Declaring a State of Emergency and Authorizing the President to Promulgate Rules and Regulations to Safeguard the Integrity of the Philippines

August 19, 1940

COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 600

AN ACT DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO SAFEGUARD THE INTEGRITY OF THE PHILIPPINES AND TO INSURE THE TRANQUILLITY OF ITS INHABITANTS

SECTION 1. The existence of war in many parts of the world has created a national emergency which makes it necessary to invest the President with extraordinary powers in order to safeguard the integrity of the Philippines and to insure the tranquillity of its inhabitants, by suppressing espionage and other subversive activities, by preventing or relieving unemployment, and by insuring to the people adequate shelter and clothing and sufficient food supply. To carry out this policy the President is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations which shall have the force and effect of law until the date of adjournment of the next regular session of the National Assembly, unless sooner amended or repealed by the National Assembly. Such rules and regulations may embrace the following objects: (1) to suppress espionage and other subversive activities; (2) to require all able-bodied citizens not engaged in any useful occupation (a) to engage in farming or other productive activities or (b) to perform such services as may be necessary in the public interest; (3) to take over farm lands in order to prevent failure or shortage of crops and avert hunger and destitution; (4) to take over industrial establishments in order to insure a continued normal production, controlling wages and profits therein; (5) to prohibit lockouts and strikes whenever necessary to prevent the unwarranted suspension of work in productive enterprises or in the interest of national security; (6) to regulate the normal hours of work for wage-earning and salaried employees in industrial or business undertakings of all kinds; (7) to insure an even distribution of labor among the productive enterprises; (8) to commandeer ships and other means of transportation in order to facilitate the free and continued movements of goods and merchandise; (9) to requisition and take over any public service or enterprise for use or operation by the Government; (10) to regulate rents and the prices of articles or commodities of prime necessity, both imported and locally produced or manufactured; and (11) to prevent, locally or generally, scarcity, monopolization, hoarding, injurious speculations, and private controls affecting the supply, distribution, and movement of foods, clothing, fuel, fertilizers, chemicals, building materials, implements, machinery, and equipment required in agriculture and industry.

SECTION 2. For the purpose of administering this Act and carrying out its objectives, the President may designate any officer, without additional compensation, or any department, bureau, office, or instrumentality of the National Government.

SECTION 3. Any person, firm, or corporation found guilty of the violation of any provision of this Act or of any of the rules or regulations promulgated by the President under the authority of section one of this Act shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than ten years or by a fine of not more than ten thousand pesos, or by both. If such violation is committed by a firm or corporation, the manager, managing director, or person charged with the management of the business of such firm, or corporation shall be criminally responsible therefor.

SECTION 4. The President shall report to the National Assembly within the first ten days from the date of the opening of its next regular session whatever action has been taken by him under the authority herein granted.

SECTION 5. To carry out the purposes of this Act, the President is authorized to spend such amounts as may be necessary from the sum appropriated under section five of Commonwealth Act Numbered Four hundred and ninety-eight.

SECTION 6. If any provision of this Act shall be declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional and void, such declaration shall not invalidate the remainder of this Act.

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

Approved, August 19, 1940.