Republic Act No. 657, enacted on June 16, 1951, aims to promote the production and consumption of cassava flour in the Philippines to bolster the economy, conserve foreign currency, and regulate wheat flour imports. The law mandates that importers of wheat flour must purchase and sell cassava flour in specified proportions, not exceeding 30% of the total weight of wheat flour imported. Non-compliance with these conditions can result in the cancellation of import licenses and disqualification from future imports for up to five years. The act emphasizes the importance of supporting local agriculture while adhering to international agreements on wheat importation.
June 16, 1951
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 657
AN ACT TO PROMOTE THE PRODUCTION OF CASSAVA FLOUR, TO REGULATE THE IMPORTATION OF THE WHEAT FLOUR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
SECTION 1. It is hereby declared to be in the interest of the country's economy and the development of its agriculture and industry, to encourage and promote the production, processing and consumption of cassava flour as a measure to conserve dollars, to prevent the scarcity of wheat flour, and to regulate its importation, consistent with the commitments of the Republic of the Philippines under the International Wheat Agreement.
SECTION 2. For the purpose of carrying out the policy set forth in section one of this Act, the Price Stabilization Corporation is hereby authorized and directed to prescribe as a condition for the issuance of any license to import wheat flour from abroad that the importer shall buy cassava flour in such proportions, not to exceed thirty (30%) per centum of wheat flour by weight, as may be prescribed by the Administrator of Economic Coordination, and shall sell cassava flour and wheat flour in the same proportions. casia
SECTION 3. Any importer of wheat flour who refuses or purposely avoids or deliberately fails to comply with the conditions provided in the preceding section shall not be granted any license to import wheat flour. The license to import wheat flour of any importer found by the Price Stabilization Corporation to have sold wheat flour without the corresponding proportion of cassava flour shall be forthwith cancelled and the said importer shall for a period of not more than five (5) years be disqualified to engage in the importation of wheat flour. An appeal may be made by the importer to the Administrator of Economic Coordination whose decision shall be final. cdt
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: June 16, 1951
Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 47, No. 7, p. 3378 in July 1951