Question & AnswerQ&A (COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 671)
The main purpose of Commonwealth Act No. 671 is to declare a state of total emergency as a result of war involving the Philippines and to authorize the President to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to meet such emergency.
The President is authorized to exercise extraordinary powers during the existence of a total emergency caused by war involving the Philippines, specifically between the United States and other countries of Europe and Asia as stated in the Act.
The Act bases the President's authority on Article VI, Section 16 of the Philippine Constitution.
Three specific powers granted to the President include: (a) to transfer the seat of the Government or any of its subdivisions; (b) to reorganize the Commonwealth Government including determining the order of precedence of heads of Executive Departments; and (c) to impose new taxes or alter existing ones.
Yes, the President is empowered to create new subdivisions, branches, departments, offices, agencies, or instrumentalities of government and to abolish any of those existing.
Yes, the President can declare the suspension of the collection of credits or the payment of debts as part of the powers granted.
The President can impose, increase, reduce, suspend, or abolish taxes; raise funds through the issuance of bonds or other means; and authorize governments to incur overdrafts for approved purposes.
The President must report all rules and regulations promulgated under this Act to the Congress of the Philippines as soon as practicable upon its convening.
They remain in force and effect until the Congress of the Philippines provides otherwise.
No, the Act itself does not specify penalties for non-compliance; it primarily authorizes the President to promulgate necessary rules and regulations with wide powers to meet the emergency.