REPUBLIC ACT NO. 143, June 14, 1947

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 143, June 14, 1947 ]

AN ACT APPROPRIATING TWENTY-FIVE MILLION PESOS FOR PUBLIC WORKS

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

SECTION 1. The following sums, or so much thereof as may be necessary, are appropriated out of the General Funds, in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be at the disposal of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications and subject to the provisions hereinafter set forth, for the purposes mentioned hereunder:

A. MISCELLANEOUS

(a) For the investigation, survey, construction, reconstruction, repair, improvement, extension, and completion of public works projects, including the purchase of school sites in provinces, chartered cities, and municipalities, to be distributed among the Representative Districts

P12,500,000.00

B. PUBLIC BUILDINGS

(b) For the maintenance, alteration, reconstruction and repair of national public buildings and monuments, including necessary repairs and alterations of private buildings and lots rented by the National Government, and upkeep of adjacent grounds, and of the mausoleum of Filipino heroes and martyrs at the "Cementerio del Norte" of the City of Manila, in an amount not to exceed P200, including the purchase of necessary supplies, materials and equipment

3,700,000.00

C. HIGHWAYS

(c) For aid for the construction, repair, reconstruction, and improvement of provincial and city roads and bridges, including the purchase of necessary supplies, materials and equipment

500,000.00

D. SANITATION

(d) For the construction, repair or reconstruction of national, provincial, city and municipal hospitals, dispensaries and maternities 800,000.00

(e) For aid in the construction, reconstruction, repair and improvement of artesian and draft-pump wells, reconditioning and/ or repair of drilling machines, maintenance of well drilling tools and equipment, including the purchase of necessary supplies, materials and equipment 400,000.00

(f) For aid in the investigation, survey, construction, repair, reconstruction, extension and improvement of water supply systems, including the purchase of necessary supplies, materials and equipment

375,000.00

E. FLOOD CONTROL AND DRAINAGE

(g) For the investigation, survey, construction, reconstruction, repair and improvement of river control and drainage works, including the purchase of necessary supplies, materials, and equipment

600,000.00

F. IRRIGATION

(h) For the investigation, survey, construction, reconstruction, repair and improvement of irrigation systems, including the purchase of necessary supplies, materials and equipment

800,000.00

G. INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS

(i) For the investigation, survey, construction, repair and completion of sea protection works, including the purchase of necessary supplies, materials and equipment 250,000.00

(j) For the investigation, survey and adjudication of water rights, including the purchase of necessary supplies, materials and equipment 25,000.00

(k) For making hydrographic investigation in connection with the study of water supply, irrigation, water power and river control projects, including the purchase of necessary supplies, materials and equipment 50,000.00

H. AIRFIELDS

(l) For the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of airfields for commercial aviation 4,000,000.00

Total appropriated from General Funds

P24,000,000.00

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SEC. 2. The following sums, or so much thereof as may be necessary, are hereby appropriated out of the "Port Works Fund" under Act Numbered Three thousand and ninety-two, as amended by Commonwealth Act Numbered one hundred and thirty, not otherwise appropriated, to be at the disposal of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, and subject to the provisions hereinafter set forth for the purposes mentioned hereunder:

(a) For the reconstruction and improvement of national ports including the purchase of necessary supplies, materials and equipment 500,000.00

(b) For the reconstruction and improvement of lighthouses and other aids to navigation, including the purchase of necessary supplies, materials and equipment 300,000.00

(c) For aid in the reconstruction and improvement of municipal ports, including the purchase of necessary supplies, materials and equipment

200,000.00

Total appropriated from Port Works Fund P1,000,000.00

Grand total appropriated in this Act, Twenty-five Million Pesos P25,000,000.00

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SEC. 3. No amount appropriated in this Act shall be set up in the books of the General Auditing Office or otherwise made available for expenditure unless previously authorized by the President of the Philippines.

SEC. 4. The President of the Philippines is authorized to suspend or otherwise stop the expenditures of any amount herein appropriated for any purpose, or any portion thereof, whenever in his opinion the public interest so requires, or when funds shall not be available for the purpose, and thereupon the funds affected by such action shall become available for any other public works expenditure authorized herein as the President may determine.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 14, 1947.