Presidential Decree No. 637 (PD 637) — Adopting the Recommendations of the Commission on Elections Concerning the Questions for Submission in the January 30, 1975 Referendum; Providing for an Information and Educational Campaign for the Dissemination and Explanation of the Questions Including the Translation Thereof into the Major Dialects and Appropriating Funds Therefor.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the powers granted it under
Proclamation No. 1366, promulgated on December 31, 1974, the Commission
on Elections has resolved to recommend the questions to be resolved and
determined by the members of barangays (citizens assemblies) in the
National Referendum on January 30, 1975;
WHEREAS, I am satisfied that these questions were formulated
by the Commission on Elections after due and extensive consultations
with the people on a nationwide scale and has taken steps through other
various ways to ascertain the issues uppermost in the mind of the
nation;
WHEREAS, in order to enable the barangay members to cast
their votes intelligently and with full understanding of the issues
involved, it is urgent to wage in all areas an effective, intensive,
massive educational and information campaign particularly in the urban
and rural communities:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,
do hereby decree and order the following:
Referendum Questions.
SECTION 1. Referendum Questions. —
The questions to be submitted in the January 30, 1975, shall be as
follows:
I
For the Greater Manila Area comprising the cities of Manila,
Quezon, Pasay, and Caloocan; and the municipalities of Valenzuela in the
province of Bulacan and Las Piñas; Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong,
Muntinlupa, Navotas, Paraiiaque, Pateros, San Juan del Monte, Taguig,
Pasig and Marikina in the province of Rizal;
On Local
Officials
There are proposals to restructure the government of Greater
Manila (four cities and 13 municipalities) into an integrated
Manager-Commission type appointed by the President. Under these
proposals, the cities and municipalities concerned shall retain their
political identities and boundaries as well as their government
organization; the present elective officials, unless sooner removed by
the President may be retained lip to December 31, 1975, when their terms
end, but shall not exercise powers pertaining to appropriations,
taxation and appointments. Do you favor this proposal?
On Martial Law
Inherent in his powers as Commander-in-Chief and under the
Constitution ratified and formally adopted by the people on January 17,
1973, the President of the Philippines has been issuing proclamations,
orders, decrees and instructions with the force of law. Do you approve
of the manner the President has exercised this power?
Do you want the President to continue exercising the same?
There are suggestions that martial law be lifted. Do you want
martial law to continue?
On the Legislative Body
In the January, 1973 referendum, the people decided that there be
no elections in the meantime and the interim Assembly should not be
convened by the President.
Now do you want the President to convene the interim National
Assembly immediately?
II
For areas outside of the Greater Manila
Area.
On Local Officials
The terms of office of your local elective officials expire on
December 31, 1975. Do you want their successors to be appointed by the
President or elected in accordance with the Constitution?
Do you want their successors to be appointed by the President or
elected in accordance with the Constitution?
On Martial Law
Inherent in his powers as Commander-in-Chief and under the
Constitution ratified and formally adopted by the people on January 17,
1973, the President of the Philippines has been issuing proclamations,
orders, decrees and instruction with the force of law. Do you approve of
the manner the President has exercised this power?
Do you want the President to continue exercising the same?
There are suggestions that martial law be lifted. Do you want
martial law to continue?
On the Legislative Body
In the January, 1973 referendum, the people decided that
there be no elections in the meantime and the interim Assembly should
not be convened by the President.
Do you want the President to convene the interim National
Assembly immediately?
Educational and Information Campaign.
SEC. 2. Educational and Information Campaign. —
Without prejudice to the rights of private individuals to engage in
discussion or debates on the questions as provided by a separate decree,
orally or in writing, the Commission on Elections shall disseminate the
questions herein adopted as widely as possible through the fastest
possible means and shall explain to the people in the simplest manner to
assure that the barangay members fully understand the meaning and sense
of the issues involved.
Assistance of other Agencies.
SEC. 3. Assistance of other Agencies. — To
implement the provision of the preceding section, the Commission on
Elections is hereby empowered to avail of the facilities and personnel
of any department, government office, agency or instrumentality after
due consultations with the respective heads thereof.
Translation into Major Dialects.
SEC. 4. Translation into Major Dialects. — The
questions, shall be translated into all the dialects spoken by at least
50,000 persons and such translation shall be printed in poster form in
sufficient number using cheap but appropriate material.
At least two weeks before the referendum the printed translation
shall be displayed in all conspicuous places in the areas where the
dialect used in the translation is spoken; Provided, however,
That in each referendum center on referendum day, there shall be posted
in a place that can be seen by all as many copies as necessary of the
printed posters of the translated questions.
Prohibited acts and penalty.
SEC. 5. Prohibited
acts and penalty. — The penalty of imprisonment from six months but
not more than one year shall be imposed upon a person who:
Removes, tears down, mutilates or otherwise destroys any
translated poster displayed in the places required in this decree;
Impedes, obstructs, delays or otherwise frustrates the
distribution of informative or educational leaflets, brochures and other
materials;
Prints and distributes materials which tend maliciously to
distort through misleading translation the questions herein adopted.
Promulgation of rules and regulations.
SEC. 6. Promulgation of rules and regulations. — The
Commission on Elections shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry
out the provisions of this decree.
Appropriations.
SEC. 7. Appropriations. — To carry out the
provisions of this decree the sum of three million pesos (P3,000,000.00)
is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not
otherwise appropriated.
Repealing clause.
SEC. 8. Repealing clause. — All laws, executive
orders, decrees, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent
with the provisions of this Decree are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.
Effectivity.
SEC. 9. Effectivity. — This Decree shall take
effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 7th day of January, in the year
of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-five.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
