WHEREAS as the National Assembly has by law (Commonwealth Act. No. 433) suspended for a period of five years the granting of Geological Exploration and Petroleum Drilling Leases under the provisions of Act Numbered Two thousand nine hundred thirty-two and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder:

WHEREAS the period of suspension provided for by law will expire on May 31, 1944;

WHEREAS the Congress of the Philippines under the present war situation cannot act on this matter;

Now, therefore, in order to safeguard the interest of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, I, Manuel L. Quezon, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the power vested in me by the Constitution and existing law, do hereby suspended the granting of such Geological Exploration and Petroleum Drilling Lease for another five years from May 3, 1944, or until the Congress of the Philippines shall have otherwise provide by law.

Done at the City of Miami Beach, State of Florida, United States of America, this thirty-first day of March, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and forty-four, and of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the ninth.