MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 38

CREATING AN INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE TO INITIATE, IMPLEMENT AND MONITOR EASE OF DOING BUSINESS REFORMS

WHEREAS, the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Report of the World Bank International Finance Corporation (IFC) measures and focuses on the regulations relevant to the life cycle of small and medium-scale businesses;

WHEREAS, the Doing Business Survey (DBS) of the IFC measures and tracks changes in business regulations across ten (10) indicators, namely: starting a business; dealing with construction permits; getting electricity; registering property; getting credit; protecting investors; paying taxes; trading across borders; enforcing contracts; and resolving insolvency;

WHEREAS, there is a need to improve on the Philippine ranking in the DBS which has essentially remained unchanged for the last three (3) years.

WHEREAS, following its mandate to promote, develop, and execute national competitiveness strategies, the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) has designed the Gameplan for Competitiveness to raise Philippine competitiveness rankings;

WHEREAS, the Economic Development Cluster (EDC) has endorsed the National Competitiveness Council’s Gameplan for Competitiveness; and,

WHEREAS, there is a need to create an inter-agency Task Force to ensure the full implementation of the Gameplan for Competitiveness, which has set reform targets per agency or office of government.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the following:

SECTION 1. Creation and Composition. There is hereby created an inter-agency Task Force on Ease of Doing Business (EODB Task Force) to ensure the implementation of the Gameplan for Competitiveness and to improve the Philippine ranking in the DBS. The EODB Task Force shall be chaired by the Secretary of Trade and Industry, and shall be composed of representatives from the following:

The EODB Task Force may invite concerned Local Government Units (LGUs), private and public institutions to participate, complement and assist in the implementation of the Gameplan for Competitiveness.

SECTION 2. Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities. The EODB Task Force shall undertake the following:

a. Review and develop policies, programs, and guidelines to ensure the proper implementation of the Gameplan for Competitiveness;

b. Re-evaluate and take the necessary measures to achieve targets set for 2013, and finalize the 2014-2015 targets and those of succeeding years;

c. Recommend to the President the issuance of the appropriate measures to promote transparency and efficiency in business practices;

d. Implement various EODB reform initiatives aimed at improving the ranking of the Philippines in all ten (10) indicators and the overall Philippine ranking in the IFC DBS;

e. Coordinate with the appropriate agencies for the inclusion of the targets set by the EODB Task Force in the performance targets of the concerned departments and agencies in their respective performance-based incentive systems;

f. Organize the necessary EODB teams to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the Gameplan for Competitiveness;

g. Monitor and evaluate the proper implementation of programs and policies; and,

h. Perform such other functions as may be necessary or as may be directed by the President for the successful implementation of this Administrative Order (AO).

SECTION 3. Support to EODB Task Force. All departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), are hereby directed to give support, assistance and cooperation to the EODB Task Force in order to accomplish the targets provided in the Gameplan for Competitiveness.

SECTION 4. Funding. The member-agencies of the Task Force are hereby authorized to charge against their current appropriations such amounts as may be necessary for the implementation of this AO, subject to the usual government budgetary accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Subsequent funding requirements shall be incorporated in the annual budget proposals of the respective member-agencies.

SECTION 5. Reporting. The EODB Task Force shall, within sixty (60) days from the issuance of this AO and every six (6) months thereafter, submit a report to the Office of the President, through the Economic Development Cluster.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. Should any provision of this AO be declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. All orders, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with this AO, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. This AO shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 17^th day of May, in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Thirteen.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA JR.
Executive Secretary

MALACANAN PALACE
MANILA

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 37

CREATING THE TASK FORCE ON BANGSAMORO DEVELOPMENT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, the Preamble of the Constitution articulates the aspiration of the sovereign Filipino people to build a just and humane society, and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity, the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality and peace;

WHEREAS, the aspirations in the Preamble are embodied in the President’s Social Contract with the Filipino People, a sixteen-point agenda that lays down the vision of government in the different priority areas of development;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the President’s Social Contract, the government endeavors to attain a broadly supported, just, and lasting peace that will redress decades of neglect of the Moro and other peoples of Mindanao;

WHEREAS, the comprehensive peace process agenda in Mindanao is an indispensable component of real and inclusive regional and national development goals;

WHEREAS, the Government and the Mora Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) entered into the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (hereinafter the Framework Agreement) on 15 October 2012, which is envisioned to pave the way for the peaceful resolution of the armed struggle in Mindanao;

WHEREAS, the Government acknowledges its commitment to exert all efforts towards realizing the full implementation of the Framework Agreement; and,

WHEREAS, the Framework Agreement states that the Government and the MILF shall intensify development efforts for rehabilitation, reconstruction, and development in Mindanao, and institute programs to address the needs of MILF combatants, internally displaced persons, and poverty-stricken communities throughout Mindanao.

NOW THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Creation and Composition. The Task Force on Bangsamoro Development (hereinafter referred to as the Task Force) is hereby created. The Task Force shall be composed of the following:

The members shall designate their permanent alternates to the Task Force whose rank shall not be lower than an Assistant Secretary or its equivalent.

The Task Force is hereby authorized to call upon any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the government for assistance as the circumstances and exigencies may require.

SECTION 2. Powers and Functions. The Task Force shall have the following powers and functions:

a. Develop and implement programs and projects to respond to the health, education, and livelihood needs of MILF priority beneficiaries, internally displaced persons, and poverty-stricken communities throughout Mindanao.

For this purpose, the Sajahatra Bangsamoro Program shall be implemented as the Government’s initial support for identified MILF combatants and families and other affected persons; and communities after the signing of Framework Agreement.

The Task Force shall coordinate with the Transition Commission, created pursuant to Executive Order No. 120 (s. 2012), in the development and implementation of the foregoing programs and projects. It may likewise consult with other relevant government instrumentalities and/or non­government organizations in line with the above function;

b. Develop and implement a communications strategy on the Sajahatra Bangsamoro Program;

c. Monitor in coordination with the Transition Commission, the implementation of development projects and programs implemented under the Sajahatra Bangsamoro Program and submit regular reports to the Office of the President; and,

d. Perform such other functions as the President may hereinafter direct.

SECTION 3. Staff Support. The Task Force may create technical committees and designate members thereof, and may engage the assistance of experts and professional advisors, subject to government rules and regulations.

The (DCS shall provide secretariat support to the Chairperson. The OPAPP may also provide technical support as may be necessary.

SECTION 4. Funding. The member-agencies of the Task Force are hereby authorized to charge against their current appropriations such amounts as may be necessary for the implementation of this Order, subject to the usual government accounting arid auditing rules and regulations. Subsequent funding requirements shall be incorporated in the annual budget proposals of the respective member-agencies through the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Additional funds as may be necessary for the implementation of the Order may be allocated from the President’s Social Fund and Contingent Fund, subject to the approval of the President.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions unaffected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. All orders, proclamations, rules, regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 13th day of February in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Thirteen.

(Sgd.) Benigno S. Aquino III

By the President:

(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 36

CREATING THE NATIONAL ORGANIZING COUNCIL FOR THE PHILIPPINE HOSTING OF THE 2015 ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC) MEETINGS, PRESCRIBING ITS AUTHORITY AND FUNCTIONS

WHEREAS, the Philippines, committed to the continued growth and development of the Asia-Pacific region through close and meaningful cooperation with the countries in the region, continues to be an active member-economy of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC);

WHEREAS, the Philippine Council for Regional Cooperation (PCRC) was created by the President under Administrative Order (AO) No. 20 (s. 2011), to upgrade and reinforce inter-agency coordination in the formulation and consolidation of all positions and strategies of the Philippines as it participates in APEC and all other regional and inter-regional organizations and fora;

WHEREAS, the Philippines has agreed to host the 2015 APEC annual meetings, which include the APEC Senior Officials Meeting and Related Meetings, the APEC Ministerial and Sectoral Ministerial Meetings, and the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting;

WHEREAS, there is a need to constitute a separate National Organizing Council to manage and supervise all tasks and activities related to the Philippine hosting of APEC in 2015 and ensure a successful Philippine hosting; and,

WHEREAS, under Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987, the President has the continuing authority to reorganize the administrative structure of the Office of the President to achieve simplicity, economy and efficiency.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Composition. An APEC-NOC is hereby constituted, composed of the following members:

The Local Chief Executives of Local Government Units (LGUs) selected to serve as the site of the APEC 2015 meetings may be invited as Special Members of the APEC-NOC and the APEC 2015 Committees.

The APEC-NOC Chairperson and the APEC 2015 Committee Heads may require the participation of the heads of other departments and/or agencies, government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and invite LGUs, representatives from the private sector, and the academe, as may be deemed necessary.

SECTION 2. Authority and Functions of the APEC-NOC. In pursuit of its objectives and subject to existing laws, the APEC-NOC shall have the following authority and functions, consistent with Philippine laws and regulations:

a)    Approve and recommend to the President a Master Plan for the Philippine hosting of APEC in 2015, including an estimated budget for the proper hosting of the APEC meetings;

b)    Issue such administrative guidelines and instructions as may be necessary to achieve the objectives of this AO;

c)    Perform any and all acts and functions as may be deemed appropriate and necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the APEC-NOC, the Executive Committee, and the Committees, to advance the purposes of this AO, and to ensure the successful hosting of APEC in 2015; and,

d)    Submit periodic reports to the President throughout the duration of the APEC 2015 Hosting.

SECTION 3. Meetings of the APEC-NOC. The APEC-NOC Chairperson shall convene the meetings of the APEC-NOC regularly and as often as may be necessary to ensure proper coordination and implementation of the 2015 Hosting Master Plan and the individual Work Plans of its committees.

SECTION 4. Executive Committee. An Executive Committee (hereinafter referred to as the EXECOM) shall be established to serve as the full-time, day-to-day operations arm of the APEC-NOC to ensure that the programs, projects, and activities to be undertaken in preparation for the Philippine hosting of APEC in 2015 shall run continuously, smoothly, efficiently, and effectively.

The EXECOM shall be composed of representatives, with a rank not lower than Assistant Secretary, from the following agencies: the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Finance (DOF), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Office of the Executive Secretary, Office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The EXECOM shall be chaired by the Director-General who shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Chairperson of the APEC-NOC. The Director-General shall have the rank of an Undersecretary and shall hold office for the duration of the preparations, event proper and conclusion of the APEC 2015.

SECTION 5. Authority and Functions of the EXECOM. The EXECOM shall perform any act, by majority vote of all its members, on such specific matters not otherwise within the exclusive competence of the APEC-NOC, and as may be delegated to it, such as:

a)    Manage the implementation and execution of the Master Plan upon approval by the President and supervise and monitor all activities related thereto;

b)    Call upon any official, employee, agency or instrumentality of the national or local governments for any assistance that may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this AO and to implement the Master Plan;

c)    Recommend to the APEC-NOC any necessary and proper modifications or improvements to the Master Plan to ensure the successful hosting of APEC 2015;

d)    Issue implementing rules and instructions necessary and appropriate to effectively execute the Master Plan; and,

e)    Submit periodic reports to the President, through the APEC-NOC Chairperson, throughout the duration of the APEC 2015 Hosting.

SECTION 6. Office of the Director-General and APEC Secretariat. There shall be an Office of the Director-General (ODG) which shall serve as the Secretariat of the APEC-NOC and the EXECOM. It shall be composed of a Core Staff, contracted for the duration of the preparations, event proper and conclusion of the APEC 2015, and complemented by personnel detailed from the member agencies of the EXECOM. The Director-General is hereby authorized to organize and hire the required staff complement for the Secretariat.

The funding requirements of the ODG for fiscal year 2013 to 2015 shall be determined by the APEC-NOC Chairperson in consultation with DBM, and sourced from the Contingent Fund and such other sources as may be identified by DBM, subject to existing budgetary rules and regulations.

SECTION 7. APEC 2015 Committees. APEC 2015 Committees are hereby established to assist the APEC-NOC in the pursuit of its objectives.

The APEC 2015 Committees shall be chaired by Secretaries or their duly designated Undersecretaries. The members shall be represented by Undersecretaries or Assistant Secretaries duly designated by their respective Heads of departments/agencies. The composition of the APEC 2015 Committees is enumerated in Annex A, which forms an integral part of this Order.

The APEC 2015 Committees shall be as follows:

a)    Committee on Security, Peace and Order, and Emergency Preparedness. The Security, Peace and Order, and Emergency Preparedness Committee shall be chaired by DILG and co-chaired by DND, and shall oversee and direct the overall security preparations, peace and order, and emergency preparedness and response, for all APEC 2015 Meetings hosted by the Philippines.

b)    Committee on Infrastructure. The Infrastructure Committee shall be chaired by DPWH and shall direct the overall improvement and maintenance of all Conference facilities and critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, ports, airports, including the availability of energy services (i.e. oil and electric power), and shall ensure their readiness for the APEC 2015 hosting.

c)    Committee on Transport and Logistics. The Transport and Logistics Committee shall be chaired by the DOTC and shall ensure the availability, efficiency, and security (in coordination with the Security Committee) of all transportation as well as the information technology security and infrastructure requirements for the APEC 2015 hosting and facilitate the safe and secure movement of persons, cargo, and equipment in all activities of the APEC 2015 hosting.

d)    Committee on Tourism and Cultural Promotion, Hospitality, and Site Enhancement. The Tourism and Cultural Promotion, Hospitality, and Site Enhancement Committee shall be chaired by DOT and shall manage and supervise all cultural events, tours, and the overall promotion of Filipino culture and tourism during the APEC 2015 hosting, in coordination with the Transport and Logistics Committee. The Committee shall also be in charge of beautification and cleanliness.

e)    Committee on Receptions and Related Events. The Receptions and Related Events Committee shall be chaired by DOT and shall be in charge of overseeing and/or organizing all receptions and related events in the course of the APEC hosting, including but not limited to, welcoming receptions, dinners, award ceremonies, informal programs, and other similar events.

f)      Committee on Spouses’ Program. The Spouses’ Program Committee shall be chaired by DOT and shall supervise and implement the spouses’ programs for the various APEC meetings and activities.

g)    Committee on Protocol. The Protocol Committee shall be chaired by the Office of the Presidential Protocol and shall be in charge of all arrangements of APEC ceremonials, socials, and related events, including arrival and departure of delegates, and shall be responsible for the proper observance and enforcement of all formalities, courtesies, and facilities under relevant Conventions and agreements during the APEC 2015 hosting.

h)    Committee on Finance, Budget, and Procurement. The Finance, Budget, and Procurement Committee shall be chaired by DBM and shall ensure the approval and timely release of the budget and address the procurement requirements coming from the various Committees for all activities and improvements needed for the APEC 2015 hosting, from the issuance of this AO to the successful conclusion of APEC 2015.

            All Committees shall coordinate with the Finance, Budget, and Procurement      Committee for their financial and procurement requirements. The Committee     shall also coordinate with the private sector, through the APEC 2015 – Private    Sector Advisory Council (APSAC) constituted under Section 9 of this AO, and secure the necessary private sector funding, wherever practicable, to support all             activities of the hosting.

i)      Committee on Business and Investment Promotion. The Business and Investment Promotion Committee shall be chaired by DTI and shall be responsible for engaging the international business community, investors, governments, and other parties and shall organize and supervise potential business and investment-related activities, including trade expositions and missions, investment roadshows, and other promotional activities.

j)      Committee on APEC Host Economy Priorities. The APEC Host Economy Priorities Committee shall be chaired by DFA and co-chaired by NEDA and DTI and shall formulate and advance the substantive themes, priorities, strategies, and the agenda of the Philippines as APEC host.

k)    Committee on Strategic Communications. The Strategic Communications Committee shall be chaired by the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) and co-chaired by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and shall ensure the proper dissemination and management of public information regarding the APEC 2015 meetings, including the formulation of communication plans, provision of facilities for media, coverage of public events, and crafting of strategic messages.

l)      Committee on Conference Management. The Conference Management Committee shall be chaired by DFA and shall oversee and direct all activities and tasks related to the actual on-site management and operations of the APEC Senior Officials Meetings and the APEC Economic Leaders Meetings, including among others, the provision of conference services, information management, on-site technical secretariat and IT support, and movement of delegates.

The agency in charge of a particular Sectoral Ministerial Meeting or Working Group shall be responsible for conference management of its particular Sectoral Ministerial Meeting, in coordination with the Conference Management Committee.

The APEC 2015 Committees shall ensure communication, coordination, and cooperation with each other in the performance of their functions. Secretariat support for the individual APEC 2015 Committees shall be provided by the respective agencies of the Committee Chairs.

SECTION 8. APEC Hosting Master Plan. The APEC-NOC shall approve and recommend to the President a Master Plan for the Philippine hosting of APEC in 2015, including an estimated budget for the proper hosting of the APEC meetings, within sixty (60) days from the issuance of this AO.

The APEC 2015 Committees shall formulate and submit to the APEC-NOC their respective Work and Financial/Budget Plans and timelines within thirty (30) days from the issuance of this AO.

Upon approval of the Master Plan, the APEC 2015 Committees shall immediately implement the specific tasks and activities identified therein and shall provide regular reports and updates to the EXECOM.

SECTION 9. APEC 2015 – Private Sector Advisory Council (APSAC). The APSAC is hereby constituted which shall be composed of the three (3) Philippine Representatives to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and other private sector representatives whom they may identify and invite, upon the approval of the APEC-NOC Chairperson. The President shall designate one of the Philippine Representatives to the ABAC as Chairperson of the APSAC, who shall sit as a Member of the APEC-NOC. The APSAC shall ensure that the private sector is made an active partner in the Philippine hosting of APEC 2015, through, inter alia, the setting-up of public-private partnerships to handle some of the hosting requirements.

SECTION 10. Coordination with the Philippine Council for Regional Cooperation (PCRC). The APEC-NOC shall consult and coordinate with PCRC which shall continue to be responsible in formulating Philippine positions on substantive matters related to APEC.

DFA shall continue to serve as the Philippine Senior Official for APEC, supported by the APEC National Secretariat.

SECTION 11. Human Resources and Focal Points. All departments, agencies, GOCCs, and other instrumentalities identified in this AO and/ or those whose participation is deemed necessary by the APEC-NOC or any of its Committees shall ensure the proper allocation of human resources devoted to the APEC hosting.

Each of the government agencies involved shall designate an internal APEC Hosting Team and a Focal Point, which shall be the point-of-contact for all communications and coordination related to the APEC hosting. Each team will submit regular reports on the status of their agency’s activities, or as required by the Committee Chairpersons.

SECTION 12. Funding. Financial requirements that may be needed by the APEC-NOC for fiscal years (FYs) 2012 and 2013 shall be charged against the available savings of the concerned agencies involved in this AO and/or shall be taken from any available sources as may be identified by DBM.

Appropriations for FYs 2014 and 2015 shall be incorporated in the budget proposals under the International Commitments Fund (ICF).

SECTION 13. Administrative Guidelines and Orders. The APEC-NOC and/or the EXECOM shall issue the necessary administrative and implementing rules and guidelines within the mandate and authority granted under this AO.

SECTION 14. Separability Clause. If any provision of this AO is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions unaffected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 15. Repealing Clause. All issuances, orders, rules, and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this AO are hereby revoked and/or modified accordingly.

SECTION 16. Sunset Clause. The APEC-NOC and its Committees shall not convene any meetings not related to the hosting of the APEC 2015 Meetings. Furthermore, except for purposes of the settlement of obligations and other commitments to third persons incurred during the effectivity of this AO in preparation for the APEC hosting, and for purposes of winding-up its operations, the APEC-NOC, EXECOM, ODG, APEC 2015 Committees and all other bodies as may established pursuant to this AO, including the authority and functions of the Chairperson and the member-agencies herein, shall be functus officio within thirty (30) calendar days from the conclusion of the 2015 APEC Economic Leaders Meeting, and in any case not later than 31 December 2015.

SECTION 17. Effectivity. This AO shall take effect immediately, and shall remain in full force and effect until 31 December 2015.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 28th day of November, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twelve.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 34

CREATING AN INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE ON INSTITUTIONAL
ARRANGEMENTS FOR LAND MANAGEMENT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

WHEREAS, the alleviation of poverty in the country, particularly in rural areas where most of the indigents and marginalized sectors of society reside, is a priority concern of government;

WHEREAS, the national government agencies presently involved in rural development need to streamline their efforts in the delivery of support services in the countryside to speed up the development of the Philippine rural sector and to review their functions with the end view of simplifying protocols and procedures to optimize the use of government resources;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9700, the implementation of the land acquisition and distribution component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) is to be completed by 30 June 2014;

WHEREAS, the delivery of support services, agrarian reform beneficiary development, and the smooth transfer of the mandate of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to the Department of Agriculture (DA) are continuing concerns of the government to ensure that the gains of land distribution under the CARP are sustained;

WHEREAS, there is a need to create a committee to undertake a study on the institutional arrangements that will ensure the continuity and streamlining of land distribution and management, the delivery of agricultural support services, and the resulting reorganization and rationalization of concerned government agencies; and,

WHEREAS, Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of EO No. 292, or the Administrative Code of 1987, vests on the President the continuing authority to reorganize the Executive Department.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Creation and Purpose. There is hereby created an Inter-Agency Committee on Institutional Arrangements for Land Management and Agricultural Support Services Delivery Across Rural Development Agencies (hereinafter referred to as the Committee).

The Committee shall facilitate the implementation of reforms in the institutional arrangements for land distribution, management, and delivery of support services to farmers and fisherfolk as a means of enhancing the development efforts of government for the rural sector.

SECTION 2. Composition. The Committee shall be composed of the following:

The members of the Committee may delegate such responsibilities and authority to a designated representative who shall hold a rank of Undersecretary or its equivalent.

The Chairperson may invite other members to the Committee as the circumstances and exigencies may require.

Specifically, the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) are enjoined to provide their full support and assistance to the Committee in the study and crafting of the reorganization and rationalization plans as may be called for to effect the institutional arrangements and transition.

The Cabinet Cluster on Economic Development and the NEDA Board are hereby enjoined to review, study, and endorse the results of the study as well as the executive issuances and legislative measures that may be formulated.

The Committee shall also constitute a Technical Working Group (TWG) and a Secretariat, through a Joint Special Order, to provide technical and administrative support to the Committee.

SECTION 3. Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities. The Committee shall perform the following functions, duties, and responsibilities:

a) Conduct a study on the continuity of land distribution and management as well as provision of support services for the agriculture and fisheries sectors, in consideration of the following:

i. Streamlining the approval of land surveys and issuance of land titles with the objective of creating a system that shall ensure stable property rights;

ii. Consolidating and rationalizing all land management and distribution functions of the government;

iii. Pursuing/completing the mandate of CARP, including: distribution of the remaining land acquisition and balance under the program; stabilization of collective titles; and, payment of distributed but not yet documented or unpaid land;

iv. Rationalizing the provision of support services to farmers and fisherfolk;

v. Ensuring the seamless interplay among the institutions involved in agricultural extension services provided for in RA 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, and those that may be provided under the proposals of the Committee; and,

vi. Formulating a transition plan for the post-CARP scenario;

b) Formulate appropriate executive issuances or legislative measures for the required institutional arrangements, based on the findings of the study that will be undertaken;

c) Engage the services of consultants and/or consulting firms to conduct the study and other related studies; and,

d) Conduct information sharing and exchange with the end view of achieving consensus among all stakeholders and arriving at a well-studied and unified plan to implement the necessary institutional arrangements, with due consideration to the welfare of affected employees.

SECTION 4. Funding. The members of the Committee are hereby authorized to charge against their current appropriations such amounts as may be necessary for the implementation of this Order, subject to the usual government and accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

Additional funds may be allocated, subject to the approval of the President through the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

SECTION 5. Reports. The Committee shall, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Order, submit a report to the President on the implementation hereof.

Thereafter, the Committee shall submit quarterly reports to the President on its activities and accomplishments.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions unaffected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. All other issuances, rules, and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 22^nd day of November, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twelve.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA JR.
Executive Secretary

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 35

CREATING THE INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE ON EXTRA-LEGAL KILLINGS, ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES, TORTURE AND OTHER GRAVE VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND SECURITY OF PERSONS

WHEREAS, Art. II, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution declares that the State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights;

WHEREAS, Art. III, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law;

WHEREAS, Art. III, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be inviolable;

WHEREAS, Art III, Section 12 (1) of the 1987 Constitution provides that any person under investigation for the commission of an offense shall have the right to be informed of his right to remain silent and to have competent and independent counsel preferably of his own choice;

WHEREAS, Art. III, Section 12 (2) of the 1987 Constitution provides that no torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation, or any other means which vitiate the free will shall be used against him, and that secret detention places, solitary, incommunicado, or other similar forms of detention are prohibited;

WHEREAS, Art. III, Section 14 (1) of the 1987 Constitution provides that no person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of law;

WHEREAS, Art. III, Section Sec. 18 (1) of the 1987 Constitution provides that no person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations;

WHEREAS, there have been reported and validated violations of the above-declared rights of the individual throughout the years, which have served to create an impression of a culture of impunity, wherein security establishments of the State and non-state forces have been accused of silencing, through violence and intimidation, legitimate dissent and opposition raised by members of the civil society, cause-oriented groups, political movements, people’s and nor-government organizations, and by ordinary citizens;

WHEREAS, most of these violations remain uninvestigated and unsolved, with the perpetrators unidentified or unprosecuted, giving rise to more impunity;

WHEREAS, there is a need to revisit these unsolved cases of grave violations of the right to life, liberty, and security of persons, whether committed as part of an apparent government policy in the past or as recurring cases of unsanctioned individual abuse of power and authority by State and non-state forces under the present; and

WHEREAS, the present Administration declares as a matter of paramount policy that there is no room for all these forms of political violence and abuses of power by agents or elements of the State or non-state forces, and towards this end commits to establish an institutional legacy of an efficient, coherent, and comprehensive government machinery dedicated to the resolution of unsolved cases of political violence in the form of extra-legal killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty, and security of persons;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and by law do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Creation of the lnter-Agency Committee. There is hereby created an Inter-Agency Committee on Extra Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture, and Other Grave Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty, and Security of Persons, to be composed of the following:

The Committee shall invite the Chairperson of the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) and the Ombudsman as observers and resource persons of the Committee.

The above officials may designate their representatives to the Committee, who shall have a rank not lower than Assistant Secretary, or General and Chief Superintendent in the case of the AFP and the PNP.

The Committee shall organize a technical working group coming from the offices of the various members and a secretariat that may be designated by the Chairperson.

SECTION 2. Functions. The Committee shall undertake the following:

a) Inventory of cases. For the first 30 days, the Committee shall conduct an inventory of all cases of extra-legal killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty, and security of persons, perpetrated by Stale and non-state forces alike, from all government sources, i.e. the investigative and prosecutorial government offices, including the National Prosecution Service (NPS), the Ombudsman, CHR, PNP, NBI, AFP Inspector General, People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB), National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), PNP Internal Affairs Service, the Judiciary and all others, for purposes of categorizing said cases, as follows:

i. Unsolved Cases;
ii. Cases under investigation;
iii. Cases under preliminary investigation; and
iv. Cases under trial.

Simultaneously, the Committee shall also source data of cases from non-government sources, specifically independent and non-partisan international and national human rights organizations and groups.

In determining which cases are to be included in the inventory, the Committee shall draw up guidelines for the consideration of doubtful cases with primacy given to the political complexion of the offense committed, and the participation of State or non-state forces in the commission of the human rights violation.

b) Investigation of unsolved cases. After conducting the inventory, the Committee shall prioritize the unsolved cases for action, and assign special investigation learns to conduct further investigation on these cases for the possible identification of the perpetrators. Greater priority shall be given to high profile cases perpetrated during the past administration.

c) Monitoring and reporting to the Committee of cases under investigation, preliminary investigation, and trial. For cases under investigation, preliminary investigation, and trial, the Committee shall designate a special oversight team composed of investigators and prosecutors who shall actively monitor developments on these cases and regularly report and submit recommendations to the Committee.

d) Investigation and prosecution of new cases. The Committee shall also designate a special team of investigators and prosecutors exclusively for new cases, for immediate investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators. Cases referred to or filed with the CHR or the Ombudsman shall be monitored by this special team for action on CHR and Ombudsman resolutions on said cases, if applicable, unless the investigation has already been started beforehand by, or complaints have already been filed with, the agencies under the Committee’s jurisdiction, in which case the special team shall oversee, supervise and monitor the investigation or preliminary investigation conducted by the Committee’s agencies, notwithstanding the conduct of an on-going investigation by the CHR or the Ombudsman. However, the special team shall actively coordinate with the CHR and the Ombudsman in the conduct of these concurrent investigations.

In the case of torture, the special team shall ensure that Section 9 (a) of RA No. 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 on the 60-day period for an investigation of a complaint for torture is followed by the DOJ, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), PNP, NBI, and the AFP.

e) Action upon the cases. After the report of every team, which shall be made as regularly and as expeditiously as possible, whether in the form of short memoranda, email, notes, field spot reports, sms messages, and the like, the Chair shall take immediate action if such is within the jurisdiction of the agencies of the Department of Justice, without need of consultation or agreement of the other members, or in consensus with the concerned member of the Committee. In any case, the Chair shall have the discretion to table any matter for discussion and decision of the Committee, especially in the instance of high-profile or problematic cases.

f) Submission of report to the President. After the first six months from its creation, and every six months thereafter, the Committee shall submit a report to the President, detailing the inventory of cases according to category, and describing the accomplishments and progress made for each case, or the problems and obstacles encountered, highlighting problematic high profile cases from the past administration as well as violations committed during the present administration, with further recommendations for any additional action that may be taken by the President requiring coordination on a common course of action with the CHR, the Ombudsman, Congress, and the Judiciary.

SECTION 3. Coordination and autonomy of members. Nothing in this Administrative Order shall be interpreted to add to bureaucratic processes or regulations in order to achieve the mandate of the Committee or hamper the regular and ordinary course of functions of the agencies under the jurisdiction of the Committee members. The individual agencies shall not be prevented from accomplishing what otherwise is ordinarily accomplished in the regular conduct of their operations and functions, unless otherwise specifically agreed upon by the Committee for purposes of coordinating and implementing concerted action for the achievement of the Committee’s mandates.

SECTION 4. Support and cooperation from other government agencies. The various departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, and local government units are hereby enjoined to give full support, assistance and cooperation to the Committee in carrying out its mandate and functions.

SECTION 5. Funding. The initial funding requirements for the Inter-Agency Committee shall be charged against the current appropriations of the agencies composing the Committee. Thereafter, funding for the succeeding years shall be incorporated in their respective regular appropriations.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. This Administrative Order supersedes and repeals Administrative Order No. 211 (s.2007) on the creation of the Task Force Against Political Violence. The Task Force is hereby directed to submit and turnover all its documents, data, reports, supplies, resources, and remaining budget to the Committee, subject to regular procedures.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 22^nd day of November, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twelve.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 33

DIRECTING THE CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES TO LEAD THE ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 150^TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF APOLINARIO MABINI ON 23 JULY 2014

WHEREAS, 23 July 2014 marks the 150^th birth anniversary of Apolinario Mabini, political adviser of the Philippine Revolution and the First Philippine Republic, and also the First Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO, III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Lead Agency. The Chair of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) is hereby directed to take the lead in the organization and implementation of the program of activities for the 150^th birth anniversary of Apolinario Mabini, beginning with the countdown activities on 23 July 2013 until 23 July 2014.

SECTION 2. Inter-agency task force. The NHCP shall convene an inter-agency task force to plan, coordinate and implement effectively all programs, projects and activities related to this milestone event.

SECTION 3. Support to NHCP. All departments, agencies, bureaus, offices, national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs) and government-owned and –controlled corporations (GOCCs) are hereby enjoined to give full support, assistance and cooperation to the Chair of NHCP in the exercise of responsibilities under this AO.

SECTION 4. Funding. The NHCP shall use the amount of TEN MILLION PESOS (P 10,000,000.00) from its regular budget allocated for the event. Participating NGAs, LGUs and GOCCs are authorized to use part of their respective savings to defray the expenses for the activities commemorating this milestone event.

