RESTRUCTURING THE REGIONAL ORGANIZATION OF MINDANAO, BASILAN, SULU AND TAWI-TAWI.

WHEREAS, it is a policy of the State to strengthen local
government units to serve as the foundation for a strong and
self-reliant nation;

WHEREAS, this policy is implemented by, among other things,
grouping local government units into regions that allow for greater
coordination and more efficient administration;

WHEREAS, the experience of the past two-and-one half years
has shown that the regional groupings of the country have to be refined
and improved upon;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,
do hereby amend Presidential Decree No. 1 as follows:

1. Region IX shall be composed of the provinces of Basilan,
   Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga del Sur, and the cities of
   Pagadian and Zamboanga, with Jolo as the Regional Center.
2. Region X shall be composed of the provinces of
   Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis
   Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte and Zamboanga del
   Norte, and the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Dapitan, Dipolog,
   Gingoog, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Tangub, Surigao and Butuan, with
   Cagayan de Oro as the Regional Center.
3. Region XI shall be composed of the provinces of Surigao
   del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur and South
   Cotabato, and the cities of Davao and General Santos, with Davao City
   as the Regional Center.
4. Region XII shall be composed of the provinces of
   Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, North
   Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, and the cities of Cotabato,
   Iligan and Marawi, with Cotabato City as the Regional
   Center,

Furthermore, Regional Commissioners shall be appointed for Regions
IX and XII with powers and functions to be subsequently defined.

This decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 7th day of July in the year
of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-five.