WHEREAS, the Philippine National Red Cross is the body corporate and politic created and officially designated under Republic Act No. 95 as the voluntary organization to assist the Republic of the Philippines in discharging the obligations set forth in the Geneva Red Cross Convention, to which the Republic adhered on February 14, 1947, and to perform such other duties as are incumbent upon a national Red Cross Society;

WHEREAS, the Philippine National Red Cross, notwithstanding its financial limitations and inadequate resources, has established a distinguished record by contributing to the health, welfare and safety of our people, through its Disaster Relief Service, Blood Program, Home Service, Nursing Service, Junior Red Cross, First Aid and Life Saving, and is effectively serving the Filipino soldiers and their dependents, as well as veterans and hospitalized members of our Armed Forces;

WHEREAS, the Philippine National Red Cross, through its constant service, reaching almost every municipality, has become definitely a part of the life of the Filipino people and is an indispensable factor in their national existence;

WHEREAS, the Red Cross is one public institution recognized all over the world that serves as the collective expression of our humanitarian impulses for compassion and universal desire for peace and understanding; and

WHEREAS, the Philippine National Red Cross has no regular source of income to carry out its national and international responsibilities, except through the voluntary contributions obtained through personal solicitation campaigns conducted by its chapters, as prescribed in its Congressional Charter;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Elpidio Quirino, President of the Philippines, do hereby declare the period from February 15 to March 15, 1949, as the time for the Second Annual Fund Campaign of the Philippine National Red Cross, and I call upon all citizens and residents of the Philippines, irrespective of nationality or creed, as well as upon all public-spirited organizations to support this campaign and to give generously of their means, time and personal services in furtherance of the aims and ends of the Philippine National Red Cross. I also authorize all national, provincial, city, and municipal government officials and school authorities to accept, for the Philippine National Red Cross, fund-raising responsibilities and urge them to give active leadership in their respective communities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 21st day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and forty-nine, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the third.

ELPIDIO QURINO
President of the Philippines

By the President:
TEODORO EVANGELISTA
Executive Secretary