Definitions and Governmental Powers
- "Governor," "Secretary," "Treasurer," "Attorney," and "Delegate" refer to Department officers.
- "Non-Christians" include Mohammedans and Pagans.
- Department government is a corporate entity with legal capacities such as suing, contracting, and holding property.
Appointment and Composition of Administrative Council
- Governor-General appoints five key officers with regional oversight:
governor, secretary, attorney, treasurer, delegate. - Administrative Council formed by these officers.
- Council advises governor, appropriates funds (subject to approval), confirms appointments, adopts rules, and manages departmental seal.
Salaries and Compensation
- Governor’s salary up to ₱12,000 (first civilian governor ₱18,000 with residence).
- Other officers earn up to ₱8,000 annually.
- Salaries paid from departmental revenues.
Powers and Duties of Department Governor
- Supervise provincial and municipal governments and police.
- Ensure law execution across department.
- Control Constabulary use and direct resource deployment.
- Approve or modify provincial boundaries and administrative subdivisions.
- Manage lawsuits for the department.
- Authorize public funds deposit, reward offers for criminal information.
- Conduct investigations and administrative inquiries.
- Authorize parole of convicts with prescribed conditions.
- Establish harbor and public safety regulations.
- Postpone elections, enlist US military assistance if necessary.
Duties of Department Secretary
- Act as governor during vacancy or disability.
- Inspect public affairs and report on non-Christian communities.
- Custodian of records and department seal.
- Secretary of Administrative Council.
Department Attorney and Assistant Attorney
- Legal counselors for department and subdivisions.
- Represent department in civil suits except conflicts of interest.
- Prosecute criminal cases with power to assign assistant attorney.
- Authorized to discontinue prosecutions with court consent.
- Serve as register of deeds or appoint deputies.
Department Delegate
- Qualified elector with term up to two years.
- Attend Administrative Council sessions.
- Performs ministerial duties assigned by council.
- Compensation based on attendance.
Public Instruction and Health
- Superintendent of schools under Director of Education’s general supervision.
- Curriculum adapted to local conditions with English as instruction basis.
- Chief health officer under supervision of Director of Health.
- Provincial health officers enforce public health laws and inspect sanitary conditions.
Public Safety and Constabulary
- District chief of Constabulary exercises authority in Department.
- Constabulary supported by Insular Treasury funds.
- Police organization coordinated with municipal revenues.
Public Works
- Senior supervising engineer oversees roads, bridges, and public works.
- Duties include demarcation of municipal and provincial maintenance responsibilities.
- General public works laws apply with temporary Exception from Insular surcharge.
Establishment and Powers of Provincial Governments
- Provinces include Agusan, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, Lanao, Sulu, and Zamboanga with specific territories.
- Provinces are corporate entities with property and contracting powers.
Provincial Officers and Governance
- Officers include governor, secretary-treasurer, and third board member.
- Oaths of office required; civil service rules apply.
- Temporary appointments permitted during absences or suspensions.
- Salaries fixed by Department Governor and approved by Governor-General.
Role of Provincial Fiscal, Health Officer, and Engineer
- Fiscal serves as chief legal adviser, handles civil and criminal cases, gives legal opinions, and prosecutes violations.
- Health officer supervises health conditions and prosecutes violations.
- Engineer supervises construction and maintenance of provincial public works.
Provincial Executive Powers and Duties
- Governor presides over provincial board, executes laws, manages suspensions, inspects municipalities.
- Maintains public order and manages provincial jail.
- Annual reporting to department governor.
Provincial Board Responsibilities
- Approves appropriations, tax levies, and public building provisions.
- Regulates roads, bridges, boundary matters, and lawsuits.
- Provides for schools, student scholarships, loans to municipalities, and employee injury benefits.
- Supervises provincial funds deposit and meetings.
- May designate provincial toll ferries with toll collection and exemption rules.
Municipal Government Setup
- Municipalities formed by provincial board resolution approved by department governor.
- Municipalities maintain corporate entities with defined powers.
- Divided into barrios with classifications from first to fourth class based predominantly on population.
Municipal Salaries and Officers
- Salaries capped by municipal class for president, secretary, and treasurer.
- Vice-president and councilors serve as honorary with possible travel reimbursements.
- Municipal president appointed; vice-president and councilors elected.
Municipal Officers’ Powers and Qualifications
- Officers must meet citizenship and other qualifications.
- Certain classes such as ecclesiastics, active soldiers excluded from office.
- Municipal president chief executive with wide administrative, judicial, and police-related powers.
- Vice-president acts in president’s absence or vacancy.
- Secretary manages council proceedings, records, and property.
Municipal Council
- Composed of president, vice-president, and barrio councilors.
- Holds regular meetings; open to the public.
- Responsible for passing ordinances, managing appropriations, property, tax collections, licenses, and public works.
- Handles appointments, vacancies, and appeals through defined procedures.
Municipal Powers and Ordinances
- Provisions for taxing, licensing various businesses, regulating public safety, sanitary conditions, animal control, fire prevention, and police organization.
- Penalties up to fines of ₱200 or six months imprisonment are authorized.
- Ordinance and resolution enforcement subject to provincial board and department governor oversight.
Municipal Treasurer and Finance
- Appointed by provincial treasurer; manages municipal funds, accounts, and collection.
- Accountable to district auditor.
- Manages municipal property and prepares financial reports.
Municipal Revenues
- Derived from land taxes, fisheries, municipal properties, licenses, tuition fees, and other specified sources.
- Strict prohibition on import or export taxes.
- Formal procedures for tax collection and license payment.
Municipal Districts and Special Governments
- Created in regions with predominantly non-Christian populations or remote settlements.
- Department governor empowered to appoint officers and regulate taxation with provincial board supervision.
Elections and Terms of Office
- Procedures for election of provincial and municipal officials detailed.
- Terms align with general Philippine Electoral Law except where specified.
Prohibitions and Administrative Provisions
- Officers/employees prohibited from interest in government contracts or businesses benefiting from government funds.
- Violations punishable by removal, fines, or imprisonment.
Financial Administration
- Insular Auditor authorized to prescribe rules for budgeting and accounting.
- Customs revenue collected in department initially allocated for departmental use before merging with Insular Treasury.
Repeals and Effectivity
- Acts or parts inconsistent with this law repealed except Civil Service Act.
- Act effective as of September 1, 1914.