Republic Act No. 9258
March 2, 2004
AN ACT PROFE!ON !ONA"!#!N !#!N$ $ T%E PRACT!CE OF $&!'ANCE AN' CO&N CO&NE E"! "!N$ N$ AN' CREA CREAT T!N$ !N$ FOR FOR T%! P&RP P&RPO OE A PROF PROFE E! !ON ONA" A" RE$&"A RE$&"AT TOR( OR( )OAR' )OAR' OF $&!'AN $&!'ANCE CE AN' AN' CO&NE CO&NE"!N "!N$, $, APPRO APPROPR! PR!AT AT!N$ !N$ F&N' T%EREFOR AN' FOR OT%ER P&RPOE
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled : ART!C"E ! T!T"E, 'EC"ARAT!ON OF PO"!C(, 'EF!N!T!ON OF TERM
Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Guidance and Coun seling Act Act of 2004," ectio* +. Title. Policy. - It is hereb declared a !olic of the enate to !ro#ote the ectio* 2. Declaration of Policy. i#!ro$e#ent, ad$ance#ent and !rotection of the guidance and counseling ser$ices !rofession b undertaking and instituting #easures that will result in !rofessional, ethical, rele$ant, efficient, and and effe effect cti$e i$e guid guidan ance ce and couns counsel elin ing g ser$ ser$ic ices es for for the the de$el de$elo! o!#e #ent nt and and enric enrich# h#en entt of indi$iduals and grou! li$es% The tate recogni&es the i#!ortant role of guidance and counselors in nation-building and !ro#otes the sustained de$elo!#ent of reser$oir of guidance and counselors whose co#!etence ha$e ha$e been been deter# deter#ined ined b honest honest and credib credible le licens licensure ure e'a#inat e'a#ination ionss whose whose standa standards rds of !rofessional !ractice and ser$ice are world-class and Internationall recogni&ed, globall co#!etiti$e through !re$enti$e regulator #easures, !rogra#s and acti$ities that foster their continuing !rofessional de$elo!#ent% Terms. - As used in this Act, the following ter#s shall #ean: ectio* . Definition of Terms. a( Guidance Guidance and Counseling Counseling is a !rofession !rofession that in$ol$es in$ol$es the use of an integrated integrated a!!roach a!!roach to the de$elo!# de$elo!#ent ent of a well-f well-func unctio tionin ning g indi$i indi$idua duall !ri#ar !ri#aril il b hel!in hel!ing g hi#)her !otentials to the fullest and !lan hi#)her to utili&e his)her !otentials to the fullest and !lan his)her future in accordance with his)her abilities, interests and needs% It includes functi functions ons such such as counse counselin ling g sub*ect sub*ects, s, !arti !articul cularl arl sub*ect sub*ectss gi$en gi$en in the licens licensure ure e'a#inations, and other hu#an de$elo!#ent ser$ices% b( A guidance counselor is a natural !erson who has been registered and issued a $alid $alid Certif Certificat icatee of +egistr +egistrati ation on and a $alid $alid rofes rofessio sional nal Identi Identific ficati ation on Card Card b the rofes rofessio sional nal +egula +egulator tor oard oard of Guidan Guidance ce and Counse Counselin ling g and the rofes rofessio sional nal +egulator +egulator Co##ission Co##ission .+C( in accordance with this Act and b $irtue $irtue of s!eciali&ed training !erfor#s for a fee, salar or other for#s of co#!ensation, the functions of guidance and counseling under un der ection / .a( of this Act% ART!C"E !! T%E PROFE!ONA" RE$&"ATOR( )OAR' OF CO&NE"!N$ ectio* 4. Creation of Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counseling - There shall be created a rofessional +egulator oard of Guidance and Counseling, hereinafter referred to as the oard, nder the ad#inistrati$e control and su!er$ision of the rofessional +egulator Co##ission, hereinafter referred to as the Co##ission, to be co#!osed of a Chair#an and two .2( #e#bers who shall be a!!ointed b the hili!!ines fro# a list of three ./( reco##endees for each !osition sub#itted b the Co##ission fro# a list of fi$e .1( no#inees for each !osition sub#itted b the accredited and integrated organi&ation of guidance counselors%
ectio* 5. Poers! "unctions! Duties and Responsibilities of the Board. - The !rofessional +egulator oard shall ha$e the following s!ecific !owers, d uties and res!onsibilities%
.a(
u!er$ise and regulate the !ractice of Guidance and Counseling
.b( 3eter#ine and e$aluate the ualifications of the a!!licants for registration with or without licensure e'a#inations and for issuance of s!ecial !er#its .c( re!are the e'a#ination uestions in accordance with ection 51 hereof or the #odification thereof, and correct and rate the e'a#ination !a!ers through a !rocess of co#!uteri&ation .d( re!are, ado!t issue or a#end the sllabi for the sub*ects in the licensure e'a#ination, in consultation with the Co##ission on 6igher 7ducation .C673(, the acade#e and the accredited !rofessional organi&ations .e( +egister successful e'a#inees in the licensure e'a#ination and issue the corres!onding certificates of registration .f( Issue s!ecial)te#!orar !er#its to foreign guidance counselors to !ractice Guidance and Counseling for s!ecific duration of ti#e for a fee or on #edical #ission without a fee .g( 8onitor the conditions affecting the !ractice of Guidance Counseling, conduct ocular ins!ection of !laces where guidance counselors !ractice their !rofession and ado!t #easures for the enhance#ent of the !rofession and the #aintenance of high !rofessional, technical and ethical standards .h( 7nsure, in coordination with the C673, that all education institutions offering the course)!rogra# of Guidance and Counseling co#!l with the !olicies, standards and reuire#ents of the said course !rescribed b the C673 in the areas of curriculu#, facult, librar and facilities .i( ro#ulgate rules and regulations including a Code of 7thics, a Code of Technical tandards for guidance counselors and ad#inistrati$e !olicies, orders and issuances, to carr out the !ro$isions of this Act% .*( In$estigates $iolations of this Act and the +ules and +egulations, Code of 7thics Code of Technical tandards, ad#inistrati$e !olicies, orders and issuances, !ro#ulgated b the rofessional +egulator oard% The +ule on ad#inistrati$e in$estigation !ro#ulgated b the Co##ission shall go$ern in such in$estigation .k( Issue subpoena or subpoena duces tecum to secure the attendance of res!ondents or witnesses or the !roduction of docu#ents relati$e to the in$estigation conducted b the oard .l( +ender decision, order or resolution on !reli#inar in$estigation or inuir against $iolators of this Act, +ules and +egulations, Code of 7thics, Code of Technical tandards or an !olic on undocketed cases and the docketed ad#inistrati$e cases against e'a#inees and registrants, which shall beco#e final and e'ecutor unless a!!ealed with the Co##ission within fifteen .51( das fro# recei!t of the co! thereof .#( Issue, sus!end, re$oke or re-issue an license for the !ractice of Guidance and Counseling as defined in this Act% .n(
Ad#inister oaths necessar for the effecti$e I#!le#entation of this Act
.o( Initiate cri#inal action against an $iolator of this Act and)or the rules and regulation of the oard .!(
Ado!t the official seal of the oard
.(
rescribed guidelines and criteria on the continuing !rofessional education .C7(
.r( Ado!t such #easures necessar and !ro!er for the #aintenance of high ethical and !rofessional standards in the !ractice of the !rofession and .s( erfor# such other functions and duties as #a be necessar to effecti$el i#!le#ent this Act% The !olicies resolutions and rules and regulations issued or !ro#ulgated b the rofessional +egulator oard shall be sub*ect to re$iew and a!!ro$al b the Co##ission howe$er, the oard9s decisions, resolutions orders which are not interlocutor, rendered in an ad#inistrati$e case, shall be sub*ect to re$iew onl if on a!!eal with the Co##ission% The decision of the oard and)or the Co##ission #a be a!!ealed to the Court of A!!eals in accordance with the +ules of Court% ectio* -. #ualification of Professional Regulatory Board $embers. - The Chair#an and #e#bers of the rofessional +egulator oard, at the ti#e of their a!!oint#ent shall
.a(
e a citi&en of the +e!ublic of the hili!!ines
.b( e a resident of the countr for at least fi$e.1( ears i##ediatel !rior to his)her a!!oint#ent .c( e of good #oral character and #ust not ha$e been con$icted of an cri#e in$ol$ing #oral tur!itude .d( e a ualified guidance counselor holding a $alid Certificate of +egistration Provided! That in the case of the first #e#bers of the oard of Guidance and Counseling, the shall be issued Certificates of +egistration as guidance counselors without !rior e'a#ination .e( e a holder of a doctoral degree in Guidance and Counseling fro# a re!utable college or uni$ersit dul recogni&ed b the C673 and)or b a dul accredited college or uni$ersit abroad .f( 6a$e at least ten .50( ears of continuous !rofessional !ractice as guidance counselor or counselor educator under this Act% .g( ot be a #e#ber of the facult of an school, college, or uni$ersit where regular and)or re$iew courses in guidance and counseling education is taught nor ha$e an !ecuniar interest in such institution and .h( ot be an official of the integrated and accredited national !rofessional organi&ation% ectio* . Term of %ffice. - The #e#bers of the oard shall hold office for a ter# of three ./( ears or until their successors shall ha$e been a!!ointed and ualified% The #a, howe$er, be rea!!ointed for a second ter#% ;f the #e#bers to be a!!ointed for the first oard, one .5( #e#ber shall hold office as Chair#an for three ./( ears one .5( as #e#ber for two .2( ears and one .5( #e#ber for a ter# of one .5( ear% An $acanc in the oard shall be filled for the une'!ired !ortion of the ter# onl% 7ach #e#ber shall take the !ro!er oath !rior to assu#!tion dut%
ectio* 8. &dministrative Supervision of the Board! Custodian of its Records! Secretariat Support Services. - All records of the oard, including a!!lication for e'a#ination ad#inistrati$e and other in$estigati$e cases shall be under the custod of the Co##ission% Co##ission shall designate the ecretar of the oard and shall !ro$ide the secretariat su!!ort ser$ices to i#!le#ent the !ro$ision of this Act%
and and The and
ectio* 9. Compensation and &lloances of the Board. - The Chair#an and #e#bers of the oards shall recei$ed the co#!ensation and allowances co#!arable to the co#!ensation and allowances recei$ed b the chair#an and #e#bers of e'isting regulator board under the Co##ission as !ro$ided for in he General A!!ro!riations Act% ectio* +0. Grounds for Suspension and Removal of Board $embers. - The !resident of the hili!!ines, u!on the reco##endation of the Co##ission, after gi$ing the concerned #e#ber an o!!ortunit to defend hi#self)herself a !ro!er ad#inistrati$e in$estigation to be conducted b the Co##ission, #a re#o$e and sus!end an #e#ber on the following grounds:
.a(
neglect of dut or inco#!etence
.b( $iolating or tolerance of $iolating this Act or the Code of 7thics and Code of rofessional and Technical tandards for guidance counselors .c(
con$iction b final *udge#ent of cri#es in$ol$ing #oral tur!itude
.d( #ani!ulation of rigging of the licensure e'a#ination results, disclosure of secret infor#ation or the e'a#ination, or ta#!ering of the grades therein or .e(
con$iction b the final *udge#ent of an cri#inal offense b the courts%
ectio* ++. &nnual Report. - The Chair#an of the oard, shall after the close of the fiscal ear, sub#it an annual re!ort to the co##ission, gi$ing a detailed accounting of the !roceedings of the oard during the ear and e#boding such reco##endation as the oard #a desire to #ake% ART!C"E !!! E/AM!NAT!ON, RE$!TRAT!ON AN' "!CEN&RE ectio* +2. '(amination Re)uired - All a!!licants for registration for the !ractice of Guidance and Counseling shall be reuired to undergo a licensure e'a#ination to be gi$en b the oard and the Co##ission in such !laces and dates as the Co##ission #a designate in accordance with +e!ublic Act o% <=<5, sub*ect to co#!liance with the reuire#ents !rescribed b the Co##ission% ectio* +. #ualification for '(amination. - In order to ualif for the e'a#ination, an a!!licant #ust, at the ti#e of filing the a!!lication be:
.a( a citi&en of the re!ublic of the hili!!ines or a foreigner whose countr has reci!rocit with the hili!!ines in the !ractice of Guidance and Counseling .b( has not been con$icted of an offense in$ol$ing #oral tur!itude b a co#!etent court and .c( holder of a achelor9s 3egree in Guidance and Counseling or in other Allied 3isci!lines and a #aster9s degree in Guidance and Counseling fro# an institution in the hili!!ines or abroad recogni&ed or accredited b the C673% ectio* +4. Registration *ithout Ta+ing ,icensure '(amination. - A !erson who !ossesses the !ertinent ualifications reuired for ad#ission in the e'a#ination for registration as guidance
counselor !ursuant to the !ro$isions of this Act #abe registered without e'a#ination: Provided! That the a!!licant files with the oard within two .2( ears after its creation, an a!!lication for registration and issuance of a Certificate of +egistration and rofessional Identification Card b sub#itting credentials showing that the a!!licant before the effecti$it of this Act .a( 6ad been doctoral and #asters degree holders in Guidance and Counseling with at least three ./( ears of teaching Guidance and Counseling courses and)or full-ti#e counseling !ractice for the sa#e !eriod .b( 6ad !assed at least eighteen .5<( units of 8aster9s le$el courses in Guidance and Counseling such as Counseling Techniues)Theories, ;rgani&ation or Ad#inistration of Guidance er$ices, Test and 8easure#ents, Grou! rocess)Counseling and Career Guidance)Counseling and ha$e at least se$en .>( ears of e'!erience in counseling work and .c( 6as co#!leted acade#ic reuire#ents for a #aster9s degree in guidance and counseling and ha$e fi$e .1( ears e'!erience as full-ti#e guidance counselors% ectio* +5. Scope of '(amination. - The e'a#ination shall co$er the following sub*ect areas9
.a(
hiloso!hical, schological and ociological ?oundations of Guidance
.b(
Counseling Theories, Tools and Techniues
.c(
schological Testing
.d(
;rgani&ation and Ad#inistration of Guidance er$ices and
.e(
Grou! rocess and rogra# 3e$elo!#ent%
The oard, sub*ect to a!!ro$al b the Co##ission, #a re$ise or e'clude an of the sub*ects and their sllabi, and add new ones as the need arises% ectio* +-. Report of Rating. - The oard shall, within ten .50( das after the e'a#ination, re!ort the ratings obtained b each candidate to the Co##ission% ectio* +. Ratings in the '(amination and Re-e(amination. - To be ualified as ha$ing !assed the licensure e'a#ination for guidance and counselors, a candidate #ust ha$e obtained a weighted general a$erage of se$ent-fi$e .>1@(, with no grade lower than si't .0@( in an gi$en sub*ect% 6owe$er, an e'a#inee who obtains a weighted a$erage of se$ent-fi$e !ercent .>1@( or higher but obtains a rating below si't !ercent .0@( within two .2( ears fro# the date of the last e'a#ination% The sub*ects or sub*ects retaken #ust ha$e each a rating of no less than se$ent-fi$e .>1@( in order to ualif as ha$ ing !assed the e'a#ination% ectio* +8. %ath-Ta+ing. - All successful e'a#inees shall be reuired to take a !rofessional oath before an #e#ber of the oard or an officer of the Co##ission authori&ed b the +C, or an officer authori&ed b law% ectio* +9. ssuance of Certificates of Registration and Professional dentification Card. - A Certificate of +egistration as a guidance counselor shall be issued to an a!!licant who !asses the e'a#ination or who is registered without e'a#ination, bearing the signature of the Co##ission Chair!erson and Chair#an and #e#bers of the oard, and official eal of the oard%
A !rofessional identification Card bearing the registration nu#ber, date of issuance, e'!ir date, dul signed b the Co##ission Chair!erson shall likewise be issued to e$er registrant who has !aid the !rescribed fee% ectio* 20. Roster of Guidance Counselors. - The oard, In coordination with the accredited !rofessional organi&ation, shall ke!t a roster of the na#es, residence and office addresses of all registered and licensed guidance counselors and the said roster shall be #ade a$ailable to the !ublic u!on reuest% ectio* 2+. ntegration of Guidance Counselors. - All registered)licensed Guidance Counselors whose na#es a!!ear in the roster of guidance counselors shall be united and integrated to their auto#atic #e#bershi! in a one .5( and onl registered and accredited national organi&ation of registered)licensed Guidance Counselor which the oard, sub*ect to a!!ro$al b the Co##ission, shall recogni&ed and accredit after consultation with all e'isting organi&ations of registered and licensed Guidance Counselors and, if !ossible with all those who are not #e#bers of an of the said organi&ations% The #e#bers in the said integrated and accredited national organi&ations shall recei$ed benefits and !ri$ileges a!!urtenant thereto u!on !a#ent of reuired fees and dues% 8e#bershi! integrated organi&ation shall not be a bar to #e#bershi! in an association of Guidance Counselors% ectio* 22. ndication of Certificate of Registration /umber and Professional Ta( Receipts 0PTR1. - The Guidance Counselors shall be reuired to indicate his)her Certificate of +egistration nu#ber, the date of issuance, the !eriod of $alidit of the license, including the !rofessional ta' recei!t nu#ber on the docu#ents he)she signs, uses or issues in connection with the !ractice of his)her !rofession% ectio* 2. Practice Through Special2Temporary Permit. - !ecial)Te#!orar er#it #abe issued b the oard, sub*ect to the a!!ro$al of the Co##ission and !a#ent of the fees the latter has !rescribed and charged thereof, to the following !ersons:
.5( Bicensed Guidance Counselors fro# foreign countries)states whose ser$ices are either for a fee or free .a( If the are internationall well-known counselors or outstanding e'!erts in an branch or s!ecialt of Guidance and Counseling and .b( If their ser$ices are urgentl and i#!ortantl necessar for lack of, or inadeuac of a$ailable local s!ecialists)e'!erts for the !ro#otion or ad$ance#ent of the !ractice of guidance and counseling through transfer of technolog% .2( Bicensed Guidance Counselors fro# foreign countries)states whose ser$ices shall be free and li#ited to indigent !atients in a !articular hos!ital, center or clinic ./( Bicensed Guidance Counselors fro# foreign countries)states e#!loed as e'change !rofessors in branch or s!ecialt of Guidance and counseling in schools, colleges, uni$ersities offering the course of guidance and counseling% The !er#it shall, a#ong other things, include these li#itations and conditions for a !eriod of not #ore than one .5( ear sub*ect to renewal, the branch or s!ecialt of guidance and counseling, and the s!ecific !lace of !ractice such as clinic, hos!ital, center, school)college)uni$ersit offering the course of guidance and counseling% The oard, sub*ect to a!!ro$al b the Co##ission, shall !rescribe rules and regulations on the i#!le#entation of this !articular section%
ectio* 24. Denial! Suspension! Revocation of a Certification of Registration! Cancellation of Special Permit. - The a!!lication for registration and the issuance of a Certificate of +egistration #a be denied for an of these causes:
.a(
Con$iction of an ;ffense in$ol$ing #oral, tur!itude b a co#!etent court
.b( ?inding of Guilt b the rofessional +egulator oard for i##oral and)or dishonorable conduct and .c(
3eclaration b the court of the a!!licant as being insane
The Certificate of +egistration #a be re$oked or sus!ended, or the s!ecial !er#it #a be cancelled for an of the abo$e- enu#erated causes including the following: fraudulent acuisition of Certificate of +egistration and)or s!ecial !er#it abet#ent or tolerance of illegal !ractice b unualified !erson through the use b the latter of Guidance Counselor9s Certificate, or s!ecial !er#it iolation of an !ro$ision of this Act, +ules and +egulations of the oard and Co##ission and other !olicies thereof, including the Code of 7thics, and Code of Technical tandards or Guidance Counselors unethical, i##oral, dishonorable or un!rofessional conduct #al!ractice guilt of drug or alcohol abuse i#!airing his)her abilit to !ractice his)her !rofession and !ractice of the !rofession during !eriod of sus!ension b one whose Certificate of +egistration had been sus!ended b the oard% o certificate shall be denied, re$oked or sus!ended or an of the reason herein !ro$ided, until after sworn co#!laint in writing against the a!!licant or holder thereof shall ha$e been filed and heard in a !ublic hearing or u!on reuest, behind close doors% ectio* 25. Reinstatement. - A !erson #a a!!l to the oard for reinstate#ent of a certificate the issuance of which has been dul re$oked at an ti#e after the e'!iration of one .5( ear fro# the date of re$ocation of the said certificate% The a!!lication shall be in writing and shall confor# to reuire#ent !ro$ided b the oard% o certificate shall be reinstated unless the oard is satisfied that a good cause e'ists to warrant such reinstate#ent% ectio* 2-. &ppeal. - The decision on the denial or refusal to issue Certificate of +egistration, the re$ocation or sus!ension of the Certificate of +egistration, or cancellation of s!ecial !er#it b the oard shall be final unless a!!ealed to the Co##ission within fifteen .51( das fro# recei!t of the decision% The decision of the oard and)or Co##ission #a be a!!ealed to the Court of A!!eals% ART!C"E ! PRACT!CE OF $&!'ANCE AN' CO&NE"!N$ ectio* 2. Prohibition &gainst the Practice of Guidance and Counseling. - o !erson shall .a( engage in the !ractice of guidance and counseling without a $alid Certificate of +egistration and the $alid rofessional Identification Card or a s!ecial !er#it .b( #ake re!resentations to the !ublic or to third !erson as a licensed Guidance Counselor during the ti#e that the licensed has been re$oked or sus!ended, and, .c( allow anbod to use his)her license as guidance counselor to enable such unualified indi$idual to engage in the !ractice of guidance and counseling%
