Preamble
WHEREAS, under Article XVII of the Constitution, there is provided an interim National Assembly to exist and act as the temporary legislative body until the establishment of the regular National Assembly; WHEREAS, while the President is empowered, under the Constitution, to initially convene the interim National Assembly, the people in the referenda of July 27, 1973 and February 17, 1975, have mandated against the convening of the same; WHEREAS, the people through their respective Barangays and Sanggunians have expressed their desire for the creation of a legislative advisory body to assist the President in the exercise of his legislative functions pending the establishment of a Legislative Assembly; WHEREAS, it is now most opportune to accomplish the people’s mandate by the organization of this body and at the same time initially give meaning to the establishment of a parliamentary system of government as adopted under the Constitution. NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree: