Statute
Civil Code
Article
Art. 1959
Topic
Simple Loan or Mutuum
Status
In force, as amended
Book
BOOK IV Obligations and Contracts
Title
TITLE XI LOAN General Provisions
Chapter
CHAPTER 2 Simple Loan or Mutuum
Year
1949
Cited by
Multiple Supreme Court decisions

The provision

Without prejudice to the provisions of article 2212, interest due and unpaid shall not earn interest. However, the contracting parties may by stipulation capitalize the interest due and unpaid, which as added principal, shall earn new interest. (n)

Intellegal Wiki · In plain terms

As a rule, interest that is already due but unpaid does not itself earn further interest, except in the situations the law otherwise allows. However, the parties may agree to add the unpaid interest to the principal (capitalize it), and that combined amount then earns new interest.

An editorially maintained plain-language explanation of this provision — not legal advice.

Note on current application: this provision remains in force. The interest-rate ceilings of the Usury Law were suspended by Central Bank Circular No. 905 (1982), so there is no fixed statutory ceiling; Philippine courts may still reduce interest rates found to be unconscionable or iniquitous.

Cases applying this article

Related provisions in this Chapter

Civil Code, Art. 1959 is found in CHAPTER 2 Simple Loan or Mutuum of TITLE XI LOAN General Provisions of BOOK IV Obligations and Contracts of the Civil Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 386).

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Reviewed by the Intellegal Legal Team for currency against amending laws and Supreme Court jurisprudence.

Research aid — not legal advice. Verify the current text against the Official Gazette. Provisions may have been amended or repealed. Using this page creates no attorney-client relationship. For legal advice, consult a Philippine lawyer.