RA 7307: Philippine Carabao Act of 1992:
Saving the "Living Farm Machine" from Extinction
Part 1: Philippine Carabao - a Threatened Species
Facts and Figures
Dr Abe V Rotor
Typical Philippine carabao
The carabao (Spanish: Carabao; Tagalog: Kalabaw; Cebuano: Kabaw; Ilocano: Nuang) is a domestic swamp-type water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) native to the Philippines.
Beating the summer heat. Agoo, La Union
The oil and food crisis revived much interest about the lowly water buffalo that nearly relinquished its old-age role to agricultural modernization. Although the animal still serves as a beast of burden on the farm, the fact is that it is now a threatened species in many parts of the world.
As a work animal it is efficient, it requires little maintenance, and depreciates slowly. As a biological unit, it is capable of providing food, articles of trade and services. As an ecological unit, it is key to sustainability in farm production and balance of the ecosystem .
How much do we really know about the water buffalo? Here is a question and answer review:
Q : How is the Asian water buffalo related to the American bison and African buffalo?
A : They are distant relatives although they belong to a common family (Bovidae) and genus (Bos) which also includes the Indian on Zebu cattle, Bali cattle, and all European cattle breeds. Each group has marked characteristics in anatomy, physiology and behavior.
Q : Is cross breeding among these groups possible?
A : Not for water buffaloes which breed strictly within its group (Water buffaloes are grouped under sub-genus Bubalinae. It is known that the other groups can be crossbred with Zebu cattle, and European cattle, bisons and Zebu/European cattle, Bali cattle and European/Zebu cattle.
Q : To what type of water buffalo does the Philippine carabao belong?
A : The Philippine buffalo or carabao, Bubalus carabanesis belongs to the swamp type. Its counterpart, the Indian buffalo, Bubalus bubalis belongs to the river type. It is not indigenous and therefore, is not locally popular.
Q : To what group does the tamaraw belong?
A : The tamaraw, Anoa mindorensis, is a related wild species, and belongs to the same family. Other off-lineages are the Anoa depressionis of Sulawesi (Indonesia) and the seros (Capricornis sumatraensis) of Sumatra.
Q : What colors are water buffaloes distinguished?
A : Buffaloes are predominantly grey, grey-black or normal black. There are however, few white ones or albino. The rarest is the black-and-white which is known to exist only in Toroja, South Sulawesi, which is highly prized for its value in religious offering.
Q : What is the productive life span of a working buffalo?
A : The Philippine carabao is put to continuous work from the age of 4 years up to 15 years, or over.Three females can perform the same work as two males.
Q : How is the draft of buffaloes compared with that of cattle?
A : At 4 to 11 years old male crossbred cattle has a power equivalent to 74 percent that of a 7 to 15 years old male carabao. A native male cattle delivers only 58 percent power. A young 4 to 6 years old male carabao is only half as strong as one twice its age.
Q : Buffaloes feed on low nutritious coarse roughages such as rice straw yet they attain remarkable size and fast growth rate. How do you account for this feat?
A : Surprisingly, they are able to convert low quality rations effectively and live over lengthy periods under conditions unsuitable for other domestic animals. Buffaloes have been found to enjoy high feed conversion efficiency. They have a 5 to 7 percent advantage over Holstein cattle on digestibility coefficients. It is proven that the bacterial count in the rumen of the buffalo especially the large Osillatoria type that aids in digestion, is 10 to 30 times more than in he cow. This is complemented by the longer retention time of the feed thereby further aiding to a more complete digestion.
Q : How long is the gestation of buffaloes and at what age are the calves weaned?
A : 322 days, 40 days more than cattle. Weaning time is 8 to 9 months. Calving interval is 1 1/2 to 2 years, or earlier under a breeding management program.
Q : Is the quality of carabeef is inferior to beef?
A : There is little difference if the slaughtered animals are of the same age.
Q : Buffalo milk is richer than dairy cows' milk. Is this true?
