WHEREAS, in 1917, the Philippine Red Cross was established as a chapter of the American Red Cross extending valuable services to the Filipino people at all times-in peace and in war, and in all great emergencies and disasters;

WHEREAS, the establishment of an Independent Republic of the Philippines made it desirable to separate the Philippine Red Cross from the American Red Cross, Thereby establishing the former as an independent Red Cross Society;

WHEREAS, on February 18, 1947, the Senate of the Philippines ratified the Geneva Red Cross Treaty and the Prisoners of War Convention, thus making the Republic of the Philippines a signatory to the basic conventions of the International Red Cross;

WHERAS, on March 22, 1947, Republic Act No. 95 was approved, incorporating the Philippine National Red Cross and defining its duties and responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, on March 22, 1947, the Philippine National Red Cross applied to the International Red Cross for recognition as an independent society and on March 29, 1947, the International Red Cross officially gave notice of the recognition of the independence of the Philippine National Red Cross;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Manuel Roxas, President of the Philippines, do hereby proclaim the international recognition of the Philippine National Red Cross as an independent national society, fully qualified to have equal participation in the activities of the International Red Cross.

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

Done at the City of Manila, this 15^th day of April, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and forty-seven, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the first.

(Sgd.) MANUEL ROXAS

President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) EMILIO ABELLO

Chief of the Executive Office