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WHEREAS, the need for an institution to provide for continuing and intensive studies of the diversified problems relative to national defense and security has long been felt in the Department of National Defense;

WHEREAS, the Government is strongly committed to the proposition that the defense of the State is the prime duty of every citizen such that the preparation, mobilization and execution of plans which involve the financial, industrial, economic, social and moral forces and resources of the nation are responsibilities which should be borne not only by the Department of National Defense but also by the other branches of the Government as well as the private sector;

WHEREAS, in order to effectively implement these plans, there is an urgent need for a highly reputable educational and doctrinal center to turn out needed qualified military leaders and civilian executives; and

WHEREAS, there were pending before Congress prior to the promulgation of Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, House Bill No. 1447 entitled "An Act Creating the National Defense College of the Philippines, Providing for an Academic Board and for Other Purposes" and Senate Bill No. 597 entitled "An Act Creating the National 'Defense College of the Philippines and for Other Purposes";

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines by virtue of the powers vested ,n me 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, as amended do hereby order and decree that the above-mentioned bills denominated as House Bill No 1447 and Senate Bill No 597, which are integrated and modified hereunder and made a part hereof, shall henceforth be part of the law of the land;

SECTION 1. There shall be established in the Armed Forces of the Philippines an educational institution to be known as the "National Defense College of the Philippines."

SEC. 2. The College shall be specifically designed and geared to prepare and train potential national defense leaders and civilian officers of the different branches of the Government for key positions.

SEC. 3. The National Defense College of the Philippines as herein established shall be organized and administered by the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, under the general supervision and control of the Secretary of National Defense. It shall be administered through the President of the College with the assistance of an Academic Board to be composed of the Executive Vice-President and the Heads of the College departments, and shall have the power, to confer the degree of Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) upon all its students who will satisfactorily complete the prescribed course of students: Provided, however, That students completed the regular course of the college prior to the approval of this Decree are herby declared eligible to the privileges conferred hereof. The Executive Vice-President shall be ex officio head of the Academic Department.

SEC. 4. The Academic Board shall assist the President of the College in the discharge of the following functions:

(a) To supervise the academic affairs of the college;
(b) To recommend academic consultants, lecturers, professors, and instructors of the College; and
(c) To recommend the course of study which shall include, but not necessarily limited to, all facets and elements of national power.

SEC. 5. The professors, instructors, lecturers, and consultants of the College shall as much as possible, be drawn from the military and civilian branches of the National Government and governmental educational institutions. All academic consultants professors instructors or lecturers, whether civilian or military personnel, in addition to their salaries' shall be entitled to receive honorarium or fees as fixed by the Secretary of National Defense;

SEC. 6. (a) Upon request of the President of the College, the various Heads of Departments, offices or agencies of the National Government are hereby authorized to detail officers and employees for duty in the college.

(b) The President of the College shall, within thirty (30) days from the opening of each class of the College, circularize student quota spaces to the different Heads of Departments, offices, and agencies of the National Defense.
(c) Allowances of military and civilian personnel detailed with the College for duty therein, as well as those of students of the College, shall be fixed by the Secretary of National Defense.

SEC. 7. Graduates of the College will receive, for purposes of promotion to key and sensitive positions in the military and civilian offices, preferential considerations and/or credit points in the grade or class of their respective positions.

Civilian graduates of the NDCF who are in the Reserve Force or who may be commissioned in the active service shall be promoted to or receive the initial rank of Lt. Colonel as the case may be.

Authority to use with honor the abbreviation MNSA after their names shall be given to all graduates of this College.

SEC. 8. The Secretary of National Defense is hereby empowered to promulgate rules and regulations to effectively implement the purpose of this Decree.

SEC. 9. Such sum or sums as may be needed to carry out the provisions of this Decree which are now appropriated for the National Defense College of the Philippines shall continue to be carried in the annual General Appropriations Act.

This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 11th day of May, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-three.