[ Commonwealth Act No. 687, September 26, 1945 ]

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE SEPARATION OF THE SUBPROVINCE OF CATANDUANES FROM THE PROVINCE OF ALBAY AND ITS ESTABLISHMENT AS AN INDEPENDENT PROVINCE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled:SECTION 1. On the thirtieth day after the approval of this Act, the Subprovince of Catanduanes shall be separated from the Province of Albay and shall constitute a separate independent province, which shall be called the Province of Catanduanes.SEC. 2. The present territory of the Subprovince of Catanduanes shall be the territory of the Province of Catanduanes so established, and its capital shall be the municipality of Virac. The provisions of the Revised Administrative Code and other laws, in so far as they are applicable to a regularly organized province, shall apply to the government and operation of said province and to the election, appointment and remuneration of the officers thereof.SEC. 3. The elective provincial officials of the new Province of Catanduanes shall be appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, and shall hold office until their successors shall be duly elected and shall have qualified: Provided, however, That the present lieutenant-governor of Catanduanes shall perform the duties of the office of the provincial governor of the new province until his successor shall have been elected at the next general election and shall have duly qualified.SEC. 4. The Province of Catanduanes shall have a Representative in the House of Representatives. The present Representative for the Fourth District of Albay shall, during his term of office as Representative, be considered as Representative of the Province of Catanduanes.SEC. 5. The present mayors, vice mayors and municipal councilors of the municipalities within the new Province of Catanduanes shall remain in their respective offices until their successors shall have been elected at the next election and shall have duly qualified.SEC. 6. The present justices of the peace and other appointive municipal officials and employees of the different municipalities of the Subprovince of Catanduanes shall continue o perform their duties in their respective municipalities in accordance with law.SEC. 7. The Province of Albay shall have three Representatives in the House of Representatives, and the present First, Second and Third Districts of Albay shall continue to be such districts of said province.SEC. 8. The funds and obligations and the property of all kinds to be assigned to the Province of Albay and the new Province of Catanduanes shall, upon the establishment of the latter, be distributed equitably between the two provinces, in such manner as the Auditor General may recommend and the President approve.SEC. 9. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are repealed.SEC. 10. This Act shall take effect on its approval.Approved, September 26, 1945.

Source: Supreme Court E-Library