Republic Act No. 6373

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1

Section one of Republic Act Numbered ninety-five is amended to read as follows:

"**Section 1.**There is hereby created in the Republic of the Philippines a body corporate and politic to be the voluntary organization officially designated to assist the Republic of the Philippines in discharging the obligations set forth in the Geneva Red Cross Convention and to perform such other duties as are incumbent upon a national red cross society.  The headquarters of this corporation shall be located in any of the cities of the Greater Manila area of the Republic of the Philippines."

Section 2

Section three of the same Act is amended by adding thereto the following subparagraph to read as follows:

"(f) In furtherance of the purposes mentioned in the preceding subparagraphs, the Philippine National Red Cross shall not be subject to duties, taxes, fees, and other charges of all kinds on all importations and purchases for its own exclusive use, on donations for its disaster relief work and on the benefits for its fund raising drive."

Section 3

Section five of the same Act, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Eight hundred fifty-five, is further amended to read as follows:

"Section 5. The governing powers and authority shall be vested in the Board of Governors, a body of thirty-three members, six of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, eighteen of whom shall be elected by the Chapter delegates in a biennial meeting, three of whom shall be ex-officio members composed of the immediate past chairman of the Board of Governors, the Budget Commissioner of the Republic of the Philippines and the Manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and the remaining six shall be selected by the twenty-seven members of the Board of Governors already chosen.  At least one but not more than three of the Presidential appointees shall be chosen from among members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.  The term of office of all members of the Board of Governors shall be four years.  Any member of the Board of Governors who has served two consecutive full terms of four years each shall be ineligible for membership on the Board for at least two years: Provided, however, That the membership of ex-officio members of the Board of Governors shall not be restricted to eight years.  The six appointed, the eighteen elected, and the six selected members first chosen under the provisions of the Act shall, by lot, divide themselves into two groups equal in number, with terms expiring at the end of two years and four years, respectively, so that thereafter one-half of the members shall be chosen biennially.

"Vacancies in the Board of Governors caused by death or resignation shall be filled by election by the Board of Governors at its next meeting, except that vacancies among the Presidential appointees shall be filled by the President.

"The President of the Philippines shall be the Honorary President of the Philippine National Red Cross.  The officers shall consist of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer, an Assistant.  Treasurer, and a Counselor, all of whom shall be elected by the Board of Governors from among its memberships.

The officers shall be elected for a term of two years and may be re-elected.  The election of officers shall take place within sixty days after all the members of the Board of Governors have been chosen and have qualified.

"The biennial meeting of chapter delegates shall be held on such date and such place as may be specified by the Board of Governors to elect members of the Board of Governors and advise the Board of Governors on the activities of the Philippine National Red Cross: Provided, however, That during periods of great emergency the Board of Governors in its discretion may determine that the best interest of the corporation will be served by omitting such biennial meeting.

"The power to ordain, adopt and amend by-laws and regulations shall be vested in the Board of Governors.

"The members of the Board of Governors, as well as the officers of the corporation, shall serve without compensation.  The compensation of the paid staff of the corporation shall be determined by the Board of Governors upon the recommendation of the Secretary General."

Section 4

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, August 16, 1971.