An Act for the Purpose of Establishing a Public Welfare Board for the Philippine Islands, and Defining its Powers, Functions, and Duties

February 5, 1915

ACT NO. 2510

AN ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC WELFARE BOARD FOR THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AND DEFINING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS, AND DUTIES

SECTION 1. There is hereby created, within the powers and limitations hereinafter specified a Board, which shall be known as the Public Welfare Board for the Philippine Islands. cTDaEH

SECTION 2. The purpose of said Board shall be to coordinate, as far as possible and practicable, the efforts of all Government agencies and influences interested in public welfare or social service work, and of such private agencies or organizations as receive Government support for similar ends, to secure as far as possible a wise expenditure of all Government funds appropriated for charity and all public welfare purposes; to promote the organization of private institutions for charitable purposes, and to investigate social conditions in the Philippine Islands with a view to relief where necessary.

SECTION 3. The Public Welfare Board shall be comprised of the Secretary of Public Instruction who shall be ex officio chairman of the Board, the Secretary of the Interior, the Executive Secretary, the Director of Health, the Director of Education, the Director of Prisons, the dean of the College of Medicine and Surgery of the University of the Philippines, the chairman of the Committee of Public Health of the Philippine Assembly, and five additional members to be designated by the Governor-General. The appointive members of the Public Welfare Board shall hold office for a term of two years. In case of a vacancy, such vacancy shall be filled by designation by the Secretary of Public Instruction, and such appointee shall hold office for the unexpired term. All members of the Public Welfare Board shall be citizens of the Philippine Islands or of the United States, and residents of the Philippine Islands, and shall serve without compensation.

SECTION 4. The Public Welfare Board shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To receive and appropriate such sums or properties as may be provided by law or raised through public contribution for general charity and public welfare.

(b) To maintain an office in the city of Manila for the conduct of the business of the Public Welfare Board, for the investigation of social conditions, and the dissemination of publications tending to promote the betterment thereof. aETADI

(c) To be an advisory committee to the Secretary of Public Instruction in all matters pertaining to public charity.

(d) To establish and maintain, within the provisions of existing law, social centers and other agencies for the public welfare in such places as the Board may determine, and to expend for the support of the same such sums as may be provided by public contribution.

(e) To appoint and organize committees of citizens to help the Board in its work and to coordinate public and private efforts for public welfare and social service.

SECTION 5. A quorum of the Board shall consist of a majority of all the members holding office at the time the meeting of the Board is called.

SECTION 6. There shall be a secretary of the Public Welfare Board, who shall be elected by the Board and who may be either an employee of the Insular Government without additional compensation or a person employed and paid by any private charity or charities. He shall keep such records as may be designated by the Board.

SECTION 7. The Treasurer of the Philippine Islands shall be ex officio treasurer of the Public Welfare Board, and all such accounts and expenses thereof shall be audited by the Insular Auditor, and all disbursements shall be made in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by him.

SECTION 8. Heads of Bureaus and Offices of the Insular Government are hereby authorized to loan or transfer such supplies as may be needed by the Board, and to detail employees for duty therein, when in the judgment of the head of the Bureau or Office such supplies or employees can be spared without any detriment to the public service. Employees so detailed shall perform such duty as is required under such detail, and the time so employed shall count as part of their regular official service.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect on its passage.

Enacted, February 5, 1915.