CREATING THE PROVINCES OF NORTH COTABATO, MAGUINDANAO AND SULTAN KUDARAT

WHEREAS, the Province of Cotabato is one of the largest and
richest provinces of the Philippines;

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;

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;

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:

SECTION 1. The Province of Cotabato is hereby divided into
three provinces to be known as North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan
Kudarat.

SEC. 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, Malalam, M’lang, Tulunan, Makilala, President Roxas,
Magpet, Kidapawan and Pikit.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 5. The capital of North Cotabato shall be Kidapawan;
that of Maguindanao Maganoy; and that of Sultan Kudarat, Isulan.

SEC. 6. Except as hereinafter provided, all provisions of
law now or hereafter applicable to regular provinces shall be applicable
to the provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 8. Upon the full effectivity of this Decree, the
proportionate share of the new provinces in the obligations, funds,
assets and other propertied of the present Province of Cotabato shall be
transferred by the President to the provinces herein created upon
recommendation of the Auditor General.

SEC. 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.