it may deem necessary
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to carry out its mandate.
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Sec. 5. Composition of the Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation (PTRF). -  The
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Foundation shall be composed of the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher
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Education (CHED) who shall serve as the chairperson of the Foundation.


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The Foundation shall be composed of the following members:
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a. One (1) representative from the duly accredited association of private schools
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for higher education;
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b. One (1) representative from the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the
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country:
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c. One (1) representative from the duly accredited association of textbook
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publishers and distributors:
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d. One (1) representative from the duly accredited association of private school
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teachers of higher education;
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e. One (1) representative from the non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
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involved in the advocacy of “Education for AN”;
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These five members of the Foundation shall be appointed by the President of
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the Philippines from a list of three (3) nominees from each sector and shall serve for
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a term of three (3) years which may be renewed for another term: Provided, that the
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person appointed shall be of good moral character, of unquestionable integrity, and
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with expertise and experience of at least six (6) years in their respective sectors;
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Provided further, that in the event of a vacancy, the successor appointed to fill the
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same shall serve only for the unexpired portion of the term of the member he/she
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succeeded.
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All members of the Foundation shall receive emoluments as may be
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determined by the Foundation, in accordance with existing budget and accounting
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rules and regulations.
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Sec. 6. Meetings. -  The Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation shall meet at
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least once a month upon a three-day notice signed by the Chairperson or as often as
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necessary upon the written request signed by two-thirds (2/3) of its members.
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The presence of a majority of the members of the Foundation shall constitute a
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quorum in order for it to conduct its business.
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Sec. 7. The Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation Secretariat. -  The Philippine 
Textbook Rent Foundation shall establish a Secretariat that shall serve as the 
technical support staff to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
The Foundation Secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall 
be appointed by the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The 
Executive Director of the Foundation shall be responsible for the day-to-day 
operations of the Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation.
Sec. 8. The Powers and Functions o f the Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation. 
- The Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation shall have perpetual succession and shall 
have all legal powers appertaining to a juridical person, particularly the following 
powers:
a. to sue and be sued;
b. to enter into contracts;
c. to hold real and personal property as may be necessary for corporate purposes;
d. to solicit and receive public and private donations and contributions for 
purposes of performing their mandated functions;
e. to accept and receive real and personal property by gift, devise or bequest;
f. 
to levy and charge affordable and reasonable fees from the textbooks and 
supplemental materials that they lease or rent to poor college and post­
graduate students;
g. to adopt a seal, and to alter the same at pleasure;
h. to have offices and conduct its affairs in the Metro Manila area and other parts 
in the country;
i. 
to make and adopt by-laws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with this Act 
and the laws of the Philippines;
j. 
to promote the enforcement of this Act, as well as the other applicable national 
legislations, rules, regulations, and standards;
k. to establish, initiate and coordinate multi-sectoral action plans at the regional 
and local government unit level to mainstream the advocacy of promoting the 
accessibility of cheaper books to the students;


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to coordinate the implementation and dissemination of information on the 
Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation website, which shall be created pursuant 
to this Act, so that the program on cheaper books will be made accessible to 
the various parts of the country;
m. to receive donations and grants from international funding institutions, 
foundations, and multilateral and bilateral foreign donor agencies involved in 
the promotion and advocacy of "Education for All";
n. to provide a forum and avenue for exchange of information, exchange 
programs, and sharing of best practices on issues relating to the provision of 
cheaper textbooks to students;
o. to manage and operate the various branches that will be established in the 
different local government units in the country in order to make cheaper 
textbooks and supplementary materials accessible to poor college and post­
graduate students in the country;
to establish a databank which will provide detailed information on the available 
textbooks for college students in the country;
to hire and avail of the services of technical experts, consultants and staff 
relevant fields of discipline for the effective implementation of its mandate, 
duties and functions; and
to do and perform any and all acts necessary, proper or incidental to the 
attainment of the purposes and objectives of this Act.
P-
q-
r.
The seal and emblem of the Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation shall be kept 
in its national Office.
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Sec. 9. 
Information, Education and Communication (lEC). 
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Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation, in coordination with the Commission on Fligher 
Education (CHED) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), shall conduct a 
nationwide information, education and communication (lEC) campaign to inform the 
general public how to avail of the services and benefits offered by the Foundation.
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Sec. 10. Creation of a National Website. - The Philippine Textbook Rent
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Foundation, in coordination with the various stakeholders, is hereby mandated to
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establish a national website for its services to be publicly accessible. The Website
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shall highlight the various packages and services being offered by the Foundation and
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provide the list of accredited branches and distributors of cheaper books so that
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prospective borrowers can register at the website and avail of the Foundation's
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services.
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The Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation Website shall also incorporate a
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market information system which shall be installed for the use and benefit of all the
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prospective borrowers of college and post-graduate books all over the country.
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Sec. 11. On-Line Textbooks. - Subject to the protection of intellectual property
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rights, the Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation shall study the viability and feasibility
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of uploading textbook content on its website so that students can have online access
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to textbooks, should such access be more convenient. Towards this end, the
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Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation shall make a Recommendation to Congress,
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within three (3) years from the date of the effectivity of this Act, on the needed
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legislative reforms to make textbooks easily accessible online to students from lower
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income families.
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Sec. 12. The Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation Trust Fund. - There is
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hereby established a Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation Trust Fund, hereinafter
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referred to as the "Foundation Trust Fund", envisioned to exclusively support the
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promotion and dissemination of accessible and affordable college and post-graduate
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books all over the country.
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The contribution to the Foundation Trust Fund shall be sourced from the following:
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a. An amount of One Hundred Million pesos (Phpl 00,000,000.00) shall be allotted
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annually in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) for a period of five (5)
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years starting from the enactment of this Act;
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b. An allocation of at least 25% of the net income of international airports and
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seaports, to be taken from the share of the National Government under
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Republic Act No. 7656; and


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c. An amount of Fifty Million pesos (Php 50,000,000.00) annually which shall be
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taken from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Government-
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Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) are hereby authorized to give
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grants to the Fund at their discretion;
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The contributions to the Fund shall be exempt from donor's tax and shall be
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considered as allowable deductions from the donor's gross income, in accordance
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with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.
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The Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation shall be the administrator of the
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Fund. For the sound and judicious management of the Fund, the Foundation shall
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appoint a government financial institution, with sound track record on fund
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management, as portfolio manager of the Fund, subject to guidelines promulgated by
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the Foundation.
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The Foundation shall prepare the implementing guidelines and decision-
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making mechanisms, subject to the following conditions;
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a. No part of the seed capital of the Fund, including earnings thereof, shall be
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used to underwrite overhead expenses for administration, and
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b. There shall be an external auditor to perform an annual audit of the Fund's
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performance.
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Sec. 13. Authority to Utilize Funds. -  The Philippine Textbook Rent Foundation
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is hereby given the power to utilize its funds derived from dues, assessments,
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donations, contributions, fees charged for services rendered, and such other income
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from book rentals.
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Sec. 14. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to implement the 
provisions
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of this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of
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the various agencies of the government involved in the implementation of the
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provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
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repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions of this Act which are not affected 
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
Sec. 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
the date of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation.
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Approved,
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