Republic Act No. 7836

Republic Act 7836
REPUBLIC ACT 7836
AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN THE REGULATION AND
SUPERVISION OF THE PRACTICE OF TEACHING IN
THE PHILIPPINES AND PRESCRIBING A LICENSURE
EXAMINATION FOR TEACHERS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.

Republic Act 7836
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of the Representatives
of the Philippines in Congress assembled.
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the
"Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994.“

Republic Act 7836
SECTION 2. Statement of Policy.
— The State recognizes the vital role of teachers in nation-
building and development through a responsible and literate
citizenry. Towards this end, the State shall ensure and promote
quality education by proper supervision and regulation of the
licensure examination and professionalization of the practice of
the teaching profession.

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SECTION 3. Objectives. — This Act has the herein objectives:
(a)The promotion, development and professionalization of
teachers and the teaching profession; and
(b) The supervision and regulation of the licensure examination.
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act,
the following terms shall mean:

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(a) "Teaching" — refers to the profession concerned primarily
with classroom instruction, at the elementary and secondary
levels in accordance with the curriculum prescribed by the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports, whether on part-
time or full-time basis in the private or public schools.

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(b) "Teachers" — refers to all persons engaged in teaching at
the elementary and secondary levels, whether on full-time or
part-time basis, including industrial arts or vocational teachers
and all other persons performing supervisory and/or
administrative functions in all schools in the aforesaid levels and
qualified to practice teaching under this Act.
(c) "Board" — refers to the Board for Professional Teachers
duly established and constituted under this Act.

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(d) "Commission" — refers to the Professional Regulation
Commission.
ARTICLE II: BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS
Sec. 5. Creation and Composition of the Board.
— There is hereby created under this Act a Board for
Professional Teachers, hereinafter called the Board, a collegial
body under the general supervision and administrative control of
the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter referred to

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as Commission composed of five (5) members who shall be
appointed by the President of the Philippines from among the
recommendees shall be from the list of nominees selected by
the accredited association of, who duly possess all the
qualifications prescribed in Section 8 of this Act.
The chairman and the vice-chairman of the Board shall be
appointed from these five (5) members by the President:
Provided, That the members of the first Board appointed

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under this Act shall be automatically registered as professional
teachers and issued with the certificate of registration and
professional license upon payment of the fees for examination,
registration, and other fees prescribed by the Commission.
SECTION 6. Duties and Function of the Board.
— The Board shall have the following duties and functions:
(a) Promulgate, administer and enforce rules and regulations
necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Act in

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accordance with the charter of the Professional Regulation
Commission;
(b) Determine and fix the frequency, dates, and places of
examination, appoint supervisors, proctors, and other
personnel as needed who shall be entitled to a daily allowance
to be fixed by the Board for every examination day actually
attended, use buildings and facilities of public or private
schools for examination purposes;

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(c) Issue, suspend, or revoke the certificate of registration for
the practice of the teaching profession;
(d) Prescribe and collect examination and other fees as it may
deem proper;
(e) Prescribe and/or adopt a code of ethical and professional
standards for the practice of the teaching profession. Such
ethical standards, rules and regulations to take effect sixty (60)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any
newspaper of general circulation;

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(f) Administer oaths in connection with the administration of
this Act;
(g) Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure and
practice of professional teachers in the Philippines;
(h) Adopt an official seal of the Board;
(i) Look into the conditions affecting the practice of the
teaching profession and whenever necessary, adopt such
measures as may be deemed proper for the enhancement

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and maintenance of high professional and ethical standards of
the profession;
(j) Ensure that all educational institutions offering elementary
and secondary education comply with the essential
requirements for curricula, faculty and facilities for the
elementary and secondary levels;
(k) Investigate such violations of this Act, the rules and the
code of ethical and professional standards for professional

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teachers as it may come to the knowledge of the Board, and for
this purpose, to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to
secure the appearance of witnesses and the production of
documents in connection therewith; and
(l) Discharge such other powers, duties and functions as the
Board may deem necessary for the practice of the teaching
profession and the upgrading, enhancement, development and
growth of education in the Philippines.

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SECTION 7. Term of Office.
— The members of the Board shall hold office for a term of
three (3) years from the date they assume office: Provided, That
the first appointees to the Board under this Act shall hold office
according to the following terms:
one (1) member shall serve for one (1) year; one (1) member
for two (2) years; the chairman, vice-chairman, and one (1)
member for three (3) years. Vacancies shall be served for the
unexpired term only.

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No person who has served for two (2) consecutive terms shall
be eligible for reappointment. Appointment to fill an unexpired
term shall be considered an appointment to a complete term.
The chairman or any member shall take his oath of office prior
to the performance of his duties.
SECTION 8. Qualification of Board Members.
— Each Board member must be at the time of his appointment:
(a) Be a citizen and resident of the Philippines;

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(b) Be at least thirty-five (35) years of age, of proven integrity, and
possessed of high moral values in his personal as well as professional
conduct and has not been convicted of any offense involving moral
turpitude;
(c) Be a holder of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of
Science in Education and preferably a holder of a master's or
doctorate degree in education, or their equivalents, from a university,
school, college, academy or institute duly constituted, recognized
and/or accredited by the Philippine government;

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(d) Be a professional teacher with a valid certificate of
registration and valid professional license, save those members
who shall compose the first Board for Professional Teachers;
(e) Has been a professional teacher in the active practice of the
teaching profession for at least ten (10) years in the elementary
and secondary level; and

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(f) Not be an official or member of the faculty of, nor have
pecuniary interest in any university, college, school, or
institution conferring a bachelor's degree in education or its
equivalents for at least three (3) years prior to his appointment,
and neither connected with a review center or with any group or
association where review classes or lectures in preparation for
the licensure examination are offered or conducted.

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Provided, however, That, the membership to the Board shall be
evenly distributed to cover all levels of education, including
equitable representation of the different fields of specialization.
SECTION 9. Compensation of the Board.
— The chairman, vice-chairman, and members of the Board
shall receive compensation comparable to the compensation
received by existing regulatory boards under the Professional
Regulation Commission, computed on the basis of the number
of examinees/candidates.

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SECTION 10. Supervision of the Board and Custodian of its
Records.
— The Board shall be under the supervision and control of the
Commission. All records, including applications for
examination, examination papers and results, minutes of
deliberation, administrative cases and investigation involving
professional teachers shall be kept by the Commission.

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SECTION 11. Secretariat and Support Services.
— The Professional Regulation Commission, through its
chairman, shall provide the secretariat and other support services
to implement effectively the provisions of this Act.
SECTION 12. Removal of a Board Member.
— The chairman or any member of the Board may be removed
by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the
Commission for neglect of duty, incompetence, unprofessional,

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unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct, commission or
toleration of irregularities in the examination, after having been
given the opportunity to defend himself in a proper
administrative investigation.
In the course of investigation, the President may preventively
suspend the respondent.

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ARTICLE III: EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION
SECTION 13. Examination, Registration and License
Required.
— Except as otherwise specifically allowed under the provisions
of this Act, all applicants for registration as professional teachers
shall be required to undergo a written examination which shall be
given at least once a year in such places and dates as the Board
may determine upon approval by the Commission.

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A valid certificate of registration and a valid professional license
from the Commission are required before any person is allowed
to practice as a professional teacher in the Philippines, except as
otherwise allowed under this Act.

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SECTION 14. Scope of Examination.
— The examinations for the elementary and secondary school
teachers shall be separate. The examination for teachers in the
elementary level shall consist of two (2) parts, namely:
professional education and general education. The examination
for teachers in the secondary level shall consist of three (3) parts,
namely: professional education, general education, and field
of specialization.

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SECTION 15. Qualification Requirements of Applicants.
— No applicant shall be admitted to take the examination unless,
on the date of filing of the application, he shall have complied
with the following requirements:
(a)A citizen of the Philippines or an alien whose country has
reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of the teaching
profession;
(b) At least eighteen (18) years of age;

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(c) In good health and of good reputation with high moral
values;
(d) Has not been convicted by final judgment by a court for an
offense involving moral turpitude;
(e) A graduate of a school, college or university recognized by
the government and possesses the minimum educational
qualifications, as follows:
(1) For teachers in preschool, a bachelor's degree in early
childhood education (BECED) or its equivalent;

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(2) For teachers in the elementary grades, a bachelor's degree
in elementary education (BSEED) or its equivalent;
(3) For teachers in the secondary grades, a bachelor's degree
in education or its equivalent with a major or minor, or a
bachelor's degree in arts and sciences with at least ten (10 ) units
in professional education; and
(4)For teachers of vocational and two-year technical courses,
a bachelor's degree in the field of specialization or its

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equivalent, with at least eighteen (18) units in professional
education.
SECTION 16. Report of the Results of the Examination.
— The Board shall, within one hundred twenty (120) days after
the examination, report the ratings obtained by each candidate to
the Professional Regulation Commission for approval and
appropriate action.

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SECTION 17. Issuance of Certificate of Registration and
Professional License.
— The registration of a professional teacher commences from
the date his name is enrolled in the roster of professional
teachers.
Every registrant who has satisfactorily met all the requirements
specified in this Act shall, upon payment of the registration fee,
be issued a certificate of registration as a professional teacher

Republic Act 7836
bearing the full name of the registrant with serial number and
date of issuance signed by the chairman of the Commission and
the chairman, vice-chairman, and members of the Board,
stamped with the official seal, as evidence that the person
named therein is entitled to practice the profession with all the
rights and privileges appurtenant thereto. The certificate shall
remain in full force and effect until withdrawn, suspended
and/or revoked in accordance with law.

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A professional license signed by the chairman of the
Commission and bearing the registration number and date of
issuance thereof and the month of expiry or renewability shall
likewise be issued to every registrant who has paid the annual
registration fees for three (3) consecutive years. This license
shall serve as evidence that the licensee can lawfully practice
his profession until the expiration of its validity.

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SECTION 18. Oath Before Practice.
— Every registrant shall be required to take his professional
oath before practicing as a professional teacher.

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SECTION 19. Periodic Merit Examination of Teachers.
— To encourage continuing professional growth and
development and to provide additional basis for merit promotion,
in addition to their performance rating, teachers may take an oral
and written examination at least once in five (5) years as basis
for merit promotion. In taking this examination, no fee shall be
required.

Republic Act 7836
SECTION 20. Failure to Pass the Merit Examination.
— If a teacher fails to pass the merit examination, he or she shall
be allowed to take the examination for a second time. Should he
or she fail to pass the merit examination for this second time, then
he or she shall be required to take a DECS accredited refresher
course or program before being allowed to retake the
examination.
Failure of any permanent teacher to pass the merit examination
shall not, however, be used as a ground for his/her dismissal or
demotion.

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SECTION 21. Incentives.
— Teachers who pass the merit examination shall:
(a) Be awarded a diploma of merit by the Board;
(b) Earn merit points for purposes of promotion in salary or to a
higher position or grade level;
(c) Be placed in the priority list for government scholarship; and
(d) Enjoy such other benefits as may be promulgated by the
Board.

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Similar incentives shall be given to teachers who make
inventions, develop new methods of teaching, write a book or
books and create works of artistic merit.
SECTION 22. Integration of the Teaching Profession.
— The teaching profession shall be integrated into one national
organization which shall be recognized by the Board and the
Commission as the one and only integrated and accredited
association of professional teachers. Upon registration with the

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Board, every professional teacher shall be encouraged to become
a member of the integrated national organization. Those who
have been registered with the Board but are not members of the
said integrated organization shall be allowed to register as
members of the said integrated organization within three (3)
years after the effectivity of this Act. Membership in the
integrated organization shall not be a bar to membership in other
associations of the teaching profession. The professional teachers

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shall receive the benefits and privileges appurtenant to their
membership in the said integrated and accredited organization of
professional teachers only upon payment of the required
membership fees and dues.
SECTION 23. Revocation of the Certificate of Registration,
Suspension from the Practice of the Teaching Profession, and
Cancellation of Temporary or Special Permit.
— The Board shall have the power, after due notice and hearing,

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to suspend revoke the certificate of registration of any registrant,
to reprimand or to cancel the temporary/special permit of a
holder thereof who is exempt from registration, for any of the
following causes:
(a) Conviction for any criminal offense by a court of competent
jurisdiction;
(b) Immoral, unprofessional or dishonorable conduct;
(c) Declaration by a court of competent jurisdiction for being
mentally unsound or insane;

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(d) Malpractice, gross incompetence, gross negligence or serious
ignorance of the practice of the teaching profession;
(e) The use of or perpetration of any fraud or deceit in obtaining
a certificate of registration, professional license or
special/temporary permit;
(f) Chronic inebriety or habitual use of drugs;

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(g) Violation of any of the provisions of this Act, the rules and
regulations and other policies of the Board and the Commission,
and the code of ethical and professional standards for
professional teachers; and
(h) Unjustified or willful failure to attend seminars, workshops,
conferences and the like or the continuing education program
prescribed by the Board and the Commission.

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The decision of the Board to revoke or suspend a certificate may
be appealed to the regional trial court of the place where the
Board holds office within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the
said decision or of the denial of the motion for reconsideration
filed in due time.

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SECTION 24. Registration by Reciprocity.
— No teacher of a foreign nationality shall be admitted to the
examination, or be given a certificate of registration or be
entitled to any of the rights and privileges provided under this
Act; unless the country or state of which he is a subject permits
Filipino professional teachers to practice within its territorial
limits on the same basis as subjects or citizens of said country or
state: Provided, that the requirements of certification of teachers

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with said foreign state or country are substantially the same as
those required and contemplated under this Act. Provided,
further, That the laws of such state or country grant the same
privilege to Filipino professional teachers on the same basis as
the subject or citizens of such foreign country or state.

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SECTION 25. Roster of Professional Teachers.
— A roster of professional teachers containing the names and
addresses of professional teachers, date of registration or issuance
of certificate, and other data which in the opinion of the Board
may appear pertinent shall be maintained. Copies of the roster
shall be provided by the Commission to the Board, the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports, and the integrated
and accredited organization of professional teachers.

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SECTION 26. Registration and Exception.
— Two (2) years after the effectivity of this Act, no person shall
engage in teaching and/or act as a professional teacher as
whether in the preschool, elementary or secondary level, unless
he is a duly registered professional teacher, and a holder of a
valid certificate of registration and a valid professional license
or a holder of a valid special/temporary permit.

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Upon approval of the application and payment of the prescribed
fees, the certificate of registration and professional license as a
professional teacher shall be issued without examination as
required in this Act to a qualified applicant, who at the time of
the approval of this Act, is:
(a) A holder of a certificate of eligibility as a teacher issued by
the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Education,
Culture and Sports;

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(b) A registered professional teacher with the National Board for
Teachers under the Department of Education, Culture and Sports
(DECS) pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1006; or
(c) Not qualified under paragraphs one and two but with any of
the following qualifications. to wit:
(1) An elementary or secondary teacher for five (5) years in
good standing and a holder of Bachelor of Science in Education
or its equivalent; or

Republic Act 7836
(2) An elementary or secondary teacher for three (3) years in
good standing and a holder of a master's degree in education or
its equivalent.
Provided, That they shall be given two (2) years from the
organization of the Board for professional teachers within which
to register and be included in the roster of professional teachers :
Provided, further, That those incumbent teachers who are not
qualified to register without examination under this Act or who,

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albeit qualified, were unable to register within the two-year
period shall be issued a five-year temporary or special permit
from the time the Board is organized within which to register
after passing the examination and complying with the
requirements provided this Act and be included in the roster of
professional teachers:

Republic Act 7836
Provided, furthermore, That those who have failed the licensure
examination for professional teachers shall be eligible as para-
teachers and as such, shall be issued by the Board a special or
temporary permit, and shall be assigned by the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) to schools as it may
determine under the circumstances.

Republic Act 7836
ARTICLE IV
PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO THE PRACTICE OF THE
TEACHING PROFESSION
SECTION 27. Inhibition Against the Practice of the Teaching
Profession.
— Except as otherwise allowed under this Act, no person shall
practice or offer to practice the teaching profession in the
Philippines or be appointed as teacher to any position calling for
a teaching position without having previously obtained a valid

Republic Act 7836
certificate of registration and a valid professional license from
the Commission.
SECTION 28. Penal Provisions.
— The following shall be punishable by a fine of not less than
Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) nor more than Twenty
thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or imprisonment of nor less than
six (6) months nor more than five (5) years, or both, at the
discretion of the court:

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(a) Any person who practices the teaching profession in the
Philippines without being certified in accordance with the
provisions of this Act;
(b) Any person who represents or attempts to use as his own
certificate of registration that of another;
(c) Any person who gives any false, or fraudulent evidence of
any kind to the Board or any member thereof in obtaining a
certificate of registration as teacher;

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(d) Any person who impersonates any registrant of the same or
different name;
(e) Any person who uses a revoked or suspended certificate of
registration;
(f) Any person who, in connection with his name, otherwise
assumes, uses or advertises any title or description tending to
convey or conveys the impression that he is a teacher without
holding a valid certificate; and

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(g) Any person who violates or who abets the violation of any of
the provisions of this Act.
The penalty of fine or imprisonment or both, as provided in this
section, shall also apply to any school official who shall cause or
be responsible for the commission of any of the above-
enumerated acts.

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SECTION 29. Appropriations.
— Such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act shall be included in the 1996 General Appropriations Act
and thereafter.
SECTION 30. Implementing Guidelines.
— The Board shall formulate and adopt the necessary guidelines
for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act
within sixty (60) days of its approval.

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The Board shall submit to both Committees on Education, Arts,
and Culture; and the Committees on Civil Service and
Professional Regulation of the Senate and House of
Representatives, copies of the implementing rules and
guidelines within thirty (30) days after its promulgation.
Any violation of this section shall render the official/s
concerned liable under Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise
known as the "Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for
Public Officials and Employees" and other pertinent
administrative and/or penal laws.

Republic Act 7836
SECTION 31. Transitory Provision.
— All incumbent teachers in both the public and private sector
not otherwise certified as professional teachers by virtue of this
Act, shall be given (5) years temporary certificates from the time
the Board for Professional Teachers is organized within which to
qualify as required by this Act and be included in the roster of
professionals.

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Provided, however, That the Professional Board Examination
for Teachers (PBET) shall still be administered by the Civil
Service Commission and the Department of Education, Culture
and Sports for the year 1995.
SECTION 32. Separability Clause.
— If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act or the
application of such section or provision to any person or
circumstance is declared unconstitutional or invalid, no other
section or provision of this Act shall be affected thereby.

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SECTION 33. Repealing Clause.
— All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SECTION 34. Effectivity Clause.
— This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Republic Act 7836
Approved:
(SGD) EDGARDO J. ANGARA
President of the Senate

Republic Act No. 7836

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Republic Act No. 7836