Preamble
WHEREAS, the pressing need for economic growth requires that Philippine exports be more competitive in the world markets and that the cost of imports and domestic production and consumer prices be rationalized; WHEREAS, these objectives can be obtained faster by facilitating the movement of goods to, from and within the Philippines at reasonable and stable freight rates and other terms of shipment; and WHEREAS, it is necessary to organize the Philippine shippers into a cohesive group to enable them to promote and protect their common interest and the economy and to negotiate with foreign shipping interests from position of strength for reasonable freight rates and optimum shipping terms; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, as amended, in order to effect the desired changes and reforms in the social, economic and political structure of our society, do hereby order and decree as part of the laws of the land the following: