SEC. 65. (a) In each province the presidents of the several townships organized under the provisions of sections one to sixty, and the presidents of the several settlements of the province organized under the provisions of sections sixty-one to sixty-four, of this Act, shall meet at the capital of the province on such day or days during the year as may be fixed by the provincial board, for the purpose of considering measures beneficial to the province and to the provincial government, and to make recommendations to the provincial board : Provided, That in no case shall the number of such conventions in any province be less than two nor more than four in each year: And provided further, That before fixing the number and dates of such conventions the provincial board shall receive and consider the recommendations of the township presidents and presidents of the settlements of the province to be made at their first convention after the passage of this Act: And provided further,. That the number and dates of such conventions may be changed from time to time in the manner in this section provided for fixing such number and dates. The convention shall be called together by the provincial secretary and shall elect a chairman for each session. The provincial secretary shall act as secretary of the convention and shall certify its recommendations to the provincial hoard.
(b) At its first convention during any calendar year the assembly of presidents of the townships and settlements organized under the provisions of this Act in any province shall have the right to elect a popular representative, who shall be chosen by a majority vote of all the presidents present and who may or may not be a resident of the province.
(c) If the residents of the townships and settlements of the province shall at any time feel themselves to be seriously aggrieved and shall be unable to obtain relief from the provincial governor, it shall be the duty of the popular representative, either in-person' or by written communication, to lay their case directly before the Secretary of the Interior. All official communications from the popular representative to the Secretary of the Interior shall be promptly transmitted by the Government officials through whose hands they may pass. Should the popular representative desire to visit Manila on official business, his journey shall be facilitated by all Government officials with whom he may come in contact. He shall in all cases, except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest at any time' when arrest will interfere with discharging the duties of his office, and for any communication or statement, which he may make to the Secretary of the Interior he shall not be held to account by any official, whether civil or military. Under no circumstances shall. the traveling or other expenses of the popular representative, or any compensation to him, form a charge on the treasuries of the townships or on any one of them or on the provincial or Insular treasuries.
(d) The actual expenses of the presidents of the townships and settlements of the province for the necessary travel from their respective townships or settlements in the capital of the province for their attendance at such conventions and for i heir return to their respective townships or settlements shall be paid out of the provincial treasury by order of the provincial board; but the expenses shall not exceed the maximum limitation imposed by law upon the traveling expenses of provincial officials.
SEC. 66. Whenever in his opinion such a course is in the public interest, the Secretary of the Interior may direct the organization A of any settlement or settlements of non-Christian as a township under the provisions of sections one to sixty of this Act, or may annul the action of any provincial board in organizing any settlement of non-Christians as a township or in fusing such settlement with an adjacent municipality organized under the provisions of Act Numbered Eighty-two, the Municipal Code. even though such action has been previously approved by him, and may direct the reorganization of such settlement under the provisions of sections sixty-one to sixty-four, inclusive, of this Act.
SEC. 67. When in the opinion of a provincial board any settlement of members of non-Christian tribes has advanced sufficiently to make such a course practicable and desirable it may, with the approval of the Secretary of the Inferior first bad, organize such settlement under the provisions of sections one to sixty, inclusive, of this Act, and shall fix the geographical limits of each township thus organized.
SEC. 68. When a provincial board is of the opinion that it is practicable and expedient to effect the political fusion of a non-Christian settlement with an adjacent municipality organized under ; the provisions of Act Numbered Eighty-two, be Municipal Code, ' the provincial board may, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior first had, declare the offices, if any, created for such settlement abolished and the settlement fused with the adjacent municipality and its territory added to the territory of such municipality. The inhabitants of such non-Christian "settlement shall;; thereupon be vested with the same political rights as are the residents of such municipality, and the provision of Act Numbered Eighty-two, the Municipal Code, and the Acts amendatory thereof shall apply to them.
SEC. 69. Whenever a provincial board is of the opinion that a . settlement of non-Christians within a province has advanced sufficiently to make its organization under the provisions of the Municipal Code desirable and expedient, it shall recommend to the Philippine Commission or its successors the passage of a special Act providing for such organization.
SEC. 70. The provisions of sections one to sixty, inclusive, of this Act shall apply to the townships of the Provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Ilocos Sur, Lepanto-Bontoc, Benguet. Mindoro, and Palawan, and the provisions of sections sixty-one to sixty-four, inclusive, shall apply to all settlements of non-Christian tribes in the Philippine Islands outside the Moro Province and not organized as townships.
SEC. 72. The following Acts, sections and parts of sections, and all other Acts or parts of Acts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed:
Act Numbered Forty-eight, entitled "An Act providing for the " establishment of local civil governments in the townships of the Province of Benguet."
Act Numbered Three hundred and eighty-seven, entitled "An" Act providing for the establishment of local civil governments in the townships and settlements of ISTueva Vizcaya."
Act Numbered Four hundred and eleven, entitled "An Act" providing for the establishment of local civil governments in the townships and settlements of the Province of Lepanto-Bontoc."
Act Numbered Four hundred and forty-five, entitled "An Act" providing for the establishment of civil governments in the settlements of the non-Christian tribes of the Province of Abra."
Act Numbered Five hundred and forty-seven, entitled "An Act" providing for the establishment of local civil governments for the Manguianes in the Province of Mindoro."
Act, Numbered Five hundred and forty-eight, entitled "An Act" providing for the establishment of local civil governments for the Negritos in the Province of Bataan."
Act ..Numbered Five hundred and forty-nine, entitled "An Act" providing for the establishment of local civil governments for the Negritos in the Province of Zambales."
Act Numbered Five hundred and fifty, entitled "An Act providing for the establishment of local civil governments for the Negritos in the Province of Tarlac."
Act Numbered Five hundred and seventy-nine, entitled "An' Act providing for the establishment of local civil governments for the non-Christian tribes other than Moros in the Province of Misamis"
Act Numbered Seven hundred and fifty-three, entitled "An Act' providing for the establishment of local civil governments for the non-Christian tribes of the Province of Pangasinan."
Act Numbered Eight hundred and fifty-five, entitled "An Act" providing for the establishment of local civil governments for the non-Christian tribes in the Province of Ilocos Norte."
Sections one to four, inclusive, of Act Numbered Eleven hundred and thirteen, entitled "An Act providing for the establishment of local civil governments for the non-Christian tribes of the Province of Isabela, and amending Act Numbered Two hundred and ten by providing for an increase in the salary of the provincial governor of Isabela."
Act Numbered Eleven hundred and forty-five, entitled "An Act" providing for the establishment of local civil governments for the non-Christian tribes in the Province of Tayabas."
Act Numbered Twelve hundred and sixty-eight, entitled "An" Act providing for the establishment of local civil governments for the non-Christian tribes in the Province of Antique."
SEC. 73. The short title of this Act shall be "The Township Government; Act."
SEC. 74. The public good requiring the speedy enactment of this bill, the passage of the same is hereby expedited in accordance with section two of "An Act prescribing the order of procedure by the Commission in the enactment of laws," passed September twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred.
SEC. 75. This Act shall take effect on its passage.
Enacted. September 14, 1905.
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
