An Act to Declare, In View of The Existence of a National Emergency, a National Policy In Connection Therewith, and to Authorize The President of The Philippines for a Limited Period to Promulgate Rules and Regulations and to Take Other Necessary Steps to Effectuate Such Policy, Prescribing Penalties for Violations of The Rules and Regulations Issued by The President, and Providing Appropriation Therefor

September 30, 1939

COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 498

AN ACT TO DECLARE, IN VIEW OF THE EXISTENCE OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY, A NATIONAL POLICY IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR A LIMITED PERIOD TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND TO TAKE OTHER NECESSARY STEPS TO EFFECTUATE SUCH POLICY, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT, AND PROVIDING APPROPRIATION THEREFOR

SECTION 1. The existence of a state of war among several nations of the world with which the Philippines has been maintaining commercial and trade relations, and from which this country has been importing foods, clothing, fuel, fertilizers, chemicals, building materials, implements, machinery, and equipment required in agriculture and industry, and other articles or commodities of prime necessity; the likely increase in insurance and freight rates; the scarcity of bottoms; the limitations with respect to the movement of commodities; and the consequent possible profiteering on the part of merchants outside of and inside the Philippines, have given rise to a national emergency, and to protect the public interests, it is declared to be the national policy during such emergency to prevent, locally or generally, scarcity, monopolization, hoarding, injurious speculations, manipulations, private controls, and profiteering, affecting the supply, distribution, and movement of foods, clothing, fuel, fertilizers, chemicals, building materials, implements, machinery, and equipment required in agriculture and industry, and other articles or commodities of prime necessity, both and imported and locally produced or manufactured. CSAcTa

SECTION 2. In order to carry out the above declared national policy, the President of the Philippines is authorized (a) to purchase any of the articles or commodities mentioned in section one hereof for storage, sale, or distribution for the relief of hunger and calamity stricken portions of the population, and in order to stabilize the prices of such commodities, (b) to fix the maximum selling prices of such articles or commodities, and (c) to promulgate such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary in the public interest, which rules and regulations shall have the force and effect of law until the date of adjournment of the next regular session of the National Assembly unless sooner revoked or the National Assembly provides otherwise.

SECTION 3. The President may designate any department, bureau, office, or instrumentality of the National Government or he may organize a new agency for the purpose of administering this Act and carrying out its objectives. If a new agency is organized, the President shall have the power to designate employees or officials from other offices of the National Government or its instrumentalities to work in the said agency.

SECTION 4. Any violation of the provisions of this Act or of the rules and regulations issued by the President pursuant to section two hereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand pesos or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both.

SECTION 5. To carry out the purposes of this Act, there is appropriated out of any funds in the Philippine Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of Ten Million Pesos, or so much thereof as may be necessary, which may, in the discretion of the President, be used as a revolving fund: Provided, That this sum shall not be set up on the books of the Auditor General until totally or partially released by order of the President.

SECTION 6. The President shall report to the National Assembly within the first ten days of its next regular session any action taken under the authority herein granted.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, September 30, 1939.