Republic Act No. 4359

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

Section 1

The National Schistosomiasis Control Program is hereby created under the Department of Health to serve as a liaison agency between the government of the Philippines and the WHO/UNICEF, and as a coordinating body to ensure the concerted effort of various agencies concerned in planning and implementing a comprehensive program for schistosomiasis control in endemic and potentially endemic areas of the country.

Section 2

The membership of the Commission shall be composed of the following: The Secretary of Health as chairman, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, the Chairman, National Economic Council, the Social Welfare Administrator, the Commissioner of Agricultural Productivity, the Director General of Program Implementation Agency, the National Irrigation Administrator, the Presidential Assistant on Community Development, the General Manager, National Waterworks & Sewerage Authority, the Budget Commissioner, and the President, Philippine Medical Association.

The chairman may designate the technical head of the schistosomiasis control program as executive secretary of the Commission. He may also secure the services on detail basis of officials and employees of other branches and agencies of the government to assist the Commission in the discharge of its duties and functions.

Section 3

The Commission shall create an executive committee and such other committees or sub-committees as may be necessary for the effective and efficient performance of its duties and proper exercise of its powers and responsibilities.

Under the executive committee there shall be created the secretariat and the necessary personnel provided therefor to carry out the administrative and general services functions of the National Schistosomiasis Control Commission.

Section 4

The members of the National Schistosomiasis Control Commission will serve in honorary capacity and shall receive no compensation or remuneration, except traveling expenses and per diems when attending sessions of the Commission, its committees and sub-committees in such amount and under such conditions as the Secretary of Health may prescribe.

Section 5

The National Schistosomiasis Control Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) Formulate and carry out a comprehensive national schistosomiasis control program.

(b) Foster effective exchange of information and coordination of projects, programs and activities of various agencies connected with schistosomiasis control.

(c) Establish effective liaison with participating agencies.

(d) Submit recommendations to the President on administrative or legislative measures that will effectively carry out the national control program for the disease.

Section 6

The Commission, its committees and sub-committees shall meet regularly and may hold such special meetings as the exigencies of the undertaking may demand.

Section 7

To carry out the provisions of this Act, the sum of two hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, which sum shall be placed at the disposal of the national schistosomiasis control program in the Philippines.

Section 8

All Acts or parts of Acts, rules and regulations, and executive orders inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 9

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 19, 1965.