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| REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1407 - AN
ACT TO BE KNOWN AS "THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS SHIPPING ACT OF NINETEEN
HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIVE" |
| Section 1.
Declaration of policy. — Shipping commands a transcendental position in
the economic development and growth of a nation. One of the urgent
needs of the Philippines is a well-balanced Philippine merchant marine
(a) sufficient to carry the expanding international trade of the
Philippines in time of peace, (b) capable of serving as a naval and
military auxiliary in time of war and national emergency, (c) owned and
operated under the Philippine flag by citizens of the Philippines, or
by associations or corporations organized under the laws of the
Philippines, at least sixty per cent of the capital of which is owned
by citizens of the Philippines, and (d) composed of the best equipped,
safest and most suitable types of modern vessels, and manned with
trained and efficient Filipino officers and crew. To attain this
objective it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Government of
the Philippines: (a) to encourage and assist vessels of Philippine
registry engaged in international trade; (b) to foster the development
and encourage the maintenance of such a Philippine merchant marine; (c)
to provide financiald and assistance in long-range ship-building
program, and at all times, to promote shipping in such other respects
as may be required to attract private capital and enterprise to the
shipping industry and create a healthy climate to attract private
enterprise to invest in the overseas transportation; and (d) to do
whatever may be necessary, from time to time, to attain these
objectives. The Republic of the Philippines, in common with other maritime nations, recognizes the international character of shipping in foreign trade and existing international practices in maritime transportation, and declares it to be part of its national policy to cooperate with other friendly nations in the maintenance and improvement of such practices. Section 2. In pursuance of the above-declared policy any citizen of the Philippines, or any association or corporation organized under the laws of the Philippines, at least sixty per cent of the capital of which is owned by citizens of the Philippines, engaged or which shall engage exclusively in the overseas shipping business, and in the construction of modern boats for overseas service shall be exempt from the payment of income tax on income derived from his or its overseas shipping business for a period of ten years from the date of approval of this Act or until September nine, nineteen hundred and seventy-five: Provided, that they shall invest the entire net income realized during the period of exemption which would have otherwise been taxable under the provisions of the Title II of the National Internal Revenue Code in the construction, purchase, or acquisition of additional vessels and equipment and/or in the improvement of its vessels and equipment. Investment of net income during period of exemption. — The amount so invested shall not be withdrawn for a period of twenty years after the expiration of the period of income tax exemption. Any amount withdrawn before the end of this period shall be subject to the corresponding income tax, including surcharges and interests. Any taxpayer wishing to take advantage of the tax-exemption in the preceding paragraph shall file annually regular income tax return with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, together with such information and supporting documents as the Bureau may require, indicating the net income exempt under this Act. Section 3. Investments of funds. — There is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated or from loans which may be contracted either locally or abroad for the purpose, by the National Development Company through an agency of the Philippine Government, for the fiscal year ending June thirty, nineteen hundred and fifty-six, and for each of the four fiscal years thereafter, the sum of twenty million pesos annually for the construction, purchase, or acquisition of ocean-going vessels for the purpose of resale, lease or charter to persons, associations or corporations referred to in section two of this Act. The fund may also be invested in loans to citizens of the Philippines or to associations or corporations organized under the laws of the Philippines, at least sixty per cent of the capital of which is owned by citizens of the Philippines, for the purpose of financing the construction, purchase, or acquisition and operation by such citizens, associations or corporations of ocean-going vessels. Section 4. Powers of National Development Company. — The administration and investment of the annual sums appropriated, pursuant to section three of this Act, shall be vested in the National Development Company, which is hereby authorized and empowered to acquire ocean-going vessels for resale upon an irrevocable contract to purchase such vessels; to make from the said sums the loans referred to above; to make or cause to be made studies and investigations of the person or entity applying for the loan of the shipping service to be established; and to determine the advisability of making said loan. Section 5. Security for loans. — All loans authorized under this Act shall be upon the security of a preferred mortgage on the vessel for the acquisition of which such loans are made, including its equipment, and the certificate or any other form of authorization for the operation of such vessels and the shipping service of the borrower. Ceiling on loans on vessels. — All said loans shall be self-liquidating within a period not to exceed twenty years and shall bear interest at the rate of not more than four and one-half per cent per annum: Provided, however, That such loans shall not exceed seventy-five per cent of the cost of the vessels: Provided, further, That such vessels shall be fully insured: Provided, finally, That no rights acquired under this Act by the vendee, lessee or charterer of the vessel shall, during the existence of the contractual agreement, be transferred or otherwise encumbered in favor of third parties without the consent of the National Development Company. Section 6. All moneys representing payments of principal and interest on loans made pursuant to this Act shall be considered as special fund to be used exclusively to carry out the provisions of this Act. Section 7. National Development Company additional powers. — The National Development Company is authorized and empowered to bid for and purchase at any foreclosure or other sale, or otherwise to acquire the vessels, including all other equipment, certificate or authorization for the operation of such vessels, pledged or mortgaged to secure any loan made pursuant to this Act; to pay the purchase price and any costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith from the sums authorized in section three of this Act; to accept title to any vessel, including all its property and equipment, certificate or authorization for its operation, so purchased or acquired in the name of the Government of the Philippines; to lease or charter on bare-boat basis for an amount which, if computed annually, shall not exceed seven per cent of the total cost of such vessel and equipment and for such period as may be deemed necessary or advisable to protect the investment therein; and to sell such vessel and all its property, certificate or authorization for its operation, so acquired, upon such terms and for such consideration as the National Development Company shall determine to be reasonable. The sale of vessels shall be made only to responsible persons who are citizens of the Philippines, or associations or corporations organized under the laws of the Philippines, at least sixty per cent of the capital of which is owned by citizens of the Philippines, who agree to maintain such lines upon such terms of payment and other conditions as may be deemed just and necessary to secure and maintain the service of said lines. Section 8. Investigations and studies. — For the purpose of making the studies and investigations herein provided for, the National Development Company may request and utilize, with the approval of the proper heads of departments, free of charge, such services of national officers and employees and of officers and employees of any government-owned or controlled corporation as are available, and such services shall be considered to have been rendered to the departments, bureaus or offices in which they are employed. Section 9. The National Development Company is empowered to issue the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Act subject to the limitations imposed in this Act. It shall present to the Congress at the close of each fiscal year a full report of its activities under this Act. Section 10. Use of vessels in wartime. — The President of the Philippines may in time of war and other national emergency, take possession, absolutely or temporarily, for any naval or military purpose, of any and all vessels of Philippine registry. The Government shall pay the person whose vessels has been taken, upon ascertainment by agreement or otherwise, the fair actual value based upon normal conditions at the time of taking the interest of such person in every vessel taken absolutely, or if taken for a limited period, the fair charter value under normal conditions for such period. Appraisal in case of disagreement. — In case of disagreement, as to such fair value it shall be determined by appraisers, one to be appointed by the National Development Company, one by the person whose vessel has been taken, and a third by the two so appointed. The finding of such appraisers shall be final and binding upon both parties. Section 11. For the purpose of this Act, an ocean-going vessel of Philippine registry is deemed to be engaged in international trade when it undertakes the carriages of goods and/or passengers from the Philippines to a foreign port, or from a foreign port to either another port or a Philippine port. Section 11½. Mortgage on vessels used in overseas shipping. — a. Any citizen of the Philippines,, or any association or corporation organized under the laws of the Philippines, at least seventy-five per cent of the capital of which is owned by citizens of the Philippines, engaged or which shall engage exclusively in the overseas shipping business, may, for the purpose of financing the construction, acquisition or purchase of vessels for use in overseas shipping, freely constitute a mortgage or any other lien or emcumbrance on such vessels and its equipment with any bank or other financial institutions, domestic or foreign. b. The instrument of mortgage, lien or encumbrance shall be recorded in the registry of vessels in the order of their reception and shall show: 1. The names of the vessels; 2. The names of the parties; 3. The time and date of reception of the instrument; 4. The interest in the vessel transferred or affected; and 5. The amount and date of maturity of any mortgage. A copy of the instrument of mortgage shall be furnished the Central Bank of the Philippines. c. Any mortgage, lien or encumbrance constituted in accordance with this Act is a preferred mortgage and shall constitute a maritime lien upon the mortgaged vessels in the amount of the outstanding mortgage indebtedness secured by such vessel. d. A preferred mortgage shall have priority over all claims against the vessel, except the following preferences in the order stated: 1. Judicial costs of the proceedings; 2. Taxes due to the Philippine Government; 3. Salaries and wages of the Captain and Crew of the vessel during its last voyage; 4. General average or salvage including contract salvage; bottomry loans; and indemnity due shippers for the value of goods transported but which were not delivered to the consignee; 5. Costs of repair and equipment of the vessel, and provisioning of food supplies and fuel during the last voyage; and 6. Preferred mortgages registered prior in time. e. The lien of a preferred mortgage may be enforced by suit in rem or otherwise in the Philippines, or in any foreign country in which the vessel shall be found pursuant to the procedure of said country for the enforcement of ship mortgages constituting maritime lines on vessels documented under the laws of said country. f. Extinction of claims against vessel. — After the bill of judicial sale at public auction has been executed, all claims against the vessel in favor of the creditors shall be considered extinguished, and such claim shall thereafter attach, in like amount and in accordance with their respective authorities to the proceeds of the sale. Claims paid out of proceeds of sale, when proceeds insufficient. — If the proceeds of the judicial sale should not be sufficient to pay all the creditors included in one number or grade, the residue shall be divided among them pro rata. All credits not paid, whether fully or partially, shall subsist as ordinary credits enforceable by personal action against the debtor. The record of the judicial sale be inscribed in the registry of vessels. Section 12. Procedure for dollar requirements. — All dollars required by ocean-going vessels of Philippine registry or by operators of ocean-going vessels of Philippine registry for the purchase of vessels, repair and improvement, engines, spare parts, accessories, supplies and other expenses required for the operation of the vessels in foreign ports or in the high seas, when recommended by the National Economic Council, shall be made available by the Central Bank of the Philippines or by any other agency in charge of dollar controls, subject to the rules and regulations of the Central Bank, free of exchange tax, and that all such engines, spare parts, accessories, supplies and materials needed for the repair or construction of vessels shall be exempt from the special import tax: Provided, That previous certification by the National Shipyards and Steel Corporation shall be issued to the effect that the above-mentioned vessels, repair and improvement, engines, spare parts, accessories and supplies cannot be furnished by the National Shipyards and Steel Corporation. All dollars acquired or spent by the owners of said vessels shall be properly accounted for to the Central Bank of the Philippines or to any other agency in charge of dollar controls. Section 13. All laws, executive orders and regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed. Section 14. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. Approved: September 9, 1955 |
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