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PHILIPPINE LAWS, STATUTES & CODES
A collection of Philippine laws, statutes and codes not included or cited in the main indices of the Chan Robles Virtual Law Library.
Republic Acts :
REPUBLIC ACTS
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REPUBLIC ACT NO. 509 - AN
ACT DECLARING NATIONAL POLICY, AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE
PHILIPPINES FOR A LIMITED PERIOD TO FIX CEILING PRICES OF COMMODITIES
AND TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS REGARDING PRICES OF COMMODITIES
TO EFFECTUATE SUCH POLICY, AND AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF A
CERTAIN SUM OF THE PURPOSE |
Section 1. It is
hereby declared to be the national policy during the effectivity of
this Act to prevent, locally or generally, scarcity, monopolization,
hoarding, injurious speculation, manipulation, and profiteering,
affecting the supply, distribution and movement of both imported and
locally manufactured or produced foodstuffs, textile, clothing, fuel,
light and illumination, footwear, drugs, medicines, medical, dental and
optical supplies, paper and paper products, school supplies, building
materials, agricultural and industrial machinery, fuel and lubricants,
and other articles, goods or commodities control of the price of which
may be deemed essential to the public interests.
Sec. 2. There is hereby created a Price Administration Board which shall be composed of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman who shall act as Price Administrator, who shall be the General Manager of the Philippine Relief and Trade Rehabilitation Administration, and three members, one to represent the consumers, another to represent the producers, and another to represent the distributors, who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments. The Price Administrator shall be the Executive Officer of the Board. Sec. 3. Whenever the price or prices of a commodity or commodities mentioned in section one hereof have risen or threaten to rise to an extent or in a manner inconsistent with the national policy declared in said section, the President of the Philippines, upon recommendation of the Price Administration Board, shall establish, by regulation or order, such maximum price or prices as shall be generally fair, reasonable and equitable, and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary to effectuate the purpose of this Act: Provided, however, That the price of palay, rice and corn shall be fixed by the President upon the recommendation of the Rice Emergency Board. In determining such maximum price or prices, the President, through the Price Administration Board, shall insofar as practicable, advise and consult with representative members of the industry which will be affected through a committee or committees, either national or regional, or both, of such industry. In the determination of such maximum prices, the President and the Price Administrative Board shall take into account relevant factors such as speculative fluctuations, general increases or decreases in cost of production, distribution, transportation, storage, and other relevant factors affecting prices. Any regulation or order issued under this section may be established in such form and manner, may contain such classifications and differentiations and may provide for such adjustments and reasonable exceptions as are necessary and proper in order to effectuate the purposes of this Act. Sec. 4. Whenever any article, goods or commodity is in short supply, or whenever there is an uncontrolled inflation of prices, the President, through the Price Administration Board or any office or officer he may designate, may, if public interests demand, order the sale thereof by the owner at ceiling prices giving first priority for its purchase to the Philippine Relief and Trade Rehabilitation Administration or order the sale by the owner thereof under the supervision of the Board, office or officer so designated, to the public of such article, goods or commodity. Sec. 5. Whenever any article, goods or commodity is in short supply, or whenever there exists reasonable ground to believe that it will disappear in the open market, or whenever there is an uncontrolled inflation of prices, the PRATRA or any agency or instrumentality of the government including any government-owned or controlled corporation may, with the approval of the President, import directly such article, goods or commodity for distribution in the local market through such channels as it may choose, and such importation shall not be subject to any quota requirement provided for by any economic control legislation. Sec. 6. In order to facilitate the determination of the maximum selling price of any article, goods or commodity and for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Act, the Price Administration Board and the local price administration committees shall, directly or through the commercial agents, the Philippine Relief and Trade Rehabilitation Administration, Internal Revenue Agents, Supervisors of the National Cooperative Administration, provincial, city and municipal treasurers and city and municipal police forces have the power: (a) to examine bills of lading bills of sale, invoices, books, records and other pertinent documents owned or in the possession of any importer, producer, manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer; and (b) upon the issuance of a search warrant, to inspect premises, bodegas or storerooms where stocks of articles, goods or commodities whose prices are controlled are kept. The Board and the local price administration committees may, by subpoena or subpoena duces tecum, require any person to appear and testify or to appear and produce books, records and other documents, or both, and in the case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued to any such person, the municipal court or the justice of the peace court of the city or municipality in which such importer, wholesaler, retailer, manufacturer or producer is found or resides or transacts business, upon application, and after notice to any such person and hearing, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear and give testimony or to appear and produce books, records, and other writings, or both, and any failure to obey such order of the court shall be punished by such court as contempt thereof. Sec. 7. Within thirty days after the approval of
this Act, all importers, manufacturers or producers, wholesalers, and
retailers of the articles, goods or commodities mentioned in section
one hereof and of other merchandise the price of which has been placed
under control shall file with the Price Administration Board or its
duly authorized representative a complete and true inventory of their
stock under oath. Thereafter, all expected shipment of goods, articles
or commodities by importers, shall be declared under oath to the Board
or its duly authorized representative within five days after receipt of
the corresponding bills of lading and other shipping documents. Sec. 8. Any importer, manufacturer or producer,
wholesaler or retailer who has in his possession and/or control any of
the articles, goods or commodities mentioned in section one hereof or
other merchandise the prices of which are under control, in excess of
the quantities reported by him under section seven of this Act shall be
deemed guilty of hoarding for which he shall be prosecuted and punished
under this Act. The excess stock shall be considered proof of the crime
and may be confiscated by the Price Administration Board and
immediately disposed of as property of the state in such manner as will
best serve the public interest, and the proceeds of such sale shall be
deposited with the court of justice having jurisdiction over the
criminal case for violation of this section. Sec. 9. The Price Administration Board or its duly authorized representative shall, upon information made under oath that any person, corporation, partnership or association has in his or its possession and/or control any of the articles, goods or commodities the prices of which have been placed under control by the said Board, in excess of the quantities reported by him as required in this Act, and, upon the issuance of a search warrant, direct agents of the Philippine Relief and Trade Rehabilitation Administration, Bureau of Internal Revenue Agents, commercial agents of the Bureau of Commerce, supervisors of the National Cooperative Administration, or such other government agents, as may be authorized in writing by the said Board, to enter and inspect factories, warehouses, stores or any establishment where such articles, goods or commodities are kept or stored to verify such excess. The excess stock shall be seized by the Government and disposed of in the manner provided in section eight hereof. Section 10. All persons engaged in the retail sale of the articles, goods and commodities mentioned in section one hereof and of merchandise the price of which has been placed under control shall post in a conspicuous place in their establishment, store or stall a list of all such articles, goods and commodities displayed and offered for sale with their corresponding prices, and, in addition, shall attach to said merchandise a price tag in such manner as to be within the plain view of the public. All displayed merchandise shall be deemed offered for sale. No person engaged in the retail trade shall refuse to sell any such displayed merchandise. Section 11. Any person not in authority who furnishes information that results in the discovery, seizure and confiscation of hoarded merchandise shall be entitled to a reward equivalent to twenty per centum of the value of the confiscated merchandise. Similarly, any person not in authority who furnishes information that results in the prosecution and conviction of any importer, producer or manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer for selling any article, goods or commodity at a price in excess of the maximum price shall be entitled to a reward equivalent to twenty per centum of the fine, payable from such fine. Upon his request, the name of the informer shall be kept secret and any government officer or employee authorized by rules and regulations to receive the information who reveals the name of the informer shall be punished under section twelve hereof. Section 12. Imprisonment for a period of not less
than two months nor more than twelve years or a fine of not less than
two thousand pesos nor more than ten thousand pesos, or both, shall be
imposed upon any person who sells any article, goods, or commodity in
excess of the maximum selling price fixed by the President; or who
hoards or keeps articles, goods or commodities mentioned in section one
hereof or such other merchandise the price of which has been placed
under control in excess of the quantities reported by him to the Price
Administration Board; or who refuses to sell any merchandise displayed
and offered for sale in his establishment, store or stall, or any
merchandise which though not displayed are in stock; or who having in
stock merchandise the price of which is under control shall transfer
the same or make a false or fictitious sale of all or any portion
thereof so as to defeat the purposes of this Act; or who fails or
refuses to file with the said Board an inventory of his stock and/or
transmit copies of bills of lading or bills of sale, or who violates
any provision of this Act or any rules or regulations issued by the
President pursuant to the provisions of this Act: Provided, however,
That in the case of aliens, in addition to the penalty herein provided,
the offender shall be, upon final conviction, subject to immediate
deportation without the necessity of any further proceedings on the
part of the Deportation Board. Section 13. All officers, agents, employees, agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, when so required by the Price Administration Board, shall act as its deputies and agents in carrying out and enforcing the provisions of this Act. Section 14. If any provision of this Act or the applicability of such provision to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this Act and the applicability of such provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. Section 15. All acts or executive order or parts thereof in conflict with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed. Section 16. The sum of one hundred thousand pesos, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is authorized to be appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated to carry out the provisions of this Act. Section 17. This Act shall take effect upon its
approval and shall continue in force until April 30, 1951, unless
sooner terminated by concurrent resolution of Congress: Provided,
however, That convictions rendered under this Act or under the duly
promulgated orders, rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto shall
remain valid and enforceable, and prosecutions of offenses committed
during the effectivity thereof shall continue and shall not be barred
until terminated by conviction or acquittal of the accused. Approved: June 13, 1950 |
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