List of Philippine Special Laws
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Act 1696 September 6, 1907 Known as the Flag Law, this law proscribed display of "any
flag, banner, emblem, or device used during the late
insurrection in the Philippine Islands to designate or identify
those in armed rebellion against the United States, or any flag,
banner, emblem, or device used or adopted at any time by the
public enemies of the United States in the Philippine Islands for
the purposes of public disorder or of rebellion or insurrection
against the authority of the United States in the Philippine
Islands, or any flag, banner, emblem, or device of the
Katipunan Society or which is commonly known as such.[1]"
This law was repealed in 1919.
Act 2871 October 24, 1919 Repealed the Flag Law and legalised the use of the National
Flag and the National Anthem. Passed on October 24, 1919.[2]
Act 3436 November 28, 1928 Established the Philippine Long Distance Telephone
Company (PLDT) with the bill granting it a 50-year charter.
Act 3815 December 8, 1930 The Revised Penal Code
Act 3827 October 28, 1931 Declared the last Sunday of August as National Heroes' Day.
BP 185 March 16, 1982 Provides that a natural-born citizen of the Philippines who has
lost Philippine citizenship may be a transferee of private land,
"for use by him as his residence, subject to the provisions of
this Act."
BP 8 December 2, 1978 Defined the metric system and set the basis for its
implementation in the country. Modern Philippine Standard
Time was also instituted under this law.
BP 880 December 3, 1985 Public Assembly Act of 1985
BP 881 December 3, 1985 Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines
CA 1 December 21, 1935 The National Defense Act of 1935, which created the Armed
Forces of the Philippines.
CA 111 October 31, 1936 The act that created the Boy Scouts of the
Philippines by President Manuel L. Quezon.
CA 382 December 5, 1938 The English lyrics to the National Anthem were made official.
CA 473 June 17, 1939 Revised Naturalization Law
CA 63 October 21, 1936 An act providing for the ways in which Philippine
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citizenship may be lost or reacquired.
CA 638 June 14, 1941 Provided for the publication and distribution of the Official
Gazette.
PD 269 August 6, 1973 The National Electrification Administration Decree
RA 1 July 15, 1946 Act appropriating funds for the operation of the Government of
the Philippines. The first legislation passed by the Congress of
the Philippines upon independence.
RA 10000 February 23, 2010 The Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act
RA 10066 March 26, 2010 National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, establishing
the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property
RA 10068 April 6, 2010 The Organic Agriculture Act of 2010
RA 10072 April 20, 2010 Philippine Red Cross Act of 2009
RA 10073 April 20, 2010 Charter of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP)
RA 10121 May 27, 2010 Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of
2010
RA 10149 June 6, 2011 GOCC Governance Act of 2011
RA 10157 January 20, 2012 The Kindergarten Education Act
RA 10168 June 20, 2012 The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of
2012
RA 10173 August 15, 2012 The Data Privacy Act of 2012
RA 10175 September 12, 2012 The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012
RA 10349 December 11, 2012 The AFP Modernization Act of 2012
RA 10351 December 19, 2012 Sin Tax Law
RA 10354 December 21, 2012 The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of
2012
RA 10360 January 14, 2013 Charter of the Province of Davao Occidental
RA 10368 February 25, 2013 Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013
RA 10533 May 15, 2013 The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013
RA 10535 May 15, 2013 The Philippine Standard Time (PST) Act of 2013
RA 10575 May 24, 2013 The Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013
RA 10586 May 27, 2013 Anti-Drunk and Drugged Act of 2013
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RA 10588 May 27, 2013 Palarong Pambansa Act of 2013
RA 10611 August 23, 2013 Food Safety Act of 2013
RA 10627 September 12, 2013 Anti-Bullying Act of 2013
RA 10648 November 27, 2014 Iskolar ng Bayan Act of 2014
RA 10666 July 21, 2015 Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015
RA 10667 July 21, 2015 Philippine Competition Act
RA 10669 August 18, 2015 Declared the August 18 as Jesse Robredo Day
RA 10676 August 26, 2015 Student-Athletes Protection Act
RA 10692 November 3, 2015 PAGASA Modernization Act of 2015
RA 10742 January 15, 2016 Sangguiang Kabatan (SK) Reforms Act of 2015
RA 10747 March 3, 2016 Rare Diseases Act of the Philippines
RA 10821 May 18, 2016 Children's Emergency Relief and Protection Act
RA 10844 May 23, 2016 Department of Information and Communications Technology
(DICT) Act of 2015
RA 10863 May 31, 2016 Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)
RA 10867 June 23, 2016 National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Reorganization and
Modernization Act
RA 10868 June 23, 2016 Centenarians Act of 2016
RA 10913 July 21, 2016 Anti-Distracted Driving Act of 2016
RA 10923 October 15, 2016 An act postponing the October 2016 Barangay and SK
Elections
RA 1425 June 12, 1956 The Rizal Law, which mandates the inclusion of courses
on José Rizal in the curricula of all educational institutions in
the Philippines.
RA 2023 June 22, 1957 Philippine Non-Agricultural Co-operative Act
RA 2140 April 7, 1959 Changing the name of Highway 54 to Epifanio de los Santos
Avenue (EDSA)
RA 265 June 15, 1948 Established the Central Bank of the Philippines.
RA 2717 June 19, 1960 Created the Electrification Administration
RA 2733 June 10, 1960 Asserted that the first mass in the Philippines took place at a
site on Limasawa, Southern Leyte; declared the site a national
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shrine.
RA 3019 August 17, 1960 Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
RA 333 July 17, 1948 Declared Quezon City the national capital.
RA 3518 June 18, 1963 Established the Philippine Veterans Bank
RA 3844 August 8, 1963 Established the pace for land reform and the formation
of Landbank.
RA 387 June 18, 1949 Petroleum Act of 1949
RA 4156 June 20, 1964 Established of Philippine National Railways (PNR).
RA 4166 August 4, 1964 Changing the date of Philippine Independence Day from July 4
to June 12
RA 4200 June 19, 1965 The anti-wiretapping law.
RA 53 October 5, 1946 Press Freedom Law (now known as the Sotto Law).
RA 6038 August 4, 1969 Dissolution of the Electrification Administration (Repeal of RA
2717) and organization of the National Electrification
Administration
RA 6173 April 30, 1971 Oil Industry Commission Act
RA 6635 October 23, 1972 Revision of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines
RA 6639 November 27, 1987 Changed the name of the Manila International Airport to Ninoy
Aquino International Airport.
RA 6645 December 28, 1987 Prescribes the manner in how to fill a vacancy in Congress.
RA 6657 June 10, 1988 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
RA 6675 September 13, 1988 Generics Act of 1988
RA 6734 August 1, 1989 Created the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM), which was officially inaugurated on 6
November 1990 in Cotabato City.
RA 6735 August 4, 1989 Set up a system of initiative and referendum.
RA 6766 October 23, 1989 Provided for an Organic Act for the Cordillera Administrative
Region (CAR). It mandates the creation of an autonomous
government, headed by a Regional Governor. It creates a
Regional Assembly that will enact laws of regional application
and a regional judiciary composed of a supreme court and
lower courts.
RA 6955 June 13, 1990 The Anti-Mail Order Bride Law
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RA 6975 December 13, 1990 Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990.
Created or re-organized under the DILG the National Police
Commission, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire
Protection, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and
the Philippine Public Safety College.
RA 7042 June 13, 1991 Foreign Investments Act of 1991
RA 7104 August 14, 1991 Commission on the Filipino Language Act
RA 7156 September 12, 1991 Mini-Hydro Law
RA 7160 October 10, 1991 Local Government Code of 1991
RA 7610 June 17, 1992 Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination Act
RA 7638 December 9, 1994 Charter of the Department of Energy
RA 7648 April 5, 1993 Electric Power Crisis Act
RA 7653 June 14, 1993 The New Central Bank Act; established the present Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas.
RA 7659 December 13, 1993 Imposed of the Death Penalty on certain heinous crimes.
RA 7832 December 8, 1994 Anti-electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials
Pilferage Act of 1994 / an act penalizing the pilferage of
electricity and theft of power transmission lines/materials,
rationalizing system losses by phasing out pilferage losses as
a component thereof, and for other purposes.
RA 7941 March 3, 1995 Party-List System Act
RA 8049 June 7, 1995 Anti-Hazing Law
RA 8171 October 23, 1995 "An act providing for the repatriation of Filipino women who
have lost their Philippine citizenship by marriage to aliens and
natural-born Filipinos."
RA 8177 March 20, 1996 "An act designating death by Lethal Injection as the method of
carrying out capital punishment."
RA 8179 March 28, 1996 "An act further liberalizing foreign investments, amending for
the purpose Republic Act No. 7042, and for other purposes."
RA 8293 June 6, 1997 The Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (the copyright
law).
RA 8353 September 30, 1997 The Anti-Rape Law of 1997
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RA 8438 December 22, 1997 Created the Cordillera Autonomous Region. A plebiscite on 9
March 1998 to ratify the bill invalidated the act. See Cordillera
Administrative Region.
RA 8479 February 10, 1998 Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998 / An act
deregulating the downstream oil industry and for other
purposes
RA 8491 February 12, 1998 Prescribed the code of the National Flag, Anthem, motto, coat-
of-arms and other heraldic items and devices of the
Philippines.
RA 85 October 29, 1946 Charter of the Development Bank of the Philippines.
RA 8749 June 23, 1999 Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 / An act providing for a
Comprehensive Air Pollution Control Policy and for Other
Purposes
RA 8791 May 23, 2000 General Banking Law of 2000 / An act providing for the
regulation of the organization and operations of Banks, Quasi-
Banks, Trust Entities and for Other Purposes
RA 8981 December 5, 2000 PRC Modernization Act Of 2000 / An act providing for the
modernization of the Professional Regulation Commission.
RA 9006 February 12, 2001 Fair Election Act of 2001 / An act to enhance the holding of
free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections through
fair election practices.
RA 9136 June 8, 2001 Electric Power Industry Reforms Act of 2001 / An act ordaining
reforms in the electric power industry, amending for the
purpose certain laws and for other purposes
RA 9139 June 8, 2001 The Administrative Naturalization Law of 2000
RA 9160 September 29, 2001 Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001. Subsequent foreign
pressure by the FATF and by other nations resulted in this act
being amended.
RA 9164 March 19, 2002 Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang
Kabataan Elections
RA 9165 June 7, 2002 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
RA 9178 November 13, 2002 Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE's) Act of 2002
RA 9189 February 13, 2003 Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003 / An act providing for a
system of overseas absentee voting by qualified citizens of the
Philippines abroad, appropriating funds therefor, and for other
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purposes
RA 9208 May 26, 2003 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 / An act providing for
policies to eliminate and punish human trafficking,
especially women and children, establishing the necessary
institutional mechanisms for the protection and support of
trafficked persons.
RA 9225 August 29, 2003 Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Act of 2003 / An act
making the citizenship of Philippine citizens who acquire
foreign citizenship permanent, amending for the
purpose Commonwealth Act No. 63, as amended, and for
other purposes.
RA 9256 February 25, 2004 Declared the August 21 as Ninoy Aquino Day.
RA 9262 March 8, 2004 Inspired by the life of Dolores Lorenzo, this act gives protection
of the law to women and children suffering from domestic
abuse.
RA 9334 December 21, 2004 An act increasing the excise tax rates imposed on alcohol and
tobacco products, amending for the purpose sections 131, 141,
142, 143, 144, 145, and 288 of the National Internal Revenue
Code of 1997, as amended. Also known as the Sin Tax Law.
RA 9335 January 25, 2005 Lateral Attrition Act of 2005 / an act to improve the revenue
collection performance of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) through the creation of a
rewards and incentives fund and of a revenue performance
evaluation board and for other purposes
RA 9337 May 24, 2005 An act amending sections 27, 28, 34, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110,
111, 112, 113, 114, 116, 117, 119, 121, 148, 151, 236, 237,
and 288 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as
amended, and for other purposes. Also known as the
"expanded value-added tax" or "E-VAT" law.
RA 9340 May 25, 2005 Synchronized Barangay and Sangguiniang Kabataan Elections
Resetting / An act resetting the Barangay and Sangguniang
Kabataan Elections, extending the term of office of Barangay
and Sangguiniang Kabataan Officials and for other purposes.
RA 9346 June 24, 2006 The act repealing the death penalty and granting universal
commutation to life imprisonment and reclusión perpetua.
RA 9367 January 12, 2007 "Biofuels Act of 2006" / An act to direct the use of Biofuels,
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establishing for this purpose the Biofuel Program, appropriating
funds therefor, and for other purposes.
RA 9369 January 23, 2007 "Amending the Election Modernization Act" / An act
amending Republic Act No. 8436, Entitled "An Act Authorizing
The Commission on Elections to use an Automated Election
System in the May 11, 1998 National or Local Elections and in
Subsequent National and Local Electoral Exercises, to
Encourage Transparency, Credibility, Fairness and Accuracy
of Elections, amending for the purpose Batas Pambansa Blg.
881, as amended, Republic Act No. 7166 and other related
elections laws, providing funds therefor and for other purposes
RA 9371 February 22, 2007 An act splitting the Lone District of Cagayan de Oro City into
two, with the Cagayan de Oro River as a natural boundary.
RA 9372 March 6, 2007 The Human Security Act of 2007
RA 9492 July 25, 2007 Mandates the observance of some public holidays to the
nearest weekday. Also known as the Holiday Economics Law.
RA 9500 April 29, 2008 The University of the Philippines Charter of 2008 declaring it as
the national university.
RA 9522 March 1, 2009 Defined the archipelagic baselines of the Philippines and
described the Kalayaan Island Group and Panatag Shoal as a
"Regime of Islands".
RA 9645 June 12, 2009 Declared the July 27 as Iglesia ni Cristo Day.
RA 9999 February 23, 2010 Free Legal Assistance Act
