An Act Authorizing the President of the Philippines to Reserve Certain Parcels of Land of the Philippine Government for the Free Use of the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Organization; Appropriating Funds for the Construction of Buildings Thereon; Appropriating Funds for the Payment of Rental on the Temporary Offices of the Asian Development Bank, and for Other Purposes

REPUBLIC ACT No. 4649

An Act Authorizing the President of the Philippines to Reserve Certain Parcels of Land of the Philippine Government for the Free Use of the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Organization; Appropriating Funds for the Construction of Buildings Thereon; Appropriating Funds for the Payment of Rental on the Temporary Offices of the Asian Development Bank, and for Other Purposes

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

Section 1. For purposes specified in Section two of this Act, the President of the Philippines is hereby authorized to reserve unconditionally two parcels of private land owned by the Philippine Government with a combined area of twelve thousand two hundred square meters, situated in Greater Manila, and more specifically on Roxas Boulevard, in the City of Pasay, and more particularly described as follows:

Section 2. The reservation shall be for the purpose of erecting buildings on the land, which land and buildings shall be provided, free of charge, for the use and occupancy of the Asian Development Bank, its subsidiary bodies and affiliated institutions and the United Nations Organization, its subsidiary bodies, specialized agencies and other affiliated institutions, during the entire period of their legal existence.

Section 3. In case the Asian Development Bank or the United Nations Organization is dissolved or permanently ceases for any reason to require the use of the land and buildings, such use shall automatically revert to the Philippine Government.

Section 4. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, there is hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of thirty million pesos, or so much thereof as shall be necessary to construct, furnish, and maintain the buildings and its premises.

There is likewise appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of one million five hundred thousand pesos, or so much thereof as shall be necessary to pay the costs of partitions, furnishings, utilities, maintenance and rental for the temporary offices of the Asian Development Bank prior to the completion of the buildings authorized to be constructed hereunder, and to reimburse the Philippine Government office or offices, agency or agencies or government-owned or controlled corporations for such net rentals as said offices, agencies or corporations may have paid for the temporary offices of the Asian Development Bank prior to the effectivity of this Act.

Section 5. Provisions of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding, the Philippine Coordinating Committee on the Asian Development Bank organized under the provisions of Executive Order No. 228 dated December 15, 1965, is hereby authorized to administer and disburse funds appropriated herein, to engage the services of private architects and engineers to prepare complete plans, specifications and other related contract documents for the buildings and its premises; to advertise for, evaluate and award the contracts for the construction of the Asian Development Bank and United Nations Organization buildings, the procurement of furnishings therefor, the landscaping to be done, and the maintenance and repair of the buildings and its premises; and to perform such other functions as may be necessary or desirable to properly discharge its responsibilities.

Section 6. All importations of construction materials, facilities and equipment for the buildings provided hereunder and for the maintenance and repair of said facilities and equipment, shall be exempt from all taxes, duties, fees, imposts, and other charges on or in respect of such importations.

Section 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 9, 1966.