By virtue of the powers vested in me by law, I, Ramon Magsaysay, President of the Philippines, do hereby create a committee to choose a suitable site from among the vacant lands of the government in the City of Manila for the erection of a National Theater for music, drama, and other forms of theatrical exhibitions for art and culture. The Committee shall be composed of the following:

Mr. Federico Elizalde	Chairman
Hon. Florencio Moreno, Secretary of Public Works and Communications	Member
Mr. Anselmo T. Alquinto, Director of Planning	Member
Hon. Raul S. Manglapus, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs	Member
Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing, Director of National Museum	Member
Mr. Juan Nakpil	Member
Mr. Eugenio J. Puyat	Member
Rev. Father James B. Reuter, Rector, Ateneo de Manila	Member

The Committee shall determine the type of building that will be constructed as a National Theater. For this purpose, it is hereby authorized to call upon competent and civic-minded persons within or outside the Government for assistance in the preparation of the architectural design and plan of the proposed building. If necessary, it may conduct an open competition for the selection of the most appropriate design or plan that will be adopted for the construction of said building.

The Committee shall submit its report and recommendations to the President of the Philippines as soon as possible.

Done in the City of Manila, this 13th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and fifty-six, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the tenth.

(Sgd.) RAMON MAGSAYSAY
President of the Philippines

By the President:
(Sgd.) FORTUNATO DE LEON
Acting Executive Secretary