Section 7Sec./Art. 7

Central Body. - Pursuant to its obligations under the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional protocols, as well as the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the State recognizes the following:

(a)The central body of the Philippine Red Cross as the Board of Governors, composed of thirty (30) members, six (6) of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, eighteen (18) elected by chapter delegates in biennial conventions, and the remaining six (6) elected by the twenty-four (24) members of the Board already chosen.

(1)The term of office of all members of the Board of Governors shall be four (4) years, including those appointed by the President of the Philippines, renewable at the pleasure of the appointing power or elective bodies.

(2)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. (b) The President of the Philippines shall be the Honorary President of the Philippine Red Cross, and the officers shall consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Counselor, Assistant Secretary and an Assistant Treasurer, all of whom shall be elected by the Board of Governors from among its membership for a term of two (2) years and may be re-elected. The election of officers shall take place within sixty (60) days after all the members of the Board of Governors have been chosen and have qualified.

(b)The biennial meeting of chapter delegates shall be held on such date and place as may be specified by the Board of Governors to elect its members and advise them on the activities of the Philippine 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 Philippine Red Cross shall be served by postponing such biennial meeting.

(c)The power to ordain, adopt and amend bylaws, as well as its rules and regulations, including those governing its chapters, shall be vested in the Board of Governors.

(d)The members of the Board of Governors, as well as the officers, shall serve without compensation. The compensation of the paid staff of the Philippine Red Cross shall be determined by the Board of Governors upon the recommendation of the Secretary General.

(e)As a national voluntary society, the Philippine Red Cross shall be financed primarily by contributions obtained through solicitation campaigns throughout the year which shall be organized by the Board of Governors and conducted by the chapters in their respective jurisdictions. These fundraising campaigns shall be conducted independently of other fund drives and service needs.

(f)The Board of Governors shall promulgate rules and regulations for the chapters of the Philippine Red Cross. Said rules and regulations shall conform to the bylaws and rules and regulations created under Section 7 of this Act, and fix the relationship of the chapters to the Philippine Red Cross, define their territorial jurisdictions, and determine the number of delegates for each based on population, fund campaign potentials and service needs. This shall include the organization of Councils in all public schools and universities to promote civic consciousness among the youth. Participation in the Philippine Red Cross as part of the National Service Training Program for tertiary level students shall also be promoted.

(g)The Philippine Red Cross shall, at the end of every calendar year, submit to the President of the Philippines an annual report containing its activities and showing its financial condition.