Republic Act No. 294

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1

Section sixty-six of Act Numbered Four thousand three, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 66. Appropriation.— The sum not to exceed one hundred fifty thousand pesos is set aside yearly out of the funds accruing to the National Government from the fees authorized to be collected under this Chapter, including bonds that may be forfeited in accordance with the provisions of this Act or rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, penalties and fines, and all revenue collected from sales of fish and other aquatic products raised in fish farms, experimental, and demonstration stations established or which may be established in accordance with the provisions of this Act are set aside and appropriated, to be disbursed by the proper officials, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, for the following purposes:

"(a) For scientific and economic research work relative to the fishes, sponges, and other aquatic resources of the Philippines;

"(b) For the diffusion of knowledge among the fishermen of the Philippines;

"(c) For the study, improvement, propagation of the fishes and aquatic resources most suitable for Philippine waters;

"(d) For the establishment, maintenance, and operation of experimental stations, farms, aquariums, and fish culture laboratories;

"(e) For giving practical instruction in the culture of fishes and other aquatic resources in the most economic and efficient manner of fishing, in the preservation of fish and other aquatic products, in the management of fisheries and canneries;

"(f) For all other purposes the object of which shall be to foster, propagate, and protect fishes, shells, sponges, and other aquatic resources of the Philippines and carry out the provisions of this Act.

"Said sum shall be automatically appropriated annually in the Appropriation Act, commencing with the fiscal period nineteen hundred and forty-nine, and shall be available for the construction, maintenance, and repair of buildings, vessels, dams and other necessary land and buildings, the purchase of apparatus, instruments, chemicals, supplies, and other necessary materials, the salaries, wages and traveling expenses of the necessary personnel; and such other expenses as may be deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act in an effective and adequate manner: Provided, That any unexpended balance of the fund collected and herein appropriated at the end of each year shall not revert to the National Treasury but shall be used for the purposes for which it was appropriated: And Provided, further, That during the fiscal year nineteen hundred and forty-nine the difference between the maximum amount of one hundred fifty thousand pesos herein fixed and the amount appropriated in the Appropriation Act for the said fiscal year shall be spent subject to special budget in accordance with the provisions of section seven-1-(4) of Commonwealth Act Numbered Two hundred forty-six."

Section 2

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 16, 1948.