Preamble
WHEREAS, the recent increases in the price of oil products threatens to trigger unconscionable increases in the prices of prime and essential commodities as a result of speculative, monopolistic, profiteering, hoarding and other activities calculated to take advantage of the situation; WHEREAS, there is an urgent need of a mechanism that would check price manipulation activities and at the same time afford legitimate business a fair return on investment through the exercise of reasonable regulation; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order: