Preamble
WHEREAS, present practices in the curing of Virginia leaf tobacco involve the use of firewood so much so that forest resources are being depleted to such an alarming degree, not to mention the resulting forest denudation soil erosion and other disturbances of the ecological balance; WHEREAS, preliminary studies have shown that there are efficient methods of curing Virginia leaf tobacco not necessitating the use of firewood; WHEREAS, it will be more in consonance with present government programs on conservation of forest resources if new or other methods of curing Virginia leaf tobacco be introduced, developed and exploited, and dependence on firewood reduced gradually until its total elimination can be justified by the adoption of efficient and economical methods of curing without the use of firewood: 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 that;