MALACAÑANG
Manila

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION No. 658

DECLARING THE 3RD WEEK OF OCTOBER OF EVERY YEAR AS “BONE AND JOINT (MUSCULO-SKELETAL) AWARENESS WEEK”

WHEREAS, Bone & Joint Disorders are among the most common medical conditions with substantial influence on the health, quality of life and unnecessary loss of resources that affects millions of Filipinos of all ages with a continuous increase in prevalence;

WHEREAS, the life long condition will affect almost every Filipino at one time of their lifetime being the most common cause of severe long term pain and physical disability, which if not immediately relieved, may be fatal;

WHEREAS, there is a need to maximally enhance the consciousness of the populace on Bone & Joint Disorders and to coordinate group activities conducted for Bone & Joint Disorders, hence the need for an inter-agency committee with the Department of Health as lead agency.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the third week of October of every year as “Bone & Joint (Musculo-Skeletal) Disorders Awareness Week”.

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

in the City of Manila, this 5th day of July, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Four.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary