Report of the governor general of the Philippine Islands. [1903]

14

REPORT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.

LOSS OF PROPERTY IN TROZO FIRE.
In the destructive Trozo fire, which occurred in May, 1903, and
rendered about 20,000 persons homeless within a period of two hours,
the board of health corral, buildings of the pail conservancy system,
cholera hospital, and detention camp were destroyed, together with
practically all the pioperty which they contained, or whiLch was
on the ground adjacent to them, except public animals, involving
a total loss to the board of health of more than $45,000, United States
currency. The emergency this presented was promptly and effectively
met by the board, and its operations were interrupted for a period of
but twelve hours. On the following day the board supplied tentage
to all homeless people who had been unable to secure shelter. Before
the natives would use the tents it was necessary to post notices on each
to the effect thAtt no charge would be made for occupying it. A sanitary organization was created for the burnt district, temporary latrines
were established, and the high rate of sickness which usually follows
catastrophes of this sort was averted. This is but one of several occurrences during the year which have demonstrated that the board of
health is not only able to cope with the difficulties which constantly
confront it, but can and does successfully meet great emergencies.
UNHEALTHFUL CONDITION OF BILIBID PRISON.
The commissioner of public health calls attention in his report to the
unhealthfulness of Bilibid Prison. It appears that there were 213
deaths among the convicts, with an average daily number of 2,152
imprisoned. This gives an annual death rate of 99 per thousand,
which is nearly three times greater than that for the general population of Manila during the same period. This death rate is highly
excessive, and its cause should be made the subject of immediate and
searching investigation.
BOARD OF HEALTH SUPPORTED BY MANILA COURTS.
The board of health has received assistance of the utmost value in
the enforcement of sanitary laws from the courts of Manila, and the
belief which seems to have existed in certain quarters that these laws
would not be enforced against wealthy and influential persons has been
shattered. Without such judicial support the sanitary work of the
city would have been paralyzed. Conditions have been less satisfactory in the provinces, where few convictions have been obtained.
SANITARY LAWS NOT SATISFACTORY.
The commissioner of public health, in his annual report, invites
attention to the fact that the laws for the sanitary government of the
city of Manila are incomplete, inconsistent, and do not properly meet
the needs of the situation, and that the functions and powers of the
board of health and its officials are much confused by the provisions
of acts 157 and 183 of the Philippine Commission. In this connection
it may with propriety be suggested that it is the function of the board
of health for the Philippine Islands to draft necessary sanitary legislation for submission to the Commission, and that repeated requests