ChanRobles Virtual law Library
PHILIPPINE LAWS, STATUTES & CODES
A collection of Philippine laws, statutes and codes not included or cited in the main indices of the Chan Robles Virtual Law Library.
REPUBLIC ACTS
AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS |
WHEREAS, there was developed at Geneva, Switzerland, on August 22, 1864, a convention by which the nations of the world were invited to join together in diminishing, so far as lies within their power, the evils inherent in war; WHEREAS, more than sixty nations of the world have ratified or adhered to the subsequent revision of said convention, namely the "Convention of Geneva of July 29, 1929 for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick of Armies in the Field" (referred to in this Charter as the Geneva Red Cross Convention); WHEREAS, the Geneva Red Cross Convention envisages the establishment in each country of a voluntary organization to assist in caring for the wounded and sick of the armed forces and to furnish supplies for that purpose; WHEREAS, the Republic of the Philippines became an independent nation on July 4, 1946 and proclaimed its adherence to the Geneva Red Cross Convention on February 14, 1947, and by that action indicated its desire to participate with the nations of the world in mitigating the suffering caused by war and to establish in the Philippines a voluntary organization for that purpose as contemplated by the Geneva Red Cross Convention; WHEREAS, there has existed in the Philippines since 1917 a Charter of the American National Red Cross which must be terminated in view of the independence of the Philippines; and WHEREAS, the volunteer organizations established in other countries which have ratified or adhered to the Geneva Red Cross Convention assist in promoting the health and welfare of their people in peace and in war, and through their mutual assistance and cooperation directly and through their international organizations promote better understanding and sympathy among the peoples of the world: Now, therefore: Section 1. There is hereby created in the Republic of the
Philippines a body corporate and politic to be the voluntary
organization officially designated to assist the Republic of the
Philippines in discharging the obligations set forth in the Geneva Red
Cross Convention and to perform such other duties as are incumbent upon
a national Red Cross society. The headquarters of this Corporation
shall be located at the National Capital of the Republic of the
Philippines. (a)
To furnish volunteer aid to the sick and wounded of armed forces in
time of war, in accordance with the spirit of and under the conditions
prescribed by the Geneva Red Cross Convention to which the Republic of
the Philippines proclaimed its adherence on February fourteen, nineteen
hundred and forty-seven; Junior membership in the Philippine National Red Cross may be authorized under such rules, regulations and policies as shall be prescribed by the Board of Governors. Sec. 5. The governing powers and authority shall be vested in the Board of Governors, a body of thirty members, six of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, fifteen of whom shall be elected by the Chapter delegates in an Annual Meeting, and the remaining nine shall be selected by the twenty-one members of the Board of Governors already chosen. At least one but not more than three of the Presidential appointees shall be chosen from among members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The term of office of all members of the Board of Governors shall be three years. Any member of the Board of Governors who has served two consecutive full terms of three years each shall be ineligible for membership on the Board for at least two years. The six appointed, the fifteen elected, and the nine selected members first chosen under the provisions of this Act shall, by lot, divide themselves into three groups equal in number, with terms expiring at the end of one year, two years and three years, respectively, so that thereafter one-third of the members shall be chosen each year. Vacancies in the Board of Governors caused by death or resignation shall be filled by election by the Board of Governors at its next meeting, except that vacancies among the Presidential appointees shall be filled by the President. The President of the Philippines shall be the Honorary President of the Philippine National Red Cross. The officers shall consist of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Counsellor, all of whom shall be elected by the Board of Governors from among its membership. The officers shall be elected for a term of one year and may be re-elected. The election of officers shall take place within sixty days after all the members of the Board of Governors have been chosen and have qualified. A meeting of Chapter delegates shall be held within the first sixty days of each calendar year to elect members of the Board of Governors and advise the Board of Governors on the activities of the Philippine National Red Cross. The members of the Board of Governors, as well as the regulations shall be vested in the Board of Governors. The members of the board of Governors, as well as the officers of the corporation, shall serve without compensation. The compensation of the paid staff of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board of Governors upon the recommendation of the Manager. Sec. 6. As a national voluntary organization, the Philippine National Red Cross shall be financed primarily by contributions obtained through personal solicitation campaigns which shall be organized by the Board of Governors and conducted by the Chapters in their respective jurisdictions. These funds raising campaigns shall be conducted independently of other drives for funds. Sec. 7. The Board of Governors shall establish rules and regulations for the organization of local units of the Philippine National Red Cross to be known as Chapters. Said rules and regulations shall fix the relationship of the Chapters to the Corporation, define the territorial jurisdiction of the Chapters and allocate the number of Chapter delegates to which each Chapter shall be entitled. In fixing such allocation, consideration shall be given both to the size of the membership of the Chapters and to the size of the populations in the territories served by the Chapters. For the purpose of electing members of the first Board of Governors the Philippine Red Cross is hereby authorized to allocate voting delegates for each of the existing branches of the Philippine Red Cross and to take such action as may be required to bring about the election by said voting delegates of the fifteen members of the Board of Governors required by Sec. four thereof. Sec. 8. Upon its organization the Philippine National Red Cross Society shall be authorized to assume all the responsibilities of the Philippine Red Cross and to succeed to all the right, title and interest of the Philippine Red Cross to property of all classes within the territory of the Philippines in accordance with the resolution of the Central Committee of the American National Red Cross dated December eleven, nineteen hundred and forty-six. Sec. 9. The Corporation shall, at the end of every calendar year submit to the President of the Philippines, an annual report containing the activities of the corporation and showing clearly its exact financial condition, the sources of all receipts and the purposes of all disbursements. Sec. 10. It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit, collect, or receive money, material, or property of any kind, falsely representing or pretending himself to be a member, agent or representative of the Philippine National Red Cross; or for any person to wear or display the sign of the Red Cross or any insignia made or colored in imitation thereof for the fraudulent purpose of inducing the belief that he is a member or representative of or agent for the Philippine National Red Cross. The use of the name Red Cross is reserved exclusively to the Philippine National Red Cross and the use of the emblem of the red Greek cross on a white ground is reserved exclusively to the Philippine National Red Cross and the medical services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as provided in Article 28 of the Geneva Red Cross Convention. It shall be unlawful of any other person or entity to use the words Red Cross or Geneva Cross or to use the emblem of the red Greek Cross on a white ground or any designation, sign or insignia constituting an imitation thereof for any purpose whatsoever. As used in this article, the term person shall include any legal person, group, or legal entity of whatsoever nature, and any person violating any Sec. of this article shall upon conviction therefor be liable to a fine of not more than one thousand pesos or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both, at the discretion of the court, for each and every offense. In case the violation is committed by a corporation or association, the penalty shall devolve upon the president, director or any other officer responsible for such violation. Sec. 11. All acts or parts of acts which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed. Sec. 12. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. Approved: March 22, 1947 |