Section 1. Whenever in the opinion of the Secretary of
Agriculture and Commerce, the public interests so require, he shall
order the survey, delimitation, and subdivision by the Bureau of Lands
on such portions of the public domain as may be necessary and
convenient, including public agricultural lands lying parallel to and
at least within three kilometers from both sides of any new public
highway constructed in the Philippines. Said Secretary may also entrust
such work, including the improvement of the land so surveyed, delimited
and subdivided, to private surveyors, corporations, or associations
under such terms and conditions as he may deem proper and advantageous
to the Government.
Sec. 2. The lands, parcels, or lots thus surveyed,
delimited, subdivided, and improved shall be disposed of by the
Director of Lands or through the surveyors, corporations, or
associations that executed the work under the supervision and control
of the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce and in accordance with
existing law, to such persons, corporations, or associations as are
entitled to acquire public lands under the provisions of the Public
Land Act. At least one-half of the said lands along newly constructed
highways shall be disposed of by means of homestead entry. The expenses
of the survey, delimitation, subdivision, and improvement shall be
apportioned, assessed, and collected from all applicants, except
homestead and free patent applicants, in addition to the fees, rentals,
and other payments collectible under the provisions of said Act. When
the work is done by private surveyors, corporations, or associations,
the same shall collect only the actual cost of the survey,
delimitation, subdivision, and improvement of the land and, in addition
thereto, a profit not to exceed twenty per centum of such cost. The
amount collectible for the expenses or cost and profit above mention
shall be paid by the respective applicants in ten equal annual
installments, without interest, from the date of the approval of their
respective applications.
Sec. 3. All reimbursements for survey,
delimitation, subdivision and improvements as provided in the next
preceding section, and all proceeds, fees, rentals, and other
collections that may be realized from the disposition and concession of
parcels, tracts and lots surveyed, delimited, subdivided, and improved
under this Act, shall accrue to the special fund created in section
four of this Act.
Sec. 4. Out of the Rice and Corn Fund appropriated
under the provisions of Act Numbered Twenty-eight hundred and eighteen,
as amended, the sum of three hundred thousand pesos is set aside to be
known as the Public Land Survey and Subdivision Fund, which shall be
revolving fund. This revolving fund shall be increased with such
appropriations as may hereafter be authorized for the purpose from
either the General Fund or the Coconut Oil Excise Fund until it reaches
the aggregate sum of ten million pesos, unless the President of the
Philippines fixes a lesser amount as the maximum limit of the fund. The
Public Land Survey and Subdivision Fund shall be expended to carry out
the purposes of this Act and shall be disbursed by the Director of
Lands under the direction and control of the Secretary of Agriculture
and Commerce.
Any balance of the appropriations referred to in this section remaining
unreleased and/or unexpended at the end of any fiscal year shall not
revert to the General Fund of the National Government or to the Coconut
Oil Excise Tax Fund, as the case may be, but shall continue to form
part of the Public Land Survey and Subdivision Fund and therefore
available for release and expenditure for said purpose in the next
following fiscal year and other subsequent fiscal years. (Section 1,
Commonwealth Act No. 630)
Sec. 5. This Act shall take effect on its approval.
Approved: June 27, 1930
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