Presidential Decree No. 703 (PD 703) — Appropriating Funds for the Fabrication of School Building Components and Establishing Fabrication Plants Therefor.
WHEREAS, from statistics gathered, there is a current
backlog in the school building construction of approximately forty six
thousand (46,000) school rooms;
WHEREAS, due to the continuing increase of student
population, the yearly occurrence of natural calamities such as
typhoons, floods and earthquakes, and the depreciation brought about by
ordinary wear and tear, school rooms and buildings have to be provided,
repaired or replaced yearly;
WHEREAS, actual experience has shown that construction of
school buildings with the use of standardized prefabricated building
components is more economical and expeditious; and
WHEREAS, the Japanese reparations as the major source of
school building components has already been terminated;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,
do hereby order and decree:
SECTION 1. There shall be established, under the direct
supervision and control of the Director of Public Works, prefabrication
plants for school building components to be located in strategic places
of the country to prefabricate school building components;
SEC. 2. For the organization and initial operating capital
of said plants, the amount of FIFTY MILLION PESOS (P50,000,000.00) or so
much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any
funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated to be spent in
accordance with the provisions of Section 7-1(4) of Commonwealth Act
No. 246, as amended.
SEC. 3. The appropriation authorized herein shall include
the amounts needed for the construction of buildings, acquisition of
equipment including motor vehicles, salaries and wages of personnel and
other operating expenses.
SEC. 4. The prefabricated school building
components produced by these plants shall be paid from the allotments
for the construction of school buildings allotted to the various
district and city engineering offices of the Bureau of Public Works.
SEC. 5. The income which may derived from the operation of
the plants is hereby constituted as a trust fund to be known as the
School Building Components Fabrication Trust Fund under the
administration of the Bureau of Public Works and shall be spent solely
for the operation and maintenance of the plants including the
construction of buildings and the acquisition of equipment including
motor vehicles which may be needed from time to time.
SEC. 6. The necessary appropriations for the continuous
operation of these plants shall be included in the general annual
appropriation measure.
SEC. 7. The provision of any law. rule or regulations to the
contrary, notwithstanding, the acquisition of equipment, supplies and
materials for this purpose shall be exempt from any tax.
SEC. 8. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 16th day of May, in the year of
Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-five.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
