A statute is an act of the legislature, adopted pursuant to its constitutional authority, by void or unconstitutional, the remaining portions or provisions
isions thereof shall not be affected
prescribed means and in certain form such that it becomes the law governing conduct within
its scope. Statutes are enacted to prescribe conduct, define crimes, create inferior
governmental bodies, appropriate public funds, and in general promote the public good and
welfare.
I. Parts of a Statute
Ò Title
Title -- The title of the statute is the heading on the preliminary part, furnishing the name by
which the act is individually known.
Example: Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969
Ò Preamble
Preamble -- That part of the statute explaining the reasons for its enactment and the objects
sought to be accomplished.
Ò Enacting clause
Enacting Clause -- That part of the statute which declares its enactment and serves to identify
it is an act of legislation proceeding from the proper legislative authority.
Example: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled."
Ò Body
Body -- The main and operative part of the statute containing its substantive and even
procedural provisions. Provisos and exemptions may also be found in the body of the statute.
Ò Repealing clause
Repealing Clause -- That part of the statute which announces the prior statutes or specific
provisions which have been abrogated by reason of the new law.
Example: SECTION 13. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations,
other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly. (From REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9048)
Ò Separability clause
Separability Clause -- That part of the statute which provides that in the event that one or
more provisions are declared void or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall still be
in force and effect
Example: SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
by such declaration. (From REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9048)
Ò Effectivity clause
Effectivity Clause -- That part of the Statute which announces the effectivity date of the law.
Example: SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. (From
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9048)
How a bill becomes a law?
1987 Constitution
SECTION 26.
(1) Every bill passed by the Congress shall embrace only one subject which shall be
expressed in the title thereof.
(2) No bill passed by either House shall become a law unless it has passed three
readings on separate days, and printed copies thereof in its final form have been
distributed to its Members three days before its passage, except when the President
certifies to the necessity of its immediate enactment to meet a public calamity or
emergency. Upon the last reading of a bill, no amendment thereto shall be allowed,
and the vote thereon shall be taken immediately thereafter, and the yeas and nays
entered in the Journal.
Section 2.
The Senate shall be composed of twenty-four Senators who shall be elected at large
by the qualified voters of the Philippines, as may be provided by law.
SECTION 27.
(1) Every bill passed by the Congress shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to
the President. If he approves the same, he shall sign it; otherwise, he shall veto it and
return the same with his objections to the House where it originated, which shall
enter the objections at large in its Journal and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such
reconsideration, two-thirds of all the Members of such House shall agree to pass the
bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House by which it shall
likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of all the Members of that
House, it shall become a law. In all such cases, the votes of each House shall be following the completion of their publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper
determined by yeas or nays, and the names of the Members voting for or against of general circulation, unless it is otherwise provided. chanrobles virtual law libra ry

shall be entered in its Journal. The President shall communicate his veto of any bill to Sec. 19. Prospectivity. - Laws shall have prospective effect unless the contrary is
the House where it originated within thirty days after the date of receipt thereof; expressly provided. chanrobles virtual law library

otherwise, it shall become a law as if he had signed it. Sec. 20. Interpretation of Laws and Administrative Issuances. - In the
interpretation of a law or administrative issuance promulgated in all the official
(2) The President shall have the power to veto any particular item or items in an languages, the English text shall control, unless otherwise specifically provided. In
appropriation, revenue, or tariff bill, but the veto shall not affect the item or items to case of ambiguity, omission or mistake, the other texts may be consulted. chanrobles virtual law libra ry

which he does not object. 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
Effectivity expressly so provided. chanrobles virtual law library

Art. 2. Laws shall take effect after fifteen days following the completion of their 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
publication in the Official Gazette, unless it is otherwise provided. This Code shall
repealing law provides otherwise.
take effect one year after such publication. (1a)
chanrobles virtual law libra ry

Sec. 23. Ignorance of the Law. - Ignorance of the law excuses no one from
compliance therewith.
Other Principles
chanrobles virtual law library

Art. 3. Chapter 6
OFFICIAL GAZETTE
Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith. (2)
Sec. 24. Contents. - There shall be published in the Official Gazette all legislative
Art. 4. acts and resolutions of a public nature; all executive and administrative issuances of
general application; decisions or abstracts of decisions of the Supreme Court and the
Laws shall have no retroactive effect, unless the contrary is provided. (3) Court of Appeals, or other courts of similar rank, as may be deemed by said courts of
sufficient importance to be so published; such documents or classes of documents as
Art. 7. may be required so to be published by law; and such documents or classes of
documents as the President shall determine from time to time to have general
Laws are repealed only by subsequent ones, and their violation or non- application or which he may authorize so to be published. chanrobles virtual law libr ary

observance shall not be excused by disuse, or custom or practice to the contrary. The publication of any law, resolution or other official documents in the Official
Gazette shall be prima facie evidence of its authority. chanrobles virtual law libra ry

When the courts declared a law to be inconsistent with the Constitution, the Sec. 25. Editing and Publications. - The Official Gazette shall be edited in the Office
former shall be void and the latter shall govern. of the President and published weekly in Pilipino or in the English language. It shall
be sold and distributed by the National Printing Office which shall promptly mail
Administrative or executive acts, orders and regulations shall be valid only when copies thereof to subscribers free of postage. chanrobles virtual law library

they are not contrary to the laws or the Constitution. (5a)

Administrative Code Book 1

Chapter 5
OPERATION AND EFFECT OF LAWS

Sec. 18. When Laws Take Effect. - Laws shall take effect after fifteen (15) days