AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN, AS AMENDED BY COMMONWEALTH ACT NUMBERED THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-TWO, AND SECTION NINETEEN HUNDRED AND NINETEEN OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, ACT NUMBERED TWENTY-SEVEN HUNDRED AND ELEVEN.

• Number: Republic Act No. 223
• Sections: 3

Section 1

SECTION 1. Section nineteen hundred and seventeen of the Administrative Code, as amended by Commonwealth Act Numbered Three hundred and sixty-two, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 1917. Letting of contracts for National Public Works.—When any national public works of construction or repair involves an estimated cost of ten thousand pesos or more, the contract therefor, shall, except as hereinbelow provided, be awarded by the Director of Public Works to the lowest responsible bidder after publication in the Official Gazette, in accordance with Commonwealth Act Numbered Six hundred and thirty-eight, for at least three times extending over a period of at least ten days: Provided, however, That in case of urgent necessity, the Director of Public Works may, with the approval of the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, execute by administration and without advertising for bids any public work costing ten thousand pesos or more.

"In the case of national public works involving an expenditure of less than ten thousand pesos, it shall be discretionary with the Director of Public Works either to Proceed with the work himself or to let the contract to the lowest bidder after such publication and notice as shall be deemed appropriate or as may be, by regulation, prescribed."

Section 2

SEC. 2. Section nineteen hundred and nineteen of the Administrative Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 1919. Letting of contract for provincial work.— Except in the case of work upon roads or trails, every provincial work of construction or repair involving an estimated expenditure of ten thousand pesos or more shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, after advertisement for not less than ten days in the Official Gazette, and by notice posted for not less than ten days at the main entrance of the provincial building, but nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the giving of such further notice or making such further publication as will secure ample publicity for all invitations for bids: Provided, however, That in case of urgent necessity, the provincial board may, with the approval of the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, execute by administration and without advertising for bids any public work costing ten thousand pesos or more.

"Provincial work not within the purview of the preceding paragraph may be prosecuted upon provincial account or may be let without advertisement, subject to the regulation of the Bureau of Public Works.

"The district engineer shall perform the duties incident to advertising for bids for provincial public work, and the letting of contracts therefor; and with the approval of the provincial board, he may reject any or all bids received, in which case he may advertise anew or, with the approval of the board, may proceed with the execution of the work upon provincial account."

Section 3

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 5, 1948.