WHEREAS, under Section 190 of the Revised Administrative Code, the expenses for the maintenance of courts of first instance are to be borne by the provinces concerned;

WHEREAS, this provision incapacitates cities not expressly authorized by their charters to do so from extending financial aid to the courts of first instance within their jurisdictions.

WHEREAS, it is imperative that our courts of first instance and similar courts in cities be assured of adequate financial support to enable them to attain optimum performance;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order that any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, a city may share in the expenses relating to the construction, repair and alteration of the courthouse, or courtroom and court offices, and the cost of the equipment and supplies, of a court of first instance or similar court within its jurisdiction.

This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 28th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.