Preamble
WHEREAS, worldwide inflation primarily brought about by the energy crisis has resulted in the tremendous increase of domestic prices, in particular, and the cost of living, in general; WHEREAS, the increase in prices, especially of basic or prime commodities, has caused undue hardships among that segment of our people belonging to the low income or salary group in the public as well as private sector of the economy; WHEREAS, there is need to alleviate the plight of the members of this low income group in order to provide them with the means to cushion the impact of increased prices on their daily lives; and WHEREAS, the needed measures to aid and assist the low income group initiated by the Government should set an example and suggest to the private sector to undertake measures of their own for the same purpose; 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, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, as amended, do hereby order and decree the following as part of the law of the land: