Preamble
WHEREAS, it is the avowed policy of the Government to promote and increase export trade, particularly of products which are made out of indigenous raw materials and are of high labor content, in order to increase the foreign exchange earnings of the country and broaden the base of entrepreneurship and employment; WHEREAS, Philippine-manufactured products, including cottage, small-scale, and medium-size industries products from indigenous raw materials, are mostly labor intensive, WHEREAS, exports of Philippine products have manifested a high market potential, particularly cottage industry products, as shown in 1971 when cottage industry exports gained the sixth position among the Philippines' ten top exports, from its tenth position in 1967, and small scale and medium size industries now have high priority in the development of industries with high export potentials; WHEREAS, in the export of Philippine-manufactured products, including cottage, small scale and medium size industries products, the area of product design poses a problem, among others, due to its limited adaptability or lack of it, to meet the practical and aesthetic taste of the foreign market, even as it should be expressive of Philippine culture; and WHEREAS, the development, promotion and enchancement of the product design of Philippine manufactured products, including cottage, small scale and medium size industries products, could be best achieved through a directed, specific and organized effort for the purpose, under circumstances most conducive to art and creativity; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me 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, in order to effect the desired reforms in the social, economic and political structure of the country, do hereby order and decree: