[ Commonwealth Act No. 717, November 01, 1945 ]

AN ACT APPROPRIATING ADDITIONAL SUMS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE THIRTIETH, NINETEEN HUNDRED AND FORTY-SIX.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled:SECTION 1. The following sums, or so much thereof may be necessary, are hereby appropriated out of any funds in the Philippine Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the operation of the Philippine Army for the fiscal year nineteen hundred and forty-six, in addition to the appropriations authorized therefor in the Appropriation Act for said fiscal year.The additional amounts herein appropriated shall be used for increase in the strength of the Philippine Army, as follows:(See Table of COMMONWEALTH ACT No. 717 in COMMONWEALTH ACTS NOS.654-733, 1941-1946 Page 1 to Page 5)SEC. 2. Any provision of existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding, all commissions for third lieutenants are hereby automatically raised to second lieutenants, and hereafter all initial commissions in the Philippine Army shall begin with the rank of Second Lieutenant.SEC. 3. The President shall have authority to transfer and expend not to exceed fifty per cent of the amount appropriated for any item in any purpose to any other item or items in the same or any other purpose.SEC. 4. The provisions of any law to the contrary not withstanding, the portions of the various sums herein appropriated corresponding to the period from July first, nineteen hundred and forty-five, to the time the United States Army ceases to pay the expenses of the Philippine Army and turns over the latter to the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines shall revert to the unappropriated surplus in the Philippine Treasury. SEC. 5. The funds herein appropriated shall not be released unless and until the Secretary of Finance and the Auditor General shall have certified to the President that there are existing and available funds in the National Treasury in excess of the sums appropriated in the General Appropriation Law for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and forty-six, and the priority appropriations established by law: Provided,That the President may order the release in full or in installments of the funds herein authorized as the Secretary of Finance and the Auditor General may certify to their existence and availability.SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.Approved, November 1, 1945.

Source: Supreme Court E-Library