WHEREAS, pursuant to the present program of integrated national development, all government officials and employees are required to render service in the rural areas for a period of at least fifteen (15) days within a given calendar year, on official time;

WHEREAS, the Revised Administrative Code prohibits the payment of salaries in advance; and

WHEREAS, the rendition of such rural service will necessary entail some expenses on the part of the officials and employees.

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

SECTION 1. All officials and employees in the government service, including contractual or emergency personnel who render rural service in the "Paglilingkod: Bagong Lipunan" Program shall be entitled to payment in advance of their basic salaries and to the commutation of Vacation leave and payment of the corresponding money value therefor, corresponding to the duration of their rural service. These payments shall be for a maximum period of fifteen (15) days a year and in the case of vacation leave, shall not exceed in any case the number of days leave credits actually available.

SEC. 2. The Chairman, Civil Service Commission and the Commissioner of the Budget shall issue the rules and regulations to implement this Decree.

SEC. 3. All laws, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Decree are hereby amended or modified accordingly.

Done in the City of Manila, this 27th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-seven.

	(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS       President Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.) JACOBO C. CLAVE     Presidential Executive Assistant