July 29, 1982

LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 1263

WHEREAS, barangays nationwide to enable the National Census and Statistics Office to finalize the population census at the barangay level;

WHEREAS, in compliance to the aforementioned directive, the MLG has submitted an integrated barangay list which shall, from now on, be considered official for all purposes;

WHEREAS, cognizant of the fact that the integrated barangay list shall be indispensable in the formulation and implementation of governmental programs and projects, the said list should be regularly updated, verified and validated; and

WHEREAS, to avoid future discrepancies of figures on the number of barangays, there is a need to pinpoint a specific agency to serve as a central source of barangay data and information;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order and direct as follows:

1. For purposes of systematic recording of barangay data, the Operations Monitoring and Support Office of the Ministry of Local Government shall serve as the sole source of information. Said office shall be tasked to regularly update, verify and validate the total number of barangays nationwide; establish and maintain a comprehensive data bank; and disseminate relevant information in connection therewith, without prejudice to its designated Ministry functions.

2. All queries and/or requests, emanating from concerned government entities, on the total number of barangays and other related matters shall be coursed through the aforementioned office for appropriate action.

This Letter of Instructions shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 29th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Two.