Reclamation of Land in Manila Harbor for the United States of America

November 8, 1935

ACT NO. 4269

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE AND PROVIDE FOR THE RECLAMATION OF A CERTAIN AREA OF LAND IN MANILA HARBOR FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO BE USED AS A SITE FOR THE RESIDENCE AND OFFICES OF THE UNITED STATES HIGH COMMISSIONER AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. In order to provide a site in the City of Manila for residence and offices of the United States High Commissioner to the Philippine Islands or of the United States Ambassador and other representatives to the Philippine Islands after the inauguration of the Philippine Republic as the United States Government may deem necessary or proper, reclamation is hereby authorized of a certain area of land in Manila Harbor generally two hundred meters in width adjoining and extending along Dewey Boulevard for a distance of four hundred forty-two meters from the southeasterly line of those certain parcels of land on the Luneta extension now owned and occupied by the Army and Navy Club and Manila Lodge Number 761 of the Benevolent and Protective order of Elks of the United States of America under certificates of title No. 9332 and No. 2195, respectively, of the land records of the City of Manila, the said area to be filled and reclaimed hereunder containing 88,553 square meters more or less, being situated in the District of Ermita, City of Manila, Island of Luzon, and along the southwesterly line of Dewey Boulevard as fixed and established by a certain Plan or Survey on file in the Bureau of Lands bearing number SH-21 certified October 27, 1913, by the Director of Lands.

The said premises are more particularly described as follows according to a survey or plan of the said premises showing location and metes and bounds, heretofore made on August 29 and September 4, 1935, by Marcial Zamora, Public Land Surveyor, entitled "Plan of Property as surveyed for the office and residence site of High Commissioner," approved at Manila, P. I., September 6, 1935, by Jose P. Dans, Assistant Director of Lands, for and in the absence of the Director of Lands, being an original survey of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Bureau of Lands, bearing No. S.W.O. 14186 of the Bureau of Lands, which shall be kept on file in the Bureau of Lands, to wit:

Beginning at point marked 1 on plan Swo-14186, S. 36º 27' W. 255.40 m. more or less from F. Hyd. No. 146, and S. 64º 00' W. 425.31 m. more or less from B. L. L. M. No. 48, Manila Cadastre; thence S. 28º 55' E. 192.00 m. to point 2; thence S. 28º 55' E. 200.00 m. to point 3; thence S. 27º 37' E. 50.00 m. to point 4; thence S. 60º 13' 30" W. 200.38 m. to point 5; thence N. 27' 37' W. 50.00 m. to point 6; thence N. 28º 55' W. 200.00 m. to point 7; thence N. 28º 55' W. 192.00 m. to point 8; thence N. 60º 13' 30" E. 139.38 m. to point 9; thence N. 60º 13' 29" E. 61.00 m. to the point of beginning; containing an area of eighty-eight thousand five hundred fifty-three square meters (88,553), more or less. All points referred to are indicated on the plan; and on the ground, point "1" is marked by Old. P. L. S. Conc. Mon.; points "2," "3," and "4," by B. L. Cons.; point "8," by cross on concrete Approach of Pier; point "9," by Old Cor.; and points "5," "6," and "7," are not marked;

Bounded on the northeast by Dewey Boulevard; on the southeast and southwest by Manila Bay; and on the northwest by properties of Army and Navy Club (Block No. 321) and Elk's Club (Block No. 321).

Bearings true, declination variable.

Points referred to marked on plan Swo-14186.

Surveyed August 29 and September 4, 1935.

Approved September 6, 1935.

NOTE. — This is lot No. 2, additional lot of Manila Cadastre.

No. 13, Case No. 61 (Block No. 321).

SECTION 2. Existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding, the absolute ownership and title of the United States of America in and to the whole of the said area or premises and are hereby recognized and confirmed on the terms and conditions herein stated, together with any and all riparian or southeasterly line of those certain parcels of land on the Luneta extension now owned and occupied by the Army and Navy Club and Manila Lodge Number 761 of the Benevolent and Protective order of Elks of the United States of America under certificates of title No. 9332 and No. 2195, respectively, of the land records of the City of Manila, the said area to be filled and reclaimed hereunder containing 88,553 square meters more or less, being situated in the District of Ermita, City of Manila, Island of Luzon, and along the southwesterly line of Dewey Boulevard as fixed and established by a certain Plan or Survey on file in the Bureau of Lands bearing number SH-21 certified October 27, 1913, by the Director of Lands.

The said premises are more particularly described as follows according to a survey or plan of the said premises showing location and metes and bounds, heretofore made on August 29 and September 4, 1935, by Marcial Zamora, Public Land Surveyor, entitled "Plan of Property as surveyed for the office and residence site of High Commissioner," approved at Manila, P. I., September 6, 1935, by Jose P. Dans, Assistant Director of Lands, for and in the absence of the Director of Lands, being an original survey of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Bureau of Lands, bearing No. S.W.O. 14186 of the Bureau of Lands, which shall be kept on file in the Bureau of Lands, to wit:

Beginning at point marked 1 on plan Swo-14186, S. 36º 27' W. 255.40 m. more or less from F. Hyd. No. 146, and S. 64º 00' W. 425.31 m. more or less from B. L. L. M. No. 48, Manila Cadastre; thence S. 28º 55' E. 192.00 m. to point 2; thence S. 28º 55' E. 200.00 m. to point 3; thence S. 27º 37' E. 50.00 m. to point 4; thence S. 60º 13' 30" W. 200.38 m. to point 5; thence N. 27º 37' W. 50.00 m. to point 6; thence N. 28º 55' W. 200.00 m. to point 7; thence N. 28º 55' W. 192.00 m. to point 8; thence N. 60º 13' 30" E. 139.38 m. to point 9; thence N. 60º 13' 29" E. 61.00 m. to the point of beginning; containing an area of eighty-eight thousand five hundred fifty-three square meters (88,553), more or less. All points referred to are indicated on the plan; and on the ground, point "1" is marked by Old. P. L. S. Conc. Mon.; points "2," "3," and "4," by B. L. Cons.; point "8," by cross on concrete Approach of Pier; point "9," by Old Cor.; and points "5," "6," and "7," are not marked;

Bounded on the northeast by Dewey Boulevard; on the southeast and southwest by Manila Bay; and on the northwest by properties of Army and Navy Club (Block No. 321) and Elk's Club (Block No. 321).

Bearings true, declination variable.

Points referred to marked on plan Swo-14186.

Surveyed August 29 and September 4, 1935.

Approved September 6, 1935.

NOTE. — This is lot No. 2, additional lot of Manila Cadastre.

No. 13, Case No. 61 (Block No. 321).

SECTION 2. Existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding, the absolute ownership and title of the United States of America in and to the whole of the said area or premises are hereby recognized and confirmed on the terms and conditions herein stated, together with any and all riparian or littoral rights thereto appertaining. To the United States of America is hereby granted the right of constructing and maintaining a small boat landing adjacent to the aforesaid area or premises.

SECTION 3. The confirmation and grant herein made and the conditions accompanying it shall be effective and binding when approved and accepted on behalf of the United States of America by the President thereof, and shall not hereafter be altered, amended, or revoked without the consent of the United States of America through its duly authorized representative.

SECTION 4. In furtherance of this confirmation and grant, the Governor-General is hereby authorized and empowered to execute a patent in favor of the United States of America, and cause such patent to be recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds for the City of Manila, and a Torrens title for the said property shall forthwith be issued by the Register of Deeds of the City of Manila in the name of the United States of America pursuant to the provisions of this Act and to the provisions of section one hundred and twenty-two of Act Numbered Four hundred and ninety-six of the Philippine Commission so far as compatible herewith. No fee shall be charged for such registration.

SECTION 5. The United States of America shall not be required to pay any taxes, assessments, or other levies on the said land or any improvements placed thereon, either to the Government of the Philippine Islands, as now or hereafter constituted, or to any subdivision thereof.

SECTION 6. Upon request of the proper authority of the United States of America, and in manner and quantity satisfactory to such authority for the purposes herein stated and provided, the Secretary of Public Works and Communications is hereby authorized to provide and arrange for deposit within said reclamation area of dredge spoil incidental to the maintenance of the port of Manila free of charge.

SECTION 7. When this Act shall have been approved by the President of the United States as provided in section nine of the Act of Congress of August twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, such fact shall be made known by proclamation by the Governor-General of the Philippine Islands, and this Act shall take effect on the date of such proclamation. 1

Approved, November 8, 1935.

Footnotes

1. Declared in force by Proclamation No. 863 (1935). See Appendix, p. 339, post.