For the purposes of investigating and determining the adaptability of the soils and the homeseekers, allocating them accordingly and properly, and of preventing squatting on public lands in Agusan, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, and Lanao, Sulu, and Zamboanga, there is hereby created and constituted a Committee in each of these provinces to be composed of the following members:

(1) The district land officer, or his delegate, Chairman;

(2) The district forester, or his delegate, member;

(3) The provincial agricultural supervisor, member;

(4) The labor agent, or any authorized representative of the Department of Labor, member; and

(5) The district health officer, member.

In making the selection of lands where immigrants may settle, preference should be given to places along existing or proposed roads and in districts where health conditions are favorable; and care should be taken to select sites that are not covered by private claims which would expose the settlers to vexatious litigation. The district engineer will assist the Committee in an advisory capacity in allocating homeseekers in places along existing or proposed roads.

The Committee shall at all times be ready to counsel the homesteaders and render them such assistance as may be in their power.

The Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairman and render a monthly report of the progress of their activities to the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce.

Done at the City of Manila, this twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and thirty-seven, and of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the third.