Preamble
WHEREAS, certain foreshore and offshore (submerged) lands bordering Cebu City, beginning from Pier 3 and extending to Subangdaku (hereinafter referred to as the "Cebu Port Development and Reclamation Project") were reclaimed, purportedly by virtue of Ordinance No. 373, Series of 1962, of the City of Cebu, as amended by Ordianance No. 474; WHEREAS, the Civil Case No. R-10468 entitled "Republic of the Philippines versus Cebu City, et. al.", the Court of First Instance of Cebu promulgated a Decision finding null and void Ordinance Nos. 373 and 474 of the City of Cebu and any and all contracts executed pursuant thereto, or as a consequence thereby, and declaring the reclaimed land as having remained to be lands of the public domain; WHEREAS, upon subsequent motion of the Republic of the Philippines, the Court of First Instance of Cebu found that public interests require the immediate utilization and further development of the reclaimed lands and ordered the immediate execution of its Decision pending resolution of whatever appeal the party litigants may interpose therefrom; WHEREAS, the paramount and imperative requirements of the public necessitate the implementation of the said order of execution pending appeal and the termination of the protracted litigation; WHEREAS, the Public Estates Authority (hereinafter referred to as the "Authority") was created pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1084 to provide for a coordinated, economical and efficient reclamation of lands, and the administration and operation of lands belonging to, managed or operated by the government, with the object of maximizing their utilization and hastening their development consistent with the public interests; 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: