Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 2472)
The term 'locust' includes all species and forms, whether in the egg, hopper, or winged stages of Acridoidea or short-horned grasshoppers, locally known as 'balang,' 'dodon,' 'locton,' or 'langosta,' which congregate in swarms, as well as any other member of this family that may appear in such numbers as to be a menace to agriculture.
The locust board in each province is composed of the provincial board, the senior inspector of Constabulary, the division superintendent of schools as ex officio members, and two members appointed by the Director of Agriculture on the recommendation of the provincial board. If a province has sub-provinces, the lieutenant-governor of each subprovince is also an ex officio member.
The provincial governor is the ex officio chairman of the locust board and is responsible for calling meetings and supervising the campaign. The provincial treasurer acts as the disbursing officer, and the provincial recorder acts as the secretary of the board.
The locust board must hold regular meetings not less than once each month.
All able-bodied inhabitants in locust-infested municipalities from sixteen to sixty years of age are required to render gratuitous service in the destruction of locusts for two days each week, working nine hours each day, until the municipality is declared free from locusts.
A person may redeem his obligation by payment of sixty centavos for each day of service not rendered or by furnishing a substitute to perform the required service. Collection of money must be made only by the municipal treasurer or an authorized deputy.
Exempted persons include officers or employees of the Insular Government, officers or servants of common carriers, priests or ministers of the gospel, physicians, pharmacists actively engaging in business, lawyers engaged in court proceedings, and certain provincial and municipal officials as designated by the locust board.
Any person who contravenes the Act or obstructs officials is liable to prosecution and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than five pesos nor more than twenty pesos, or imprisonment not exceeding ten days, or both at the discretion of the court.
The Director of Agriculture exercises general supervision over the locust campaign, compiles information, appoints necessary inspectors, approves expenditures not specifically provided for by the Act, and may allot funds for the locust campaign subject to Secretary of Public Instruction approval.
No liability attaches to the government or its officers for damages to plants during locust destruction operations; however, officers responsible for unnecessary damage or violence may be prosecuted.
The board must keep records showing municipalities infested, number of infested barrios, date of locust appearance, developmental stage of locusts, number of inhabitants available for service, and locust equipment of each municipality, and render monthly reports to the Director of Agriculture.
Failure to serve or pay is considered prima facie evidence of intent to avoid the obligation, rendering the person liable to prosecution under the Act.