Tuberculosis Commission

November 24, 1930

ACT NO. 3743

AN ACT CREATING A TUBERCULOSIS COMMISSION, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND DUTIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. There is hereby created a Tuberculosis Commission composed of seven members to be appointed by the Governor-General by and with the consent of the Philippine Senate, for the purpose of undertaking an effective campaign against tuberculosis in the Philippine Islands. This Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To make a survey and study of tuberculosis conditions in the Philippine Islands with a view to providing effective means for its prevention, treatment and cure;

(b) To make and adopt plans for the scientific investigation and study of the problems of tuberculosis, including the selection of the proper site or sites for sanatorium purposes in the Philippine Islands, and for the effective and practical program of attack on tuberculosis;

(c) To raise funds from private sources by soliciting contributions through social and civic organizations: Provided, That funds raised from this source shall be spent only in the localities where they were raised;

(d) To promote, organize, coordinate, inspect, and regulate all activities related to tuberculosis in the Philippine Islands. The Commission may establish and help maintain institutions and agencies for the prevention, treatment and cure of tuberculosis;

(e) To institute nutrition classes with the help and assistance of the school authorities and to organize health crusaders among school children;

(f) With the approval of the corresponding head of department, to require the help and assistance of any officer or employee of the insular, provincial, or municipal government in carrying out the purposes of this Act; and

(g) To give technical advice to any province or municipality wishing to establish a preventorium or outdoor camp whenever the provincial board of the province or the municipal council of the municipality concerned can set aside the necessary appropriation for the maintenance and operation of the same.

SECTION 2. The Commission shall submit to the Governor-General and the Philippine Legislature a report of its activities from year to year together with its recommendation for the proper carrying into effect the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. To carry out the provisions of this Act, there is hereby appropriated the sum of two hundred thousand pesos from any fund in the Insular Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended by the Tuberculosis Commission, with the approval of the Governor-General.

SECTION 4. The Commission, with the approval of the Governor-General, is hereby authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of the technical and administrative personnel that may be needed in carrying out the provisions of this Act: Provided, That the amount herein appropriated cannot be expended to increase the salary of any employee of the Government of the Philippine Islands whose salary has been provided for in the Appropriation Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on its approval.

Approved, November 24, 1930.