[ Act No. 3871, November 13, 1931 ]

AN ACT EMPOWERING THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AND COMMUNICATIONS TO WORK OUT A PLAN OF CONSOLIDATION OR ANY ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENT OF COORDINATION OF THE DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS OR SERVICES, AND APPROPRIATING FORTY THOUSAND PESOS FOR EXPENSES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH AND TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND FORTY PESOS FOR THE TEMPORARY OPERATION BY THE BUREAU OF POSTS OF ITS ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Legislature assembled and by the authority of the same:SECTION 1. The Secretary of Commerce and Communications is hereby empowered to make the necessary negotiations with the various entities and interests concerned, for the purpose of working out a plan to be submitted to the Philippine Legislature, whereby the existing electrical communication systems in the Philippine Islands may be consolidated into a single unit to be operated by a new entity, which shall be either under private management subject to the Government regulation and supervision, or under a semi-governmental form of organization free from the restrictions which are generally imposed on Bureaus and Offices of the Government: Provided, That in the event the entities and interests concerned shall be unable to reach a satisfactory agreement for the consolidation of their respective systems and services, the Secretary of Commerce and Communications shall work out any other plan or alternative arrangement, whereby some form of coordination of the various services may be effected: Provided, further, That any preliminary agreement which may be entered into by the Secretary of Commerce and Communications shall have no binding effect until or unless the same shall have been ratified and approved by the Philippine Legislature.SEC. 2. In the negotiations, the provincial and municipal or city governments shall be represented by any official or officials designated for the purpose by the Secretary of the Interior.SEC. 3. To enable the Secretary of Commerce and Communications to perform the duties imposed upon him by this Act, the sum of forty thousand pesos, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the Insular Treasury, to be expended at his discretion for salaries, per diems and traveling expenses of valuation experts, technical assistants and other personnel who may be employed by him and for such other expenses as may be necessary in connection with any work to be done under this Act: Provided, however, That the money hereby appropriated will only be spent in the event that the entities and interests concerned are able to reach a satisfactory arrangement for the consolidation of their respective systems and services, as provided for in section one hereof.SEC. 4. The Secretary of Commerce and Communications shall submit to the Legislature on or before October first, nineteen hundred and thirty-two, the plan of consolidation or other arrangement of coordination which may be agreed upon. In case no agreement shall have been arrived at, a report on the status of the negotiations shall be submitted by him on that date.SEC. 5. In order that the Bureau of Posts may continue temporarily in charge of the administration, operation, maintenance, and repair of the radio stations and the radio and telegraph service in Manila. Cebu, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Davao, Cagayan (Misamis), Tacloban, Aparri, and Laoag, from January first to December thirty-first, nineteen hundred and thirty-two, the sum of two hundred and forty-five thousand nine hundred forty pesos, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated, out of any general funds in the Insular Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be disbursed by the Director of Posts, with the approval of the Secretary of Commerce and Communications, for the following purposes:

Item	1. Two engineers	P10,000.00
Item	2. Two chief operators	7,200.00
Item	3. One chief operator	3,000.00
Item	4. Six chief operators	14,400.00
Item	5. Three assistant chief operators	6,600.00
Item	6. Thirteen operators	23,400.00
Item	7. Fifty-three operators	76,320.00
Item	8. Two technical operators	6,000.00
Item	9. Two technical operators	4,800.00
Item	10. One technical operator	1,320.00
Item	11. Nine operators	8,640.00
Item	12. Three engine men or operators	2,520.00
Item	13. One engine man or operator	720.00
Item	14. One clerk or operator	2,000.00
Item	15. Two clerks or operators	3,120.00
Item	16. Two clerks or operators	2,880.00
Item	17. One clerk or operator	840.00
Item	18. Sixteen clerks or operators	11,520.00
Item	19. Twelve clerks or operators	7,200.00
Item	20. Nine messengers (motorcycle)	7,560.00
Item	21. Thirty-six messengers	15,120.00
Item	22. Twenty-five messengers	9,000.00
Item	23. Four janitors or messengers	1,440.00
Item	24. Three watchmen or messengers	1,440.00
Item	25. For miscellaneous expenses, including clothing and footwear allowances for messengers, not to exceed P30 each	18,900.00
		--------------
	Total	P245,940.00

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect on its approval.Approved. November 13, 1931.

Source: Supreme Court E-Library