VESTING UPON THE SECRETARY OF LABOR GENERAL SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OVER THE SOCIAL AMELIORATION PROGRAM IN THE SUGAR INDUSTRY.

WHEREAS, on December 24, 1970, acting on the proposals made
by the leaders of the sugar industry, I, as President of the
Philippines, directed the Sugar Quota Board to issue an order for the
collection of a Stabilization Fee of P1.00 for every picul of sugar
produced in lieu of the P3.00 charged on every picul of domestic sugar
for an amelioration fund which I had ordered to be established earlier,
and thereafter, the Sugar Quota Board issued Philippine Sugar Order No.
3, series 1970-71, dated December 29, 1970, amended later by Philippine
Sugar Order No. 4, series 1970-71, dated January 12, 1971, and further
later amended by Philippine Sugar Order No. 31, series 1971-72, dated
December 23, 1971, whereby a Stabilization Fee of P1.00 per picul on all
sugar produced would be collected ninety per cent (90%) of which is to
be distributed as bonuses to the sugar worker and/or disposed of
according to any agreement between the employer and the labor union of
his employees, and the balance of ten per cent (10%) to form as the
working fund of the Sugar Industry Foundation, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, despite the above-mentioned Philippine Sugar
Orders, and the corresponding Field Service Instructions issued by the
Sugar Quota Administration, there have been verified reports that some
sugar farm and mill workers have failed to enjoy their legitimate share
in the benefits of the social amelioration program of the sugar
industry;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution,
and pending the full implementation of Presidential Decree No. 388,
including the formal organization of the Philippine Sugar Commission in
accordance, therewith, and in order that the desired objectives of the
Sugar industry’s amelioration program for the improvement of the social
and economic conditions of the sugar workers and their families can be
achieved in an orderly and equitable manner, and upon the
recommendations of the leaders of the sugar planters, millers and
workers, do hereby order and decree that the Secretary of Labor shall
exercise general supervision and control over and to issue the necessary
rules and regulations on the proper and equitable implementation of the
social amelioration program of the sugar industry, pursuant to the
abovementioned Philippine Sugar Orders of the Sugar Quota Board.

Any person who shall wilfully refuse upon demand, to pay his share
of the stabilization fee or the legitimate claim of any worker covered
by this Decree as determined by the Secretary of Labor shall be fined
the amount of P1,000.00 nor more than P10,000.00 or an imprisonment of
not less than one (1) year for more than five (5) years or both such
fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court or military
tribunal: Provided, that if the offender is a corporation, firm,
partnership, or association, the penalty shall be imposed upon the
guilty officer or officers, as the case may be, and if such guilty
officer or officers are aliens, in addition to the penalty prescribed,
he or they shall be deported without further proceedings on the part of
the Commission on Immigration and Deportation.

This Decree shall
take effect beginning the crop year 1974-1975.

Done in the City of Manila, this 21st day of December, in the
year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.