Chapter IX: PUBLIC WELFARE.--One of the first acts of the Philippine government

since control was turned over into the hands of Filipinos was the creation of the so-called Public Welfare Board entrusted with the task of coördinating the work of private and public welfare agencies. The board acts as the agency for controlling the disbursement of public charity funds to semi-public institutions like the Anti-tuberculosis Society, the Gota de Leche, and the Women's Clubs.

On February 23, 1916, an act was passed by the Legislature appropriating P1,000,000 for the protection of early infancy and the establishment of branches of the "Gota de Leche." Local organizations were granted aid from this funds as much as what they raised.

In 1917 the government established an orphanage for destitute and dependent children from all over the islands, managed according to the most modern methods.

[Public Welfare Commissioner]

On February 18, 1918, the public welfare board membership was reduced to five and its administrative control placed under the Department of the Interior. The administration of the million-peso funds for the protection of early infancy and the establishment of maternity and child-welfare centers were also placed under the control of the Secretary of the Interior on March 22, 1920. Later these activities were all grouped together by Act 2988, enacted February 24, 1921, into one office--the office of the public welfare commissioner--which started operation on May 1, 1921.

The aim of the office is summarized thus: To promote all work directed towards the early reduction of infant mortality in the Philippines by employing adequate means for this purpose and for carrying out other activities intended to bring about the general welfare of the community, especially that which concerns children.

A central executive office is maintained in Manila. It investigates social conditions and compiles sociological information for distribution. Social centers are being established throughout the Islands. On December, 1922, 183 puericulture centers were in existence as against 80 on December, 1921.