o cor!oration, !artnershi!, association or entit shall o!erate a guidance and counseling office or center, or otherwise engage in the !ractice of guidance and counseling without securing a !er#it fro# the oard, which shall be issued onl after it has satisfied itself that such establish#ent is !ro!erl staffed b dul licensed Guidance Counselors An unethical !ractice of guidance and counseling as #a be defined in a Code of ethics and Code of Technical tandards to be !re!ared b the oard in consultation with Guidance Counselors, is !rohibited
ectio* 28. Right to Privilege Communication for Guidance Counselor. - A certified guidance counselor who is allowed to !ractice guidance and counseling in accordance with this Act, without the consent of the client, be e'a#ined as to an co##unication or infor#ation which has been acuired while attending to such client% The !rotection accorded herein shall also e'tend to the records and secretar or clerk of a license guidance counselor, who #a not be e'a#ined concerning an fact, the knowledge of which has been acuired in such ca!acit%
An e$idence obtained in $iolation of this !ro$ision shall be inad#issible for an !ur!ose and an !roceeding ectio* 29. "oreign Reciprocity. - o foreign Guidance Counselor shall be ad#itted to the e'a#inations, or be gi$en a certificate of +egistration, or be entitled to an of the rights and !ri$ileges under this Act unless the countr or state of which he)she is a sub*ect or citi&en !er#its ?ili!ino Guidance Counselors to ractice within its territorial li#its on the sa#e basis as the sub*ects or citi&en of said countr or state: Provided! that the reuire#ent for certification of Guidance Counselors in said foreign state or countr are substantiall the sa#e as those reuired and conte#!lated under this Act: Provided! further! That the laws such states or countr grant the sa#e !ri$ilege to ?ili!ino Guidance Counselors on the sa#e basis as the sub*ects or citi&ens of such foreign state or countr ectio* 0. "unding Provisions.- The Chair!erson of the Co##ission shall include in the Co##ission9s rogra#s the i#!le#entation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the General A!!ro!riations Act% ectio* +. &ssistance of ,a 'nforcement &gency. - An law enforce#ent agenc shall, u!on call or reuest of the Co##ission or the oard, render assistance in enforcing this Act, including all the rules and regulations !ro#ulgated thereunder b !rosecuting the $iolators thereof in accordance with law and the +ules of Court% ectio* 2. mplementing Rules and Regulations. - Dithin si't .0( das after the effecti$it of this Act,
ub*ect to the a!!ro$al of the Co##ission, the oard shall !ro#ulgate the necessar rules and regulations, in coordination with the integrated and accredited !rofessional organi&ation, to i#!le#ent the !ro$isions of this Act, which shall be effecti$e after fifteen .51( das following its !ublication in the ;fficial Ga&ette or news!a!er of general circulation% ectio* . Penalty Clause. - An !erson who $iolates an !ro$ision of this Act and the rules and regulations issued b the oard and the Co##ission or co##its fraud in the acuisition of Certificate of +egistration or !ecial er#it, shall be !unished with i#!rison#ent of not less that si' .( #onths but not #ore that eight .<( ears, or a fine of not less that ?ift thousand !esos .10,000%00( but not #ore than ;ne hundred thousand !esos .500,000%00( or both in the discretion of the court% ectio* 4. Separability Clause.- If an !art of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the re#aining !arts not affected thereb shall continue to be $alid and o!erational ectio* 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, circulars, rules and regulations and other issuances, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereb re!ealed, a#ended or #odified accordingl% ectio* -. 'ffectivity. - This Act shall take effect one .5( #onth after its !ublication in a news!a!er of general circulation in the hili!!ines%
