AN ACT TO MAKE OBLIGATORY THE
EMPLOYMENT OF A PHYSICIAN IN CERTAIN VESSELS ENGAGED IN COASTWISE TRADE
Section 1. It
shall be unlawful for any vessel of Philippine register, engaged in
coastwise trade, with a carrying capacity of fifty or more passengers
and regularly making voyages lasting more than twelve hours without
touching port, to sail or attempt to sail from any port of the
Philippines unless it has in its complement a physician.
Sec. 2. It
shall be the duty of the Bureau of Customs to see to it that all
provisions of this Act are hereby complied with by the owner or agent
of the vessel.
Sec. 3. Any
owner, charterer, agent, or master of a vessel who violates section one
of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand
pesos or by imprisonment of not more than two years, or both such fine
and imprisonment in the discretion of the court.
Whenever the violation is
committed by a corporation, association or partnership, the president
and each one of the directors or managers of said corporation,
association or partnership who shall have knowingly permitted or failed
to prevent the commission of such violation, shall be held liable.
Sec. 4. This
Act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after its approval.