EXECUTIVE ORDER NO.
200 June 18, 1987 instrument issued, prescribed, or promulgated by any
PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF LAWS EITHER
IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE OR IN A NEWSPAPER OF
GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE PHILIPPINES AS A
REQUIREMENT FOR THEIR EFFECTIVITY
WHEREAS, Article 2 of the Civil Code partly provides that
"laws shall take effect after fifteen days following the
completion of their publication in the Official Gazette, unless
it is otherwise provided . . .;"
WHEREAS, the requirement that for laws to be effective only
a publication thereof in the Official Gazette will suffice has
entailed some problems, a point recognized by the Supreme
Court in Tañada. et al. vs. Tuvera, et al. (G.R. No. 63915,
December 29, 1986) when it observed that "[t]here is much
to be said of the view that the publication need not be made
in the Official Gazette, considering its erratic release and
limited readership";
WHEREAS, it was likewise observed that "[u]ndoubtedly,
newspapers of general circulation could better perform the
function of communicating the laws to the people as such
periodicals are more easily available, have a wider
readership, and come out regularly"; and
WHEREAS, in view of the foregoing premises Article 2 of the
Civil Code should accordingly be amended so the laws to be
effective must be published either in the Official Gazette or in
a newspaper of general circulation in the country;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of
the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the
Constitution, do hereby order:
Sec. 1. Laws shall take effect after fifteen days following the
completion of their publication either in the Official Gazette
or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines,
unless it is otherwise provided.
Sec. 2. Article 2 of Republic Act No. 386, otherwise known
as the "Civil Code of the Philippines," and all other laws
inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.
Sec. 3. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately
after its publication in the Official Gazette.
Done in the City of Manila, this 18th day of June, in the year
of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-seven.
Commonwealth Act No. 638
COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 638
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE UNIFORM PUBLICATION
AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE
SECTION 1. There shall be published in the Official Gazette
(1) all important legislative acts and resolutions of a
public nature of the Congress of the Philippines; (2) all
executive and administrative orders and proclamations,
except such as have no general applicability; (3)
decisions or abstracts of decisions of the Supreme
Court and the Court of Appeals as may be deemed by
said courts of sufficient importance to be so published;
(4) such documents or classes of documents as may be
required so to be published by law; and (5) such
documents or classes of documents as the President of
the Philippines shall determine from time to time to have
general applicability and legal effect, or which he may
authorize so to be published: Provided, That for the
purpose of this section every order or document which shall
prescribe a penalty shall be deemed to have general
applicability and legal effect: And provided, further, That the
term “document” as used in this section shall include any
order, regulation, rule, certificate, license, notice, or similar
executive department, bureau, office, commission,
independent board, agency, or instrumentality of the
administrative branch of the Government, but not the
legislative or judicial branch of the Government.
SEC. 2. The Director of Printing is authorized to publish the
Official Gazette as frequently as the public interest of the
Government may require; to appoint, with the approval of the
proper department head, such personnel as may be
necessary, in addition to that at present employed in the
Bureau of Printing, for carrying out the provisions hereof;
and to make and collect charges for subscriptions to the
Official Gazette and for publications published therein which
shall by law be payable by the person interested. The Official
Gazette shall be edited in the Executive Office and shall be
published in the English language, but edition in Spanish
may also be issued if the interest of the service to be
determined by the President of the Philippines so requires it.
The sale and distribution of the Official Gazette shall also be
effected by the Bureau of Printing which shall promptly mail
copies thereof to subscribers free of postage. At the end of
each quarter, an index shall be supplied as a part of the
Official Gazette. The index published at the end of the last
quarter shall be complete for the entire year.
SEC. 3. Each department, bureau, office, and agency or
instrumentality of the National Government, as well as each
provincial, city, and municipal government, shall subscribe to
the Official Gazette and pay for the same out of their
respective funds. The Official Gazette shall be filed and
properly kept with the public records of the department,
bureau, office, agency or instrumentality, province, city, or
municipality concerned for references.
SEC. 4. Such funds as may have been appropriated for the
publication of the Official Gazette are continued to be
available to carry out the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 4, s. 2010
REORGANIZING AND RENAMING THE OFFICE OF THE
PRESS SECRETARY AS THE PRESIDENTIAL
COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS OFFICE; CREATING
THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS
DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC PLANNING OFFICE;
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, it is the avowed policy of this administration to
ensure transparency and full and appropriate disclosure of
policies, programs, official activities, and achievements of
the Office of the President and Executive Branch which are
of public concern;
WHEREAS, the task of informing and communicating to the
Filipino people the policies, programs, official activities, and
achievements of the Office of the President and the
Executive Branch presently involves, aside from the Office of
the Press Secretary, several offices and agencies, the
functions of some of which overlap;
WHEREAS, there is a vital need to re-organize and effect
functional changes within the Office of the Press Secretary
and create an office to systemize, rationalize and
complement the existing structure to achieve a more efficient
and systematic interaction between the people, the Office of
the President, and the Executive Branch;
WHEREAS, it is likewise imperative that government re-
defines its efforts to integrate and harmonize its message
conceptualization, formulation and development policies and
programs in order to fully utilize the opportunities arising
from the rapid development of existing and emerging media;
WHEREAS, under Section 31, Chapter 20, Title III, Book III
of the Administrative Code of 1987, the President has the
continuing authority to reorganize the administrative
structure of the Office of the President.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President
of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by
law, do hereby order:
SECTION 1. THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS
OPERATIONS OFFICE. The Office of the Press Secretary
shall be reorganized and renamed as the Presidential
Communications Operations Office which shall be headed
by the Presidential Communications and Operations Head
who shall have the rank of Cabinet Secretary with all the
corresponding salaries, emoluments, and benefits.
SECTION 2. FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS OFFICE. The
Presidential Communications Operations Office shall
perform the following functions:
a. Develop and implement necessary guidelines
and mechanisms pertaining to the delivery and
dissemination of information relating to the
policies, programs, official activities and
achievements of the President and the Executive
Branch;
b. Develop, manage and operate viable
government-owned or controlled information
dissemination structure / facilities to provide the
Office of the President in particular, and the
Executive Branch in general, access to the people
as an alternative to the private mass media
entities;
c. Set up and maintain local and international field
offices, where necessary, to ensure that accurate
information from the President and the Executive
Branch is promptly and efficiently relayed,
delivered and disseminated to intended target
audiences;
d. Manage, control or supervise, as may be
necessary, the various government agencies and
offices involved in information gathering and
dissemination;
e. Coordinate and cultivate relations with private
media;
f. Manage and administer the OP Website and the
Web Development Office;
g. Perform such other functions as the President
may assign from time to time.
SECTION 3. OFFICE PROPER. The Presidential
Communications Operations Office shall maintain such
deputies and assistants as may be necessary to enable
performance of its functions, including the following:
a. Undersecretary for Administration and Finance;
b. Undersecretary for Operations;
c. Chief of Staff,
d. Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs.
e. Electronic Data Processing Division Chief;
SECTION 4. AGENCIES, BUREAUS, AND OTHER
OFFICES ATTACHED TO THE PRESIDENTIAL
COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS OFFICE. The following
agencies, bureaus, and offices shall be under the control
and supervision of the Presidential Communications
Operations Office:
a. News and Information Bureau;
b. Philippine News Agency;
c. Philippine Information Agency
d. Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC)
13;
e. RPN 9;
f. NBN 4;
g. PBS-Radio-Television Malacanang
h. Bureau of Communications Services;
i. National Printing Office;
j. APO Production Unit; and
k. OP Web Development Office.
SECTION 5. CREATION OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC
PLANNING OFFICE. There is hereby established the
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic
Planning Office.
SECTION 6. FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC
PLANNING OFFICE. The Presidential Communications
Development and Strategic Planning Office shall perform the
following functions:
a. Coordinate the crafting, formulation,
development and enhancement of the messaging
system under the Office of the President;
b. Design and recommend responses to issues
that arise on a daily basis.
c. Ensure consistency in the messages issued by
the Executive Department;
d. Assist in the formulation and implementation of
new media strategies for
the Office of the President;
e. Assist in research and development of new
media instruments;
f. Liase with the Malacañang Records Office;
g. Control and supervise the conduct of market
research, monitoring public opinion, and gathering,
use and analysis of other relevant data as may be
necessary;
h. Formulate editorial guidelines and policies for
state media;
i. Ensure consistency in the implementation of the
corporate identity of the Executive Department;
 j. Act as custodian of the institutional memory of
the Office of the President, which includes the
supervision and control of the Presidential
Museum and Library, and liaison with the
Malacañang Records Office;
k. Perform editorial functions for the Official
Gazette,
l. Perform such other functions as may be directed
by the President.
SECTION 7. THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS
DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC PLANNING OFFICE
MANAGEMENT. The Presidential Communications
Development and Strategic Planning Office shall be
managed by the Presidential Communications Development
and Strategic Planning Head who shall have the rank of
Cabinet Secretary, with all the corresponding salaries,
emoluments, and benefits.
The Presidential Communications Development and
Strategic Planning Head shall be assisted by a Deputy, who
shall have the rank of Undersecretary, with all the
corresponding salaries, emoluments, and benefits, and
whose functions shall be assigned by the Presidential
Communications Development and Strategic Planning Head.
The Presidential Communications Development and
Strategic Planning Office shall likewise have such other
support service offices as may be necessary to enable the
performance of its functions, including the following:
a. Chief of Staff,
b. Assistant Secretary for Messaging.
c. Electronic Data Processing Division Chief;
SECTION 8. AGENCIES, BUREAUS, AND OTHER
OFFICES ATTACHED TO THE PRESIDENTIAL
COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC
PLANNING OFFICE. The following agencies, bureaus, and
offices shall be attached to the Presidential Communications
Development and Strategic Planning Office.
a. Presidential Message Staff;
b. OP Correspondence Office, (previously placed
under the Office of the Communications Director
from the Presidential Management Staff per E.O.
