[ LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 169, February 25, 1974 ]

AUTHORIZING THE USE OF BALANCES FROM PRIOR YEARS ALLOCATIONS OF THE HIGHWAY SPECIAL FUND FOR THE REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL ROADS DAMAGED BY TYPHOONS.

TO: The Commissioner of Public Highways
All Heads of Offices Concerned

WHEREAS, there are many national, provincial and municipal roads which had been badly damaged by the series of typhoons that visited the country;

WHEREAS, there is an imperative need to rehabilitate and improve these badly damaged roads as soon as possible;

WHEREAS, the funds available for the rehabilitation and improvement of these badly damaged roads are inadequate and need to be augmented from other sources available;

WHEREAS, one of the sources of funds that can augment the amount already programmed and earmarked for the rehabilitation and improvement of these roads is the accumulated balances from prior years allocation of the Highway Special Fund as of June 30, 1973.

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 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 direct:
  1. The provisions of any law, rule and regulation to the contrary notwithstanding, the Commissioner of Public Highways is hereby authorized to program and allocate all balances of allocations and releases of the Highway Special Fund from prior years for the rehabilitation and improvement of national provincial and municipal roads badly damaged as a result of the series of typhoons that had visited the country.
  2. The Commissioner of Public Highways must establish priorities of national, provincial and municipal roads to be repaired and/or rehabilitated with these funds, taking into consideration the extent of the damages suffered in the localities where these roads are located and the need for their immediate repair.
  3. This Letter of Instructions shall take effect immediately, and the Commissioner of Public Highways must implement it as soon as possible.
Done in the City of Manila, this 25th day of February, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines