Republic Act No. 388

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

Section 1

There are hereby created the positions of commercial agents under the Domestic Trade Division in the Bureau of Commerce.

Commercial agents shall be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce and Industry upon the recommendation of the Director of Commerce.

Section 2

There shall be one commercial agent in each Representative district. It shall be the duty of such commercial agent to act as economic adviser to provincial and municipal officials, help and advise farmers in marketing their products and on market trends, promote the business of Filipino businessmen, encourage and help the organization of cooperatives among Filipino businessmen, manufacturers and other producers, enforce within his jurisdiction the various trade laws and existing regulations entrusted for execution to the Bureau of Commerce, otherwise represent the Bureau of Commerce in the district to which he is assigned, and perform such other work as may be assigned to him by the Director of Commerce. The provincial board of every province shall provide the necessary office space for each commercial agent.

Section 3

The sum of three hundred thousand pesos, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to carry out the purposes of this Act. Thereafter, the necessary sum for the purpose shall be included in the Annual General Appropriation Acts.

Section 4

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 18, 1949.