Section 1
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "Public Service Act."
CA 146 (Public Service Act) CHAPTER I.—Organization
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Section 2
SEC. 2. There is created a Commission which shall be designated and known as the Public Service Commission, and which shall be vested with the powers and duties hereafter specified. Whenever the word "Commission" is used in any part of this Act, it shall be held to mean the Public Service Commission or Public Service Commissioner. The Public Service Commission shall consist of a Public Service Commissioner and a Deputy Commissioner. The Public Service Commissioner and Deputy Public Service Commissioner shall be citizens and residents of the Philippines, not under thirty years of age, members of the Bar of the Philippine Islands, and shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of the National Assembly.
Section 3
SEC. 3. The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner shall hold office until removed in accordance with the procedure prescribed in section one hundred and seventy-three of Act Numbered Twenty-seven hundred and eleven, known as the Revised Administrative Code. The Deputy Commissioner shall act on all matters delegated to him by the Public Service Commissioner, and in case of the latter's absence, illness or incapacity he shall act in his stead. In the performance of his functions upon assignment by the Public Service Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner shall have authority to preside at the hearings of cases assigned to him and to render decisions therein, as well as to act on any matter referred to him by the Commissioner, and his action in such cases shall to all intents and purposes have the same effect and validity as if the Public Service Commissioner himself had acted thereon. In case of the absence, for any reason, of the Commissioner and Deputy designation of the Commissioner, the Secretary of Justice may designate any assistant attorney of the Department of Justice or any of to in the attorneys of the Commission to act as Commissioner; and in cases or emergency or extraordinary accumulation of work, the Secretary of Justice may also designate any of the officers above mentioned to act as additional Commissioner for such time as the interest of the public service may require.
Section 4
SEC. 4. The Public Service Commissioner shall receive an annual compensation of ten thousand six hundred pesos; the Deputy Commissioner an annual compensation of seven thousand five hundred pesos; the secretary, who shall be an attorney, four thousand pesos; the auditor, four thousand pesos; one chief engineer for the land and water transportation division, five thousand one hundred pesos; one electrical engineer for the industrial division, four thousand pesos; one chief attorney for the legal division, four thousand pesos; and each assistant attorney, three thousand pesos.
Section 5
SEC. 5. The Public Service Commissioner, the Deputy Public Service Commissioner, and all other officers and employees of the Public Service Commission shall enjoy the same privileges and rights as the officers and employees of the classified civil service of the Government of the Philippines. They shall also be entitled to receive from the Government of the Philippines their necessary traveling expenses while traveling on the business of the Commission, which shall be paid on proper voucher therefor, approved by the Secretary of Justice, out of funds appropriated for the contingent expenses of the Commission.
Section 6
SEC. 6. With the approval of the Secretary of Justice, the Public Service Commissioner shall appoint a secretary of the Commission, an auditor, two engineers and chiefs of the transportation and industrial divisions, one chief attorney and four assistant attorneys, and such inspectors, agents, and other officers and employees as may be necessary: Provided, however, That the persons at present performing the duties of secretaries, auditor, engineers, attorney and assistant attorneys of the Commission now designated as such may continue occupying their respective posts and shall hereafter perform their functions and duties until their successors shall be appointed. The Public Service Commissioner shall have general executive control, direction, and supervision over the work of the Commission and of its members, body and personnel, and over all administrative business.
Section 7
SEC. 7. The secretary of the Commission, under the direction of the Commissioner, shall have charge of the administrative business of the Commission and shall perform such other duties as may be required of him. He shall be the recorder and official reporter of the proceedings of the Commission and shall have authority to administer oaths in all matters coming under the jurisdiction of the Commission. He shall be the custodian of the records, maps, profiles, tariffs, itineraries, reports, and any other documents and papers filed with the Commission or entrusted to his care and shall be responsible therefor to the Commission. He shall have authority to designate from time to time any of his delegates to perform the duties of deputy secretary with any of the Commissioners.
Section 8
SEC. 8. The Commissioner shall furnish to the secretary such of its findings and decisions as in its judgment may be of general public interest; the secretary shall compile the same for the purpose of publication in a series of volumes to be designated "Reports of the Public Service Commission of the Philippines," which shall be published in such form and manner as may be best adapted for public information and use, and such authorized publications shall be competent evidence of the reports and decisions of the Commission therein contained without any further proof or authentication thereof.
Section 9
SEC. 9. No member or employee of the Commission shall public have any official or professional relation with any public service as herein defined, or hold any other office of profit, or trust with the Government of the Philippines or of the United States.
Section 10
SEC. 10. The Commission shall have its office in the City of Manila at such place as may be designated, and may hold hearings on any proceedings at such times and places, within the Philippines, as it may provide by order in writing: Provided, That during- the months of April and May of each year, the Commissioner shall be on duty and Deputy Commissioner on vacation, or vice versa, in such manner that at least one of them shall be on duty during the vacation months once in every two years: Provided, further, That nothing hereinbefore provided shall prevent either of the Commissioners from rendering service and performing his duties during the vacation months when the interest of the public service shall require it: Provided, lastly, That notwithstanding the above provisions, the Commissioners shall be entitled to enjoy accrued leave and retirement privileges in the same manner as prescribed for judges of the Court of First Instance.
Section 11
SEC. 11. The Commission shall have the power to make needful rules for its government and other proceedings not inconsistent with this Act and shall adopt a common seal; and judicial notice shall be taken of such seal. True copies of said rules and their amendments shall be promptly furnished to the Bureau of Printing and shall be forthwith published in the Official Gazette.
Section 12
SEC. 12. The Commission shall report annually, as soon as practicable after the first day of January of each year, to the Secretary of Justice, making such recommendations as it may deem proper.
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Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
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