WHEREAS, public interest requires my presence outside the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, under the Constitution my absence from the seat of the government, even outside Philippine territory, does not preclude my performing the duties and functions of my office as Chief Executive, and moreover, there exist precedents established by Presidents Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson, who during the term of their office went outside the territorial limits of the United States and continued to perform their functions as Chief Executive; wherefore, I feel it incumbent upon me to continue to assume the prerogatives, functions, and duties of my office;

Now, therefore, the following instructions are hereby issued for the conduct of public affairs during my absence:

1. The Secretaries of Department will continue to administer their respective Department in accordance with law and regulations in force, but matters of major policy shall be submitted to me for approval before action is taken thereon.

2. If these matters are of urgent character they shall be submitted to me by cable.

3. The Secretary of the President will sign all the papers coming from the Office of the President, by direction of the President, in the usual course of business.

4. Cabinet meetings may be held as usual under the chairmanship of the Vice-President to pass upon routine matters.

Done at the City of Manila, this thirteenth day of May, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and thirty-six, and of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the first.


By the President:

ELPIDIO QUIRINO
Secretary of the Interior