Presidential Decree No. 897 (PD 897) — Fixing New Minimum Prices of Locally Grown Virginia Leaf Tobacco.
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. 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.
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.
SEC. 3. The
Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration is hereby authorized to issue
rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this
Decree.
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.
SEC. 5. Any provision of law or decree in conflict
herewith is revoked or amended immediately.
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
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
