Preamble
WHEREAS, the Tribal Councils and Tribal Datus of Tboli, Ubo, Blaan, Maguindanao, Manubo Blit, Tiruray and Manubo Sdaf in the Province of South Cotabato have expressed their desire to have a municipality of their own which would allow them to retain their own culture and traditional life ways and at the same time bring them within the present frame-work of our legal and governmental system; WHEREAS, petitions and resolutions to this effect have been received by the Government giving evidence of the concurrence and desire of the leaders and members of these ethnic groups; WHEREAS, the barrio councils, officials and barangay members of the affected barrios, the municipal councils and officials of the affected municipalities, the Provincial Governor and the members of the provincial board of South Cotabato, as well as responsible private civic organizations, have favorably endorsed these petitions; WHEREAS, it is the avowed policy of the Government to accord all possible assistance to the minority groups of the country in their quest for self-development and identity as responsible and productive citizens; and WHEREAS, in order to foster unity, direction and rapid socio economic development among the different minority groups within the areas affected by this Decree, the Government has deemed it imperative to heed their urgent petition that they be given the prerogative of self-government; 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 September 21, 1972, and General Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, as amended, and Proclamation Nos. 1102 and 1104, both dated January 1 7, 1973, do hereby decree the creation of the Municipality of Tboli in the Province of South Cotabato as follows: