Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 453)
The Act is titled 'Act No. 453,' and it was enacted on September 2, 1902.
The Department of Public Instruction has the general direction over the publication of the Official Gazette.
The sum of two thousand dollars in local currency is appropriated to cover the expenses for the publication during the remainder of the present quarter of the fiscal year 1903.
The editor is appointed by the Civil Governor with the consent of the Philippine Commission.
The editor's salary is one thousand eight hundred dollars per annum, payable in United States currency.
The editor's duties include receiving and preparing laws, orders, and other public documents for publication; receiving subscriptions; collecting subscription payments; distributing the Gazette; publishing a biannual index; and performing other related tasks as directed by the Secretary of Public Instruction.
The editor can appoint two clerks, each of whom can receive compensation not exceeding six hundred dollars per annum.
The Official Gazette is published weekly in two parts: one in English and the other in Spanish. Each part is issued separately.
The Gazette must include all legislative acts, resolutions of a public nature by the Insular Legislature, executive orders, decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Customs Appeals or their abstracts, and other official documents designated by the Secretary of Public Instruction or recommended by the editor and approved by the Secretary.
Subscriptions are sold at six dollars per year, payable in advance, and single copies are sold at fifteen cents each in United States currency.
Yes, each provincial and municipal government must subscribe to one copy paid from public funds, which must be filed and kept with public records for reference.
Copies are delivered weekly to specified officers including the Civil Governor, Secretaries of Executive Departments, members of the Philippine Commission, justices of the Supreme Court, judges of certain courts, and other officials. These copies are government property, remain on file, and are passed on to successors.
The editor must give bond to the Government of the Philippine Archipelago in an amount fixed by the Insular Treasurer, with surety approval and safekeeping of the bond.
The Act took effect upon its passage on September 2, 1902.
The passage was expedited in accordance with section two of "An Act prescribing the order of procedure by the Commission in the enactment of laws," passed on September 26, 1900.