Department Proper.
Section 1
SECTION 1. Department Proper.—The Department of Trade, hereinafter referred to in this Decree as the Department, shall be responsible for the promotion, development, expansion, regulation and control of foreign and domestic trade and in pursuance of this responsibility shall be empowered and authorized to issue such rules and regulations and adopt such measures as to: consolidate and/or coordinate all functions and efforts pertaining to the promotion of exports in particular and development of foreign trade in general; maintain reasonable allocation/distribution as between domes tic and export market through export retentiom, export allocation, export subsidy, pricing, export ban and other schemes and measures to ensure price stability and supply availabilities of essential commodities in the local market; regulate the import of essential consumers and producers' items with a view to enhancing availability at fair and competitive prices to end-producers; and promote and regulate domestic trade, marketing and distribution to ensure the rational, economical and steady flow of commodities from producing and/or marketing centers to areas in short-supply through the support of centralized buying operations, terminal markets and large-scale and economical distribution systems organized by the public or private sector. Authority and responsibility for the Department is vested in the Secretary of Trade, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary. He shall be assisted by only one Undersecretary. The following are created in the Department Proper: (1) Planning Service; (2) Financial and Management Service; (3) Administrative Service; and (4) Legal Service.