Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8953 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 2. The regular elections for the regional governor, vice governor and members of the regional legislative assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) set forth under the Republic Act No. 8953 is hereby reset to the second Monday of September 2001."

SEC. 2. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8953 is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 3. The term of office of the regional governor, regional vice governor and the members of the regional legislative assembly shall commence at noon of the 30th day of September 2001 next following their election and shall expire at noon of the 30th day of September three (3) years thereafter."

SEC. 3. The funds for the holding of the ARMM elections shall be taken from the savings of the national government or shall be provided in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2001.

SEC. 4. If any of the provisions of this Act is held unconstitutional, provisions not affected shall remain valid and binding.

SEC. 5. All laws, decrees and all other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval by the President.

Approved,

AQUILINO Q. PIMENTEL JR.	(Sgd.) FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.
President of the Senate	Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act, which is a consolidation of S. No. 2262 and H. No. 12914, was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on February 7, 2001.

(Sgd.) LUTGARDO B. BARBO	(Sgd.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO
Secretary of the Senate	Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: February 28, 2001