Preamble
WHEREAS, the Constitution of the Philippines directs the State to establish and maintain a complete, adequate and integrated system of education relevant to the goals of national development and further prescribes that all educational institutions shall aim to develop scientific, technological and vocational efficiency; WHEREAS, under Presidential Decree No. 6-A also known as the Educational Development Decree of 1972 promulgated on September 29, 1972, it has been declared a policy of the government to reorient the educational system toward an accelerated national economic growth and meaningful social development; WHEREAS, it is an established fact that Western Visayas is considered and identified as the fishery region of the Philippines and therefore, needs to be tapped, developed and exploited to give maximum benefits to the service area; WHEREAS, the integrated fisheries development of the country is one of the priority programs of the government to effect the socio-economic life of the nation; WHEREAS, in order to meet the fisheries manpower requirements of Western Visayas as the target clientele towards the attainment of clearly defined objectives pursuant to the integrated fisheries development policy of the State, the government shall positively direct the training and education in development fisheries as a priority program; WHEREAS, the new thrust and direction in Philippine education, inspired and oriented in accordance with the development goals of the government, imposes a tremendous responsibility and challenge on public vocational schools; WHEREAS, in order to provide equal educational opportunity for people in the countryside and that educational institution of higher learning is accessible to the student populace, it is necessary and imperative for the government to establish educational institution offering priority courses relevant to the employment needs and requirements of the region; WHEREAS, the conversion of the Iloilo Regional School Fisheries into a State College to be known as the Iloilo State College of Fisheries, providing for its own charter, broadening for this purpose its curricular offerings and directing its objectives would serve to better achieve the above national goals and hasten the training and education in development fisheries. 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 to be part of the laws of the land the following: