PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO.

972
PROMULGATING AN ACT TO PROMOTE AN ACCELERATED
EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT, EXPLOITATION, PRODUCTION AND
UTILIZATION OF COAL
WHEREAS, the increasing cost of imported crude oil imposes an unduly heavy demand
on the country's international reserves thereby making it imperative for the government to
pursue actively the exploration, development and exploitation of indigenous energy
resources;
WHEREAS, while coal has been identified as a fossil fuel known to exist in mineable
quantities in the country which could provide a viable energy source for some vital
industries, large tracts of coalbearing lands have not been explored and mined in a
manner and to an extent adequate to meet the needs of the economy;
WHEREAS, the proliferation of fragmented coal permits and leases has prevented, or
deterred, the adequate and speedy exploration, development, exploitation and production
of indigenous coal resources;
WHEREAS, to develop, achieve and implement a well-planned, systematic and
meaningful exploration, development, exploitation and production of local coal
resources, participation of the private sector with sufficient capital, technical and
managerial resources must be encouraged and the technical and financial capabilities of
the coal industry upgraded;
WHEREAS, hand in hand with an accelerated coal exploration, development, exploitation
and production program, it is essential that the market for domestic coal production be
developed by granting incentives to prospective coal users to convert their facilities for
coal utilization;
WHEREAS, to realize the above, it is necessary to amend and/or supplement existing
legislation relating to coal;
WHEREAS, Article XVII, Section 12 of the Constitution of the Philippines provides in
part that when the national interest so requires, the incumbent President of the Philippines
or the interim Prime Minister, may review all contracts, concessions, permits or other
forms of privileges for the exploration, development, exploitation or utilization of natural
resources entered into, granted, issued or acquired before the ratification of the
Constitution;chan robles virtual law library
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, by virtue of the powers vested in me
by the Constitution of the Philippines, do hereby decree and declare as part of the law of
the land the following:

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known and may be cited as "The Coal
Development Act of 1976."
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state to
immediately accelerate the exploration, development, exploitation production and
utilization of the country's coal resources. A coal development program is therefore
promulgated and established by this Decree.
SECTION 3. Coal Development Program. The country shall be divided into coal regions
and exploration and exploitation programs shall be instituted and implemented pursuant
to this Decree.
These programs shall be geared towards the promotion and development of the necessary
technical and financial capability to undertake a work program to effectively explore
exploit coal resources.
In recognition, however, of the social constraints that may be encountered in effecting the
establishment of coal units in regions where there is high concentration of small coal
miners, a special coal program shall be formulated and implemented in coordination with
the appropriate government agency/agencies to meet the particular needs of such
regions.chan robles virtual law library
SECTION 4. Government to Undertake Coal Exploration Development and Production.
The Government, through the Energy Development Board, its successors or assigns, shall
undertake by itself the active exploration, development and production of coal resources.
It may also execute coal operating contracts as hereafter defined. The active exploration
and exploitation of coal resources by the Government or through coal operating contracts
may cover public lands, any unreserved or unappropriated coal bearing lands, claims
located and recorded by private parties areas covered by valid and subsisting coal
revocable permits, coal leases and other existing rights granted by the Government for the
exploration and exploitation of coal lands, government mineral reservations, coal
areas/mines whose leases or permits are presently owned or operated or held by
government-owned or controlled corporations and coal mineable areas operated or held
by government agencies.
SECTION 5. Blocking System. The Energy Development Board shall establish coal
regions delimiting its extent and boundaries after taking into consideration the various
coal bearing lands of the Philippines. Each coal region shall be divided into meridional
blocks or quadrangles of two minutes (2') of latitude and one and one-half minutes (11/2) of longitude, each block containing an area of one thousand (1,000) hectares, more
or less, the boundaries thereof to coincide with the full two minutes and one and one-half
minutes of latitude and longitude, respectively, based on the Philippine Coast and
Geodetic Survey Map, scale of 1:50,000.chan robles virtual law library
SECTION 6. Coal Contract Area. In conformity with the blocking system herein
established, the Energy Development Board shall determine in each coal region what

areas, are available for coal operating contracts. In opening such contract areas, the
Energy Development Board may resort to either of the following alternative procedures:
a. By offering an area or areas for bids, specifying the minimum requirements
and conditions in accordance with this Decree: or
b. By negotiating with a qualified party for a coal operating contract under the
terms and conditions provided in this Decree.
No person shall be entitled to more than fifteen (15) blocks of coal lands in any one coal
region.
SECTION 7. Existing Permittees/Leaseholders. All valid and subsisting holders of coal
revocable permits, coal leases and other existing rights granted by the government for the
exploration and exploitation of coal lands or the operators thereof duly approved by the
appropriate government agency, shall be given preference in the grant of coal operating
contract over the area covered by their permits, leases or other rights subjects to their
compliance with the following conditions and guidelines:
(a) Those whose areas fall within a block as described in Section 5 hereof shall
organize or consolidate themselves into a coal unit, singly or jointly with valid
and subsisting holders of coal revocable permits, coal leases and other existing
coal rights or the duly approved operator thereof, of contiguous blocks
provided that a coal unit shall not be entitled to more than fifteen (15) blocks
of coal lands in any coal region.
(b) Consolidation of areas into coal unit which shall require approval by the
Energy Development Board must be completed within a period of six (6)
months from the effectivity of this Decree.
(c) In order to qualify for consolidation into coal units, permittees, leaseholders or
operators must have complied with the requirements of their existing permits,
leases and/or rights as defined under existing laws, rules and regulations.
(d) Members of the coal unit shall agree on the form, terms and extent of
participation of its individual members. All holders of valid and subsisting
coal revocable permits, coal leases and other existing rights granted by the
government for the exploration, development and exploitation of coal lands
shall be given percentage interest in the unit or payments out of production
under such terms and conditions as may be agreed by the members of the unit
and approved by the Energy Development Board.
(e) A coal unit shall enter into a coal operating contract as hereafter provided
within six (6) months from its formation.

Coal revocable permits, coal leases and other existing rights granted by the government
for the exploration and exploitation of coal lands shall be deemed automatically canceled
and the area covered thereby shall revert back to the State for failure of the holders or the
qualified operators thereof for any cause whatsoever to consolidate their areas into coal
units or secure a coal operating contract within the period specified in this section.
SECTION 8. Coal Operating Contract. Each coal operating contract herein authorized
shall, subject to the approval of the President, be executed by the Energy Development
Board.chan robles virtual law library
In a coal operating contract, service, technology and financing are furnished by the
operator for which it shall be entitled to the stipulated fee and reimbursement of operating
expenses. Accordingly, the operator must be technically competent and financially
capable as determined by the Energy Development Board to undertake the coal
operations as required in the contract.
SECTION 9. Obligations of Operator in Coal Operating Contract. The operator under a
coal operating contract shall undertake, manage and execute the coal operations which
shall include:
(a) The examination and investigation of lands supposed to contain coal, by
detailed surface geologic mapping, core drilling, trenching, test pitting and
other appropriate means, for the purpose of probing the presence of coal
deposits and the extent thereof;
(b) Steps necessary to reach the coal deposits so that can be mined, including but
not limited to shaft sinking and tunneling; and
(c) The extraction and utilization of coal deposits.
The Government shall oversee the management of operation contemplated in the coal
operating contract and in this connection, shall require the operator to:
(a) Provide all the necessary service and technology;
(b) Provide the requisite financing;
(c) Perform the work obligations and program prescribed in the coal operating
contract which shall be less than those prescribed in this Decree;
(d) Operate the area on behalf of the Government in accordance with good coal
mining practices using modern methods appropriate for the geological
conditions of the area to enable maximum economic production of coal,
avoiding hazards to life, health and property, avoiding pollution of air, land
and waters, and pursuant to an efficient and economic program of operation;

