Preamble
WHEREAS, the effects of the spiralling costs of prime commodities brought about by the energy crisis and worldwide inflation arc felt most by those belonging to the low-income or -salary groups; WHEREAS, it is the policy to alleviate the plight of those belonging to the low-income levels as enunciated in Presidential Decree No. 390, promulgated on February 17, 1974; and WHEREAS, the local governments have shown the willingness to provide their low-salaried employees with emergency cost-of-living allowances to cushion the impact of increased prices; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order the following as part of the law of the land: