PERSONS Article 2.

Effectivity of Laws
Case Digest:
G.R No. L-63915
TANADA vs. TUVERA
April 24, 1985
Tanada,petitioners
Tuvera,respondents
Escolin, J
FACTS: Invoking the people’s rights to be informed on matters of public concern, a right recognized in Sec 6, Art. 4 of the 1973
Phil. Constitution, as well as to the principle that laws must to be valid and enforceable must be published in the Official Gazette or
otherwise effectively promulgated, petitioners seek a writ of mandamus to compel the respondents to publish in the Official Gazette
the various presidential decrees, letters of instructions, gen. orders, proclamations, executive orders, letters of implementation and
administrative orders.
In pursuant to Article 2 of the Civil Code, The publication in the Official Gazette is necessary in those cases where the legislation
itself does not provide for its effectivity date; then the date of the publication is material for the determining the date of its
effectivity ‘which is fifteenth day following its publication-but not when the law itself provides for the date when it goes into
effect.’
The need for the publication of the laws is for strengthening its binding force and effect, as well as for the public awareness.
ISSUE: WON the laws be published in Official Gazette or in some other publication for their publication is necessary for the
strengthening of the binding force and effect of the laws that regulates the conduct of the people.
HELD: The Court orders the respondents to publish in the Official Gazette all unpublished issuances which are of general
application, otherwise, those laws shall have no binding effect.