WHEREAS, one of the primary objectives of the national socio-economic development program of the New Society is to make health care services available to the Filipino people particularly those from the rural areas; WHEREAS, to realize this primary objective there is an urgent need for more nurses and midwives as providers of health care services working both independently and interdependently with physicians, social workers, physical therapists and other professional health workers to help the people achieve, maintain and regain health;
WHEREAS, the cost of nursing education in cities and other urban areas has become prohibitive thereby depriving those who are in the provinces the opportunity to pursue this professions;
WHEREAS, the Mariano Marcos Memorial Regional Hospital and Medical Center is ideally located to accommodate students from the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union; and
WHEREAS, the said hospital has the necessary facilities for the establishment of a School of Nursing and Midwifery;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree: