Adopted: 02 June 2015
Date Filed: 27 July 2015
WHEREAS, it shall be the utmost objective of the Government to protect its borders and territories from the entry, establishment and spread of animal diseases that may be introduced by the importation of disease-carrying, contaminated, and/or adulterated meat and/or meat products, which endanger the lives and safety/health of the consuming public and which could pose risk to human and animal health and life and potentially cause serious economic consequences;

WHEREAS, conditions are established by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) to allow importation of livestock from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) infected countries or zones in compliance with the guidelines set in Terrestrial Animal Health Code (TAHC) by the OIE to manage risk of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) from entering the country since India is not yet recognized as an FMD-free country or zone;

WHEREAS, Chapter 8.7, Article 8.7.29 of the TAHC, 2014 by the OIE recommends imported meat and meat products from FMD infected countries be subjected to heating to a minimum core temperature of seventy degrees Centigrade (70^o C) for at least thirty (30) minutes;

WHEREAS, the temperature requirement for the utilization of IBM sets an important prerequisite for its processing, hence making it a critical control point (CCP) in the manufacture of meat products utilizing IBM;

WHEREAS, Section IV.A.11.a.3 of DA-Administrative Order No. 9, series of 2013 prescribes the mandatory HACCP certification of all products utilizing Indian Buffalo Meat so as to adhere to the food safety requirement;

WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of the Government to issue a comprehensive and transparent set of rules, regulations and standards governing the importation of meat and meat products and to facilitate trade without compromising food safety and quality;

WHEREAS, the presence of Indian Buffalo Meat (IBM) in domestic markets manifest unauthorized distribution and trade in violation of existing Department of Agriculture (DA) rules and regulations;

WHEREAS, the DA Inter-Agency Team, through Special Order No. 317 Series of 2013, was created to improve risk management measures and rationalize the importation and utilization of Indian buffalo meat;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PROCESO J. ALCALA, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, by the power vested in me, do hereby issue this Order providing the updated guidelines governing the allocation, importation and utilization of Indian buffalo meat.

SECTION 1
DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms and phrases as used in this Order shall refer to:

1.1	Accreditation - the authority of DA to evaluate firms and establishments based on a set of criteria with the objective of providing eligibility to conduct/ undertake specified activities.
1.2	Accredited Meat Importer - any natural or juridical person accredited by DA as eligible importer of meat and/or meat products for its own use, processing, wholesale and/or retail distribution.
1.3	Accredited Meat Importer Processor (MIP) - an accredited meat importer which operates an NMIS-accredited meat processing plant to produce meat products, including the utilization of buffalo meat from India strictly for their own processing requirements and not for trading purposes.
1.4	Application Form - a document to be filled up by an MIP applying for IBM allocation to be submitted to the Interagency Technical Committee (IATC). At the back of the application form is a declaration of the applying MIP duly notarized by a public attorney.
1.5	Cold Storage Warehouse Inventory Report Form - a document to be filled up by the National Meat Inspection Service - Meat Import and Export Section (NMIS-MIES) to be reported on a monthly basis to the Division.
1.6	Country of Origin - the country source of meat being exported. Conversely, when such product undergoes physical change e.g. re-packing or re-branding in another country, the country of origin refers to the source of the original product.
1.7	DA-Trade System - the back-office application (electronic system) of the Department of Agriculture that facilitates and enables electronic processing of various applications relative to importation of agricultural and fishery products, such as but not limited to, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Clearance.
1.8	Date of Manufacture - date when the product is made or when it is produced as it is described in the specifications or technical literature.
1.9	Electronic Request for Inspection (eRFI) - an electronic system developed by the DA that enables electronic transmission of the Quarantine Inspection Report at the Port to DA regulatory agencies.
1.10	Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) - a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock with significant economic impact. The disease affects cattle and swine as well as sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. The disease is characterized by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves. The disease causes severe production losses and while the majority of affected animals recover, the disease often leaves them weakened and debilitated. The organism which causes FMD is an aphthovirus of the family Picornaviridae. There are seven strains (A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, Asia1) each one requiring a specific vaccine strain to provide immunity to a vaccinated animal.
1.11	Foreign Meat Establishment (FME) - a DA-accredited facility engaged in slaughtering and dressing of food animals, and processing, cutting, packing, and storing of meat and meat products, and recognized by the Competent Authority to export meat and meat products to the Philippines.
1.12	FME of œGood Standing  - a DA-accredited FME which has established its credibility by satisfactorily and consistently passing DA inspection and laboratory analysis for five (5) consecutive years.
1.13	Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) - a science- based system which identifies, evaluates, and controls hazards which are significant for food safety at critical points during a given stage in the food supply chain.
1.14	Inspection - the examination of food, food production facilities or establishment, including the management and production systems of food businesses. Herein contemplated are the examination of documents, finished product testing and registration, determination of the origin and destination of production inputs and outputs in order to verify compliance with legal requirements by Competent Authority mandated to perform food safety regulatory and/or enforcement functions.
1.15	IBM Withdrawal Receipt (IWR) - an inspection receipt to be issued by National Meat Inspection Service-Plant Officer (NMIS-PO) at the accredited Cold Storage Warehouse (CSW) where the IBM is being stored upon the withdrawal of the personnel authorized by the MIP.
1.16	Indian Buffalo Meat (IBM) - fresh frozen, deboned and deglanded edible part of carcass, excluding offals derived from buffalo in India intended for export to the Philippines.
1.17	Interagency Technical Committee (IATC) - a group of DA officers tasked to provide guidance to the Inter-Agency Technical Working Group relative to improving risk measures and rationalizing the importation and utilization of Indian Buffalo Meat.
1.18	Interagency Technical Working Group (IATWG) - a group of DA personnel responsible for the review of rules and regulations pertaining to IBM importation and utilization under the guidance of the IATC.
1.19	Label - the display of written, printed or graphic matter upon the immediate container, tag, literature or other suitable material affixed thereto for the purpose of giving information such as name of product and quantity, name and address of manufacturer, packer, or distributor, country of origin, ingredients, attributes, directions for use, specifications, and such other information as may be required by law or regulations.
1.20	Meat Processing Plant (MPP) - a meat establishment facility in which meat are subjected to methods of manufacture and preservation.
1.21	National Veterinary Authority (NVA) - refers to the national organization recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the responsible body for establishing the animal health measures based on OIE Animal Health Code and/or meat and meat products quality and safety measures based on Codex Standards. (A.O. No. 26 s.2005)
1.22	Office International des Epizooties (OIE)/World Organisation for Animal Health - an intergovernmental organization responsible for improving animal health worldwide. It is recognized as a reference organization by the World Trade Organization (WTO).
1.23	Port of Entry - a place where imported goods may be lawfully received into the Philippines subject to official inspection and supervision.
1.24	OIE-Terrestrial Animal Health Code (OIE-TAHC) - the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (the Terrestrial Code) sets out standards for the improvement of animal health and welfare and veterinary public health worldwide, including standards for safe international trade in terrestrial animals (mammals, birds and bees) and their products. The health measures in the Terrestrial Code should be used by the veterinary authorities of importing and exporting countries to provide for early detection, reporting and control agents pathogenic to animals or humans, and to prevent their transfer via international trade in animals and animal products, while avoiding unjustified sanitary barriers to trade.
1.25	Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures - defined as measures applied (a) to protect human or animal life from risks arising from additives, contaminants, toxins, or disease-causing organisms in their food (b) to protect human life from plant or animal carried diseases; (c) to protect animal or plant life from pests, diseases, or disease-causing organisms; and (d) to prevent or limit other damage to a country from the entry, establishment or spread of pests. This also includes SPS measures taken to protect the health of fish and wild fauna, as well as of forests and wild flora.
1.26	SPS Import Clearance - refers to the document being issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) prior to importation indicating that based on readily available information: (a) the source/s of meat and/or meat products are free from relevant diseases/contaminations; and (b) the accreditations of both the importer and the FME (exporter) are in good standing. It also prescribes the conditions and risk management measures necessary in the conduct of importation that are to be observed by the importer, exporter, and the NVA at the country of origin.
1.27	Utilization Report Form - a document to be accomplished by MIP to be submitted on the fifth (5th ) day of the succeeding month to the IATWG. This record shall be a requirement in their renewal for the Eligibility Certificate to Import IBM for the next semester.
1.28	Veterinary Quarantine and Meat Inspection and Laboratory Certificate (VQMILC) - refers to the certificate issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Veterinary Quarantine Officer (VQO) and the National Meat Inspection Service-Plant Officer (NMIS-PO) to the Bureau of Customs (BOC); copy furnish to BAI and the importer, which certifies that the shipment of meat and/ or meat products have been subjected to and has passed veterinary quarantine documentation and meat inspection, and/or laboratory analysis and clearance.

SECTION 2
ACRONYMS

The following are the acronyms used in this Circular: BAI - Bureau of Animal Industry

BOC

- Bureau of Customs

CTC

- Certified True Copy

CPR

- Certificate of Product Registration

CSW

- Cold Storage Warehouse

DA

- Department of Agriculture

DAAC

- Department of Agriculture Administrative Circular DAAO - Department of Agriculture Administrative Order eRFI - Electronic Request for Inspection

FMD

- Foot and Mouth Disease

FME

- Foreign Meat Establishment

HACCP

- Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points

IATC

- Interagency Technical Committee

IATWG

- Interagency Technical Working Group

IBM

- Indian Buffalo Meat

IVC

- International Veterinary Certificate

IWR

- Inventory Withdrawal Receipt

MIP

- Meat Importer Processor

MPP

- Meat Processing Plant

NMIS

- National Meat Inspection Service

NMIS-MlES

- National Meat Inspection Service - Meat Import and Export Section

NMIS-PO

- National Meat Inspection Service - Plant Officer

NVA

- National Veterinary Authority

OIE

- Office International des Epizooties/World Organisation for Animal Health

OlE TAHC

- OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code

OSEC

- Office of the Secretary

PO

- Plant Officer

RA

- Republic Act

RTOC

- Regional Technical Operations Center

SPS

- Sanitary and Phytosanitary

UCC

- Utilization Clearance Certificate

VO

- Veterinary Officer Certificate

VQO

- Veterinary Quarantine Officer

SECTION 3
SCOPE AND GENERAL CONDITIONS

This Administrative Circular shall cover updated rules and regulations on allocation, importation and utilization of IBM.

3.1 Veterinary Requirements

The following conditions set herein are requirements provided by the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code by the World Organisation for Animal Health:

3.1.1

Source and Health Status of Buffaloes

   

The Buffalo for slaughter:

   

3.1.1.1

shall be from farms/feedlots in which there have been no outbreak of FMD in the premises within a 10-Km radius for the last 60 days;

3.1.1.2

shall have remained in an FMD-free zone with vaccination where regular vaccination against FMD is done, and official controls are in place, for at least 3 months before slaughter;

3.1.1.3

shall have been vaccinated against FMD at least twice, with the last vaccination being given not more than 12 months and not less than one month prior to slaughter; and

3.1.1.4

shall be certified to be free from other notifiable terrestrial animal diseases listed by the OIE.

     

3.1.2

Transport of Indian Buffaloes

   

The Buffalo for slaughter:

   

3.1.2.1

shall have been directly transported from within an FMD-free zone to accredited slaughterhouses; and

3.1.2.2

shall be conveyed via vehicle which has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to loading.

     

3.1.3

Pre-Slaughter Conditions

   

The Buffalo for slaughter:

   

3.1.3.1

shall be slaughtered within 72 hours upon arrival at the accredited slaughterhouses;

3.1.3.2

shall pass ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection by duly authorized veterinarians. The ante-mortem inspection should be carried out within 24-48 hours upon arrival in the accredited slaughterhouse and repeated if animals were not slaughtered within 48 hours. The ante-mortem inspection shall include examination for clinical evidence of FMD and where appropriate, a detailed examination of feet and mouth; and

3.1.3.3

shall be given feed ration that come from FMD-free areas that are duly certified by the Indian Competent Authority while in the lairage.

     

3.1.4

FMD Risk Mitigation Measures at Source

   
3.1.4.1

India shall have risk mitigation measures adopted from OIE TAHC prescribed for a country exporting from an FMD- infected country or zone;

3.1.4.2

The carcasses shall be subjected to maturation at a temperature between 0-4^o Celsius for a minimum period of 24 hours following slaughter with a pH value below 6.0 when tested in the middle longissimus dorsi in each half carcass, with a certification issued by the plant quality control laboratory and confirmed by official veterinary authorities forming part of the required export documents;

3.1.4.3

The meat shall be deboned and deglanded before contact or blast freezing;

3.1.4.4

The meat shall be prepared, processed and packed in a sanitary manner with all necessary precautions taken to prevent any danger to public health; and

3.1.4.5

The meat shall be stored at a temperature of -18^o Celsius or below immediately after freezing. The same temperature shall be maintained during shipment up to the final destination (up to the processing plant).

     

3.1.5

Fresh Frozen Meat Standards, Packaging and Labeling Requirements

   

3.1.5.1

The meat shall be certified by the Indian FME Veterinary Inspector and Indian Competent Authority to have passed the acceptable limits to the following parameters such as but not limited to Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., Campylobacter spp., E. coli, Staphylococcus spp., and other harmful microorganisms, contaminants and residues (e.g. antibiotics, anabolic drugs and pesticides). This certificate shall be attached together with other shipment document;

3.1.5.2

The meat shall pass metal detection prior to freezing;

3.1.5.3

The meat shall be packed in plastic packs and cartons printed with the date of manufacture, batch number and other information as prescribed in Section VII of DA AO No. 26, s. 2005, and DA AO No. 24, s. 2010;

3.1.5.4

The label:

a.

shall be in the form of stamp or stick-on on the immediate container (if it is plastic lined) and also on the outer portion of the box;

b.

shall be rectangular in shape with the dimension of 3 inches width by 5 inches length (3x5);

c.

shall be printed in BOLD letters and with a font size of #18; and

d.

shall not be easily defaceable by any solution.

3.1.5.5

Cartons or the outermost shippers package shall be stamped with œFOR EXPORT TO THE PHILIPPINES .

     

3.1.6

Health Certification

   

3.1.6.1

The meat shipment shall be accompanied by an IVC issued by the VO or his authorized representative of the State where the FME is located, bearing the official seal of the VO.

3.2 Conditions for the FME

3.2.1

Only accredited FMEs in India duly recognized and authorized by DA are allowed to export fresh frozen IBM to the Philippines; and

3.2.2

The FME accreditation guidelines provided in DA AO No. 16, Series of 2006 shall be followed.

3.2.3

Indian FMEs shall conform to the Philippine meat safety and quality audit schedule following that for domestic meat establishments as required by DA AO No. 9 s2003 and DA AO No. 21 s2004, to wit:

3.2.3.1

All Accredited Indian FMEs shall be subjected to surveillance audit once a year by NMIS HACCP Auditors;

3.2.3.2

All non-conformances that cannot be corrected during the audit period shall be subject to close-out audit;

3.2.3.3

NMIS Audit Team shall submit audit report to the IATC seven (7) working days from their return and shall recommend the issuance of GMP and HACCP certificates to IATC in support to the continued validity of the FME accreditation;

3.2.3.4

All expenses related to the conduct of the audit shall be borne by the exporting foreign meat establishment.

3.3 Pre-shipment Conditions

3.3.1

Indian FME shall verify the completeness of the documentary requirements before sealing the reefer vans at the source loading point;

3.3.2

Indian FME shall ensure that the shipment be secured with containers seals bearing distinctive serial number provided by the shipping company;

3.3.3

The Indian Competent Authority shall check the seal affixed by them, once the containers arrive to a port before it is transshipped; and

3.3.4

Shall certify the container numbers, contents and quantity, seal numbers and that the goods have been processed in the accredited plant where they have been loaded and in accordance with the standards set by Philippine Department of Agriculture.

3.4 General Conditions for the Importer

3.4.1

Only MIPs duly accredited by the NMIS are allowed to import and utilize IBM. Other classes of accredited meat importers are not allowed to import IBM;

3.4.2

Only MIPs with Eligibility Certificate recommended by the IATC and approved by the Office of the Secretary, can import IBM;

3.4.3

All meat products utilizing IBM and coming from eligible MIPs shall be HACCP certified (DA AO No. 09 s. 2013);

3.4.4

The requirement stated in DA AO No. 9, Series of 2013 shall be followed in evaluating the IBM needs for MIPs; and

3.4.5

All conditions prior to importation of IBM shall be complied with as prescribed under DA AO No. 26 s. 2005 and DA AO No. 9 s. 2013.

3.4.6

Arrival Arrangements:

3.4.6.1

Upon arrival of the shipment, the MIP shall file online for an eRFI with the DA-Trade System;

3.4.6.2

The shipment arriving at ports of entry shall be subjected to existing DA quarantine rules and regulations;

3.4.6.3

Import arrivals that passed quarantine inspection shall be directly delivered and stored at the MPP ™s CSW. In instances that an MIP needs to utilize a DA accredited CSW, an IWR shall be issued by the NMIS-PO every time IBM shall be withdrawn from the said CSW; and

3.4.6.4

Import arrivals shall be subjected to inspection and laboratory examination when necessary:

a.

The NMIS-PO assigned at the CSW shall collect thirteen (13) randomly selected samples per container van to be submitted for inspection; and

b.

Container vans that do not pass the required inspection procedure including laboratory analysis when necessary, shall be confiscated and disposed of accordingly.

3.5 Meat Processing Controls

	The IBM shall be solely used for meat processing, using the standards provided for in the Chapter 8.7, Article 8.7.34 of OIE-TAHC (2014) for the inactivation of viruses present in meat. The meat can be used for canning, thorough cooking and drying after salting:
	3.5.1	For canning and thorough cooking, the meat shall be subjected to heat treatment so that an internal temperature of at least seventy degrees Centigrade (70 C) for a minimum of thirty (30) minutes or to any equivalent treatment which has been demonstrated to inactivate the FMD virus; and
	3.5.2	For drying after salting, when rigor mortis is complete, the meat must be deboned, salted with cooking salt (NaCl) and completely dried. It must not deteriorate at ambient temperature. ˜Drying ™ is defined in terms of the ratio between water and protein which must not be greater than 2.25:1.

SECTION 4
ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES

All applications for IBM imports shall be accepted by the IATC on a semestral basis. Applications for the arrival projected on the second semester shall be filed and accepted on January of that year, and July for the first semester of the succeeding year. Refer to Annex A for the schedule of activities relative to application procedure.

4.1 Submission of Documentary Requirements

4.1.1

The accredited MIP applying to import IBM shall submit a letter of intent addressed to the Secretary of Agriculture, along with the following:

4.1.1.1

Duly accomplished Application Form (Annex B), declaring the semestral projected volume of IBM requirement based on the requirements and guidelines prescribed by the IATC;

4.1.1.2

Certified true copy (CTC) of both MIP and MPP accreditation certificates;

4.1.1.3

CTC of product HACCP certification;

4.1.1.4

CTC of Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) for all products utilizing IBM; and

4.1.1.5

A processing fee shall be charged amounting to Five Thousand Philippine currency (Php 5,000) only.

4.2 Validation of Submitted Requirements

4.2.1

The IATC shall evaluate the veracity of the submitted documents. Only applicants with complete requirements shall be acted upon;

4.2.2

An assessment inspection of the MPP shall be conducted by the IATWG during the actual operation of the plant (Refer to Annex A for the schedule of the on-site evaluation);

4.2.3

The IATWG shall submit an evaluation report and recommendation to the IATC within fifteen (15) working days after the conduct of the inspection; and

4.2.4

Only applicants which passed the set criteria during the evaluation shall be recommended for the issuance of the Eligibility Certificate to Import IBM by the IATC.

4.3 Certification of Eligibility to Import IBM

4.3.1

The IATC shall endorse to the Office of the Secretary (OSEC) those applications recommended for the issuance of the certificate;

4.3.2

The OSEC issues the Eligibility Certificate to Import IBM to the MIP; and

4.3.3

The AITWG shall act as the Secretariat of the IATC which will be housed at NMIS. It shall act as the repository of all submitted reports, data, and other pro forma documentary requirements governing IBM allocation, importation and utilization.

4.4 Validity of Certification

4.4.1

The certificate shall be valid for six (6) months subject to compliance to regulations; and 4.4.2 Noncompliance to regulations may result to revocation of allocation.

4.5 Additional IBM Requirement

4.5.1

MIPs shall be allowed to import additional IBM based on merit and justifiable reasons as determined by the OSEC or his duly authorized entity.

SECTION 5
UTILIZATION PROCEDURES

5.1	The NMIS-PO at the DA-CSW shall issue Inventory Withdrawal Receipt (IWR) where the imported buffalo meat is stored at the time of request for IBM withdrawal by an official MIP representative (Annex C). The NMIS-PO shall then prepare a consolidated monthly report for submission every 5th of the succeeding month to IATWG. Required report form is shown in Annex D;
5.2	The authorized MIP Personnel assigned in the MPP shall keep a data log of IBM coming in and during withdrawal upon utilization of the raw material. He or she shall then submit a monthly inventory and utilization report to be submitted to the IATWG every 5th day of the succeeding month. Required report forms are shown in Annex E & F;
5.3	Disparity between semestral reports submitted by the MIP and the NMIS- RTOC shall be subjected to validation by the IATWG.
5.4	Submitted reports shall be consolidated and evaluated semestrally by the IATWG. A Utilization Clearance Certificate (UCC) (Annex G) shall be issued to MIPs cleared by the IATC after due evaluation. The UCC shall be a mandatory requirement for the renewal of application of Eligibility Certificate to Import IBM; and
5.5	Unused declared semestral IBM requirement shall be considered forfeited and can no longer be used or carried over to the next semester.

SECTION 6
MONITORING AND EVALUATION

The IATC and IATWG shall be responsible for the conduct of monitoring and evaluation activities relative to MIPs ™ eligibility to import IBM.

The IATWG shall conduct regular monitoring and evaluation relative to the utilization of IBM by MIPs. The IATWG shall then endorse the results to the IATC. The IATC shall subsequently submit a report to OSEC.

SECTION 7
VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES

7.1 Violations

7.1.1

The importation of IBM shall follow the procedures stated in these rules and regulations and other applicable laws. The enumeration provided hereunder shall be considered as violations of this Administrative Circular:

7.1.1.1

importation of fresh frozen IBM in excess of the approved requirement;

7.1.1.2

importation of fresh frozen IBM with incomplete requirements or no requirements at all;

7.1.1.3

selling of fresh frozen IBM in the domestic market; and

7.1.1.4

withdrawal of IBM from the CSWs without the proper issuance of the IWR by the NMIS-PO concerned.

7.2 Penalties

7.2.1

In the imposition of administrative fines and/or confiscation of imported meat and/or meat products, the pertinent provisions under the following are applicable:

7.2.1.1

Section VI of RA No. 10536, amending R.A. No. 9296, otherwise known as œThe Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines ;

7.2.1.2

Chapter XIV of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. No. 9296 as amended by RA No. 10536, otherwise known as œThe Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines ;

7.2.1.3

Sections X, XI and XII of DA AO No. 26, series of 2005;

7.2.1.4

DA AO No. 16, series of 2006; and

7.2.1.5

Other DA AOs on the same subject matter shall apply.

7.2.2

Accredited MIPs found violating the rules and regulations of this circular and other applicable laws, shall be denied importation of IBM for two (2) succeeding years; and

7.2.3

IBM found to be in the possession of unauthorized persons is a violation of this circular and the said IBM shall be confiscated and disposed of accordingly.

SECTION 8
REPEALING CLAUSE

All provisions of existing Memorandum Orders, Circulars, Implementing Rules and Regulations and other issuances that are inconsistent with this Circular, are thereby modified, revoked or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 9
SEPARATORY CLAUSE

The provisions of this Circular are hereby declared to be separable. In the event one or more of such provisions are held unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected thereby.


This Circular shall take effect 15 days after its publication in two (2) newspapers of national circulation, the Official Gazette and filing of a copy at the UP Law Center.

____ day of ____________, 2015, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

(SGD) PROCESO J. ALCALA
Secretary