WHEREAS, it
is necessary for the economic growth and stability of the Philippines
to expand exports, conserve foreign exchange and strengthen our
international trade and balance of payments position; chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, in order to make our exports competitive and contain increases
in domestic prices of goods, it is important not only to provide
adequate and efficient shipping services but also to secure reasonable
freight rates for our export and import cargoes;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, these objectives can be attained through pooling of
homogeneous cargoes for shipment in bulk, efficient vessel chartering,
utilization of shipping lines which charge reasonable freight rates and
other measures;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, Philippine shippers need assistance in effecting cargo
consolidation and other means to secure economic carriage of their
goods; chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of
the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the
Constitution, do hereby order and decree the following a part of the
law of the land:cralaw:red
Section 1. A Freight Booking and Cargo Consolidation
Center, hereinafter referred to as Freight Center, is hereby
established as an integral part of the Philippine Shippers' Council,
with the following duties, functions and powers:cralaw:red
a. To encourage, facilitate and assist Philippine
shippers in, and effect the consolidation of their cargoes, in order to
achieve economy and efficiency in bulk shipments;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
b. To provide systematic vessel chartering services
or charter vessels for the benefit of Philippine shippers;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
c. To secure adequate shipping services for the
carriage of Philippine overseas trade and book cargoes, at reasonable
freight rates;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
d. To serve as the central implementing authority for
the utilization of Philippine shipping lines for the seaborne transport
of Philippine export and import cargoes, as prescribed under
Presidential Decree No. 894; and
e. To foster cooperation among, and enter into
suitable arrangements with relevant private and public sectors in the
Association of Southeast Asian nations for these purposes and projects.
Section 2. The Secretary of Trade as Chairman of the
Philippine Shippers' Council shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations after consultation with the private sector for the
effective implementation of this Decree. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Section 3. The sum of two hundred fifty thousand
(P25,000.00) pesos is hereby appropriated from funds in the National
Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, for the administration and
initial operations of the Freight Center unit December thirty-one of
the current fiscal year. Thereafter, its appropriation shall be
included in the national government budget.
Section 4. The Freight Center is hereby authorized to
collect reasonable fees for its services, which shall be utilized for
the training and development of its services, as the Board of Directors
of the Philippine Shippers' Council may authorize.
Section 5. All provisions of laws, decrees, orders,
rules and regulations which are inconsistent with or contrary to the
provisions of this Decree are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Section 6. This Decree shall take effect upon its
approval.
Done in the City Manila, this
1st day of April, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
seventy-six.
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