AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BOARD ON DOCUMENTS TO HAVE CHARGE OF THE EXAMINATION AND DISPOSAL OF OLD DOCUMENTS, PUBLIC RECORDS, AND PAPERS IN THE DIFFERENT BUREAUS AND OFFICES OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND DEFINING ITS DUTIES.

• Number: Commonwealth Act No. 54
• Sections: 5

Section 1

SECTION 1. The President of the Philippines is hereby authorized to appoint a board, to be known as the Board on Documents, to be composed of five members, whose chairman shall be the Director of the National Library, each to hold office for the term of three years, which shall have the following powers and duties:

To examine the old documents, public records, and papers presented to it by the chiefs of the different bureaus and offices of the Government and to determine whether or not such documents, public records, and papers are of any value either to the Government or to the public;

To have such documents, public records, and papers, which in its judgment are valueless, destroyed in their presence by burning.

Section 2

SEC. 2. The chiefs of the different bureaus and offices of the Government shall submit from time to time to the Board and on Documents, a list of old documents, public records, and papers on file in their respective offices which, in their judgment, should be examined, and their value determined, by the Board. The chiefs of the different bureaus and offices of the Government shall give the Board the necessary facilities for the examination of such documents, public records, and papers, and shall furnish said Board with the necessary aid, in the disposal thereof.

Section 3

SEC 3. The Board on Documents shall issue to the chiefs -certificate of bureaus or offices concerned a certificate of final disposition of the documents, public records, and papers submitted to them.

Section 4

SEC. 4. The members of the Board shall be selected from the officers now in the service and shall not receive extra compensation for their services in the Board either in the form of allowances or per diems. The Board, by arrangement with the proper Head of Department concerned, may avail itself of the services of such employee or employees under them as may be necessary.

Section 5

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, October 17, 1936.