SEC. 2. Section nineteen hundred and seventy-six of Act Numbered Twenty-seven hundred and eleven is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 1976. Carriage of mails between post offices.—The Director of Posts shall provide by contract or otherwise, for the carriage of the mails between post offices in the Philippine Islands and between the Philippine Islands and the United States and foreign countries, in such manner and with such frequency as shall appear to him proper: Provided, That the Secretary of Commerce and Communications, with the approval of the Governor-General, is authorized to enter, from time to time, into contracts for the transportation of the mails by air between any points within the Philippine Islands and between the Philippine Islands and foreign countries for periods not to exceed five years, and to pay for such services at fixed rates per kilo or per kilometer or the equivalent of the additional postal rates collected for the mail transported. Such contracts shall be awarded, in each instance, to the bidder whose bid is most advantageous to the Government, provided that the said bidder is also properly qualified and equipped to perform satisfactorily the service to the advantage of the Government, and to maintain efficient commercial aviation service for the public at large: And provided, further, That in order to carry out the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Secretary of Commerce and Communications or the Secretary of any other department in charge of the air mail service in the future, is hereby authorized to grant to the parties to whom the contracts for the transportation of the mails by air above-mentioned are awarded, the right to use, free of charge, any or all navigation facilities, including landing fields now or hereafter opened, operated, or controlled by the Government of the Philippine Islands or any subdivision thereof: And provided, finally, That the Secretary of Commerce and Communications, with the approval of the Governor-General, is authorized to make and issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section with reference to the transportation of the mails by air."