WHEREAS, on
December 24, 1970, acting on the proposals made by the leaders of the
sugar industry, I, as President of the Philippines, directed the Sugar
Quota Board to issue an order for the collection of a Stabilization Fee
of P1.00 for every picul of sugar produced in lieu of the P3.00 charged
on every picul of domestic sugar for an amelioration fund which I had
ordered to be established earlier, and thereafter, the Sugar Quota
Board issued Philippine Sugar Order No. 3, series 1970-71, dated
December 29, 1970, amended later by Philippine Sugar Order No. 4,
series 1970-71, dated January 12, 1971, and further later amended by
Philippine Sugar Order No. 31, series 1971-72, dated December 23, 1971,
whereby a Stabilization Fee of P1.00 per picul on all sugar produced
would be collected, ninety per cent (90%) of which is to be distributed
as bonuses to the sugar workers and/or disposed of according to any
agreement between the employer and the labor union of his employees,
and the balance of ten per cent (10%) to form as the working fund of
the Sugar Industry Foundation, Inc.; and WHEREAS, despite the
above-mentioned Philippine Sugar Orders, and the corresponding Field
Service Instructions issued by the Sugar Quota Administration, there
have been verified reports that some sugar farm and mill workers have
failed to enjoy their legitimate share in the benefits of the social
amelioration program of the sugar industry; chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines,
by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, and pending
the full implementation of Presidential Decree No. 388, including the
formal organization of the Philippine Sugar Commission in accordance
therewith, and in order that the desired objectives of the Sugar
industry's amelioration program for the improvement of the social and
economic conditions of the sugar workers and their families can be
achieved in an orderly and equitable manner, and upon the
recommendations of the leaders of the sugar planters, millers and
workers, do hereby order and decree that the Secretary of Labor shall
exercise general supervision and control over and to issue the
necessary rules and regulations on the proper and equitable
implementation of the social amelioration program of the sugar
industry, pursuant to the abovementioned Philippine Sugar Orders of the
Sugar Quota Board.
Any person who shall wilfully refuse upon demand, to pay his share of
the stabilization fee or the legitimate claim of any worker covered by
this Decree as determined by the Secretary of Labor shall be fined the
amount of P1,000.00 nor more than P10,000.00 or an imprisonment of not
less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years or both such fine
and imprisonment at the discretion of the court or military tribunal:
Provided, that if the offender is a corporation, firm, partnership, or
association, the penalty shall be imposed upon the guilty officer or
officers, as the case may be, and if such guilty officer or officers
are aliens, in addition to the penalty prescribed, he or they shall be
deported without further proceedings on the part of the Commission on
Immigration and Deportation. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
This Decree shall take effect beginning the crop year 1974-1975.
Done in the City of Manila,
this 21st day of December, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred
and seventy-four.
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