Power of Municipal or City Boards and Councils to Regulate Amusement Places
Republic Act No. 938, enacted on June 20, 1953, empowers municipal and city boards or councils in the Philippines to regulate or prohibit the establishment, maintenance, and operation of various amusement venues, such as nightclubs and bars, within their jurisdictions. The Act exempts establishments operating under Commonwealth Act No. 485 and certain pre-war establishments that were reconstructed and resumed operations prior to the Act's approval. Existing laws regulating these establishments remain effective until modified by local ordinances. This legislation aims to provide local authorities with the necessary tools to manage entertainment venues according to community standards.
Law Information
- Reference Number
- Republic Act No. 938
- Date Enacted
- Category
- Statutes
- Subcategory
- Republic Acts
- Jurisdiction
- Philippines
- Enacting Body
- Congress of the Philippines
Full Law Text
June 20, 1953
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 938
AN ACT GRANTING MUNICIPAL OR CITY BOARDS AND COUNCILS THE POWER TO REGULATE THE ESTABLISHMENT, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF CERTAIN PLACES OF AMUSEMENT WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTIONS
SECTION 1. The municipal or city board or council of each chartered city shall have the power to regulate or prohibit by ordinance the establishment, maintenance and operation of night clubs, cabarets, dancing schools, pavilions, cockpits, bars, saloons, bowling alleys, billiard pools, and other similar places of amusement within its territorial jurisdiction: Provided, however, That this Act shall not apply to establishments operating by virtue of Commonwealth Act Numbered Four hundred eighty-five nor to pre-war establishments that owned, before the outbreak of the war on December seven, nineteen hundred and forty-one, concrete building for the purpose and have reconstructed such building and resumed operation before the approval of this Act. acd
All existing laws and executive orders regulating such places of amusement shall continue in force and effect in each such city until the municipal or city board or council thereof shall by ordinance provide otherwise.
SECTION 2. All laws and executive orders, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are amended by said provisions in so far as they refer to chartered cities. cdt
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: June 20, 1953
Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 49, No. 8, p. 3293 in August 1953
Cite This Law
Power of Municipal or City Boards and Councils to Regulate Amusement Places, Republic Act No. 938, Jun 20, 1953 (Philippines)
Power of Municipal or City Boards and Councils to Regulate Amusement Places, Republic Act No. 938 (Phil. 1953)
Browse More Statutes
Explore other laws in the Statutes category.
View All StatutesNeed Help Understanding This Law?
Ask our AI assistant to explain provisions, implications, or related laws.
Ask AI About This Law