WHEREAS, the Government recognizes the importance of the integration and consolidation of its scholarship programs as envisioned in Republic Act No. 4090;

WHEREAS, the State deems it its duty to grant educational opportunities to deserving members of the Cultural Minorities through proper and systematic selection of grantees, and the proper channeling of said grantees to appropriate courses in line with their aptitudes and abilities geared to the manpower needs of the New Society;

WHEREAS, as early as November 1972 the CNI Commissioner made representations with the Department of Education and Culture to administer the test for CNI scholars; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Education and Culture has an adequate and competent staff which can handle the testing program;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief of all 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 decree that the CNI Scholarship Program including the funds and property thereof be transferred to the Department of Education and Culture. The Secretary of Education and Culture shall designate any appropriate office or unit under the Department to administer the program.

This Decree shall form part of the law of the land and shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 15th day of May, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-three.