Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 307)
The purpose of Act No. 307 is to provide for the establishment of provincial boards of health in the Philippine Islands and to fix their powers and duties.
Each provincial board of health consists of a president who is a duly qualified physician; the president of the municipal board of health of the capital of the province; the provincial supervisor; and the provincial secretary who acts as secretary of the board. An honorary and consulting member can also be appointed from the senior medical officer of the Army or Navy at the provincial capital, and the provincial fiscal serves as the legal adviser.
The president of each provincial board of health shall be appointed by the Civil Governor of the Philippine Islands, with the advice and consent of the Commission.
Salaries are fixed by the Commissioner of Public Health with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior and paid in US dollars monthly, with specific maximum annual limits depending on the province.
The board has general supervision over the health and sanitary condition of the province, including the health of domestic animals; control over municipal boards of health; prosecution of sanitary law violations; enforcement of Board of Health regulations; and appointment of sanitary inspectors during epidemics or as necessary.
The president is the chief executive officer who exercises supervision and control over the board's work. In emergencies where a quorum cannot be obtained, the president may exercise the board's powers but must report such actions for ratification as soon as possible.
The provincial fiscal investigates causes of suspicious sudden deaths, can demand aid from the president of the provincial board of health for investigations or autopsies, and acts as the legal adviser to the board.
The president of the municipal board of health of the capital of the province temporarily discharges the president's duties.
The provincial supervisor acts as both the sanitary inspector and sanitary engineer for the board.
The secretary keeps the records, compiles statistics, and provides clerical assistance related to the legitimate work of the board as directed.