By virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, do hereby amend Paragraph 3 of Presidential Decree No. 339 dated November 22, 1973, to read as follows:

"SEC. 3. — The Barangays of Ala, Margues, Dalapdap, Ducay, Esperanza, Guimalia, Ilian, Kangkong, New Panay, Numo, Pamadtingan, Sagasa, Salabaga and Villamor in the Municipality of Ampatuan, Province of Maguindanao, are hereby separated from said Municipality, and constituted into a distinct and independent municipality to be known as the Municipality of Esperanza, in the province of Sultan Kudarat. The seat of government of the New municipality, shall be in the present site of the Barangay (barrio) of Esperanza.

The barangays of Matagabong, Kauran, Mao, Talisawa, Saniag, Tomicor, Tubak, Kamasi, Tukanalogong, Kaya-kaya, Sugadol, Banaba, and Madanding in the Municipality of Esperanza shall remain as part of the Municipality of Ampatuan, Province of Maguindanao.

The technical description of the boundary of the Municipality of Ampatuan shall correspondingly be modified to wit:

"Beginning at point at the foot of Decalongan Bridge following the Kabulnan River downstream to an imaginary point at the junction of the Kabulnan River and Allah River; Thence southeast following the Allah River upstream to an imaginary point at Barrio Madanding; Thence southwest to an imaginary point at the foot of Kakal Bridge along the Cotabato-General Santos National Highway; Thence southwest to an imaginary point at the boundary of the municipalities of Lebak and old Ampatuan at Barrio Tubak; Thence Nortwest following the old boundary of the municipalities of Upi and Ampatuan to an imaginary point at the boundary of the municipalities of Upi and Magonoy; Thence Northeast following the old boundary of the municipalities of Maganoy and old Ampatuan up to the foot of Decalongan Bridge, the point of beginning."

This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 3rd day of December in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.