Be it enacted by the National Assembly of the Philippines:

SECTION 1. Any provision of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding, when an officer in the Executive Department of the Government, appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of the National Assembly oy by the President alone, is unable to perform the duties of his office owing to illness, absence, or other cause, or in case of vacancy in the office, the President may designate another officer already in the service or any other competent person to act temporarily in said office, and such person shall, during the period of his temporary incunbency, receive the compensation corresponding to the regular incumbent, which compensation shall be paid out of the appropriations for the office of concerned, unless he is already in the Government service in which case he shall receive only such additional compensation as, with his existing salary, shall not exceed the salary authorized by law for the position filled: Provided, That with respect to vacancies in offices the regular incumbents of which are appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of the National Assembly, such temporary designation and any other made to the same office during the period of such vacancy shall in no case continue beyond the date of the adjournment of the regular session of the National Assembly next following such designation.

SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, August 12, 1940.