Presidential Decree No. 917 (PD 917) — Establishing a Freight Booking and Cargo Consolidation Center in the Philippine Shippers' Council and for Other Purposes.
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the economic growth and
stability of the Philippines to expand exports, conserve foreign
exchange and strengthen our international trade and balance of payments
position;
WHEREAS, in order to make our exports competitive and
contain increases in domestic prices of goods, it is important not only
to provide adequate and efficient shipping services but also secure
reasonable freight rates for our export and import cargoes;
WHEREAS, these objectives can be attained through Pooling of
homogeneous cargoes for shipment in bulk, efficient vessel chartering,
utilization of shipping lines which charge reasonable freight rates and
other measures;
WHEREAS, Philippine shippers need assistance in effecting
cargo consolidation and other means to secure economic carriage of their
goods;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the Powers in me vested by the
Constitution, do hereby order and decree the following a part of the
law of the land:
SECTION 1. A Freight Booking and Cargo Consolidation Center,
hereinafter referred to as Freight Center, is hereby established as an
integral part of the Philippine Shippers' Council, with the following
duties, functions and powers:
To encourage, facilitate and assist Philippine shippers in,
and effect the consolidation of their cargoes, in order to achieve
economy and efficiency in bulk shipments;
To provide systematic vessel chartering services or
charter vessels for the benefit of Philippine shippers;
To secure adequate shipping services for the carriage of
Philippine overseas trade and book cargoes, at reasonable freight rates;
To serve as the central implementing authority for the
utilization of Philippine shipping lines for the sea-borne transport of
Philippine export and import cargoes, as prescribed under Presidential
Decree No. 894; and
To foster cooperation among, and enter into suitable
arrangements with relevant private and public sectors in the
Association of Southeast Asian nations for these purposes and
projects.
SEC. 2. The Secretary of Trade as Chairman of the
Philippine Shippers' Council shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations after consultation with the private sector for the effective
implementation of this Decree.
SEC. 3. The sum of two hundred fifty thousand
(P250,000.00) pesos is hereby appropriated from funds in the National
Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, for the administration and initial
operations of the Freight Center until December thirty-one, of the
current fiscal year. Thereafter, its appropriation shall be included in
the national government budget.
SEC. 4. The Freight Center is hereby authorized to collect
reasonable fees for its services, which shall be utilized for the
training and development of its services, as the Board of Directors of
the Philippine Shippers' Council may authorize.
SEC. 5. All provisions of laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions
of this Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 6. This Decree shall take effect upon its approval.
Done in the City of Manila, this 1st day of April, in the year
of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-six.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
JUAN C. TUVERA
Presidential Assistant
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
