court shall have no jurisdiction in civil cases, except on the application of interested parties and upon their making an agreement in writing to accept the award of the court, in which cas e the court may hear and adjudge any case not involving property of greater value than the sum of two hundred pesos. Such judgment shall be awarded by a majority vote of the members of the court and shall be recorded by the secretary, and shall be final. EcDSHT [1397 18 ( h ).] S ECTION  2377 . Election of Popular Representative. — At the first convention of presidents called during any calendar year by the provincial board, the meeting of township and settlement presidents may elect a popular representative, who shall be chosen by a  majority vote of all the presidents present and who shall be a resident of the province at the time of his election and shall continue to be a resident thereof while serving as popular representative. If the residents of the townships and settlements of the province shall at any time feel themselves to be seriously aggrieved and shall be unable to obtain relief from the provincial governor, it shall be the duty of the popular representative, either in p erson or by written communication to lay their case directly before the Department head. All such, communications shall be promptly transmitted by the Government officials through whose hands they may pass. Should the popular representative desire to visit  Manila on official business, his journey shall be facilitated by all Government officials with whom he may come in contact. He shall in all cases, except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest at any time when arrest will interf ere with discharging the duties of his office, and for any communication or statement officially made to the Department head he shall not be held to account by any official, whether civil or military. Under no circumstances shall the traveling or other e xpenses of the popular representative, or any compensation to him, form a charge on the treasuries of the townships or on any one of them or on the provincial or Insular treasuries. HTcDEa [1397-65.] S ECTION  2390 . When Settlement may be Established. —  When any community of Christian people in a specially organized province is found to be so CHAPTER  49 Settlements ARTICLE  XVIII Popular Representative of Townships and Settlements Copyright 2012 CD Technologies Asia, Inc. and Accesslaw, Inc. Philippine Law Encyclopedia 2011 702