---

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ Proclamation No. 479, October 23, 1968 ]

DESIGNATING THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 17-23, 1968 AND HENCEFORTH THE THIRD WEEK OF NOVEMBER OF EVERY YEAR AS RETARDED CHILDREN’S WEEK AND AUTHORIZING THE SPECIAL CHILD STUDY CENTER, INC. TO CONDUCT AN EDUCATIONAL AND FUND CAMPAIGN THEREFROM UNTIL FEBRUARY 14 OF THE ENSUING YEARS.

WHEREAS, there are more than one million mentally retarded children and adults in the Philippines, and approximately 80,000 children born annually become mentally retarded, a condition characterized by significant impairment in intelligence, slowness in general development specially in learning, and difficulties in adapting to the demands of daily living;

WHEREAS, mental retardation can happen in any family rich or poor, regardless of social, educational, or racial background:

WHEREAS, mental retardation ranks as a major national health, social, educational and economic problem;

WHEREAS, mentally retarded children, given early diagnosis and suitable care and training can achieve significant improvements mentally, physically, socially and vocationally, thus transforming them into useful manpower for the country:

WHEREAS, this is the twelfth anniversary of the Special Child Study Center, Inc. culminating more than a decade of pioneering, humanitarian service and noteworthy achievement in spearheading the movement for the mentally retarded in the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for an intensive campaign to educate the public on various aspects of mental retardation with a view to minimizing if not totally eliminating its deleterious effects, and to raise funds to enable the Special Child Study Center, Inc. to implement the first phase of its building plans, to purchase specialized equipment, to expand essential services for the retarded and to help support personnel training, demonstration and research programs which will greatly accelerate the growth of the movement on a national scale.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby proclaim November 17-23, 1968, and henceforth every third week of November as Retarded Children’s Week for the purpose of continuously and consistently interpreting to Philippine society the needs and potentials of the mentally retarded, and do hereby further authorize the Special Child Study Center, Inc. to coordinate the nationwide celebration and to conduct a fund campaign commencing from this period until February 14 of the next year. I call upon all citizens and residents of the Philippines to give full support to this campaign by giving generously of their means in order to bring the fullest possible life to those suffering from mental retardation. I also authorize government officials and employees, to accept for the Special Child Study Center, fund raising responsibilities and to give it active support and leadership in their respective capacities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.1aшphi1

Done in the City of Manila, this 23rd day of October, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and sixty-eight.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) JOSE J. LEIDO, JR.
Acting Executive Secretary

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

---