Preamble
WHEREAS, there are three million Filipino children who are found to be suffering from malnutrition and lack of opportunities for their social development; WHEREAS, pre-school children with ages ranging from 0-6 years are the most vulnerable to the ill-effects of malnutrition and lack of social and mental stimulation; WHEREAS, the government has exerted relentless effort to combat malnutrition by organizing day care centers and supplemental feeding units to promote the social and mental development of pre-schoolers in support to the nationwide nutrition program; WHEREAS, the number of day care centers and feeding centers found throughout the Philippines are inadequate; WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to expand this program in order to reach more needy children, protect their interests and prevent the loss of these human potentials; WHEREAS, the expansion of this program can be achieved with the collective efforts of the public and private sector through the active involvement of non-governmental organizations; WHEREAS, support for Day Care Centers may be drawn from the unexpended balance of local government or donations from private sector, as well as contribution from international organizations; 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 the following: