Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 1980)
The Act provides for the creation of a commissioned and enlisted service within the Bureau of Navigation, establishes a pension fund for the service, and prescribes punishments for offenses against good order and discipline within the service.
The Director of Navigation is authorized to appoint the necessary petty officers, crews, officers, light keepers, and apprentices subject to rules, regulations, and examinations approved by the Secretary of Commerce and Police.
No officer or enlisted man shall be commissioned or enlisted unless he is a citizen of the United States or of the Philippine Islands and has taken the oath of allegiance to the United States.
Commissioned officers receive an increase of ten percent of their current annual pay for each five years of faithful and efficient service, up to a maximum increase of forty percent of the yearly pay for their grade.
The term of enlistment is two years. Petty officers and enlisted men receive an additional one peso per month for the second enlistment and two pesos per month for the third enlistment.
They must swear or affirm allegiance to the United States in the Philippine Islands, recognize the supreme authority of the U.S., obey laws and legal orders, and faithfully discharge their duties.
The Director can suspend, punish, or remove personnel for inefficiency, misconduct, disloyalty, or offenses enumerated in the Act, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Commerce and Police, and the Governor-General's approval for commissioned officers' removal.
Two percent of the monthly pay of all officers and enlisted men is deducted and deposited into a special pension fund, used to pay pensions, provide relief for injured or incapacitated personnel, and support widows and orphans of those who died in duty.
Upon conviction, the offender may be fined up to five thousand pesos, imprisoned for up to two years, or both, at the discretion of the court.
Summary courts headed by designated officers hear cases within 24 hours of arrest and can impose punishments including fines, confinement, reduction in grade, or dishonorable discharge, with records kept for all cases.