Preamble
WHEREAS, the Philippines is presently in a transitional stage from a presidential to a parliamentary form of government; WHEREAS, this basic political change requires an adaptive and corresponding change in the institutional requirements for governance; WHEREAS, for this purpose it is now necessary to restructure the organization of the existing departments by converting them into ministries and defining the hierarchical relationship thereof, including the basic duties and responsibilities of the principal officers; 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: