QuestionsQuestions (Commonwealth Act No. 330)
CA No. 330 appropriates funds for public works, specifying allocations for sanitation, public buildings, roads, flood control and sea protection, telecommunications (telegraph and cable lines and radio stations), and other related purposes.
The funds come from the proceeds of the excise tax collected on coconut oil shipments to the United States, which are on deposit in the Treasury of the United States credited to the Commonwealth of the Philippines. They are at the disposal of the Director of Public Works and Communications, subject to the provisions in the Act.
The total available to be paid out of the “Excise Tax Fund” is P88,688,100.00.
Section 2 appropriates P5,263,200.00 (or so much as may be necessary) out of the general funds in the Philippine Treasury not otherwise appropriated, at the disposal of the Director of Public Works, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications and the provisions of the Act.
Section 2 covers: (A) construction/alteration/improvement of public buildings and other unclassified projects; (B) investigation and survey of roads and bridges; and (C) hydraulic investigations.
Section 3 appropriates out of the “Port Works Fund” under Act 3592 as amended by Commonwealth Act No. 130. It includes investigation, construction, and improvement of ports, lighthouses, buoys, beacons, airports, landing fields, and other aids to navigation—both national and municipal ports.
The text states: “GRAND TOTAL FOR THE APPROPRIATION MADE IN THIS ACT … P96,351,300.00.”
They revert to the portion of the consolidated General Fund derived from the coconut oil excise tax collected in the United States and thereafter are not available for expenditure except upon appropriation by the National Assembly.
They revert to the General Fund in the National Treasury and thereafter are not available for expenditure except upon appropriation by the National Assembly.
They revert to the “Port Works Fund” created by Act No. 3592 as amended by Commonwealth Act No. 130, and thereafter are not available for expenditure except as provided in the said Act.
The President may designate a national road/part thereof, or any bridge or ferry built or to be built or maintained as part of it, as a toll road/bridge/ferry, fix toll rates upon recommendation of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, regulate collection, and take steps such as erecting toll gates or equipping ferries.
When the President decides that toll collection may be discontinued without injury to the public welfare, the President orders discontinuance, and the road/bridge/ferry becomes free for public use.
Examples include: (a) officers/enlisted men of the U.S. Army or Navy or other U.S. Government employees in the Philippines; (b) officers/enlisted men of the Philippine Army; (c) members of police forces; (d) national/provincial/municipal officers on official business; (e) persons traveling on foot or mounted on animals or bicycles/motorcycles alone or accompanying animals; (f) vehicles primarily carrying mail; and (g) animal-drawn vehicles.
Section 6 provides that certain appropriations are to be distributed by the Secretary of Public Works and Communications with approval of the President, while others are available for expenditure by the Director. It also requires that sums under Section 2 and Section 3 be released only after certification by the Secretary of Finance and the Auditor General to the President that sufficient funds exist from current revenues in excess of authorized appropriations for ordinary operating expenses.
The President may suspend or otherwise stop the expenditure of any amount appropriated for any purposes (or portion thereof) whenever in his opinion the public interest requires it, after which the funds become available for other authorized expenditures as the President may determine.
It takes effect upon its approval.