TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
1258
of Slif !&ef
25 AUG 27 A9 20
RECEIVED BY; 
'
S. No.
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING POLICIES AND PRESCRIBING PROCEDURES TO PREVENT, 
CONTROL, AND RESPOND TO INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11332, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
MANDATORY REPORTING OF NOTIFIABLE DISEASES AND HEALTH EVENTS 
OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN ACT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has infected more than five hundred 
forty-five million individuals and has claimed the lives of more than six million 
worldwide in two (2) years.1 Notable variants of the virus have emerged since the 
World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a pandemic in 2020. The 
new variants are reported to be more aggressive and contagious, increasing pressure 
on global health systems and the economy.
In the Philippines alone, as of July 14, 2022, COVID-19 has infected more than 
three million seven hundred thousand Filipinos (3,723,014 confirmed cases) and has 
claimed the lives of more than sixty thousand six hundred others (60,640 deaths).2
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought lasting social and economic losses to the 
government, the private sector, and even individual Filipinos. Public health measures 
and mitigation interventions have been established. However, there were noted policy 
gaps that must be immediately addressed. With this, there is a need to update policies.
1 
World Health Organization Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard as of July 4, 2022. 
https://covidl9.who.int/
2 COVID-19 Tracker as of July 14. 2022 I Department of Health website (doh.aov.ph)
1


align processes, and establish a response system for effective and immediate 
measures to analyze, address, and prevent public health and safety threats.
This bill seeks to provide additional measures to preserve the health of the 
Filipino people, ensure health promotion, and respond effectively in the event of the 
emergence or re-emergence of an infectious disease.
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
LOREN LEGARDA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
1258
of tijo
25 AUG 27 A9 20
RECEIVED BY;
S. No.
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING POLICIES AND PRESCRIBING PROCEDURES TO PREVENT, 
CONTROL, AND RESPOND TO INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11332, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
MANDATORY REPORTING OF NOTIFIABLE DISEASES AND HEALTH EVENTS 
OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN ACT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
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Section. 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 11332, otherwise known as the
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"Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health
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Concern Act, "is hereby amended as follows:
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"SEC. 4. Objectives. - This Act shall have the following
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objectives:
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(a) To continuously develop and upgrade the list of nationally
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notifiable diseases and health events of public health concern
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with their corresponding case definitions and laboratory
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confirmation;
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(b)To ensure the establishment and maintenance of relevant,
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efficient, and effective disease surveillance and response system
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at the national and local levels;
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(c)To expand collaborations beyond traditional public health
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partners to include others who may be involved in the disease
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surveillance and response, such as agricultural agencies.


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veterinarians, environmental agencies, law enforcement entities, 
and transportation and communication agencies, among others;
(d) To provide accurate and timely health information about 
notifiable diseases and health-related events and conditions to 
citizens and health providers as an integral part of response to 
public health emergencies;
(e) To establish effective mechanisms for strong collaboration with 
national and local government health agencies to ensure proper 
procedures are in place to promptly respond to reports of 
notifiable diseases and health events of public health concern, 
including case investigations, treatment, control, and 
containment, including APPROPRIATE RESTRICTIONS ON 
DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, AND follow-up 
activities;
(f) To ensure that public health authorities have the statutory and 
regulatory authority to ensure the following:
(1) Mandatory reporting of reportable diseases and health events of 
public health concern;
(2) Epidemic/outbreaks and/or epidemiologic investigation, case 
investigations, patient interviews, review of medical records, 
contact tracing, specimen collection and testing, risk 
assessments, laboratory investigation, population surveys, and 
environmental investigation;
(3) RAPID quarantine and isolation; and
(4) Rapid containment and implementation of measures for disease 
prevention and control;
(g) To provide sufficient funding to support operations needed to 
establish and maintain epidemiology and surveillance units at 
the DOH, health facilities and local government units (LGUs); 
efficiently and effectively investigate outbreaks and health 
events of public health concern; validate, collect, analyze and


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disseminate disease surveillance information to relevant 
agencies or organizations; and implement appropriate response;
(h) To require public and private physicians, allied medical 
personnel, professional societies, hospitals, clinics, health 
facilities, laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, private 
companies and institutions, workplaces, schools, prisons, ports, 
airports, establishments, communities, other government 
agencies, and non-government organizations (NGOs) to actively 
participate in disease surveillance and response, AND 
PREVENTION MEASURES; [and]
(i) To respect to the fullest extent possible, the rights of people to 
liberty, bodily integrity, and privacy while maintaining and 
preserving public health and securityf.];
(J) TO PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL 
HEALTH AND PROTECT FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS 
AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS BY PRESCRIBING 
NECESSARY POLICIES IN THE EVENT OF THE 
EMERGENCE OR RE-EMERGENCE OF INFECTIOUS 
DISEASES;
(K) TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES AND 
MEASURES TO CONTROL THE SPREAD AND PREVALENCE 
OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES;
(L) 
TO CONTINUOUSLY PROVIDE AND DEVELOP 
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF 
THE PUBLIC WHILE ADAPTING TO THE PREVAILING 
CIRCUMSTANCES; AND
(M) 
TO ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE MECHANISMS AND 
INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO RESPOND ACCURATELY 
AND IMMEDIATELY TO EMERGING AND RE-EMERGING 
INFECTIOUS DISEASES WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE 
COUNTRY."


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Sec. 2. A new Section 6 shall be inserted, to read as follows, and the succeeding
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sections shall be renumbered accordingly:
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"SEC. 6. SURVEILLANCE AND MONITORING. - THE
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) SHALL ENSURE THE
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PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
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BY PROVIDING AND DISSEMINATING RELEVANT
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INFORMATION THROUGH CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE
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AND MONITORING OF EMERGING AND RE-EMERGING
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INFECTIOUS DISEASES, WHICH MAY POSE THREATS TO
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PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND SECURITY.
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THE DOH SHALL PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH
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TIMELY INFORMATION PERTAINING TO HEALTH
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CONCERNS AND PRESENT RESPECTIVE
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PARTICULARITIES AND CASE DEFINITIONS. IT SHALL
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LIKEWISE CONDUCT MASS TESTING FOR EARLY
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PREVENTION AND CONDUCT PERIODIC REPORTING ON
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RESULTS FOR EFFECTIVE RISK COMMUNICATION AND
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IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND MITIGATION OF SAID
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THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH."
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Sec. 3. A new Section 7 shall be inserted, to read as follows, and the succeeding
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sections shall be renumbered accordingly:
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"SEC. 7. PREPAREDNESS, PREVENTION, AND
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CONTROL. - THE FOLLOWING MEASURES SHALL BE
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PERFORMED UPON CONFIRMATION AND VERIFICATION
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OF THE EMERGENCE OR RE-EMERGENCE OF AN
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INFECTIOUS DISEASE WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE
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COUNTRY.
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(A) THE DOH AND ITS LOCAL COUNTERPARTS SHALL BE
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MANDATED TO PROVIDE NATIONAL AND LOCAL HEALTH
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STRATEGIES AND MEASURES TO PREPARE AND CURB
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THE SPREAD OF THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE;


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(B) THE DOH SHALL PUBLISH A LIST OF EXPERTS AND 
MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS ON INFECTIOUS DISEASES TO 
BE CONSULTED AND MOBILIZED;
(C) THE DOH SHALL ENSURE THAT THERE IS AN AMPLE 
SUPPLY OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, PROTECTIVE 
EQUIPMENT, AND MEDICINES IN ALL HOSPITALS, 
RURAL HEALTH UNITS, AND MEDICAL FACILITIES;
(D) 
THE DOH SHALL PROVIDE STRATEGIES TO 
ENSURE THE DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT CAPACITY 
OF HOSPITALS, RURAL HEALTH UNITS, AND MEDICAL 
FACILITIES TO HANDLE THE SURGE IN CASES WHILE 
ENSURING CONTINUITY OF ESSENTIAL HEALTH 
SERVICE DELIVERY;
(E) THE DOH SHALL LEAD THE PROMPT CONDUCT OF RISK
ASSESSMENT TO IDENTIFY HIGH-RISK AND 
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND CONTINGENCY 
PLANNING, IN COORDINATION WITH THE NATIONAL 
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION COUNCIL (NDRRMC), 
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
(DILG), 
AND 
OTHER 
GOVERNMENT
INSTRUMENTALITIES. THE CONTINGENCY PLAN SHALL 
INCLUDE MEASURES TO RECONFIGURE HEALTH 
FACILITIES AND REPURPOSE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 
FACILITIES TO PROVIDE SAFE AREAS FOR EMERGENCY 
CASE MANAGEMENT, QUARANTINE, AND ISOLATION;
(F) THE DOH SHALL ISSUE PARAMETERS AND GUIDELINES 
ON CASE REPORTING, MONITORING, AND CASE 
HANDLING, AS WELL AS ESTABLISH HEALTH AND 
SAFETY PROTOCOLS. LGUS AND GOVERNMENT 
AGENCIES AND INSTRUMENTALITIES ARE REQUIRED 
TO COMPLY WITH SUCH GUIDELINES;


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(G) 
THE DOH AND ITS LOCAL COUNTERPART SHALL 
ESTABLISH INTEROPERABLE MONITORING 
MECHANISMS AND CONTINUOUS INFORMATION 
SYSTEMS TO MONITOR POTENTIAL AND CONFIRMED 
CASES OF THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE, LOCALLY AND 
NATIONALLY.
(H) 
THE DOH SHALL EMPLOY THE USE OF 
TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS, WHERE POSSIBLE, SUCH 
AS TELEMEDICINE, TO MONITOR PATIENTS AND 
PROMOTE REMOTE CONSULTATION, TO MINIMIZE RISK 
TO PATIENTS,
(I) THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND LGUS SHALL 
CONDUCT PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST THE 
INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING 
LAWS AND REGULATIONS. THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, 
PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR, OR CITY OR MUNICIPAL 
MAYOR SHALL UNDERTAKE THE FOLLOWING 
PREVENTIVE MEASURES, IN PART OR IN FULL, TO 
PREVENT THE SPREAD OF ANY INFECTIOUS DISEASE:
(1) TO RESTRICT OR PROHIBIT GATHERINGS, SUCH AS 
ASSEMBLIES, RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES, OR ANY OTHER 
MASS GATHERINGS;
(2) TO PARTIALLY OR TEMPORARILY CLOSE NON- 
ESSENTIAL PLACES OF WORK, BUSINESS, AND 
EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS;
(3) TO PARTIALLY OR FULLY RESTRICT TRAVEL WITHIN 
THEIR LOCALITY OR REGULATE TRAVEL BY LAND, SEA, 
OR AIR;
(4) TO PARTIALLY OR FULLY CLOSE ALL AIRPORTS AND 
SEAPORTS;


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(5) TO ORDER THE SANITATION AND DISINFECTION OF 
FACILITIES, BUILDINGS, OR COMMUNITIES, AS MAY BE 
DEEMED NECESSARY;
(6) TO DESIGNATE MEDICAL FACILITIES OR BUILDINGS AS 
LOCAL ISOLATION AND TREATMENT CENTERS;
(7) TO ESTABLISH SURVEILLANCE UNITS AND 
MECHANISMS, FROM THE BARANGAY TO THE 
PROVINCIAL LEVEL, TO CAPTURE ACCURATE AND 
TIMELY DATA NECESSARY TO PREVENT, MONITOR, AND 
CURB THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE; AND
(8) TO DESIGNATE OR CONTRACT PERSONNEL TO ASSIST 
IN CONTACT TRACING, TESTING, RISK 
COMMUNICATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, HEALTH 
PROMOTION, OR OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH 
INTERVENTIONS;
(J)THE PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY SHALL ISSUE 
CONSTANT RELEVANT INFORMATION ON THE STATUS 
OF THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE."
Sec. 4. A new Section 8 shall be inserted, to read as follows, and 
the succeeding sections shall be renumbered accordingly:
"SEC. 8. HANDLING OF POTENTIAL AND 
CONFIRMED CASES. - THE FOLLOWING MEASURES 
SHALL BE OBSERVED:
(A) THE DOH AND LGUS SHALL IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFY 
AND DESIGNATE HOSPITALS, RURAL HEALTH UNITS, OR 
MEDICAL FACILITIES OPERATING SOLELY TO HANDLE 
AND TREAT THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE;
(B) THE LGU AND HEALTH OFFICES SHALL ISSUE A LIST OF 
POTENTIAL CARRIERS OF THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE 
BASED ON THE GUIDELINES PRESCRIBED BY THE DOH;


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(C) THE LGU SHALL PREPARE ITS OWN PANDEMIC 
PREPAREDNESS PLAN ALIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL 
PLAN;
(D) 
IDENTIFIED POTENTIAL CARRIERS ARE 
DIRECTED TO UNDERGO QUARANTINE PROCEDURES IN 
IDENTIFIED HOSPITALS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF 
LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES AND MEDICAL 
PERSONNEL;
(E) UPON VERIFICATION OF THE CONFIRMED CARRIER, 
CONTACT TRACING SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY 
CONDUCTED BY THE DOH IN COORDINATION WITH 
LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES. THE FOLLOWING MAY BE 
USED FOR THE EFFICIENT CONDUCTION OF CONTACT 
TRACING:
(1) PATIENT INTERVIEWS AND QUESTIONNAIRES; AND
(2) LOCAL AUTHORIZED HEALTH PERSONNEL SHALL USE 
DATA FROM THE GPS AND LOCATION FROM THE SOCIAL 
MEDIA SITES OF THE PATIENT FOR EFFICIENT CONTACT 
TRACING. THE USE OF DATA IS ONLY FOR THE SOLE 
PURPOSE OF SURVEILLANCE OF THE DISEASE AND 
CONTACT TRACING AND IS SUBJECT TO DATA SECURITY 
AND CONFIDENTIALITY MEASURES.
(F) AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT 
LIMITED TO, THE USE OF SMARTPHONES AND 
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES, SHALL BE UTILIZED 
IN MONITORING THE MOVEMENT AND HEALTH 
CONDITIONS OF THE POTENTIAL AND CONFIRMED 
CARRIER;
(G) 
PRIVATE BUSINESSES OPERATING IN PUBLIC 
PLACES SHALL BE REQUIRED TO COLLECT DATA FROM 
THEIR PATRONS AND VISITORS FOR PURPOSES OF 
FACILITATING CONTACT TRACING AND NOTIFICATION,
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SUBJECT TO EXISTING RULES AND REGULATIONS ON
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DATA SECURITY AND PRIVACY. EMPLOYERS ARE
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RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTACT TRACING &
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NOTIFICATION IN THE WORKPLACE, WHILE SCHOOL
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ADMINISTRATORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTACT
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TRACING & NOTIFICATION IN THE SCHOOL
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ENVIRONMENT."
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Sec. 5. A new Section 9 shall be inserted, to read as follows, and the succeeding
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sections shall be renumbered accordingly:
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"SEC. 9. INCENTIVES. - PRIVATE GROUPS AND
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ENTITIES ENGAGED IN SURVEILLANCE AND
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MONITORING SHALL BE GRANTED INCENTIVES
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INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, EXEMPTION FROM
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PAYMENT OF RELEVANT TAXES, AND OTHER
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INCENTIVES AS MAY BE PROVIDED UNDER EXISTING
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LAWS AND REGULATIONS."
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Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
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as unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby
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shall remain in force and effect.
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Sec. 7. Repeating Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this
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Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
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following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general
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circulation.
Approved,