PHILIPPINE LAWS, STATUTES, CODES & ISSUANCES
PHILIPPINE LAWS, STATUTES AND CODES
REPUBLIC ACTS
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1566 - AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ACQUISITION OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS IN FOREIGN
COUNTRIES FOR THE USE OF DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENTS AND
OTHER AGENCIES OF THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT AND FOR THE SALE OR LEASE
IN THE GOVERNMENT INTEREST OF SUCH BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS AND LIKE
PROPERTIES |
Section 1. The
Secretary of Foreign Affairs, upon recommendation of a special
committee hereby created for the purpose of this Act, to be hereinafter
referred to as the special committee, to be composed of the
Auditor-General as chairman, and the Governor of the Central Bank, the
Commissioner of the Budget, a representative of the Department of
Public Works and Communications and a representative of the Department
of Foreign Affairs as members, is empowered to acquire by purchase or
construction within the limits of appropriations made for the purpose,
or by exchange, in whole or in part, under such terms and conditions as
in his judgment may best protect the interests of the Republic of the
Philippines, of any building or grounds of the Republic of the
Philippines in foreign countries and under the jurisdiction and control
of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, sites and buildings in foreign
capitals and in other foreign cities, and to alter, repair, and furnish
such buildings for the use of the diplomatic and consular
establishments of the Republic of the Philippines, or for the purpose
of consolidating, to the extent deemed advisable by the Secretary of
Foreign Affairs, within one or more buildings, the embassies,
legations, consulates and other agencies of the Philippine Government
there maintained, in which buildings the said Secretary shall assign
quarters to such embassies, legations, consulates, and agencies.
Sec. 2. Buildings and grounds acquired under this
Act or acquired or leased for the use of the diplomatic and consular
establishments in foreign countries prior to the approval of this Act
may be used as Government offices or residence of diplomatic and
consular officers and employees and of other officers and employees of
the Government of the Philippines assigned for duty abroad or as such
offices and residence. Said officers and employees residing in such
buildings shall be furnished, without cost to them, with living
quarters, heat, light and household equipment in said buildings and,
accordingly, they shall not be entitled to any living quarters
allowance. Except in clearly justified cases, the buildings and grounds
acquired or leased as hereinabove provided shall be the offices and
residence of the respective diplomatic and consular establishments of
the Republic of the Philippines and its diplomatic and consular
officials.
Sec. 5. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, when he
finds it to be in the interest of the Government, upon recommendation
of the special committee herein created, with the approval of the
President of the Philippines, is authorized to sell or lease buildings
and grounds acquired for the use of diplomatic and consular
establishments in foreign countries, and notwithstanding the provisions
of any other law, the proceeds of sales or rentals may be applied
toward the purchase and construction, and furnishing of other like
properties, or made a part of the Foreign Service Building Revolving
Fund hereinafter created, as in the judgment of the Secretary of
Foreign Affairs may best serve the Government's interest. Sec. 7. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs is hereby authorized to negotiate loans with the Government Service Insurance System for a term not exceeding ten years and at an interest of not more than six per centum per annum whose total amount shall not exceed five million pesos to be guaranteed by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines which shall constitute the Foreign Service Building Revolving Fund, which fund, together with the proceeds of the sale of properties that where made a part of the fund, is made available for the acquisition by purchase or otherwise or by construction of sites and buildings and for altering and furnishing such buildings for the use of the diplomatic and consular establishments and other agencies abroad of the Government of the Philippines in accordance with the provisions of section one of this Act. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs shall report annually all such transactions as well as any transaction made pursuant to section five to the Congress with the budget estimates of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Sec. 8. For the purpose of paying the principal and interest charges on the loans secured from the Government Service Insurance System mentioned in the preceding section, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs is authorized to use the savings from operation of the Department of Foreign Affairs annually beginning with the fiscal year nineteen hundred and fifty-six. To insure the use of the full saving of the Department of Foreign Affairs to the servicing of the loans herein contemplated, the Department shall hereafter be exempted from the forced savings. The corresponding current appropriations of the Department of Foreign Affairs in operating expense items from which savings may later be realized as a result of the acquisition of buildings and grounds under the provisions of this Act, shall, in succeeding Appropriation Acts, be set aside for the purpose of servicing the loans herein contemplated.
Sec. 9. This Act shall take effect upon its
approval. Approved: June 16, 1956 |