WHEREAS, paragraph (iii) (1), Sec. 178 of the 1978 Election Code penalizes any person selling, furnishing, offering or taking intoxicating liquor two days immediately preceding election day and on election day;

WHEREAS, representations have been made in behalf of hotels and other establishments catering to foreign tourists to exempt them from the liquor ban in view of its adverse effects on the development and promotion of tourism;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree:

SECTION 1. Paragraph (iii) (1), Sec. 178 of the 1978 Election Code amended. — Paragraph (iii) (1), Sec. 178 of the 1978 Election Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

"(iii) (1) Any person who sells, furnishes, offers or takes intoxicating liquor on the days fixed by law for registration of voters in the voting centers, or on any of the two days immediately preceding election day, or on election day. HOTELS AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS DULY ACCREDITED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AS TOURIST-ORIENTED AND HABITUALLY IN THE BUSINESS OF CATERING TO FOREIGN TOURIST MAY, HOWEVER, BE EXEMPTED FOR JUSTIFIABLE REASONS FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH UPON PRIOR AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION."

SEC. 2. Effectivity. — This decree shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 4th day of April in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.

			(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS President of the Philippines
	By the President:
	(Sgd.) JUAN C. TUVERA
		Presidential Assistant