Act No. 126 Extending the Provisions of the Provisional Government Act to Batangas, 1901
In 1901, the fledgling United States colonial government in the Philippine Islands extended the provisions of the Provisional Government Act to the Province of Batangas. This was done through Act Number 1261 of the Philippine Commission, the contents of which are provided below:
AN ACT extending the provisions of “the Provisional Government act" to the province of Batangas.
By authority of the President of the United States, be it enacted by the United States Philippine Commission, that:“
SECTION 1. All the provisions of an act entitled “A General Act for the Organization of Provincial Governments in the Philippine Islands, enacted February 6, 1901, shall apply to and govern the establishment of a provincial government in that territoru in the island of Luzon and small adjoining islands, known as the province of Batangas, with such exceptions, modifications and supplementary provisions as are hereinafter contained.
SEC. 2. The compensation to be paid provincial officers of the province of Batangas shall be at the following rate per year, money of the United States:
For the Provincial Governor, two thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars ($2,250);
For the Provincial Secretary, one thousand, five hundred dollars ($1,500);
For the Provincial Treasurer, two thousand, five hundred dollars ($2,500);
Per the Provincial Supervisor, two thousand dollars ($2,000);
For the Provincial Fisca], one thousand, five hundred dollars ($1,500).The salary of provincial officers shall be payable monthly so that one twelfth (1/12) of the annual salary shall be paid on the last day of each calendar month.
Each provincial officer shall be allowed his necessary and actual traveling expenses, not exceeding two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) per day, while absent from the capital of the province on official business. The allowance shall be made by the Provincial Board upon the certificate of the officer that the travel was necessary for public business, and shall not be paid until the account, accompanic by the resolution of the Board approving the same, shall be forwarded to the Insular Treasurer and b him approved.
SEC. 3. The bond of the Provincial Treasurer shall he twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), until the first day of March, 1902, when, in view of the collection of the land tax, the Commission may require a new bond or an additional bond to cover the probable increase of the funds of which the Provincial Treasurer shall have custody at any one time. The bond to be given shall be conditioned to secure on the part of the Provincial Treasurer that he shall account for the internal revenue collections coming into his hands as Internal Revenue Collector; the taxes collected by him for each municipality; for the rovince and for the Central Government. The form of the bond shall be prescribed by the Insular Treasurer. If, upon the request of the Commission, the Military Governor shall detail any military officer to fill a provincial office, no bond shall he required of him and no salary shall be paid him until after July 1, 1901.
SEC. 4. The presidentes or alcaldes of the municipalities of the province shall meet on the third Monday in January, April, July and October to consider improvements needed in the province and for the provincial government, and to make recommendations to the Provincial Board. The convention shall be called together by the Provincial Secretary, and shall elect a chairman for each quarter’s session. The Provincial Secretary shall act as secretary of the convention, and shall certify its recommendations to the Provincial Board.
SEC. 5. The capital of the province shall be, as formerly, at the town of Batangas.
SEC. 6. The oath of office may be administered to provincial officers by a member of the Commission, by the Provincial Governor, by a judicial officer having jurisdiction in the province or by any oflicer of the United States Arm stationed in the province.
SEC. 7. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Enacted, May 2, 1901.