84 371 dated October 2, 1996, are deemed abolished and shall cease to exist as of the date of the approval of this Organic Act in the said plebiscites. If this Organic Act is rejected in the said plebiscites, the aforementioned bodies shall continue to exist only in the four (4) provinces constituting the present ARMM and in the provinces and cities that opt to join the expanded autonomous region until abolished by law. SEC. 17. Separability Clause. – The provisions of this Organic Act are hereby declared to be separate and in the event one or more of such provisions are held unconstitutional, the validity of other provisions shall not be affected thereby. SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Organic Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. SEC. 19. Effectivity Clause. – This Organic Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation and one (1) local newspaper of general circulation in the autonomous region. Lapsed into law on March 31, 2001 without the President's signature, pursuant to Sec. 27(1), Article VI of the Constitution.