Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 6826)
The declaration was prompted by a rebellion by certain elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, aided by civilians, which caused national emergency conditions due to threats to national security, bombings, and other acts of destabilization.
The declared national policy is to address and manage the national emergency caused by the rebellion, to protect the people, restore order, and support economic reconstruction by granting the President emergency powers under specified limitations.
The President is authorized to issue rules and regulations including: protecting people from hoarding and profiteering; fixing prices; regulating fees related to essential goods; seizing hoarded goods; taking over public utilities violating policy; liberalizing importation of needed vehicles; ensuring credit availability; regulating work schedules; conserving energy; decreasing government expenditures; recovering unauthorized firearms; regulating military supplies; and other necessary measures.
Goods such as food, clothing, medicine, medical supplies, office and school supplies, fuel, fertilizers, chemicals, building materials, machinery, and other articles of prime necessity whether locally produced or imported can be regulated.
The President may seize and confiscate hoarded foodstuffs and commodities, with the assurance that goods seized wrongfully will entitle the owner to just compensation.
Yes. The President may temporarily take over or direct operations of privately owned public utilities that violate the declared national policy, retaining management under supervision where feasible, with restoration to owners once government operation is no longer necessary.
No. Section 6 explicitly provides that nothing in the Act restricts the Bill of Rights or the Constitution.
It takes effect upon publication in two national newspapers and remains in effect until the sine die adjournment of Congress’s regular session in June 1990, unless ended earlier by the President’s proclamation or a congressional concurrent resolution.