WHEREAS, it is the policy of government to extend to the national minorities equality in stature, dignity and opportunity with all other citizens;
WHEREAS, the Presidential Assistant on National Minorities has been actively involved for many years in this continuing endeavor.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and make as part of the law of the land the following measure:
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy.—It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to integrate into the mainstream of Philippine society certain ethnic groups who seek full integration into the larger community, and at the same time protect the rights of those who wish to preserve their original lifeways beside that larger community.
SEC. 2. National Minorities Defined.—For purposes of this Decree, the term National Minorities shall apply to the non Muslim hill tribes referred to under Presidential Decree No. 719 an other non-Muslim national minorities whether referred to as National Cultural Minorities or Cultural Communities under other laws.
SEC. 3. Powers, Functions and Duties.—Implementation of the above-stated policy is hereby vested in the Office of the Presidential Assistant on National Minorities, hereinafter referred to as PANAMIN, under the Office of the President, which shall act for and in behalf of the President in all matters pertaining to National Minorities and shall have the following powers, functions and duties:
SEC. 4. Presidential Assistant.—The PANAMIN shall be headed by a Presidential Assistant who shall be of cabinet rank and who shall be entitled to all privileges and prerogatives of a regular member of the Cabinet.
SEC. 5. Organizational Structure of PANAMIN.—The Presidential Assistant shall determine the organizational structure of PANAMIN in such manner as would best carry out its powers, functions and duties and attain the objectives of this Decree. He shall organize the PANAMIN and appoint, discipline and/or remove, and determine the compensation and allowances of its personnel, Provided, that, positions which are highly technical, policy determining or primarily confidential, as may be declared by the Presidential Assistant, shall not be subject to the rules and regulations of the Office of Compensation and Position Classification. The PANAMIN shall have such consultants and other experts as may be needed, who may be drawn from the private sector by appointment or on contractual basis or from government agencies or instrumentalities on detail or through other arrangements, whose compensation, allowances or honoraria shall be fixed by the Presidential Assistant. The Presidential Assistant, may appoint tribal chieftains, members of tribal councils, and other tribal leaders as well as other deserving minorities without the requisite civil service eligibility when in his opinion the welfare and interest of the National Minorities and of the government will be best served thereby.
SEC. 6. Certification of Minorities.—The PANAMIN shall have the exclusive authority to issue certifications attesting to bona fide membership in a tribal or ethno-linguistic group considered as National Minorities within the purview of this Decree for purposes of establishing qualification for appointments in government and for other benefits as provided by law.
SEC. 7. Appropriations.—PANAMIN shall receive an annual lump sum appropriation in such amounts as may be sufficient to finance its operation and its programs, projects and activities.
SEC. 8. Repeal of Inconsistent Laws.—All laws, orders, proclamations, rules, regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with any provisions of this Decree, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 9. Separability Clause.—Any portion or provision of this Decree that may be declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying the other provisions thereof; Provided, that, such remaining portions can still stand and be given effect in their entirely to accomplish the objectives of this Decree.
SEC. 10. Effectivity.—This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 9th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President: (Sgd.) JACOBO C. CLAVE Presidential Executive Assistant