Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 913)
The 'Minister' refers to the Minister of Trade and Industry.
It includes any act, Batas Pambansa, Presidential Decree, General Order, Letter of Instructions, Executive Order, and other similar issuances regulating trade and industry activities, which could impose criminal, administrative, or civil liabilities or no penalties at all, subject to the Ministry's enforcement.
The Minister may promulgate rules and regulations to implement trade and industry laws, including the objectives, policies, international agreements, grants, and approved plans and activities of the Ministry.
Rules must be published in full text in at least two newspapers of general circulation and take effect 15 days after publication, except emergency rules which take effect on a date fixed by the Minister. Voluminous rules may be published as a notice with access to full text elsewhere.
The Minister may establish systems and procedures for these purposes in trade and industry disputes, including compulsory arbitration for critical activities like exports.
The Minister may charge violators motu proprio, conduct formal investigations independently of criminal or civil actions, and impose administrative penalties.
Penalties include cease and desist orders, voluntary assurance of compliance, condemnation or seizure of products, forfeiture of properties, fines ranging from 500 to 1,000 pesos per day of violation, cancellation or suspension of permits, withholding permits, assessment of damages, censure, and other analogous sanctions.
The Minister may deputize various government agencies including the Integrated National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Armed Forces, or private persons and entities to enforce his decisions or orders.
The prescriptive period is three years from the time the violation occurred.