ON AUGUST 6, 1906, the system of weights and measures were reformed and legalized in terms of the metric system, when the Philippine Commission Act No. 1519 was enacted.
A careful study of the matter by government experts in the Bureau of Science, found that the standard weight and capacity had become deplorably falsified and irregular.
It was commonly said that the only reliable unit of measure was a “Standard Oil Can”. The debasement and frauds practised fell heaviest upon the poorest purchasers and consumers. Thus, it was decided to standardize the native measures and adopt the international metric system.
The “kaban” was made exactly equal 75 liters. A “ganta” was made 3 liters. “Chupa” was made 375 thousandths of a liter.
Act No. 1519 took eff ect Janaury 1, 1907.
