Proclaiming the Existence of Public Calamity in the City of Bacolod and Declaring in Full Force and Effect Therein the Provisions of Act No. 4164

Case Overview and Summary

Proclamation No. 147

Proclaiming the Existence of Public Calamity in the City of Bacolod and Declaring in Full Force and Effect Therein the Provisions of Act No. 4164

• A fire of great magnitude recently destroyed a considerable portion of the City of Bacolod, causing death, destruction, lawless violence, looting, and scarcity of prime necessities of life. (Preamble)
• Effective measures must be taken immediately to cope with the resulting emergency. (Preamble)
• Declares the existence of a public calamity resulting from destruction by fire in the City of Bacolod. (Section 1)
• Declares in full force and effect the provisions of Act No. 4164 in the City of Bacolod, which prohibits and penalizes the following:
    - Hoarding of palay, rice, corn, building or construction materials, and other prime necessities of life specified in the accompanying list. (Section 1)
    - Holding out for sale or selling such commodities at prices higher by twenty-five per cent or more over and above the average current local price one month before the disaster. (Section 1)
• Authorizes the Provincial Commander of the Philippine Constabulary of Negros Occidental, or his authorized representatives, to seize any stock of the specified commodities when concealed or hoarded for speculation or profiteering in excess of reasonable needs for business or subsistence. (Section 2)
• Seized articles shall be delivered to the representatives of the Price Stabilization Corporation (PRISCO) in the City of Bacolod, to be sold and disposed of to the public in accordance with law. (Section 2)
• Proceeds from the sale at legal prices shall be reimbursed to the respective owners of the seized articles. (Section 2)