[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 621, May 26, 1951 ]
AN ACT CREATING THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION NATIONAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization National Commission of the Philippines, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, is hereby created under the Department of Foreign Affairs to serve as a liaison agency between the Government of the Philippines and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and to associate principal bodies in the Philippines interested in educational, scientific and cultural matters with the work of the UNESCO, in accordance with Article VII of the Constitution of the aforesaid Organization accepted by Joint Resolution Numbered Three of the Congress of the Philippines adopted on October 17, 1946.
Section 2. The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments and shall be composed of the following;
a. Twenty shall be designated by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of organizations interested in educational, scientific and cultural matters affiliated with and duly registered in the Commission;
b. Eight shall represent educational, scientific, and cultural agencies of the Government; and,
c. Two shall be designated at the discretion of the President.
A Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be elected by the Commission to serve for a term of one year or until their respective successors shall have been elected or qualified. The Chairman shall be the presiding officer of the Commission and shall ex-officio be the Head of the Executive Committee herein provided.
Section 3. The Commission, with the approval of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, shall create an Executive Committee and such other committees or sub-committees as may be necessary for the effective and efficient performance of its powers and duties.
There shall also be a Secretariat to be headed by an Executive Secretary who shall act as the secretary of the Commission, its committees and sub-committees and shall attend to all administrative matters of the Commission.
Section 4. The members of the Commission shall serve in honorary capacity and shall receive no compensation or remuneration except traveling expenses and per diems for each day of actual attendance in the sessions of the Commission, its committees, or sub-committees, in such amounts and under such conditions as the Commission, with the approval of the President of the Philippines, may prescribe.
Section 5. The members of the Commission shall serve for a term of two years: Provided, however, That fifty per cent of the members first appointed shall serve only for one year which shall be indicated in their appointments.
Section 6. The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
a. To meet at least once a year on such date and place as it might designate;
b. With the approval of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, to promulgate rules and regulations for the conduct of its own affairs;
c. To advise the Government of the Philippines on matters relating to the UNESCO and on the best ways and means by which educational, scientific, and cultural developments could be best taken advantage of by the Philippines;
d. To advise Philippine delegations to the UNESCO Conference;
e. To serve as a liaison agency between the Government of the Philippines and the UNESCO;
f. To associate the principal bodies in the Philippines actually interested in educational, scientific, and cultural matters with the work of the UNESCO; and
g. To submit an annual report to the President and the Congress of its activities and accomplishments during the year.
Section 7. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated the amount of one hundred and twenty thousand pesos or so much thereof as may be necessary for the immediate organization and operation of the Commission up to and including the fiscal year 1951-1952.
Section 8. All acts, or parts of acts, rules, regulations, and executive orders, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.
Section 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved, May 26, 1951.
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