Preamble
WHEREAS, the International Declaration of the Rights of the Child states that mankind owes to the child the best it has to give"; WHEREAS, one of the priority thrusts of the New Society is to plan and carry out a comprehensive program for the development of children and youth of our nation; WHEREAS, the Children and Youth Welfare Code (PD 603) recognizes the child as one of the most important assets of the nation; and WHEREAS, it is the concern of Government to assist and provide material and financial support in the establishment and maintenance of a Lungsod ng Kabataan, primarily to benefit the children of the Philippines, and to further enhance the research in pediatric diseases, training of medical and technical personnel, and specialized medical services for the prevention and treatment of children's diseases; 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: