Presidential Decree No. 617

AMENDING SECTION SIX OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED SIXTY-THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-TWO, ENTITLED "AN ACT CREATING THE MUNICIPALITY OF DUPAX DEL SUR FROM THE MUNICIPALITY OF DUPAX IN THE PROVINCE OF NUEVA VIZCAYA"

WHEREAS, Republic Act Numbered Sixty-Three Hundred and Seventy-Two, enacted on August 16, 1971, created the Municipality of Dupax del Sur from the Municipality of Dupax in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya;

WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 5 of said Act the new municipality acquired its corporate existence when in a plebiscite held simultaneously with the local elections in November 1971, all the component barrios voted in favor of its creation;

WHEREAS, despite its corporate existence, the new municipality cannot discharge its public functions for want of the necessary officials to conduct its municipal affairs;

WHEREAS, Section 6 of the said Act provides that the first officials of the new municipality shall be elected in the general elections next following the plebiscite required in Section 5 thereof;

WHEREAS, upon the effectivity of the New Constitution and in deference to the sentiments of the people expressed overwhelmingly in the referendum held in July 1973, the national elections which should otherwise be held in November 1973 were postponed indefinitely; and

WHEREAS, the residents of the new municipality through their barangays have expressed their desire for the full implementation of the law creating their municipality and strongly recommended the appointment of their first municipal officials by the President of the Philippines.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby amend Section 6 of the Republic Act Numbered Sixty-Three Hundred and Seventy-Two to read as follows:

"Sec. 6. The first officials of the new municipality shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines and shall hold Office until the election and qualification of their successors."

This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 19th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.