Republic Act No. 1296

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1

It shall be unlawful for any person, association or corporation to import into any point in the Philippines onions, potatoes, garlic and cabbages: Provided, However, That for seedling purposes potatoes and garlic may be imported: And Provided, further, That should there be an existing or imminent shortage in the local production of the abovementioned commodities, the President may, upon the recommendation of a board to be composed of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources as chairman, and the Secretary of Commerce and Industry and the Administrator of the Agricultural Cooperative Credit and Financing Administration (ACCFA) as members, authorize the Price Stabilization Corporation (PRISCO) to import as much of these commodities as may be necessary to meet the local demand for them, stabilize their price, and insure a steady, normal supply of the same.

Section 2

The penalty or fine of not less than two thousand pesos nor more than twenty thousand pesos or imprisonment of not less than two years nor more than five years, or both, such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the Court, shall be imposed upon persons found guilty of violation of the provision of this Act: Provided, That in the case of aliens, the penalty to be imposed shall consist of the payment of the fine hereinabove provided for and that of immediate deportation without any further proceedings on the part of any Deportation Board: Provided, further, That if the violation is committed by the manager, representative, director, agent or employee of any natural or juridical person in the interest of the latter, such violation shall render the employer amenable to the penalty corresponding to the offense, without prejudice to the imposition of the corresponding penalty, either personal or pecuniary or both, upon the manager, representative, director, agent or employee committing the violation: Provided, furthermore, That in the case of the violation being committed by or in the interest of a foreign juridical person duly licensed to engage in business in the Philippines, the immediate revocation of such license to engage in business shall form part of the penalty to be imposed: Provided, also, That if the act committed by a public officer or employee is penalized by any other law, the penalties prescribed in the law punishing the offense shall be imposed in addition to those prescribed herein and that of perpetual absolute disqualification: Provided, finally, That commodities imported in violation of this Act shall be subject to forfeiture in accordance with the procedure established in the Revised Administrative Code, the proceedings to terminate within thirty days after the importation and under no circumstances or conditions may such goods be released to the importer without the previous approval of the President.

Section 3

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 16, 1955.