Republic Act No. 938

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1

The municipal or city board or council of each chartered city shall have the power to regulate by ordinance the establishment, maintenance and operation of night clubs, cabarets, dancing schools, pavilions, code-pits, bars, saloons, bowling alleys, billard pools, and other similar places of amusement within its territorial jurisdiction: Provided, however, That this Act shall not apply to establishments operating by virtue of Commonwealth Act Numbered Four hundred eighty-five nor to pre-war establishments that owned, before the outbreak of the war on December seven, nineteen hundred and forty-one, concrete building for the purpose and have reconstructed such building and resumed operation before the approval of this Act.

All existing laws and executive orders regulating such places of amusement shall continue in force and effect in each such city until the municipal or city board or council thereof shall by ordinance provide otherwise.

Section 2

All laws and executive orders, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are amended by said provisions in so far as they refer to chartered cities.

Section 3

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 20, 1953.