Presidential Decree No. 1618 (Ferdinand Marcos)/Chapter II

by Ferdinand Marcos

Layout 2

Chapter II—Autonomous Regions

Sec. 2. Territorial Coverage of the Autonomous Regions.—(a) Region IX shall comprise the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte including the Cities of Dipolog and Dapitan, and Zamboanga del Sur including the Cities of Pagadian and Zamboanga.

(b) Region XII shall comprise the provinces of Lanao del Norte including the City of Iligan, Lanao del Sur including the City of Marawi, Maguindanao including the City of Cotabato, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat.

Sec. 3. Internal Autonomy.—Within the framework of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines and its Constitution, internal autonomy shall be established in the Autonomous Regions with legislative and executive machinery to exercise the powers and responsibilities herein specified in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of the Philippines.

Sec. 4. Scope of Internal Autonomy.—The Autonomous Regions shall undertake all internal administrative matters for the respective regions. They shall not act on matter which are within the jurisdiction and competence of the National Government, which include, but are note limited to, the following:

(1) National defense and security;

(2) Foreign relations;

(3) Foreign trade;

(4) Currency, monetary affairs, foreign exchange, banking and quasi-banking, and external borrowing;

(5) Disposition, exploration, development, exploitation or utilization of all natural resources;

(6) Air and sea transport;

(7) Postal matters and telecommunications;

(8) Customs and quarantine;

(9) Immigration and deportation;

(10) Citizenship and naturalization;

(11) National economic, social and educational planning; and

(12) General auditing

Sec. 5. Control of Security and/or Police Forces.—All security and/or police forces in the Autonomous Regions shall be organized, maintained and utilized in accordance with applicable laws, policies and rules and regulations, and shall be under the supervision and control of the National Government.