WHEREAS,
the province of Cotabato is one of the largest and richest provinces of
the Philippines;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, the potentials of the province have not been fully developed
due to the magnitude of the task of provincial development and to the
troubles that have long plagued the area; chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, the many conflicting political, social and economic interests
that have limited the progress of the province must be resolved in
order to promote the stability and accelerate the development of
Cotabato; and
WHEREAS, there is need for dividing the present province into smaller
units which can be more effectively administered and developed;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
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, do hereby order and decree:cralaw:red
Section 1. The province of Cotabato is hereby divided
into three provinces to be known as North Cotabato, Maguindanao and
Sultan Kudarat.
Section 2. The Province of North Cotabato shall
consist of that portion of the present Province of Cotabato which is
comprised of the municipalities of Pigcawayan, Libungan, Alamada,
Midsayap, Kabacan, Carmen, Matalam, M'lang, Tulunan, Makilala,
President Roxas, Magpet, Kidapawan and Pikit.
Section 3. The Province of Maguindanao shall consist
of that portion of the present Province of Cotabato which is comprised
of the municipalities of Buldon, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Tumbao, Upi,
Dinaig, Datu Piang, Maganoy, Pagalungan, Buluan, Ampatuan, Sultan sa
Barongis and the new town of Datu Paglas.
Section 4. The province of Sultan Kudarat shall
consist of that portion of the present Province of Cotabato which is
comprised of the municipalities of Tacurong, Isulan, Lutayan,
Bagumbayan, Kalamansing, Lebak, Columbio, Palimbang and the new towns
of President Quirino, Mariano Marcos and Esperanza.
Section 5. The capital of North Cotabato shall be
Kidapawan; that of Maguindanao, Maganoy; and that of Sultan Kudarat,
Isulan.
Section 6. Except as hereinafter provided, all
provisions of law now or hereafter applicable to regular provinces
shall be applicable to the provisions of North Cotabato, Maguindanao
and Sultan Kudarat.
Section 7. The present governor and other provincial
officials of the existing province of Cotabato shall transfer to the
new province of North Cotabato and assume the administration of said
province immediately. However, until the President appoints the
officials of the two other newly created provinces, the present
officials shall continue in the administration of all three
provinces. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Section 8. Upon the full effectivity of this Decree,
the proportionate share of the new provinces in the obligations, funds,
assets and other properties of the present province of Cotabato shall
be transferred by the President to the provinces herein created upon
recommendation of the Auditor General.
Section 9. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila,
this 22nd day of November, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred
and seventy-three.
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