Proclamation No. 559, s. 2004

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PROCLAMATION NO. 559

DECLARING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY OF EVERY YEAR AS NATIONAL DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 235, dated January 24, 1951, declared the period from February 3 to 9 of every year as National Dental Health Week;

WHEREAS, its major objective is to arouse dental health consciousness among the people;

WHEREAS, the dental profession plays a vital role in the maintenance of a healthy citizenry and the Philippine Dental Association since then has lived up with its share to propagate the value of oral/dental health to the people during the traditional week-long celebration;

WHEREAS, a DOH survey released in 1998 revealed that 96 out of one hundred

Filipinos are afflicted by dental caries making tooth decay probably the most prominent disease affecting Filipinos;

WHEREAS, it is imperative that the week-long celebration should be extended to one (1) month to make it more significant to reach out more people especially in the countryside and make them more conscious about the value of good oral/dental health.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the month of February of every year as National Dental Health Month.

This supersedes Proclamation No. 236, series of 1951.

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

DONE in the City of Manila, this 24™ day of February, in the year of Our Lord,

Two Thousand and Four. By f. Gow

ALBERTO G. ROMULO Executive Secretary

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PGMA Hologram # 24757

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