WHEREAS, R.A. 6372 which created the new Municipality of
Dupax del Sur out of the existing town of Dupax was enacted in 1971 in
obedience to the overwhelming clamor of the people therein;
WHEREAS, in order to ascertain the true sentiments of the
people on the matter, and as a condition precedent for the
implementation thereof, R.A. 6372 provided among others the following:
"SEC. 5. The new municipality shall acquire corporate
existence following a plebiscite held at the national or local elections
immediately following the approval of this Act wherein a majority of
the qualified voters of all the barrios concerned vote affirmatively in
favor of the creation of the new Municipality of Dupax del Sur."
WHEREAS, in compliance with afore-cited section of R.A.
6372, a plebiscite was held on November 8, 1971 in conjunction with the
local elections that year;
WHEREAS, after due canvass, the Commission on Elections
which acted as Board of Canvassers of the votes cast in said plebiscite,
made on February 22, 1972, the following certification:
"That after such canvassing, the result shows that One Thousand
Forty-Four (1,044) votes were cast In FAVOR OF, and that ninety-two (92)
votes were cast Against, the separation of said barrios and sitios from
said municipality and its constitution into a distinct and independent
municipality, out of One Thousand Eight Hundred Three (1,803) registered
voters of said barrios and sitios;
"Considering that Republic Act 6372 requires only the
affirmative vote of 'majority of the qualified voters' of all the
barrios concerned; and that the affirmative votes cast represent the
affirmative votes of a majority of the qualified voters of the barrios
concerned;
"We, therefore proclaim that the barrios of Mangayang, I-Iyo or
Palabutan, Banila, Carrolatan, Ganao, Abaca or Kawala, Bukidnon,
Abuyo and Lublub, and the sitios of Santa Maria, Tanibong, Gabut, Cayno,
Narra, Aruat, Cabnawan, Dahilan, Ginir, Sequep, Pa-dalis, Pass, Bato,
Sinai, and Binay of the Municipality of Dupax, Province of Nueva
Vizcaya, shall be separated from the Municipality of Dupax and be
constituted into a distinct and independent municipality to be known as
the Municipality of Dupax del Sur, Province of Nueva Vizcaya in
accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 6372."
WHEREAS, in the referendum held on January 10-15, 1973, the
people through the barangays reiterated their wish to have the division
of Dupax implemented in accordance with Republic Act 6372;
WHEREAS, in a Joint Special Meeting on May 20, 1973, the
barrio councils of all the barrios comprising the proposed Municipality
of Dupax del Sur, adopted Resolution No. 3, urging immediate
implementation of R.A. 6372;
WHEREAS, the municipal Council of Dupax in its regular
session on June 5, 1973, concurring with the necessity and wisdom of
immediate implementation of R.A. 6372, approved Resolution No. 88
placing the entire leadership of the municipality squarely in favor of
the division of the town as contemplated by R.A. 6372;
WHEREAS, the present Commission on Elections, after
examination and analysis of the Remark Sheets submitted by the people of
Dupax in connection with the July 27-28, 1973, national referendum has
certified that the overwhelming sentiment of the people in the affected
area continues to be in favor of implementing R.A. 6372;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and pursuant
to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General Order
No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, as amended, do hereby order and decree: