REPUBLIC ACT NO. 657 - AN ACT TO PROMOTE THE PRODUCTION OF CASSAVA FLOUR, TO REGULATE THE IMPORTATION OF WHEAT FLOUR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. It is hereby declared to be in the interest of the country's economy and the development of its agriculture and industry, to encourage and promote the production, processing and consumption of cassava flour as a measure to conserve dollars, to prevent the scarcity of wheat flour, and to regulate its importation, consistent with the commitments of the Republic of the Philippines under the International Wheat Agreement.

SEC. 2. For the purpose of carrying out the policy set forth in section one of this Act, the Price Stabilization Corporation is hereby authorized and directed to prescribe as a condition for the issuance of any license to import wheat flour from abroad that the importer shall buy cassava flour in such proportions, not to exceed thirty (30%) per centum of wheat flour by weight, as may be prescribed by the Administrator of Economic Coordination, and shall sell cassava flour and wheat flour in the same proportions.

SEC. 3. Any importer of wheat flour who refuses or purposely avoids or deliberately fails to comply with the conditions provided in the preceding section shall not be granted any license to import wheat flour. The license to import wheat flour of any importer found by the Price Stabilization Corporation to have sold wheat flour without the corresponding proportion of cassava flour shall be forthwith cancelled and the said importer shall for a period of not more than five (5) years be disqualified to engage in the importation of wheat flour. An appeal may be made by the importer to the Administrator of Economic Coordination whose decision shall be final.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 16, 1951.