Preamble
WHEREAS, self-sufficiency in food, particularly beef, is one of the primary concern of the State; WHEREAS, beef production is still low, despite the existence of numerous pasture leases all over the country; WHEREAS, in order to increase the supply of beef, it is necessary to embark on large-scale ranching projects over wide grazing lands; WHEREAS, the Constitution authorizes the determination by law of the size of lands of the public domain which may be developed, held or acquired by, or leased to, any qualified individual, corporation, or association, taking into account conservation, ecological, and developmental requirements of the natural resources; WHEREAS, the Constitution established area limitations for alienable lands of the public domain, namely: agricultural, industrial or commercial, residential, and resettlement lands, and for timber or forest lands, but not for mineral and grazing land, and such other classes of lands as may be provided by law. 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: