Preamble
WHEREAS, a fundamental aim of the Government is the economic development of the entire country; WHEREAS, the islands comprising the Tawi-Tawi group are so distant from the seat of the provincial government of Sulu and communication facilities so inadequate that it is extremely difficult to administer the government affairs in the area; WHEREAS, the effective implementation of the programs of the Government on rehabilitation, reconstruction and development depends primarily on administrative efficiency on the local government level; and WHEREAS, it is the avowed policy of the Government to uplift the socioeconomic well-being of the inhabitants in the area that is generally known as the Tawi-Tawi group; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated 21 September 1972, and General Order No. 1, dated 22 September 1972, as amended, do hereby order and decree: