Article 2.

Laws shall take effect after fifteen days following the completion of their
publication in the Official Gazette, unless it is otherwise provided. The Code shall take effect one
year after such publication.

Article 2 of the Civil Code was amended by Executive Order200.

The law shall take effect on the 16
th
day because in counting theperiod, the first day is excluded
and the last day is included.(Article 13 of Civil Code).

Exception: When the law provides for its own date of effectivity, less or greater
than 15 days after publication.
Publication is MANDATORY. (Even if the law provides for its own date of effectivity)
Publication must be in full (otherwise it is not deemed published at all) since its
PURPOSE is to inform the public in all its contents.
Effect of publication: The people are deemed to have conclusively been notified of the law
even if they have not read them.

Who are covered by publication requirement? (PLACCCE)
P=Presidential decrees
L=Laws which refer to all statutes, including local and private laws
A= Administrative rules and regulations where purpose is to enforce/ implement existing
law pursuant to a valid delegation.
C=Charter of a city
C=Circulars issued by the Monetary Board where purpose is not merely to interpret but
to fill in the details of the Central Bank Act.
C=Circulars and Regulations which prescribe a penalty for its violation
E=Executive Orders

Who are NOT covered by the publication requirement? (ILM)

I=Interpretative regulations and those administrative regulations internal in nature.
L=Letters of Instructions
M=Municipal Ordinances (because they are covered by the Local Government Code)


Article 3. Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliancetherewith.

Ignorantia juris neminem exusat / Ignorantia legis nonexcusat

The conclusive presumption is that every person is presumed toknow the law even if they have
no actual knowledge of the law.

It applies only to mandatoryand prohibitory laws
It does not apply to foreign/ international laws because there is no judicial notice of such
foreign laws; it must be proved like any other matter of fact. (Ching Huat v.Co Geong L-
1211, Jan. 30, 1947)

Note: Mistakes in the application or interpretation of difficult or doubtful provisions of law may
be the basis of good faith and has been given the same effect as a mistake of fact , which may
excuse one from the legal consequences of his conduct. (Article 526, 2155 of the NCC)