Commonwealth Act No. 671

An Act Declaring a State of Total Emergency as a Result of War Involving the Philippines and Authorising the President to Promulgate Rule and Regulations to Meet Such Emergency

December 16, 1941

Be it enacted by the National Assembly of the Philippines:

Section 1. The existence of war between the United State and other countries of Europe and Asia, which involves the Philippines, makes it necessary to invest the President with extraordinary powers in order to meet the resulting emergency.

Section 2. Pursuant to the provision of Article VI, section 16, of the Constitution, the President is hereby authorised, during the existence of the emergency, to promulgate such rules and regulation as he may deem necessary to carry out the national policy declared in section 1 hereof. Accordingly, he is, among other things, empowered

(a) to transfer the seat of the Government or any of its subdivisions, branches, department, offices, agencies or instrumentalities;

(b) to reorganise the Government of the Commonwealth including the determination of the order of precedence of the heads of the Executive Department;

(c) to create new subdivisions, branches, departments, offices, agencies or instrumentalities of government and to abolish any of those already existing;

(d) to continue in force laws and appropriation which would lapse or otherwise became inoperative, and to modify or suspend the operation or application of those of an administrative character;

(e) to impose new taxes or to increase, reduce, suspend, or abolish those in existence;

(f) to raise funds through the issuance of bonds or otherwise, and to authorise the expense of the proceeds thereof;

(g) to authorise the National, provincial, city or municipal governments to incur in overdrafts for purposes that he may approve;

(h) to declare the suspension of the collection of credits or the payment of debts; and

(i) to exercise such other power as he may deem necessary to enable the Government to fulfil its responsibilities and to maintain and enforce its authority.

Section 3. The President of the Philippines shall as soon as practicable upon the convening of the Congress of the Philippines report thereto all the rules and regulation promulgated by him under the power herein granted.

Section 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval and the rules and regulations. Promulgated hereunder shall be in force and effect until the Congress of the Philippines shall otherwise provide.