Commonwealth Act No. 728, enacted on July 2, 1946, prohibits the exportation of agricultural and industrial products from the Philippines without a permit from the President. The President is empowered to regulate and control these exports, issuing necessary rules and regulations. Violators of this Act may face fines of up to five years or imprisonment, and corporate entities can also be held accountable through their representatives. The authority under this Act is set to expire on December 31, 1945, or earlier as designated, but provisions for ongoing offenses remain in effect. Annual reports on the Act's implementation are required to be submitted to Congress.
July 2, 1946
COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 728
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN EXPORTS FROM THE PHILIPPINES, TO AUTHORIZE THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES TO REGULATE, CONTROL, CURTAIL AND PROHIBIT SAID EXPORTS, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION OF THIS ACT AND OF REGULATIONS ISSUED PURSUANT THERETO, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
SECTION 1. It shall be unlawful for any person, association or corporation to export to any destination agricultural or industrial products, merchandise, articles, materials, and supplies without a permit from the President of the Philippines. HTacDS
SECTION 2. The President may regulate, curtail, control and prohibit the exportation referred to in the preceding section and issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, through such Department or office as he may designate.
SECTION 3. In case of violation of section one hereof or of any rule or regulation issued under this Act, such violator or violators, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five years, or by both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court: Provided, That if the violation is committed by the manager, representative, director, agent, or employee of any natural or juridical person in the interest of the latter the same shall render said natural or juridical person amenable to the penalties corresponding to the offense, without prejudice to the imposition of the proper penalty, either personal or pecuniary, or both, upon the manager, representative, director, agent, or employee: And provided, further, That the principals or employers who are juridical persons shall be amenable only to the pecuniary penalty corresponding to the particular offense.
SECTION 4. The authority granted in this Act shall terminate on December 31, 1945, or upon any prior date which the Congress, by concurrent; resolution, or the President, may designate; except that as to offenses committed, or rights or liabilities incurred prior to such date, the provisions of this Act and of the rules and regulations issued thereunder shall be treated as remaining in effect for the purpose of sustaining any suit, action, or prosecution with respect to such right, liability, or offense.
SECTION 5. The President or the Department or Office designated to carry out effectively the purposes of this Act, shall render an annual report to the Congress of the Philippines of its activities and actuations. aITECA
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: July 2, 1946