A : True. Buffalo milk is richer in all major nutrients and has much higher total which is important in creaming. Philippine carabao's milk has 9.65 percent fat (4.5 percent higher than Jersey's cow's milk), 5.26 percent protein, 4.24 percent casein, 5.29 percent lactose, 20.36 percent total solids, 0.083 percent chloride, 0.216 percent calcium, and 0.177 percent phosphorous. Philippine carabaos, produce the highest fat and total solids content than any domesticated buffaloes. Local soft white cheese is made from carabao's milk.
Q : How important is the hide of the water buffalo?
A : India and Pakistan are the souces of buffalo hide, while the US, UK, Yugoslavia, Italy and Australia are the major markets. The hide is used for all types of heavy leather manufacture from belts to upholstery, and recently, articles for the fashion world. In the Philippines, we consume a lot of chicharon which is made of carabao hide, kare-kare which is partly skin of the animal, and a favorite pulutan called caliente, softened thin slices of hide spiced heavily with ginger, onion and red pepper.
Q : How do carabaos contribute to ecological balance?
A : Firstly, their mud wallows serve as abode of useful organisms including edible snails, frogs, mudfish and shrimps which use them also as aestivating place during summer. When the monsoon rains come, the population of these organisms readily increases to the delight of farmers who depend on them for food. Secondly, they are agents, in fact, biological machine in recycling waste and residues on the farm.
Q : What value has the excreta of the animal?
A : it is a good organic fertilizer containing 18.5 percent nitrogen, 43.7 percent phosphoric acid, and 9.6 percent potash. It is a good source of fuel either as dried dung, or in generating biogas. By the way, per capital solid waste output is 18.8 kg. per day or 6,896 kg. annually. Thirdly, it is mixed with clay as a building material or as a plaster on the ground where palay is threshed.
With the efforts of the Philippine Carabao Research and Training Center* based at Central Luzon State University (Muñoz, Nueva Ecija), and its regional and provincial centers, carabao population is expected to increase not only for farm power but for meat and dairy, ecological significance notwithstanding.
As a work animal it is efficient, it requires little maintenance, and depreciates slowly. As a biological unit, it is capable of providing food, articles of trade and services. As an ecological unit, it is key to sustainability in farm production and balance of the ecosystem .
How much do we really know about the water buffalo? Here is a question and answer review:
Q : How is the Asian water buffalo related to the American bison and African buffalo?
A : They are distant relatives although they belong to a common family (Bovidae) and genus (Bos) which also includes the Indian on Zebu cattle, Bali cattle, and all European cattle breeds. Each group has marked characteristics in anatomy, physiology and behavior.
Q : Is cross breeding among these groups possible?
A : Not for water buffaloes which breed strictly within its group (Water buffaloes are grouped under sub-genus Bubalinae. It is known that the other groups can be crossbred with Zebu cattle, and European cattle, bisons and Zebu/European cattle, Bali cattle and European/Zebu cattle.
Q : To what type of water buffalo does the Philippine carabao belong?
A : The Philippine buffalo or carabao, Bubalus carabanesis belongs to the swamp type. Its counterpart, the Indian buffalo, Bubalus bubalis belongs to the river type. It is not indigenous and therefore, is not locally popular.
Q : To what group does the tamaraw belong?
A : The tamaraw, Anoa mindorensis, is a related wild species, and belongs to the same family. Other off-lineages are the Anoa depressionis of Sulawesi (Indonesia) and the seros (Capricornis sumatraensis) of Sumatra.
Q : What colors are water buffaloes distinguished?
A : Buffaloes are predominantly grey, grey-black or normal black. There are however, few white ones or albino. The rarest is the black-and-white which is known to exist only in Toroja, South Sulawesi, which is highly prized for its value in religious offering.
Q : What is the productive life span of a working buffalo?
A : The Philippine carabao is put to continuous work from the age of 4 years up to 15 years, or over.Three females can perform the same work as two males.
Q : How is the draft of buffaloes compared with that of cattle?
