Preamble
WHEREAS, Section 1139 of the Revised Administrative Code, as amended, defining the general duties, powers, and jurisdiction of the Bureau of Customs, provides, among others, that the said Bureau shall supervise and control the handling of foreign mails arriving in the Philippines for the purpose of collecting the lawful duty on dutiable articles thus imported and the prevention of smuggling through the mails; WHEREAS, there was pending before Congress, prior to the promulgation of Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, a bill proposing to transfer the function of the Bureau of Customs to the Bureau of Posts with respect to foreign parcels, which proposed measure is considered vital to the attainment of postal efficiency and progress and the national development program of the Government, and WHEREAS, there is now an urgent need to adopt a better and more effective system of control and supervision in the handling of foreign mails, particularly to pinpoint responsibility in case of loss or tampering of such mails, which would render the postal service move responsive to the requirements of the mailing public; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree: