Republic Act No. 11659 amends the Public Service Act and limits the definition of “public utility” to stimulate foreign investment in public service sectors
On 21 March 2022, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Republic Act (“RA”) No. 11659 or “An act amending Commonwealth Act No. 146, otherwise known as the ‘Public Service Act’, as amended”. It was published in the Official Gazette on 28 March 2022 and took effect after fifteen (15) days following its date of publication
Read MoreRA 11861 Expands the Coverage of the Solo Parent’s Welfare Act.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11861 or the “Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act” last June 4, 2022, to reinforce the two decade-old Solo Parent’s Welfare Act of 2000 by expanding its scope of applicability and increasing the benefits granted to solo parents and their families. The Act covers solo parents
Read MoreSupreme Court Issues Revised Domestic Adoption Guidelines
The Supreme Court (“SC”) issued on 19 April 2022 A.M. No. 02-6-02-SC, outlining the guidelines on the implications of Republic Act No. 11642 (“RA No. 11642”), otherwise known as the “Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act” on the Rule on Adoption. Under the guidelines, courts may no longer receive or accept petitions for
Read MoreCruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia Secures Significant Competition Law Win
Mergers and Acquisitions Office vs. Just Solar Corporation, et al., PCC Decision No. 05-M-008/2021 dated 16 September 2021 On 21 April 2022, the Philippine Competition Commission (the “Commission”), released its PCC Decision No. 05-M-008/2021 dated 16 September 2021 finding that the Guidelines on the Computation of Merger Notification Thresholds (“Threshold Guidelines”) was inapplicable to our
Read MoreIPOPHL Launches Juana Patent and Juana Design Protection Incentive Program Waiving Patent Fees for Women Inventors, Designers, and Woman-Led or Woman-Owned MSMEs
In celebration of National Women’s Month, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (“IPOPHL”) launched the Juana Patent and Juana Design Protection Incentive Program (JPIP) last March 2022. This program aims to empower female inventors and female-led and/or female-owned micro-, small- and medium- enterprises (MSMEs) by promoting the protection of their intellectual property through the
Read MoreRepublic Act No. 11647 Amends the Foreign Investments Act Of 1991 to Attract Foreign Investors
On 02 March 2022, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Republic Act (“RA”) No. 11647 or “An act promoting foreign investments, thereby amending Republic Act No. 7042, otherwise known as the ‘Foreign Investments Act of 1991’”. RA No. 11647 aims to attract, promote and welcome productive foreign investments in activities that significantly contribute to sustainable,
Read MoreDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources Issues Administrative Order No. 2022-03, Revising the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued Administrative Order No. 2022-03 (“DAO 2022-03”) which takes effect on 29 April 2022, ensuring a more effective and expeditious implementation of the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act, introducing a more orderly and systematic procedure, and regulating the small-scale mining industry with a view of enhancing its growth
Read MoreDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources Issues DAO No. 2022-04 On Enhancing Biodiversity Conservation and Protection in Mining Operations
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (“DENR”) issued on 04 March 2022 DENR Administrative Order No. 2022-04 (“DAO 2022-04”), providing for adequate measures to ensure the integration of biodiversity conservation and protection in all stages of both on-shore and off-shore mining operations. Section 6.1 of DAO 2022-04 enumerates the specific biodiversity measures to
Read MorePhilippine Intellectual Property Office Launches the Issuance of Patent Electronic Certificates
Pursuant to Bureau of Patents Memorandum Circular No. 2022-001, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) shall now issue Electronic Certificates, known as “Patent eCert”, for Patent, Utility Model, and Industrial Design Applications that were recommended for registration starting 01 March 2022. Applications that have been recommended for registration before 01 March 2022 will
Read MoreSecurities and Exchange Commission Issues Guidelines on the Procedure for the Removal of Disqualified Directors, Trustees and Officers of Corporations
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued on 15 February 2022 Memorandum Circular No. 4, Series of 2022 (“MC 4-2022”), outlining the procedure for the removal of directors, trustees, and officers elected or appointed despite possessing a disqualification, or whose disqualification arose or is discovered after their election or appointment. MC 4-2022 enumerates the
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