No. 348, 11 August 2004)
c. Media Research and Development Staff, (as
created by E.O. No. 297, 25 July 1987, from the
Office of the Press Secretary;)
d. Presidential Museum and Library
e. Official Gazette; and
f. Speech Writers Group (previously placed under
the Office of the Communications Director from
the Presidential Management Staff per E.O. No.
348, 11 August 2004)
SECTION 9. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS. The Presidential
Communications Operations Office and the Presidential
Communications Development and Strategic Planning
Office, in coordination with the Department of Budget and
Management shall formulate and establish the organizational
structure and staffing pattern of the affected offices under
this Executive Order, composed of such administrative and
technical personnel as may be deemed necessary to
efficiently and effectively carry out the functions and duties
prescribed herein, subject to the approval of the Department
of Budget and Management, and the Office of the President,
thru the Executive Secretary.
SECTION 10. APPROPRIATIONS. The budget of the offices
herein reorganized and created shall be sources from the
remaining budget of the Office of the Press Secretary, and
the Office of the President, as may be appropriate, for the
current year, subject to existing and applicable laws, rules
and regulations. The succeeding years’ appropriations for
the said offices shall be prepared in accordance with regular
government budget procedures.
SECTION 11. DISCHARGE OF FUNCTIONS. Except as
may be required under this Executive Order, all covered
officials, offices or agencies shall continue with the discharge
of their respective functions and responsibilities as defined
under existing law or issuances.
SECTION 12. IMPLEMENTING RULES. The Executive
Secretary is hereby authorized to issue such rules and
regulations as may be necessary to implement the
provisions this Executive Order. He is also designated to
determine the functional divisions of the offices, agencies,
and bureaus herein mentioned all under the control and
supervision of the Office of the President, thru the Executive
Secretary.
SECTION 13. REPEALING CLAUSE. All orders, circulars,
rules, regulations, and/ or issuance/s, or parts thereof, which
are inconsistent with the provision of this Executive Order
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SECTION 14. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this
Executive Order shall be held unconstitutional, the
remainder not otherwise affected shall remain in full force
and effect.
SECTION 15. EFFECTIVITY. This Executive Order shall
take effect immediately.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 30th day of July, in the year
of our Lord, Two Thousand and Ten.
(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
BOOK IV MISCELLANEOUS AND FINAL PROVISIONS
TITLE ONE. - PENAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 511. Posting and Publication of Ordinances with
Penal Sanctions. - (a) ordinances with penal sanctions shall
be posted at prominent places in the provincial capitol, city,
municipal or Barangay hall, as the case may be, for a
minimum period of three (3) consecutive weeks. Such
ordinances shall also be published in a newspaper of
general circulation, where available, within the territorial
jurisdiction of the local government unit concerned, except in
the case of Barangay ordinances. Unless otherwise provided
therein, said ordinances shall take effect on the day following
its publication, or at the end of the period of posting,
whichever occurs later. (b) Any public officer or employee
who violates an ordinance may be meted administrative
disciplinary action, without prejudice to the filing of the
appropriate civil or criminal action. (c) The secretary to the
Sanggunian concerned shall transmit official copies of such
ordinances to the chief executive officer of the Official
Gazette within seven (7) days following the approval of the
said ordinance for publication purposes. The Official Gazette
may publish ordinances with penal sanctions for archival and
reference purposes.

ADM. CODE OF 1987

Chapter 5
OPERATION AND EFFECT OF LAWS

Sec. 18. When Laws Take Effect. - Laws shall take effect
after fifteen (15) days following the completion of their
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of
general circulation, unless it is otherwise
provided.chanrobles virtual law library
Sec. 19. Prospectivity. - Laws shall have prospective
effect unless the contrary is expressly provided.chanrobles
virtual law library
Sec. 20. Interpretation of Laws and Administrative
Issuances. - In the interpretation of a law or administrative
issuance promulgated in all the official languages, the
English text shall control, unless otherwise specifically
provided. In case of ambiguity, omission or mistake, the
other texts may be consulted.chanrobles virtual law library
Sec. 21. No Implied Revival of Repealed Law.- When a
law which expressly repeals a prior law itself repealed, the
law first repealed shall not be thereby revived unless
expressly so provided.chanrobles virtual law library
Sec. 22. Revival of Law Impliedly Repealed. - When a law
which impliedly repeals a prior law is itself repealed, the prior
law shall thereby be revived, unless the repealing law
provides otherwise.chanrobles virtual law library
Sec. 23. Ignorance of the Law. - Ignorance of the law
excuses no one from compliance therewith.chanrobles
virtual law library