Out of 40 national laws to have passed through the 16th congress, 36 lapsed into law from July 17 to

22 after former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and President Rodrigo Duterte neither
signed nor vetoed the bills.

Here are new, interesting laws that stood out:

1. Stricter Anti-Carnapping Law

Republic Act 10883 or “An act providing for a new anti-carnapping law of the Philippines” now
considers carnapping a non-bailable offense and will require Land Transportation Office to keep a
record of all cars and owners.

The new law increased the imprisonment time from a maximum of 17 years and four months, to
around 20 to 30 years in jail.

If the person resorted to violence, their sentence would be extended from 30 years and one day up to
40 years. If the victim is raped or killed, the carnapper would be given a life sentence in prison.

Any person involved in the concealment of the crime will be imprisoned from six to 12 years and
fined with the cost of the car or any part involved in the crime.

2. Mandatory subtitles

Republic Act 10905 or “An act requiring all franchise holders or operators of television stations and
producers of television programs to broadcast or present their programs with closed captions option,
and for other purposes” requires TV stations to provide subtitles for the deaf community.

However, it exempts franchise holders or TV station operators and program producers who release
public service announcements under 10 minutes or if providing text caption would prove to be
economically burdensome. It also exempts programs aired between 1 am to 6 am, or are already
textual in nature.

Those who fail to follow will either be fined with at least P50,000 but not more than P100,000 or be
imprisoned for at least six to twelve months, or both. License or permit to operate may also be
revoked.

3. Keeping Filipinas from becoming mail order brides

Republic Act 10906 or “An act providing stronger measures against unlawful practices, businesses,
and schemes of matching and offering Filipinos to foreign nationals for purposes of marriage or
common law partnership, repealing for the purpose republic act no. 6955, also referred to as the 'anti-
mail order bride law'" penalizes any person who has in any way engaged in business to exploit
Filipinas to offer to foreigners for marriage.

If found guilty, they will be penalized with 15 years of imprisonment and be fined with at least
P500,000 thousand pesos but not more than P1-million.

Anyone who has cooperated in the illegal act will also suffer the same penalty. However, those who
operate in more than two people will be penalized with 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of at
least P2-million but not more than P5-million.
Any person who has served as an accessory to the crime will be imprisoned for 10 years and a fine of
at least P100,000 but not more than P500,000.

Meanwhile, foreign offenders will be deported to their home country and if the offender is under the
employment of an establishment, then the person in-charge who participated in the act will be facing
penalties.

In turn, proceeds and penalties will be seized by the government. Victims will also receive assistance
from the respective government agencies and commissions.

4. No more candies or inexact change

Once Republic Act 10909 or “An act prohibiting business establishments from giving insufficient or
no change to consumers and providing penalties therefore” takes effect, you can now sue the
establishment for not giving you your due change.

Establishments are also required to stick price tags with the exact price the consumer has to pay.

Failure to comply will result to a fine of whichever is higher in amount: P500 or 3% of gross sales
for first offense, P5,000 or 5% of gross sales for second offense, and P15,000 or 7% or gross sales
and a three-month suspension of operations.

The last offense will result to a fine of P25,000 and total closure of the establishment.

5. Longer prescription for crimes of graft and corruption

Republic Act 10910 or “An act increasing the prescriptive period for violations of Republic Act no.
3019, otherwise known as the 'anti-graft and corrupt practices act' from fifteen (15) years to twenty
years, amending section 11 thereof” amended the prescription of offenses, also known as the statute
of limitations, from 15 to 20 years.

This means it’s still possible to carry out judgment on individuals guilty of graft and corruption
within 20 years.

6. Anti-age discrimination for employees

Republic Act 10911 or “An act prohibiting discrimination against any individual in employment on
account of age and providing penalties therefore” prohibits employers from withholding promotion
or deny training opportunities, compensation and privileges from employees on the basis of age.

Recruitment and employment agencies are also prohibited from refusing to help individuals
regardless of age from seeking employment and labor organizations are prohibited to refuse
employees of membership because of their age.

Violators will be fined at least P50,00 but not more than P500,000 and/or be imprisoned between
three months to two years.

However, this law will only be effective on August 16.

7. No more texting while driving

Republic Act 10913 or “An act defining and penalizing distracted driving” will mean that any person
who is using their phones in non-emergency cases and/or needs it for work will be penalized with a
fine of P5,000 for first offense, P10,000 for second offense, and P15,000 and suspension of license
for three months for the third offense.

The law added that the fine may be increased, along with ultimately suspending the driver’s license if
properly disseminated to the public.

Meanwhile, those who are driving public utility vehicles, school buses, or carriers with flammable or
toxic material within a 50 meter radius from school premises will be fined with P30,000 and have
their licenses suspended for three months.

8.) Mandatory speed limiters

Republic Act 10916 or “An act requiring the mandatory installation of speed limiter in public utility
and certain types of vehicles” will require all covered public transportation vehicles to have a speed
limiter.

Vehicles without speed limiters before the passage of the law will have to comply within 18 months
after it takes effect.

The absence of a speed limiter will not be allowed for registration or be given a franchise permit, and
the owners or operators for the vehicle will be fined with P50,000.

Meanwhile, the driver’s license will be suspended for one month and the franchise permit for three
months for the first offense.

Sanctions for succeeding offenses will be license suspension for three months and franchise
suspension for six months on top of imposed fines at the second offense; and revocation of license
and franchise suspension for at least a year, and an imposed fine for the third offense.

Offenders caught tampering with speed limiters will be imprisoned for six to 36 months and fined
with P30,000

1. Expanded maternity leave

On Thursday, Duterte signed a bill granting additional leave benefits for working mothers, better known
as the “Expanded Maternity Leave” bill, expanding paid leaves for working mothers from 60-78 days to
105 days.
Under the measure, all working mothers in the government and private sector are guaranteed with 105
days of paid maternity leave credits, with 7 days of the leave transferable to fathers. Fifteen more days
of the leave will be granted to single mothers.

2. Universal health care

Duterte on Wednesday signed the Universal Health Care Act, a measure that would provide healthcare
coverage for all Filipinos.

The said law guarantees equitable access to “quality and affordable health goods and services” and
protection against financial risks.

The measure enrolls all Filipinos to the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), which includes
PhilHealth.

Former Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque previously said Duterte rendered UHC a “priority”
measure, which was “30 years in the making."

3. Rice tariffication

Duterte also signed the rice tariffication law, which seeks to loosen import and export regulations on
rice. The newly-signed law was one of the key requests of Duterte in his 2018 SONA, as he called for the
“swift” passage of the bill in his speech.

The new law reduces the role of National Food Authority to supplying “buffer stocks” in times of
calamities, effectively removing their role in retailing and selling market staple NFA rice.

However, critics, particularly farmers and retailer groups have hit the bill as thousands of jobs are feared
to be affected, particularly of farmers and NFA employees, when the law takes effect.
4. Mobile number portability

In the said law, which was signed on Tuesday, mobile service providers are required to provide
nationwide mobile number portability to subscribers.

Republic Act 11202 or Mobile Number Portability Act imposes a “no interconnection fee policy” on users
making domestic calls and text messages.

As of writing, two of the country’s biggest telecommunication companies, Globe and Smart, expressed
support to the bill. However, some subscribers aired concerns about having to inform their contacts
should they change network providers.

5. Strengthening the central bank

Duterte on Feb. 14 also signed the "The New Central Bank Act" which widens the regulatory powers of
the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to other non-bank financial institutions such as money service
businesses, credit-granting businesses, and payment system operators.

The central bank was also granted expanded powers to impose administrative and criminal sanctions. It
can also forfeit profits from unauthorized financial transactions.

6. New housing department

Duterte also signed a bill consolidating the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council
(HUDCC) and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).
The department, according to Republic Act 11201, was named the Department of Human Settlements
and Urban Development (DHSUD).

7. Mandatory career counseling program for HS, SHS

Duterte on Valentine’s day also signed into law a bill establishing a career guidance and counseling
program for all secondary schools or the “Republic Act 11206” or the Secondary School Career Guidance
and Counseling Act .

The measure will institutionalize a career guidance and counseling program for students in all private
and public secondary schools as guidance for tertiary education.

8. Tax amnesty bill (partial veto)

While Duterte already signed the Tax Amnesty Bill, he called on Congress to pass another bill which
would lift bank secrecy for cases of fraud, citing that an “overgenerous” general amnesty “would create
an environment ripe for future tax evasion.

Tax Amnesty Act of 2019 was meant to complement the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or
TRAIN law, as it will allow the government to raise revenues for priority infrastructure and social
programs while unburdening those with past tax liabilities.

Duterte also urged Congress to include safeguards to ensure the truthfulness of asset or net worth
declarations, as well as the automatic exchange of information.

9. Revised Corporation Code

Duterte on Wednesday signed Republic Act 11232, which updates the 38-year-old Corporation Code in a
bid to make the Philippines an attractive investment destination.

The law allows a single person to form a corporation, removes the requirement for minimum
capitalization, permits the electronic filing of reportorial requirements, allows attendance in meetings
via remote communication or in absentia, and provides protection to minority stockholders.

The new law also simplifies the name verification process and grant perpetual life as the default option
for corporations.