Protection of Buoys and Beacons Act

Section 1 covers any buoy or beacon placed as an aid in navigation in any bay, channel, harbor, river, arm of the sea, or any other waters of the Philippine Islands.
Protected buoys and beacons are those placed by the authority of the Light-House Establishment of the Philippine Islands.
Section 1 also covers beacons erected on land in the Philippine Islands by the authority of the Light-House Establishment of the Philippine Islands.
Section 1 applies to vessels and floating items including any vessel of any kind or name whatsoever, and also any boat, skiff, barge, scow, raft, or part of a raft.

Section 1 prohibits any person from mooring any covered vessel or craft to any buoy or beacon placed as an aid in navigation by the Light-House Establishment.
Section 1 prohibits any person from hanging on with any covered vessel, boat, skiff, barge, scow, raft, or part of a raft to any such buoy or beacon.
Section 1 prohibits any person from willfully removing any buoy or beacon.
Section 1 prohibits any person from damaging or destroying any such buoy or beacon.
Section 1 prohibits any person from cutting down, removing, damaging, or destroying any beacon or beacons erected on land by the Light-House Establishment.

Section 1 treats each prohibited act under its terms as a misdemeanor.
Section 1 provides that, upon conviction, the offender is punishable by a fine of not more than PHP 1,000 (Philippines currency).
Section 1 provides that, upon conviction, the offender is punishable by imprisonment in the provincial jail not less than 1 month nor more than 6 months.
Section 1 provides that the offender may be punished by both fine and imprisonment, at the court’s discretion.
Section 1 requires that one-third of the fine be paid to the informer and that two-thirds be paid to the Light-House Establishment, to be used in repairing or replacing the buoys or beacons.

Section 2 makes the cost of repairing or replacing a buoy or beacon that was misplaced, damaged, or destroyed by a vessel, boat, raft, or scow being made fast to the same a reimbursable charge.
Section 2 provides that after the cost has been legally ascertained, that cost becomes a lien upon the vessel, boat, raft, or scow involved.
Section 2 provides that the lien may be recovered against the vessel, boat, raft, or scow and the owner or owners.
Section 2 provides that recovery is made through an action of debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 3 declares that the public good requires speedy enactment.
Section 3 orders expedited passage of the bill in accordance with Section 2 of “An Act prescribing the order of procedure by the Commission in the enactment of laws,” passed September 26, 1900.