WHEREAS, on July 24, 1964, upon request of the Government of South Vietnam, and in consonance with the stand taken by the Philippine Delegation in the Ninth SEATO Council Meeting held in Manila from April 13 to 15, 1964, the Congress of the Philippines enacted Republic Act Numbered Forty-one hundred sixty-two, authorizing the President of the Philippine to send economic and technical assistance to South Vietnam;

WHEREAS, the Government of South Vietnam has requested the Philippine Government for more assistance with a view to carrying out socio-economic projects calculated to improve the living conditions of the people in the areas recovered from Communist control;

WHEREAS, the Government of the Philippine views the said request for more assistance with the utmost sympathy and, in consonance with the stand taken by the Philippine Delegation in the Tenth SEATO Council meeting held in London from May 3 to 5, 1965, is ready within the limits of its capability to continue extending economic and technical assistance to South Vietnam: Now therefore,

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. The President of the Republic of the Philippines is hereby authorized to increase Philippine economic and technical assistant to South Vietnam as provided for under Republic Act Numbered Forty-one hundred sixty-two by sending to that country a Civic Action Group consisting of engineer construction, medical and rural community development teams which shall undertake socio-economic projects mutually agreed upon by the Government of South Vietnam. The said Civic Action Group shall be provided with its own security support.

All personnel sent to Vietnam under the authority of this Act shall be drawn from volunteers and shall at all times be under a Philippine command. No person shall be included in the Civic Action Group and the security one herein provided unless he signs a sworn statement that he has volunteered to join said group.

SEC. 2. It shall be unlawful for any person to compel, induce, or allow anyone to go to South Vietnam under this Act without the sworn statement provided for in Section one hereof. Any violation of this section shall be punishable by imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than five years.

SEC. 3. To carry out of this purposes of this Act, the sum of thirty-five million pesos, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June, 18, 1966.