Preamble
WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 86, dated December 31, 1973, created the Barangays (Citizens Assemblies) in order to broaden the base of citizen participation in the democratic process and to afford ample opportunities for the citizenry to express their views on important national issues; WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 86-A, dated January 5, 1973, strengthening and defining the role of Barangays (Citizens Assemblies) states that they shall constitute the base for citizen participation in governmental affairs and their collective views considered in the formulation of national policies or programs; WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 86-B, dated January 7, 1973, provided, among others, that important national issues shall from time to time be referred to the Barangays for resolution; WHEREAS, the Barangays have been recognized and accepted as instrumentalities of the sovereign will of the people; WHEREAS, the Commission on Elections has now been duly constituted pursuant to the New Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4, Article V, of the New Constitution, it shall be the obligation of every citizen qualified to vote to register and cast his vote; 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, do hereby order and decree to be part of the laws of the land the following: