Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 243)
The primary purpose of Act No. 243 is to grant the right to use public land upon the Luneta in the city of Manila to erect a statue of Jose Rizal, funded by public subscriptions, and to prescribe the method for collecting and disbursing such subscriptions.
The Municipal Board of the city of Manila, with the concurrence of the Advisory Board and the approval of the Civil Governor, is authorized to grant permission to the committee to erect the monument on Luneta.
The committee members named in the Act are Pascual Poblete, Paciano Rizal, Juan Tuason, Teodoro R. Yangco, Mariano Limjap, Maximino Paterno, Ramon Genato, Tomas G. del Rosario, and Dr. Ariston Bautista.
The committee shall elect a chairman and a secretary and certify its action to the Insular Auditor and the Insular Treasurer. Vacancies shall be filled by the committee with approval of the Civil Governor.
Subscriptions shall be collected by the committee or appointed agents, who must have receipt books from the Insular Treasury. They must give receipts, deposit money with the Insular Treasurer the next day, and provide a list of contributors to be made public weekly.
The Insular Treasurer receives deposits and issues special receipts countersigned by the Insular Auditor. The Insular Auditor keeps accounts of the funds, audits disbursements quarterly, and publishes a public report.
The funds may be used for the erection of the monument, including payment of collection agents, artists, sculptors, ceremonies, and incidental expenses.
No, members of the committee serve without compensation.
The committee may offer prizes for design proposals, employ competent artists and sculptors to select the design, and oversee ceremonies for laying the cornerstone and unveiling, subject to Civil Governor's approval.
Any surplus funds may be devoted by the committee to charitable, educational, or other public purposes as it deems proper.