Republic Act No. 4596

Section 1

Section seven-A of Act Numbered Thirty-four hundred and twenty-eight, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Forty-one hundred and nineteen, is amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 7-A. Bureau of Workmen's Compensation and Workmen's Compensation Commission. The Bureau of Workmen's Compensation, hereinafter referred to as the Bureau, and the Workmen's Compensation Commission attached thereto for a close working relationship as constituted and organized under the provisions and authority of Republic Act Numbered Nine hundred ninety-seven, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Twelve hundred forty-one, shall continue to exercise the powers, functions and duties under Act Numbered Thirty-four hundred and twenty-eight, as amended: Provided, however, That the Workmen's Compensation Commission shall henceforth be composed of a chairman and three associate commissioners.

"The Chairman and two associate commissioners shall have the same qualifications as those of judges of the court of first instance. The new associate commissioner who shall also known as the medical commissioner shall be a qualified doctor of medicine with experience in workmen's compensation work of at least ten years, to be appointed in the same manner and receive the same salary as the present associate commissioners.

"The funds necessary for the salary of the new associate commissioner shall be taken from the Workmen's Compensation Fund: Provided, That in the succeeding years, his salary shall be included in the national budget.

"Except as otherwise provided herein, the jurisdiction, powers and duties heretofore pertaining to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Workmen's Compensation under Republic Act Numbered Seven hundred and seventy-two shall be assumed and exercised by the Commission, which body is authorized to delegate the same to the extent that it shall remain as an appeal source with corresponding duties of promulgating related rules and regulations. The referees assigned to regional offices shall have the power to hear and decide all cases currently pending before said regional offices, which referees shall take jurisdiction thereof, administer and settle the same subject to appeal to the Commission in accordance with prescribed rules and regulations. Such referees shall assume original jurisdiction of all cases arising henceforth. The Commission may promulgate rules and regulations governing its internal functions as a quasi-judicial body including the power of each member to decide appealed cases from a referee, allowance for appeal from the decision of an individual member to the Commission en banc, and other allied rules covering jurisdiction to review, modify, or affirm all rules and regulations prepared by the Bureau."

Section 2

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 19, 1965