REPUBLIC ACT NO. 977 - AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE TO ACCEPT DONATIONS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF ARTESIAN WELLS OR OTHER DRINKING WATER SOURCES ANYWHERE IN THE PHILIPPINES AND PROVIDING FOR THE PROPER USE OF SUCH DONATIONS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. The President or his representative is authorized to accept from any person, association, corporation, or government, all donations to the Republic of the Philippines for the construction, repair and maintenance of artesian wells or similar devices anywhere in the Philippines, including the development of spring sources into small gravity systems, and to sign all necessary papers in connection therewith on behalf of the Republic.

SEC. 2. All cash donations made and received under this Act shall be accounted for and audited strictly in accordance with existing laws and shall be deposited in the National Treasury to form a special trust fund to be known as the "Artesian Well Fund". No part of this fund shall be disbursed, used or expended except for the construction of artesian wells and other drinking water sources anywhere in the Philippines, in accordance with appropriations as may be provided by law and existing regulations.

SEC. 3. All other kinds of donations made and received under this Act shall be inventoried, audited and accounted for strictly in accordance with existing laws: Provided, however, That property donated which cannot be directly used for the construction of artesian wells and other drinking water sources shall be sold at public auction, under the supervision of the General Auditing Office, to the highest bidder after advertising the same for not less than sixty days by printed notice in the Official Gazette and by notices conspicuously posted for a like period in at least four public places in the community where the articles or property are located and to be sold, and the proceeds of such sale shall be deposited in the National Treasury to form part of the Artesian Well Fund.

SEC. 4. The President of the Philippines shall issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SEC. 5. Donors under this Act shall be allowed to include such donations as deductions in their income tax returns.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Enacted, without Executive approval, May 5, 1954.