1958 Anti-TB Semi Postal Issue

Tuberculosis has been a major cause of death in the Philippines for decades and continues to be a significant health problem with 30,000 reported deaths from the disease in 2010. From 1958 to 1974, the Bureau of Posts issued Anti-Tuberculosis semi-postal stamps (except 1966, 1968, and 1971) pursuant to Republic Act No. 1685 of the Third Congress of the Philippines (see Addendum). The law made it mandatory for the Director of Posts to issue the semi-postal stamps which were to be affixed to all mail posted between August 19 and September 30 to raise funds for the Philippines Tuberculosis Society.

The first anti-TB semi-postal stamps were issued on August 19, 1958 and feature the Quezon Institute (formerly Santol Sanitorium, Manila) and a vignette of  President Quezon, a dedicated anti-TB fund raiser. Manuel Quezon died of  TB in 1944.

First Day of Issue Cachet

First Day Covers

(Not in author's collection)

(Not in author's collection)

 Addendum

REPUBLIC ACT No. 1635

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE PRINTING AND ISSUE OF SEMI-POSTAL STAMPS IN ORDER TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE PHILIPPINE TUBERCULOSIS SOCIETY.

Section 1. To help raise funds for the Philippine Tuberculosis Society, the Director of Posts shall order for the period from August nineteen to September thirty every year the printing and issue of semi-postal stamps of different denominations with face value showing the regular postage charge plus the additional amount of five centavos for the said purpose, and during the said period, no mail matter shall be accepted in the mails unless it bears such semi-postal stamps. The additional proceeds realized from the sale of the semi-postal stamps shall constitute a special fund and be deposited with the National Treasury to be expended by the Philippine Tuberculosis Society in carrying out its noble work to prevent and eradicate tuberculosis.

Section 2. The sum of twenty-four thousand pesos, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to defray the cost of printing such semi-postal stamps in the current year, which sum shall be reimbursed from the special fund above created. The sum necessary to defray the cost of printing such stamps in subsequent years shall be taken from the said special fund.

Section 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 20, 1957.