Preamble
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Government to promote the proper development, control and utilization of the total water resources of the country in order to bring about its accelerated socio-economic development; WHEREAS, the Cotabato and Agusan River Basins, with the current and prospective uses of their combined water resources, are major determinants of the complex of human activities in the country; WHEREAS, a comprehensive plan for the development of the water and related resources of the two basins has been adopted by the National Water Resources Council; WHEREAS, based on this comprehensive plan, there is an urgent need for the integrated and coordinated planning and prosecution of specific projects and programs to meet the present and future requirements of irrigation, power, flood control, domestic and industrial water supply, watershed management and related socio-economic activities in the two basins. 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: