Question & AnswerQ&A (HDMF CIRCULAR NO. 348)
The main purpose of Act No. 85 is to extend the provisions of the Provincial Government Act to the Province of Pampanga, thereby governing the establishment of a provincial government in Pampanga with specific exceptions, modifications, and supplementary provisions.
The provisions extended are those of the general Act for the organization of provincial governments in the Philippine Islands enacted on February 6, 1901.
The compensations are as follows: Provincial Governor - $1,600; Provincial Secretary - $1,000; Provincial Treasurer - $2,400; Provincial Supervisor - $1,800; Provincial Fiscal - $1,350, all payable monthly.
Salaries are payable monthly, with one-twelfth of the annual salary paid on the last day of each calendar month.
Each provincial officer is allowed necessary and actual traveling expenses not exceeding two dollars per day while absent on official business from the provincial capital, subject to approval by the provincial board and the Insular Treasurer.
The bond of the provincial treasurer shall be ten thousand dollars until March 1, 1902, after which it may be increased based on the probable increase of public funds under his custody.
The bond secures accountability for internal-revenue collections, municipal taxes, provincial taxes, and Central Government taxes collected by the provincial treasurer.
If a military officer is detailed to a provincial office by the Military Governor, no bond is required, and no salary shall be paid until after July 1, 1901.
The provincial board can collaborate with the provincial board of Tarlac and the manager of the Manila and Dagupan Railroad to employ engineers to plan protection against floods in rivers affecting both provinces and the railroad infrastructure, with expenditure not exceeding one thousand dollars for preliminary work.
They meet quarterly on the third Monday of January, April, July, and October to discuss provincial improvements and make recommendations to the provincial board.
The provincial secretary calls the convention, acts as its secretary, and certifies its recommendations to the provincial board.
The capital of the Province of Pampanga is the town of Bacolor.
The Act took effect upon its passage on February 13, 1901.