A : At 4 to 11 years old male crossbred cattle has a power equivalent to 74 percent that of a 7 to 15 years old male carabao. A native male cattle delivers only 58 percent power. A young 4 to 6 years old male carabao is only half as strong as one twice its age.
Q : Buffaloes feed on low nutritious coarse roughages such as rice straw yet they attain remarkable size and fast growth rate. How do you account for this feat?
A : Surprisingly, they are able to convert low quality rations effectively and live over lengthy periods under conditions unsuitable for other domestic animals. Buffaloes have been found to enjoy high feed conversion efficiency. They have a 5 to 7 percent advantage over Holstein cattle on digestibility coefficients. It is proven that the bacterial count in the rumen of the buffalo especially the large Osillatoria type that aids in digestion, is 10 to 30 times more than in he cow. This is complemented by the longer retention time of the feed thereby further aiding to a more complete digestion.
Q : How long is the gestation of buffaloes and at what age are the calves weaned?
A : 322 days, 40 days more than cattle. Weaning time is 8 to 9 months. Calving interval is 1 1/2 to 2 years, or earlier under a breeding management program.
Q : Is the quality of carabeef is inferior to beef?
A : There is little difference if the slaughtered animals are of the same age.
Q : Buffalo milk is richer than dairy cows' milk. Is this true?
A : True. Buffalo milk is richer in all major nutrients and has much higher total which is important in creaming. Philippine carabao's milk has 9.65 percent fat (4.5 percent higher than Jersey's cow's milk), 5.26 percent protein, 4.24 percent casein, 5.29 percent lactose, 20.36 percent total solids, 0.083 percent chloride, 0.216 percent calcium, and 0.177 percent phosphorous. Philippine carabaos, produce the highest fat and total solids content than any domesticated buffaloes. Local soft white cheese is made from carabao's milk.
Q : How important is the hide of the water buffalo?
A : India and Pakistan are the souces of buffalo hide, while the US, UK, Yugoslavia, Italy and Australia are the major markets. The hide is used for all types of heavy leather manufacture from belts to upholstery, and recently, articles for the fashion world. In the Philippines, we consume a lot of chicharon which is made of carabao hide, kare-kare which is partly skin of the animal, and a favorite pulutan called caliente, softened thin slices of hide spiced heavily with ginger, onion and red pepper.
Q : How do carabaos contribute to ecological balance?
A : Firstly, their mud wallows serve as abode of useful organisms including edible snails, frogs, mudfish and shrimps which use them also as aestivating place during summer. When the monsoon rains come, the population of these organisms readily increases to the delight of farmers who depend on them for food. Secondly, they are agents, in fact, biological machine in recycling waste and residues on the farm.
Q : What value has the excreta of the animal?
A : it is a good organic fertilizer containing 18.5 percent nitrogen, 43.7 percent phosphoric acid, and 9.6 percent potash. It is a good source of fuel either as dried dung, or in generating biogas. By the way, per capital solid waste output is 18.8 kg. per day or 6,896 kg. annually. Thirdly, it is mixed with clay as a building material or as a plaster on the ground where palay is threshed.
With the efforts of the Philippine Carabao Research and Training Center* based at Central Luzon State University (Muñoz, Nueva Ecija), and its regional and provincial centers, carabao population is expected to increase not only for farm power but for meat and dairy, ecological significance notwithstanding.
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* The Philippine Carabao Center (Sentro ng Kalabaw sa Pilipinas or Sentro ng Pilipinas para sa Kalabaw an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, was established at Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija province in 1992 to breed and cross carabao based on high-yield Murrah buffalo (native breed of Haryana state of India) in the Philippines as a multi-purpose animal that can be raised for milk, meat, hide, and draft. It was set up in 1992 on a 40 hectares (99 acres) piece of land donated by Central Luzon State University on its main campus, initially with 6 network centers in 1992. 7 more network centers were added in 1994 bringing the total to 13. The bill was sponsored by then senator Joseph Estrada and eventually enacted as a law through Republic Act 7307 i.e. the Philippine Carabao Act of 1992. RA 7307 was enacted into law during my term as consultant on food and agriculture under the chairmanship of the late Senator Butz Aquino. It is indeed a very significant piece of legislation considering the spiraling cost of mechanized farming, and the precarious state of the carabao as a threatened species. NOTE: Dr Rotor served as consultant on food and agriculture committee of the Senate of the Philippines in the drafting and passage of o the Carabao Act of 1992.
