Proclamation No. 1397




MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES [ Proclamation No. 1397, March 11, 1975 ] DESIGNATING MARCH 17 OF EVERY YEAR AS INTEGRATED BAR DAY THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES. WHEREAS, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines was organized by Supreme Court Rule 139-A and constituted into a body corporate by Presidential Decree No. 181 for the fundamental purposes of elevating the standards of the legal profession, improving the administration of justice, and enabling the Bar to discharge its public responsibility more effectively; WHEREAS, it is important that the nature and objectives of the Integrated Bar be understood and appreciated by our people, more particularly the members of the legal profession, in order that its lofty ends may be more fully and efficaciously attained. WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that a day within each year be designated and proclaimed as Integrated Bar Day so as to project the Integrated Bar into the national consciousness with greater impact, and the most felicitous choice for the purpose is March 17, considering that the first convention of the House of Delegates of the Integrated Bar and the election of the first Board of Governors of the organization were held on March 17, 1973; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby proclaim and designate March 17 of every year as Integrated Bar Day and urge our people, more especially the officers and members of the Integrated Bar and all its Chapters throughout the Philippines, to observe the day with appropriate activities designed to promote the objectives and purposes of the organization especially its nationwide program of free legal assistance to the needy and deserving members of the community. 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 11th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-five. (Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS President of the Philippines By the President: (Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR Executive Secretary The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation