Presidential Decree No. 627 (PD 627) — Authorizing the Philippine Tobacco Board to Fix Floor Prices of Philippine Grown Tobacco.
WHEREAS, tobacco is one of the country’s principal
agricultural products upon which a substantial number of the people
depend on for their livelihood;
WHEREAS, there is an imperative need to protect the interest
of tobacco farmers considering the rising cost of production and prices
of prime commodities caused by unprecedented world-wide inflation;
WHEREAS, the Philippine Tobacco Board has been reorganized
as the sole policy-making body of the Philippine Tobacco Industry;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution,
do hereby decree and order:
SECTION 1. The Philippine Tobacco Board, upon recommendation
of the agencies concerned, shall fix a reasonable and flexible floor
price at which tobacco traders may buy all types of tobacco, except
flue-cured Virginia tobacco, from the farmers based on prevailing
factors and conditions such as:
prevailing world market situations;
production costs;
reasonable margin of profit for the farmers, dealers,
manufacturers and exporters;
growing conditions which affect quality of production such as
soil and weather, pest infestations; and
other relevant factors and conditions
The said floor prices may be amended by the Philippine Tobacco
Board as it may deem necessary and warranted for the good of the tobacco
industry and warranted for the good of the tobacco industry.
SEC.
2. Only persons duly authorized by the government agencies
concerned shall be allowed to buy leaf tobacco directly from the
farmers.
SEC. 3. The Agencies concerned shall issue the
necessary rules and regulations to implement this Decree relative to the
enforcement and implementation of floor prices, subject to the approval
of the Philippine Tobacco Board.
SEC. 4. Violation by any person of the floor price
policy fixed by the Board or of any implementing rules and/or
regulations issued thereunder shall be sufficient ground for the
cancellation or revocation of his or its permit to trade, and shall be
punishable with a fine of not more than P2,000 or imprisonment of not
more than one year or both at the discretion of the court.
If the violation is committed by a corporation or association,
the penalty shall be imposed upon the president, director or directors,
manager, managing partner, or other officials thereof responsible for
such violation. Any alien violating or responsible for the violation of
this Decree or its implementing rules and regulations shall, upon
completion of the service of sentence, be deported without any further
proceeding on the part of the Deportation Board. Any government official
or employee who aids, abets and connives with any person in violating
this Decree or its implementing rules and regulations, shall, in
addition to the penalty which may be imposed upon him as a principal, be
perpetually disqualified from holding any public office.
SEC.
5. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 28th day of December, in the
year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
ROBERTO V. REYES
Acting Executive Secretary
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