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The presence of the carabao on Philippine landscape adds aesthetics to rural life. National artist Fernando Amorsolo was fond of portraying the carabao is his paintings of countryside. ~
Quaint countryside scene - carabao race, a popular sport during barrio fiesta. (Internet) Let us not underestimate this lowly beast of burden. It is Nature's most efficient farm machine capable of providing food, articles of trade and services. It requires little maintenance and depreciates very slow. The carabao generally enjoys perfect health and long productive life. There is some truth in the aphorism that "a sick carabao is a dead carabao".
Reference: Living with Nature in Our Times, by AV Rotor UST
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Part 2: RA 7307 - Philippine Carabao Act of 1992
Philippine Carabao Center, Central Luzon State University (CLSU),
Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija
Republic Act No. 7307: An Act Creating the Philippine Carabao Center to Propagate and Promote the Philippine Carabao and for other Purposes
Dairy products from carabao's milk
At least thirty (30) to fifty (50) percent of the carabaos maintained/propagated by each carabao center shall be of the pure native/indigenous stock to ensure the preservation of the Philippine carabao and provide option to the farmers.
SECTION 13. Farmer’s Participation. — The farmer-participants shall be encouraged to establish strong farmers associations or cooperatives to serve as focal point for government assistance in the propagation and dispersal of Philippine carabaos and dissemination of technology on the carabao.
SECTION 14. Beneficiaries. — The beneficiaries of the CARP and those under Presidential Decree No. 27, and other smallholder farmers shall be given priority in the carabao dispersal program.
SECTION 15. Participation of the Department of Agriculture and Local Government Units. — The carabao centers, the regional and provincial offices of the Department of Agriculture, specifically the Bureau of Animal Industry, and the local government units shall implement a carabao dispersal and propagation program within their respective areas in accordance with the national policy and program of the PCC. The PCC shall adapt a national dispersal program to primarily benefit the smallholder farmers and CARP beneficiaries. Any income from the sale of the carabao shall be placed in a revolving fund to be used in the propagation and distribution of carabaos.
SECTION 16. Use of Funds. — Not more than thirty percent (30%) of funds allocated under this Act and in subsequent annual appropriations shall be used for personal services, and maintenance and operating expenses, ten percent (10%) for research and development, sixty percent (60%) for carabao dispersal and distribution.
SECTION 17. Annual Report. — The PCC submit an annual report to the Office of the President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives indicating among others the number of carabaos distributed and the names of the beneficiaries.
SECTION 18. Transfer of Carabao Programs to the PCC. — Upon approval of this Act, this existing carabao programs and projects implemented by various agencies shall be transferred to the PCC.
SECTION 19. Appropriation. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.
SECTION 20. Separability Clause. — If any part, section, or provision of this Act shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, the rest of the provisions shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 21. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly: Provided; however, That nothing in this Act shall amend, modify or repeal the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code.
SECTION 22. Effectivity. — 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. ~
SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Carabao Act of 1992”.
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The Constitution provides that the State shall develop a self-reliant and independent national economy effectively controlled by Filipinos. It also provides that the State shall support indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, and their application to the country’s productive systems and national life. Towards this end, the State shall establish various programs to conserve, propagate and promote the Philippine carabao as a source of draft animal power, meat, milk, and hide.
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:
a) “Philippine Carabao Center” refers to the National Carabao Center at the University of the Philippines at Los Banos, the other carabao centers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and those that will be created pursuant to this Act:b) “Draft animal power” refers to power provided by the carabao as a farm animal;c) “Smallholder farmer” refers to a farmer owning or cultivating five (5) hectares or less of farmland;d) “Semi-Commercial Production” refers to the raising of twenty (20) to forty-nine (49) carabaos.
SECTION 4. Creation of the Philippine Carabao Center. — There is hereby created a Philippine Carabao Center, hereinafter referred to as the PCC which shall under the supervision and control of the Department of Agriculture.
SECTION 5. Powers and Functions of the PCC. — The PCC shall have the following powers and functions:
a) Conserve, propagate and promote the Philippine carabao as a source of draft animal power, meat, milk, and hide;b) Enable the farmers, particularly smallholder farmers and CARP beneficiaries to avail themselves of good quality carabao stocks at all times and at reasonable prices through an organized program of production, breeding, training and dispersal;c) Undertake training programs for farmers, particularly smallholder farmers and CARP beneficiaries, designed to transfer technology on the proper care and reproduction of the carabao and the processing of its meat and milk;d) Encourage backyard dairy development in rural areas by raising carabaos so as to meet the nutrition needs of the smallholder farmers and their families and reduce dependence on imported milk by-products;e) Undertake research activities in all disciplines that lead to the improvement of the over-all productivity of the Philippine carabao;f) Increase the existing annual population growth of the Philippine carabao to keep pace with human population growth; andg) Enter into memoranda of agreement and received donations through the Department of Agriculture from local and foreign sources. Upon the recommendation of the PCC Advisory Board, the individual carabao centers may enter into agreements directly with funding agencies through their respective board of regents or head of agency.
SECTION 6. Priorities. — The PCC shall give priority to the following activities:
a) Increase in carabao population and productivity;b) Development of feeding systems for backyard and semi-commercial production, improving reproductive efficiency, physiology and schemes to reduce losses caused by parasites and diseases;c) Reproduction, breeding, nutrition and animal health;d) Socio-economic researches to ensure economic viability and acceptance of technology by farmers ande) Development of appropriate technologies that are cost-effective, simple and practical.
At least thirty (30) to fifty (50) percent of the carabaos maintained/propagated by each carabao center shall be of the pure native/indigenous stock to ensure the preservation of the Philippine carabao and provide option to the farmers.
SECTION 7. PCC Advisory Board. — The PCC Advisory Board shall be composed of the following:
a) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture or his representative, as Chairman;b) Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Department of Agriculture, as Vice Chairman;c) Executive Director, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources, Research and Development (PCARRD);d) Chancellor of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños (UPLB) and presidents of Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Central Mindanao University (CMU), Cagayan State University (CSU), Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) in La Union, Visayas State College of Agriculture (VISCA), West Visayas State University(WVSU)in Iloilo, University of Southern Mindanao (USM), and the president of the state college or university where a carabao center may be established pursuant to this Act;e) Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry;f) Executive Director of PCC; andg) Farmers’ representative to be appointed by the Board.
SECTION 8. Functions of the PCC Advisory Board. — The PCC Advisory Board shall perform the following functions;
a) Formulate policies, programs and projects for the development of the Philippine carabao;
b) Review and recommend the annual budget of the PCC;
c) Evaluate the implementation, efficiency and effectiveness of the program and projects of the PCC; and
d) Recommended the establishment or abolition of carabao centers as may be deemed necessary.
SECTION 9. Executive Director of PCC. — The Executive Director of the PCC shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. The Executive Director of the PCC shall perform the following functions:
c) Evaluate the implementation, efficiency and effectiveness of the program and projects of the PCC; and
d) Recommended the establishment or abolition of carabao centers as may be deemed necessary.
SECTION 9. Executive Director of PCC. — The Executive Director of the PCC shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. The Executive Director of the PCC shall perform the following functions:
a) Oversee the implementation of the policies, programs and projects of the PCC;
b) Assist the PCC Advisory Board in the review, evaluation and monitoring of the Carabao Program; and
c) Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the PCC Advisory Board.
b) Assist the PCC Advisory Board in the review, evaluation and monitoring of the Carabao Program; and
c) Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the PCC Advisory Board.
SECTION 10. Appointment of Directors or Project Leaders of Other Carabao Centers. — The Directors or Project Leaders of the carabao centers shall be appointed by the respective board of regents or head of agency.
SECTION 11. Functions of the Directors or Project Leaders of Other Carabao Centers. — Subject to the policies of the PCC, the Directors or Project Leaders of other carabao centers shall perform the following functions:
a) Administer the policies, program and projects of the PCC in their respective centers;b) Recommend the creation of divisions and sections including the staffing pattern of the centers;c) Prepare the budget of their centers;d) Approve the expenditures of their respective budgets;e) Recommend to their respective head of agency the appointment of personnel or consultants;f) Recommend policies, programs and projects to the Executive Director of the PCC; andg) Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the Executive Director of the PCC.
SECTION 12. Implementation and Coordination of the Program. — The PCC Advisory Board through the Executive Director shall coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the carabao program.
It shall identify, through the Directors of carabao centers and Project Leaders from the various implementing stations, the programs and projects in the areas of reproduction, breeding, distribution, nutrition, animal health, and processing of carabao meat and milk.
It shall formulate strategies relative to the reproduction and distribution of the Philippine carabao. Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao shall initially have total of thirteen (13) carabao centers.
The Centers in Luzon shall be located at U.P. Los Baños (UPLB) in Laguna; Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Nueva Ecija; Cagayan State University (CSU) in Cagayan; Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) in Ilocos Norte; and Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) in La Union.
The Mariano Marcos State University also referred to by its acronym MMSU, is a higher education institution with campuses and facilities throughout Ilocos Norte province in the Philippines. Its main campus is in Batac. MMSU is the regional carabao center for Region I (Ilocos Region)
The centers in Visayas shall be at La Carlota Stock Farm in Negros Occidental; Ubay Stock Farm in Bohol; Visayas State College of Agriculture (VISCA) in Leyte; and West Visayas State University in Iloilo.
The centers in Mindanao shall be at Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Bukidnon; University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Cotabato; Mindanao State University in Marawi City and Mindanao Livestock Development Complex in Kalawit, Labason, Zamboanga del Norte.
These centers shall specialized in the development of technology on reproduction, breeding, nutrition, animal health and processing of meat and milk.
SECTION 13. Farmer’s Participation. — The farmer-participants shall be encouraged to establish strong farmers associations or cooperatives to serve as focal point for government assistance in the propagation and dispersal of Philippine carabaos and dissemination of technology on the carabao.
SECTION 14. Beneficiaries. — The beneficiaries of the CARP and those under Presidential Decree No. 27, and other smallholder farmers shall be given priority in the carabao dispersal program.
SECTION 15. Participation of the Department of Agriculture and Local Government Units. — The carabao centers, the regional and provincial offices of the Department of Agriculture, specifically the Bureau of Animal Industry, and the local government units shall implement a carabao dispersal and propagation program within their respective areas in accordance with the national policy and program of the PCC. The PCC shall adapt a national dispersal program to primarily benefit the smallholder farmers and CARP beneficiaries. Any income from the sale of the carabao shall be placed in a revolving fund to be used in the propagation and distribution of carabaos.
SECTION 16. Use of Funds. — Not more than thirty percent (30%) of funds allocated under this Act and in subsequent annual appropriations shall be used for personal services, and maintenance and operating expenses, ten percent (10%) for research and development, sixty percent (60%) for carabao dispersal and distribution.
SECTION 17. Annual Report. — The PCC submit an annual report to the Office of the President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives indicating among others the number of carabaos distributed and the names of the beneficiaries.
SECTION 18. Transfer of Carabao Programs to the PCC. — Upon approval of this Act, this existing carabao programs and projects implemented by various agencies shall be transferred to the PCC.
SECTION 19. Appropriation. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.
SECTION 20. Separability Clause. — If any part, section, or provision of this Act shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, the rest of the provisions shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 21. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly: Provided; however, That nothing in this Act shall amend, modify or repeal the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code.
SECTION 22. Effectivity. — 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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