Preamble
WHEREAS, the Government realizes and recognizes that the limited life pensions of some government retirees are hardly sufficient for their requirements; WHEREAS, the Philippine Government Retirees Association, Incorporated, has petitioned that they be covered free of charge under Program I of Republic Act No. 6111, otherwise known as the Philippine Medicare Act of 1969; WHEREAS, retired government employees have spent the best years of their lives in the government service; WHEREAS, considering that the amount necessary to include government retirees within the coverage of the Medicare Act, which is estimated at P2.3 million yearly, can be obtained from the surplus funds of the Medicare; and WHEREAS, the Government Service Insurance System and the Philippine Medical Care Commission have endorsed the petition of the Philippine Government Retirees Association, Incorporated, favorable under certain conditions; 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, do hereby decree and order: