Preamble
WHEREAS, the present oil crisis has brought about shortage and prohibitive prices of fertilizer to the detriment of agricultural production; WHEREAS, there have been found throughout the country several caves and other areas containing guano deposits which may be utilized even in raw form as fertilizer materials; WHEREAS, to help alleviate fertilizer shortage and boost agricultural production, the speedy development and utilization of the guano resources is now imperative and necessary; and WHEREAS, in order to encourage the development of these guano resources, the laws and rules governing applications for permits to develop them must be simplified and made inexpensive; 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 exclude guano resources from the provisions of the Mining Act (Commonwealth Act No. 137, as amended), and provide hereunder the manner of disposition thereof, as follows: