Section 1. Whenever the Governor-General 1 shall certify in a
proclamation that a public calamity exists in any given locality within
the Philippine Island as a result of any typhoon, earthquake, or other
acts of God of a similar nature, it shall be, unlawful for any person,
firm or corporation in such locality, from and after the last date of
the publication of said proclamation as hereinafter provided, and
during the existence of such calamity, (1) to sell or offer for sale
palay, rice, or corn, building or construction materials, and other
prime necessities of life to be specified in such proclamation, at
prices higher by twenty-five per cent or more over and above the
average current local price of such commodities one month previous to
the occurrence of such public calamity as may be determined by the
Director of Commerce; (2) to aggravate the crisis by refusing for the
purpose of profiteering to sell at the legal price or by hiding,
concealing or hoarding the goods, or commodities for the same purpose.
As soon as the Governor-General 2 shall become satisfied that the
existence of a public calamity as certified by him in a proclamation
has already ceased, he shall, by like proclamation, declare the
cessation of such public calamity and upon such proclamation the
effects of this section with regard to the locality or localities
affected shall thereby cease.
Sec. 2. The Governor-General 3 shall cause the
proclamations required in the preceding section to be published in the
Official Gazette and for three consecutive issues in two daily
newspapers of general circulation in the Islands, one in Spanish and
another in English, which, in opinion may be best fitted to apprise the
inhabitants of the locality affected with the terms of said
proclamations.
Sec. 3. The Governor-General 4 may, during the
period of emergency, herein provided for, if in his judgment public
order so requires, order the seizure of a commodity or material or
merchandise or prime necessity, sell it to the public at the price
herein authorized, and reimburse to the owner of the same its legal
price.
Sec. 4. Any person, firm or corporation violating
the terms of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less than two
hundred pesos nor more than two thousand pesos, or by imprisonment for
not less than two months nor more than two years, or both, at the
discretion of the Court; and the forfeiture of the corpus delicti. In
the case of a firm or corporation, the manager or administrator
thereof, shall be criminally responsible for the violation of this Act
by such firm or corporation.
Sec. 5. This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.
Footnotes
1. Now President of the Philippines.
2. Id.
3. Id.
4. Id.
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