(e) Furnish the Energy Development Board promptly with all information, data and
reports which it may require;chan robles virtual law library
(f) Maintain detailed technical records and account of its expenditures;
(f) Maintain detailed technical records and account of safety demarcation of
agreement acreage and work areas, non-interference with the rights of the other
petroleum, mineral and natural resources operators;
(h) Maintain all necessary equipment in good order and allow access to these as well
as to the exploration, development and production sites and operations to
inspectors authorized by the Energy Development Board;
(i) Allow representatives authorized by the Energy Development Board full access to
their accounts, books and records for tax and other fiscal purposes;
On the other hand, the Energy Development Board shall:
(a) On behalf of the Government, reimburse the operator for all operating
expenses not exceeding seventy per cent (70%) of the gross proceeds from
production in any year: Provided, that if in any year, the operating expenses
exceed seventy per cent (70%) of the gross proceeds from production, then the
unrecovered expenses shall be recovered from the operating of succeeding
years. Operating expenses means the total expenditures for coal operating
incurred by the operator as provided in a coal operating contract;
(b) Pay the operator a fee, the net amount of which shall not exceed forty per cent
(40%) of the balance of the gross income after deducting all operating
expenses;
(c) Reimburse operating expenses and pay the operator's fee in such form and
manner as provided for in the coal operating contract.
SECTION 10. Additional Fee. All valid and subsisting holders of coal revocable permits,
coal leases and other existing rights granted by the government for the exploration and
exploitation of coal lands or the duly qualified operators thereof who have organized their
area into a coal unit may, subject to conditions imposed by the Energy Development
Board, be granted in the coal operating contract, in addition to the face provided in
Paragraph 2 of Section 9, a special allowance, the amount of which shall not exceed
thirty per cent (30%) of the balance of the gross income after deducting all operating
expenses.
Coal operating contracts entered into with Philippine citizens or corporations except
those already covered under the preceding paragraph, shall be granted a special
allowance, the amount of which shall not exceed twenty per cent (20%) of the balance of
the gross income after deducting all operating expenses: Provided, that coal operating

contracts in which Philippine citizens or corporations have a minimum participating

interest of fifteen per cent (15%) in the contract area, may subject to reasonable
conditions imposed by the Energy Development Board, be granted a special allowance
not exceeding ten per cent (10%) of the balance of the gross income after deducting all
operating expenses.chan robles virtual law library
For the purpose of this section, a Philippine corporation means a corporation organized
under Philippine laws at least sixty per cent (60%) of the capital of which, including the
voting shares, is owned and held by citizens of the Philippines.
SECTION 11. Minimum Terms and Conditions. In addition to those elsewhere provided
in this Decree, every coal operating contract executed in pursuance hereof shall contain
the following minimum terms and conditions:
(a) Every operator shall be obliged to spend in direct prosecution of exploration
work not less than the amounts provided for in the coal operating contract and
these amounts shall not be less than the total obtained by multiplying the
number of coal blocks or fraction thereof covered by the contract by One
Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) per block annually: Provided, that if the area or
a portion thereof is suitable for open pit mining as determined jointly by the
operator and the Energy Development Board, the minimum expenditure
requirement herein provided may be reduced up to Two Hundred Thousand
Pesos (P200,000.00) per block annually. From the time coal reserves in
commercial quantity have been determined jointly by the operator and the
Energy Development Board, the operator shall undertake development and
production of the contract area within the period agreed upon in the contract
and shall be obliged to spend in the development and production of the
contract area an amount which shall be determined by negotiation between the
operator and the Energy Development Board taking into account factors such
as measured reserves, quality of coal, mining method and location and
accessibility to market: Provided, further, that if during any contract year the
operator shall spend more than the amount of money required to be spent, the
excess may be credited against the money required to be spent by the operator
during the succeeding years, except excess expenditures for exploration
cannot be credited against financial commitment for development and
production: Provided, further, that should the operator fail to comply with the
work obligations provided for in the coal operating contract, it shall pay to the
Government the amount it should have spent but did not in direct prosecution
of its work obligations: Provided, finally, that except in case of open pit
mining, the operator shall drill at least thirty (30) holes per blocks and a
minimum footage of exploratory holes before the end of the exploration
period as may be specified in the coal operating contract.
(b) The exploration period under every coal operating contract shall be for two (2)
years. If the operator has complied with its exploration work obligations, the
exploration period may be extended for another two (2) years. The coal

operating contract shall lapse unless coal of commercial quantity is measured

during the exploration period or at the end thereof in any area covered by the
coal operating contract. If coal of commercial quantity is measured, the coal
operating contract shall remain in force for development and production
during the balance of the exploration period and/or for an additional period
ranging from ten (10) to twenty (20) years, thereafter renewable for a series of
three (3)-year periods not exceeding twelve (12) years under such terms and
conditions as may be agreed upon by the parties.
(c) All materials, equipment, plants and other installations erected or placed on
the exploration and/or production area of a movable nature by the operator
shall become properties of the Energy Development Board if not removed
therefrom within one (1) year after the termination of the coal operating
contract.
(d) The operator shall be subject to the provisions of laws of general application
relating to labor, health, safety and ecology insofar as they are not in conflict
with the provisions otherwise contained in this Decree.
SECTION 12. Full Disclosure of Interest in Coal Operating Contract. Interest held in the
coal operating contract by domestic mining companies and/or the latter's stockholders
may be allowed to any extent after full disclosure thereof and approved by the Energy
Development Board.chan robles virtual law library
SECTION 13. Arbitration. The Energy Development Board may stipulate in a coal
operating contract executed under this Decree that disputes in the implementation thereof
between the Government and the operator may be settled by arbitration.
SECTION 14. Performance Guarantee. In order to guarantee compliance with the
obligations of the operator executed under this Decree, the operator shall post a bond or
other guarantee of sufficient amount in favor of the Government and with surety or
sureties satisfactory to the Energy Development Board, conditioned upon the faithful
performance by the operator of any or all of the obligations under and pursuant to said
coal operating contracts.chan robles virtual law library
SECTION 15. Transfer and Assignment. The rights and obligations under a coal
operating contract executed under this Decree shall not be transferred or assigned without
the prior approval of the Energy Development Board: Provided, that such transfer or
assignment may be made only to a qualified person possessing the resources and
capability to continue the mining operation of the coal operating contract and that the
operator has complied with all the obligations of the coal operating contract.
SECTION 16. Incentives to Operators. The provisions of any law to the contrary
notwithstanding, a contract executed under this Decree may provide that the operator
shall have the following incentives:

(a) Exemption from all taxes except income tax;

(b) Exemption from payment of tariff duties and compensating tax on importation of
machinery and equipment and spare parts and materials required for the coal
operations subject to the following conditions:chan robles virtual law library
(1) that machinery, equipment, spare parts and materials of comparable
price and quality are not manufactured in the Philippines;
(2) that the same are directly and actually needed and will be used
exclusively by the operator in its operations or in operation for it by a
contractor;
(3) that they are covered by shipping documents in the name of the
operator to whom the shipment will be delivered directly by the
customs authorities; and
(4) that prior approval of the Energy Development Board was obtained by
the operator before the importation of such machinery, equipment,
spare parts and materials, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld: Provided, however, that the operator or its contractor may
not sell, transfer, or dispose of the machinery, equipment, spare parts
and materials without the prior approval of the Energy Development
Board and payment of taxes and duties thereon: Provided, further, that
should the operator or its contractor sell, transfer, or dispose of these
machinery, equipment, spare parts or materials without the prior
approval of the Energy Development Board, it shall pay twice the
amount of the taxes and duties thereon: Provided, finally, that the
Energy Development Board shall allow and approved the sale, transfer
or disposition of the said items without tax if made:
(a) to another operator under a coal operating contract;
(b) for reasons of technical obsolescence; or
(c) for purposes of replacement to improve and/or expand the
operation under the coal operating contract.
(c) Accelerated Depreciation. At the option of the taxpayer and in accordance
with the procedures established by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, fixed
assets owned by the coal units in the performance of its coal operating
contract may be:
(1) Depreciated to the extent of not more than twice as fast as normal rate
of depreciation or depreciated at normal rate of depreciation if
expected life is ten (10) years or less; or

(2) Depreciated over any number of years between five (5) years and
expected life if the latter is more than ten (10) years, and the
depreciation thereon allowed as a deduction from taxable income:
Provided, that the taxpayer notifies the Bureau of Internal Revenue at
the beginning of the depreciation period which depreciation rate
allowed by this section will be used by it.
(d) Foreign Loans and Contracts. The right to remit at the prevailing exchange
rate at the time of remittance of such sum as may be necessary to cover
principal and interest of foreign loans and foreign obligations arising from
technological assistance contracts relating to the performance of the coal
operating contract, subject to Central Bank regulations.chan robles virtual law
library.
(e) Preference in Grant of Government Loans. Government financial institutions
such as the Development Bank of the Philippines, the Philippine National
Bank, the Government Service Insurance System, the Social Security System,
the Land Bank of the Philippines and other government institutions as are now
engaged or may hereafter engage in financing on investment operations shall,
in accordance with and to the extent allowed by the enabling provisions of
their respective charters or applicable laws, accord high priority to
applications for financial assistance submitted by operators in the performance
of coal operating contracts, whether such financial assistance be in the form of
equity participation in preferred, common or preferred convertible shares of
stock, or in loans and guarantee, and shall facilitate the processing thereof and
the release of the funds therefor. However, financial assistance under this
paragraph shall be extended only to operators which are Philippine nationals
as the term is defined under Republic Act No. 5186, as amended.
(f) Entry upon the sole approval of the Energy Development Board which shall
not be unreasonably withheld of alien technical and specialized personnel
(including the immediate members of their families) who may exercise their
profession only for the operation of the operator as prescribed in its coal
operating contract with the government under this Decree: Provided, that if
the employment or connection of any such alien with the operator ceases, the
applicable laws and regulations on immigration shall apply to him and his
immediate family: Provided, further, that Filipinos shall be given preference
to positions for which they have adequate training, and: Provided, finally, that
the operator shall adopt and implement a training program for Filipinos along
technical or specialized lines, which program shall be reported to the Energy
Development Board.
SECTION 17. Incentives to Coal Users. The following incentives shall be granted to
enterprises/industries which will convert their existing oil fired plants facilities to make
the same adaptable for coal burning:

(a) Tax Exemption on Imported Capital Equipment. Within seven (7) years from
the date of approval of the plan for conversion of existing oil fired plants and
facilities to make the same adaptable for coal burning, the importation of
machinery and equipment, and spare parts shipped with such machinery and
equipment necessary to implement their program of conversion shall not be
subject to tariff and customs duties and compensating tax: Provided, that said
machinery, equipment and spare parts are:
(1) Not manufactured in the Philippines in reasonable quantity and quality
at reasonable prices;
(2) Directly and actually needed and will be used exclusively in the
implementation of the conversion of existing plants to coal burning;
(3) Covered by shipping documents in the name of the enterprise to whom
the shipment will be delivered directly by customs authorities;
(4) Prior approval, before importation of such machinery, equipment and
spare parts was obtained. If imported machinery, equipment and spare
parts are sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of without the
required prior approval, the importer shall pay twice the amount of the
tax and duty thereon. However, the sale, transfer or disposition of the
said items shall be allowed and approved without tax and duty if made
to another company for use in:
(a) Converting its existing plants to coal burning subject to the
same conditions and limitations as herein provided;
(b) For reasons of technical obsolescence; or
(c) For replacement of equipment to improve and/or expand the
operations of the enterprise.
For replacement of modernization of existing facilities of subject
enterprises/industries which will be utilized partly or entirely in the
conversion of coal burning, in lieu of an exemption from payment of tariff
duties and taxes, it shall be granted deferment in the payment of such taxes
and duties for a period of not exceeding ten (10) years after posting the
appropriate bond as may be required by the Secretary of Finance.
(b) Tax Credit on Domestic Capital Equipment. Within seven (7) years from the
date of approval of the plan for conversion of existing oil fired plants, and
facilities to make the same adaptable for coal burning, a tax credit equivalent
to one hundred per cent (100%) of the value of the compensating tax and
customs duties that would have been paid on machinery, equipment and spare
parts necessary to implement the program of conversion had these items been

imported, shall be given to the industry with a program of conversion to coal

burning that purchases said machinery, equipment and spare parts from a
domestic manufacturer: Provided,
(1) That said machinery, equipment and spare parts are directly and
actually needed and will be used exclusively in the implementation of
the conversion of its existing plants to coal burning;
(2) That the prior approval was obtained for the purchase of the
machinery, equipment and spare parts. If the machinery, equipment
and spare parts are sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of without
the required prior government approval, the purchaser shall pay twice
the amount of the tax credit given to it. However, the sale, transfer or
disposition of the said items shall be allowed and approved without tax
if made:
(a) To another company for use in its approved program of
conversion to coal burning subject to the same conditions and
limitations as herein provided;
(b) For reasons of technical obsolescence; or
(c) For purposes of replacement to improve and/or expand the
operation of the enterprise.
(c) Net Operating Lose Carryover. A net operating loss incurred in any of the first
ten (10) years after the start of the implementation of the coal conversion
program may be carried over as a deduction from taxable income for the six
(6) years immediately following the year of such loss. The entire amount of
the loss shall be carried over to the first of the (6) taxable years following the
loss, and any portion of such loss which exceeds the taxable income of such
first year shall be deducted in like manner from the taxable income of the next
remaining five (5) years. The net operating loss shall be computed in
accordance with the provision of the National Internal Revenue Code, any
provision of this Decree to the contrary notwithstanding, except that income
not taxable either in whole or in part under this or other laws shall be included
in the gross income.
(d) Capital Gains Tax Exemption. Exemption from income tax on the proceeds of
the gains realized from the sale, disposition or transfer of capital assets which
are sold or disposed of as a result of the conversion of facilities to a coal
burning plant: Provided, that such sale, disposition or transfer are registered
with the Bureau of Internal Revenue: Provided, however, that the gains
realized from the subject sale, disposition or transfer of capital assets are
invested in new issues of capital stock of an enterprise registered under the
Investment Incentives Act, as amended, and other allied incentives laws:

Provided, further, that the shares of stock representing the investment are not
disposed of, transferred, assigned, or conveyed for a period of seven (7) years
from the date the investment was made: and, Provided, finally, that if such
shares of stock are disposed of within the said period of seven (7) years, all
taxes due on the gains realized from the original transfer, sale, or disposition
of the capital assets shall become immediately due and payable.chan robles
virtual law library
(e) Accelerated Depreciation. At the option of the taxpayer and in accordance
with the procedure established by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, fixed assets
used by the industry in carrying out the program of conversion to coal burning
may be:
(1) Depreciated to the extent of not more than twice as fast as normal rate
of depreciation or depreciated at normal rate of depreciation if
expected life is ten (10) years or less; or
(2) Depreciated over any number of years between five (5) years and
expected life if the latter is more than ten (10) years, and the
depreciation thereon allowed as a deduction from taxable income:
Provided, that the taxpayer notifies the Bureau of Internal Revenue at
the beginning of the depreciation period which depreciation rate
allowed by this section will be used by it.
(f) Foreign Loans and Contracts. The right to remit at the prevailing exchange
rate at the time of remittance such sum as may be necessary to cover interest
and principal of foreign loan and foreign obligations arising from
technological assistance contracts relating to the implementation of the
program of conversion to coal burning subject to Central Bank regulation.
(g) Preference in Grant of Government Loans. Government financial institutions
such as the Development Bank of the Philippines, the Philippine National
Bank, the Government Service Insurance System, the Social Security System,
the Land Bank of the Philippines and such other government institutions as
are now engaged or may hereafter engage in financing of investment
operations shall, in accordance with and to the extent allowed by the enabling
provisions of their respective charters or applicable laws, accord high priority
to application for financial assistance submitted by enterprises/industries
requiring funding to implement the program of conversion to coal burning,
whether such financial assistance be in the form of equity participation in
preferred, common or preferred convertible shares of stock, or in loans and
guarantee, and shall facilitate the processing thereof and the release of the
funds therefore; However, financial assistance shall be extended only under
this paragraph to industry converting to coal burning which is a Philippine
national as this term is defined under Republic Act No. 5186, as amended.

The foregoing incentives to enterprises/industries which will convert their

existing oil fired plants and facilities to make the same adaptable for coal
burning shall be administered and implemented by the Board of Investments
created under Republic Act No. 5186, also known as the Investment
Incentives Act, as amended. The Board of Investments shall have the power to
process and approved, under such terms and conditions as it may deem
necessary, plans for conversion to coal burning and applications for availment
of the foregoing incentives. It shall promulgate such rules and regulations as
may be necessary to implement the intent and provisions of this section.
SECTION 18. Implementing Agency. Except as otherwise provided in Section 17 hereof,
the Energy Development Board, created pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 910, in
addition to the powers, duties and functions under existing laws, shall be charged with
carrying out the provisions of this Decree and shall be vested with the authority to
promulgate rules and regulations implementing thereof.
SECTION 19. Separability Clause. Should any provision of this Decree be held
unconstitutional, no other provision hereof shall be affected thereby.
SECTION 20. Repealing Clause. The provisions of Presidential Decree No. 463,
otherwise known as the "Mineral Resources Development Decree of 1974" and other
laws insofar as they deal, relate or affect the exploration, exploitation and administration
of coal lands are hereby repealed. Furthermore, all laws, decrees, executive orders,
administrative orders, rules, and regulations, or parts thereof in conflict or inconsistent
with any provision of this Decree are hereby repealed, revoked, modified or amended
accordingly.
SECTION 21. Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect immediately upon approval.
Done in the City of Manila, this 28th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen
hundred and seventy-six.

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