AMENDING SECTION 4 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4155, AS AMENDED

WHEREAS, the prices of foreign leaf tobacco which is a
necessary ingredient in the manufacture of quality cigarettes are
steadily rising;

WHEREAS, there is urgent need for effective measures to
lessen the cost of locally manufactured cigarettes and to protect the
consuming public who would eventually be made to pay for the increase on
the cost;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution,
do hereby decree and order that Section 4 of Republic Act No. 4155, as
amended by Presidential Decree No. 62, be further amended to read as
follows:

“SEC. 4. Importation of foreign leaf tobacco only for
blending purposes.— No person will import leaf tobacco except as
herein provided. When the Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration
Board believes that it is necessary to improve the quality of locally
made cigarettes and there are no sufficient stocks of foreign leaf
tobacco for blending purposes available in the country, the Philippine
Virginia Tobacco Administration may authorize any bona-fide cigarette
manufacturer, owned or controlled by Filipino citizens, to import
foreign leaf tobacco for blending purposes at the ratio of not more than
one (1) kilogram of imported foreign leaf tobacco to every four (4)
kilograms of local Virginia leaf tobacco purchased, subject to
limitations, requirements, rules and regulations promulgated by the
Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration. In no case shall the
importation exceed six (6) million kilograms in any year unless the
exigencies of the industry require otherwise. No other tariff or taxes
shall be imposed on foreign leaf tobacco so imported except an amount
equivalent to one hundred per centum (100%) of its landed cost: Provided,
however, That, such tariff or tax shall not be less than an amount
equivalent to the sum of P10.00 for every kilogram of imported foreign
leaf tobacco irrespective of grade and cost.

This Decree is hereby made part of the law of the land and shall
take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 7th day of May, in the year
of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.