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

SECTION 1. Any provision of existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding, slaughtering of male and female carabaos, horses, mares, and cows is hereby prohibited unless authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce.

SEC. 2. Any person who violates the provisions of the preceding section shall be punished with a fine of not less than two hundred pesos nor more than five hundred pesos or by imprisonment of not less than two months nor more than six months, or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

SEC. 3. The Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce shall promulgate such rules and regulations as will effectively carry out the provisions of this Act.  However, when in the opinion of the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce there exists a sufficient number of work animals for agricultural purposes in the Philippines, the President may declare this Act inoperative.

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

Approved, September 2, 1946.