WHEREAS, before the advent of the New Order, the activities connected with all phases and aspects of the said pilgrimage of Muslim Filipinos had been exploited by unscrupulous parties whose only motive had been to advance their personal, social, financial, political and other selfish ends;
WHEREAS, such exploitation gave rise to many irregularities which became a source of adverse and detrimental propaganda and criticism against the Republic of the Philippines locally and abroad, especially in the eyes of the Muslim countries, and served to stir social unrest, frustration and discontent among Muslim Filipinos thereby aggravating the peace and order problems in some places in Mindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Palawan;
WHEREAS, it is the Government's responsibility to look after the welfare and protect the interests of Muslim Filipino pilgrims and to prevent them from being exploited by any unscrupulous party, thereby avoiding the aforestated detrimental effects on the national interest;
WHEREAS, the Government participation in said activity has been proven effective during the Muslim Filipinos' pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977, which had been completed without any major untoward or regrettable incident;
WHEREAS, the gains in terms of the improved Philippine international image, prestige, dignity and integrity throughout the world, and the favorable effects on the peace and order conditions in some provinces in Mindanao obtained through stricter Government supervision of and more active participation in said pilgrimage during the past five years must be preserved and enhanced by making such participation a continuing and on-going activity;
WHEREAS, to maximize the number of Muslim Filipinos that can avail of the opportunity to make such pilgrimage and insure the effectiveness and consequently, the success of this important activity, there must be a Government Agency directly responsible for carrying out the same;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree, as part of the laws of the land, the following:
SECTION 1. Creation of the Philippine Pilgrimage Authority. — There is hereby created, under the Office of the President, an agency to be known as the Philippine Pilgrimage Authority.
SEC. 2. Composition of the Authority. — The Authority herein created shall be composed of a Chairman whose appointment, tenure and qualifications shall be made or determined by the President; and six members consisting of the representatives of the: Secretaries of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Finance, National Defense and Local Government and Community Development, the President of the Philippine Amanah Bank and the Administrator of the Southern Philippines Development Authority.
SEC. 3. Powers, functions and duties. — The Authority shall have the following powers, functions and duties:
SEC. 4. Compensation of Chairman. — The Chairman of the Authority shall receive an annual compensation of Thirty Nine Thousand Two Hundred Forty Pesos (P39,240.00).
SEC. 5. Appropriation. — The sum of Five Million pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of the funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated: Provided, That such sums as may be necessary for the continuing implementation of this Decree shall be included in the Annual Budget of the National Government; Provided, further, That any surplus funds earned by the Authority shall be utilized, subject to the approval of the President, for the development of the southern Philippines.
SEC. 6. Penal Provision. — Any person who obstructs, impedes or otherwise impairs the implementation of this Decree shall suffer imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than ten years at the discretion of the Court. Conviction of the offender who is a public official or employee, shall carry with it dismissal from the service and other accessory penalties provided for in the Revised Penal Code.
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 8. This Decree shall take effect upon approval.
Done in the City of Manila, this 15th day of February, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President: (Sgd.) JUAN C. TUVERA Presidential Assistant