Section 2. Declaration of Policy
Section 3. Commission on Population
Section 4. Purpose and Objectives
Section 5. Duties and Functions of the POPCOM
Section 6. Board of Commissioners
Section 7. Powers and Duties of the Board
Section 8. Chairman of the Board, Powers and Duties
Section 10. Executive Director, Powers and Duties
REVISING THE POPULATION ACT OF NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ONE
WHEREAS, Republic Act 6365, entitled "An Act Establishing a National Population Policy, creating the Commission on Population and for Other Purposes" was enacted into law on August 15, 1971;
WHEREAS, in order to effectively implement the population program, vital amendments to RA 6365 are necessary;
WHEREAS, the population program is an integral and vital part of social reform and economic development;
WHEREAS, one of the objectives of Proclamation No. 1081 is to effect social, economic and political reforms, and thus bring about the transformation of a new society in our country, a society designed to improve the quality of life of each Filipino;
WHEREAS, family planning and responsible parenthood assure greater opportunity for each Filipino to reach his full potential and to attain his individual dignity;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution of the Philippines as Commander-in-Chief of all Armed Forces of the Philippines and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081 dated September 21, 1972 and General Order No. 1 dated September 22, 1972 as amended, and in order to effect desired changes and reforms in the social, economic, and political structures of our society, do hereby adopt, approve and make as part of the law of the land, the attached measure.
Changes and modifications in this Revised Population Act shall be made from time to time, as necessity requires, to be correspondingly announced by me or by my duly authorized representative.
This decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 8th day of December, in the year of Our Lord Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Two.
(SGD.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(SGD.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary
SECTION 1. This decree shall be known as the Revised Population Act of the Philippines.
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -- The Government of the Philippines hereby declares that for the purpose of furthering the national development, increasing the share of each Filipino in the fruits of economic progress and meeting the grave social and economic challenge of high rate of population growth, a national program of family planning involving both public and private sectors which respects the religious beliefs and values of the individuals involved shall be undertaken.
SECTION 3. Commission on Population. -- There is hereby created an agency under the Office of the President, a Commission on Population hereinafter referred to as POPCOM, to carry out the purposes and objectives of this Decree.
SECTION 4. Purpose and Objectives. -- The POPCOM shall have the following purposes and objectives:
SECTION 5. Duties and Functions of the POPCOM. -- The POPCOM shall have the following duties and powers:
SECTION 6. Board of Commissioners. -- All functions and powers of the POPCOM shall be vested in, and exercised by a board of Commissioners hereinafter referred to as the Board, composed of: Secretary of Education and Culture, Secretary of Health, Secretary of Social Welfare, Dean of the University of the Philippines Population Institute, and the Director-General of the National Economic Development Authority. (Amended by Presidential Decree No. 166)
SECTION 7. Powers and Duties of the Board. -- The Board shall have the following powers and duties:
SECTION 8. Chairman of the Board, Powers and Duties. -- The Board shall elect a Chairman from among its members. The Chairman shall have the following powers and duties:
SECTION 9. Meetings. -- The Board shall meet at least once every four months or oftener at the call of the Chairman. Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum and no action of such quorum shall be treated as a valid decision of the Board unless it carries a unanimous vote of the three members present and constituting the quorum. Members of the Board who are government officials shall serve without additional compensation, however, they shall be allowed commutable travelling, representation and other necessary allowances.
SECTION 10. Executive Director, Powers and Duties. -- The POPCOM shall have an Executive Director to be appointed by the Chairman, subject to the approval of the Board. The Executive Director shall have the following powers, duties and responsibilities:
SECTION 11. Personnel. -- The POPCOM shall have such personnel as may be necessary for the performance of its basic functions and such other personnel as may be assigned or detailed from other agencies of the Government. All positions, except technical and professional staff and such other positions as the Board may declare to be highly technical, policy determining or primarily confidential; shall be subject to Civil Service rules and regulations and coverage of the plans of the Wage and Position Classification Office: Provided, That, all personnel shall be entitled to the benefits and privileges normally accorded to government employees, such as retirement, GSIS insurance, leave and similar matters: Provided, further, That, in the appointment and promotion of employees, merit and efficiency shall serve as basis, and no political test or qualification shall be prescribed and considered for such appointments or promotions: Provided, finally, That, the POPCOM shall be the final authority on appeals on personnel matters concerning it s professional and technical personnel.
SECTION 12. Donations. -- The POPCOM shall be authorized to receive grants, donations, or gifts, in whatever form and from whatever sources: Provided, That, said grants, gifts, or donations shall be administered, obligated and disbursed in accordance with the terms thereof, or in the absence of such terms, in such manner as a majority of the Board may in its discretion determine: Provide, finally, That, said grants, gifts, donations shall be subject only to such limitations as the grantor, giver or donor may impose as accepted by the POPCOM.
SECTION 13. Appropriations. -- The sum of fifteen million pesos is hereby appropriated annually out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, as operating funds of the POPCOM starting in the fiscal year nineteen hundred and seventy four: Provided, That, out of this sum shall be disbursed the equivalent of the amount of three hundred fifty thousand dollars as annual contributions of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities; Provided, further, That, at least seventy-five percent of said amount of $350,000 shall be used annually to finance population projects in the Philippines pursuant to this Act which are approved by the United Nations for Population Activities; and Provided, finally, That, said amount may be increased or decreased in the succeeding years by POPCOM in accordance with its financial position. This appropriation shall hereafter be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 14. Repeal. -- Any and all Acts, Statutes, Rules, Regulations or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
SECTION 15. Separability. -- If for any reason, any part of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, no other provision of this Act shall be affected thereby.
SECTION 16. Effectivity. -- This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila this 8th day of December in the year of Our Lord nineteen hundred and seventy-two.
(SGD.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(SGD.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary