FIXING NEW MINIMUM PRICES OF LOCALLY GROWN VIRGINIA LEAF TOBACCO.

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 897
• Sections: 7

Preamble

WHEREAS, the production of local Virginia tobacco of the

quality needed and in quantities marketable in both domestic and foreign

markets should be continued and further encouraged so as to strengthen

the economy of the nation;

WHEREAS, to better realize such objective, it is necessary

that the economic well-being of the Virginia tobacco farmers shall be

assured;

WHEREAS, it has been determined that the minimum prices of

locally produced tobacco set forth under Presidential Decree No. 62 and

Letter of Instructions No. 166 are, by present standards, inadequate

taking into account the higher cost of production; and to protect the

tobacco farmers, there is need to fix and/or revise the minimum prices

at which Virginia tobacco leaf may be purchased from them;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,

do hereby decree and order the following as part of the law of the land:

Section 1

SECTION 1. Beginning with the tobacco trading year

1976, no person, corporation, partnership or association shall buy

locally grown Virginia leaf tobacco at prices lower than the following:

GRADE A

=

P7.00 per kilogram

GRADE B

=

6.50 per kilogram

GRADE C

=

6.00 per kilogram

GRADE D

=

5.50 per kilogram

GRADE E

=

5.00 per kilogram

The description of each grade shall be determined by the

Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration.

Section 2

SEC. 2. The Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration may

hereafter fix the minimum prices at which Virginia leaf tobacco may be

purchased from tobacco farmers whenever the national interest so

requires, taking into consideration cost of production, transportation,

marketing and other relevant factors.

Section 3

SEC. 3. The

Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration is hereby authorized to issue

rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this

Decree.

Section 4

SEC. 4. Any person who shall violate the provisions of

this Decree and any rule or regulation that may be issued by the

Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration pursuant to the authority

granted in the preceding section shall, upon conviction, be punished by a

fine of not more than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) and/or by

imprisonment of not more than five years: PROVIDED: That in the case of

corporations, partnerships, associations or companies, the President,

Manager or Administrator or the person who has charge of the

administration of the business shall be criminally responsible for any

violation of this Decree or of the rules and regulations that may be

promulgated by the Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration pursuant

to the authority in the next preceding section. If the offender is an

alien, he shall be deported immediately without further proceedings.

Section 5

SEC. 5. Any provision of law or decree in conflict

herewith is revoked or amended immediately.

Section 6

SEC. 6. This Decree shall take effect

immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 26th day of February in the

year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-six.

(Sgd.)

FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President

Republic of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.)

JACOBO C. CLAVE

Presidential Executive Assistant