WHEREAS, the election for regional representatives to the interim Batasang Pambansa shall be on April 7 while the election for the sectoral representatives shall be held within twenty days after the said date;

WHEREAS, some sector concerned have made representations for the postponement of the last day for the filing of certificates of candidacy for sectoral candidates;

WHEREAS, in view of the time lag between the election of regional and sectoral representatives, the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy of the sectoral candidates may be postponed without jeopardizing the orderly process of the election;

WHEREAS, in the matter of multiple filing of certificates of candidacy, there is need to clarify whether a person who has filed a certificate of candidacy for regional representative may also be entitled to file a certificate of candidacy for sectoral representative; and whether a candidate who loses in the election for regional representative may still be eligible as a candidate for sectoral representative;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby decree:

SECTION 1. Postponing the date of filing of certificates of candidacy for sectoral representatives. — The provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1296, otherwise known as the 1978 Election Code notwithstanding, the certification of candidacy for sectoral representative to the interim Batasang Pambansa shall be filed not later than March 7, 1978.

SEC. 2. Multiple filing of certificate of candidacy not allowed. — Any person who filed a certificate of candidacy for regional representative shall not be eligible to file another certificate of candidacy for sectoral representative; Provided, that such person may withdraw his certificate of candidacy for regional representative at such time as to enable him to file within the period herein provided a certificate of candidacy for sectoral representatives; Provided, however, that if there be a person who, before the effectivity of this decree, filed certificates of candidacy for both regional and sectoral representatives, such person shall, in a sworn statement to the Commission filed before March 7, 1978, indicate what certificate of candidacy he wants to continue and cancelling the other, otherwise, failing to do so, both certificates shall be null and void.

SEC. 3. Withdrawal or cancellation of certificate of candidacy. — No certificate of candidacy duly filed shall be considered withdrawn or cancelled unless the candidate files with the official which received the certificate of candidacy or with the Commission, a sworn statement of withdrawal or cancellation.

SEC. 4. Effectivity. — This decree shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 14th 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