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[ PROCLAMATION NO. 96, March 26, 1963 ]

PROCLAIMING THE EXISTENCE OF A STATE OF PUBLIC CALAMITY IN THE PROVINCES OF AGUSAN, DAVAO, SURIGAO DEL NORTE, AND SURIGAO DEL SUR, AND THE CITIES OF BUTUAN AND DAVAO.

WHEREAS, the occurrence of heavy rains in the months of January and February, 1963, in the provinces of Agusan, Davao, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur, and the cities of Butuan and Davao, caused widespread inundation, desolation, and tremendous destruction to life and property among the people as well as great damage to agricultural crops, livestocks, fisheries, and other vital productive industries in said areas;

WHEREAS, the aforesaid calamity has wrought havoc and suffering among the inhabitants of said area with the consequent scarcity of commodities of prime necessity in the daily life of the people and the excessive increase in the price of said commodities owing to profiteering and hoarding by those who control the supply of prime commodies, threatening the people of aid areas with famine and untold hardship; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that immediate steps be taken to cope effectively with the emergency so as to avert panic and disorder among the people of the aforesaid areas;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Diosdado Macapagal, President of the Philippines, pursuant to the authority vested in me by Act No. 4164 of the Philippine Legislature, entitled “An Act to prevent excessive increase in the price of certain prime necessities in life on the occasion of a public calamity, penalizing the violation thereof, and for other purposes,” do hereby proclaim and certify that a state of public calamity exists in the provinces of Agusan, Davao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and the cities of Butuan and Davao. During the existence of such calamity, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation in the said cities and provinces (1) to sell or offer for sale palay, rice, corn, cloth, milk, canned goods, sugar, and other foodstuffs, building and construction materials, and other prime necessities in life at prices higher by twenty-five percent (25%) or more, over and above the average current local price of such commodities one month prior to the occurrence of such public calamity as may be determined by the Director of Commerce, and (2) to aggravate the crisis by refusing, for the purpose of profiteering, to sell at the legal price, or by hiding, concealing, or hoarding the goods or commodities for the same purpose.

The Secretary of Commerce and Industry is hereby empowered to carry this proclamation into effect and is hereby authorized to call upon such entities and instrumentalities of the Government as may be needed to give the necessary cooperation and assistance for the successful prosecution of this proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 26th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and sixty-three.

DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL
President of the Philippines

By the President:
SALVADOR L. MARIÑO
Executive Secretary