SECTION 5. Effectivity. This AO shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 18^th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twelve.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 31

DIRECTING AND AUTHORIZING ALL HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS, BUREAUS, COMMISSIONS, AGENCIES, OFFICES AND INSTRUMENTALITIES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT-OWNED AND/OR -CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS (GOCCs), TO RATIONALIZE THE RATES OF THEIR FEES AND CHARGES, INCREASE THEIR EXISTING RATES AND IMPOSE NEW FEES AND CHARGES

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 292 (s. 1987), otherwise known as the “Administrative Code of 1987,” provides that heads of bureaus, offices and agencies, upon approval of the Secretary, have the continuing authority to charge and collect fees to recover the cost of services rendered;

WHEREAS, the rates of fees and charges collected must be just and reasonable to enable the government to effectively provide services without straining the National Government’s resources;

WHEREAS, equity requires that persons receiving or benefiting from rendered services share the cost of providing such services; and

WHEREAS, Memorandum Circular No. 137 (s. 2007) directed the heads of all departments, bureaus, commissions, agencies, offices and instrumentalities of the National Government, including GOCCs, to seek clearance from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board before authorizing the imposition of new fees or increases in existing fees.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNIO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Rationalization of Rates. The heads of all departments, bureaus, commissions, agencies, offices, and instrumentalities of the National Government, including GOCCs when allowed by their Charters, are directed and authorized to rationalize the rates of their existing fees and charges, and if found necessary, increase such rates and impose new fees and charges.

SECTION 2. Guiding Principles. In the determination of rates and imposition of new fees and charges, a balance between recovering the costs of services rendered and the socio-economic impact of their imposition shall be sought.

SECTION 3. Implementation. The heads of all departments, bureaus, commissions, agencies, offices and instrumentalities of the National Government shall be held responsible for the implementation of this Administrative Order.

SECTION 4. Monitoring. The Task Force on Fees and Charges created under Administrative Order No. 255 (s. 1996) and as reactivated by Executive Order No. 218 (s. 2002), shall monitor compliance of the concerned agencies.

SECTION 5. Rules and Regulations. The Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and NEDA shall jointly promulgate the rules and regulations to implement and monitor compliance with this Administrative Order.

The rules and regulations shall provide the parameters for determining just and reasonable rates, as well as safeguards to protect the public from unreasonable and arbitrary fees and charges.

SECTION 6. Statutory Requirements. No part of this Administrative Order shall be construed as an exemption from the requirements of due process and such other requirements that may be set forth by existing laws and regulations.

SECTION 7. Repeal. Memorandum Circular No. 137 (s. 2007) is hereby repealed. All presidential issuances, administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Administrative Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Separability. If any provision of this Administrative Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions unaffected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 1^st of October, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twelve.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 30

CREATING A MARTIAL LAW HISTORICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WHEREAS, on the night of 23 September 1972, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos put into full force and effect Presidential Proclamation No. 1081 (s. 1972), by announcing through a televised broadcast that he had placed the entire Philippines under Martial Law and directing the arrest of persons and the closure of media establishments;

WHEREAS, the Filipino People must remember those who have sacrificed their lives during Martial Law in order for us to have the freedom we experience today;

WHEREAS, the NHCP is mandated to research, compile, and safeguard the history of the Filipino people; and,

WHEREAS, there is a need for an independent body to collect and compile information pertaining to the events during the Martial Law years.

NOW THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Martial Law Historical Advisory Committee. A Martial Law Historical Advisory Committee thereinafter referred to as the Advisory Committee) is hereby established to undertake the following:

a. The systematic gathering, preservation, and publication of the testimonies. oral histories, documentaries, film, and audio records of the Martial Law era; and,

b. The compilation of materials that will make possible the true account of the events that transpired during the said period in our history.

These shall be made available to the public through the websites of the Official Gazette, the Presidential Museum and Library, and the NHCP.

The Advisory Committee shall initially gather and publish oral histories about Martial Law. After which, it shall continue to gather and make accessible to the public documentaries, film, and audio records as soon as readily available.

SECTION 2. Members of the Committee. The Advisory Committee shall be headed by the five-member board composed of the following:

The Advisory Committee may also call upon any department, agency, or instrumentality of the government for assistance as the circumstances and exigencies may require.

SECTION 3. Secretariat. The NHCP is hereby directed to act as the Secretariat of the Advisory Committee.

SECTION 4. Funding. The Martial Law Historical Advisory Committee shall have an initial budget of P5,000,000.00 (Five Million Pesos) to be sourced from the Contingent Fund Appropriations for succeeding years shall be incorporated in the annual budget of the NHCP.

SECTION. 5. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions unaffected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION. 6. Repealing Clause. All other rules, regulations, and issuances of parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 20^th day of September, in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Twelve.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 29

NAMING THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 1599 (1978) established the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines extending to a distance of two hundred nautical miles from the baselines of the Philippine archipelago;

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9522 (2009), or the Baselines Law, specifically defined and described the baselines of the Philippine archipelago;

WHEREAS, the Philippines exercises sovereign rights under the principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to explore and exploit, conserve and manage the natural resources, whether living or non-living, both renewable and non-renewable, of the sea-bed, including the subsoil and the adjacent waters, and to conduct other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of its maritime domain, such as the production of energy from the water, currents and winds;

WHEREAS, the Philippines exercises sovereign jurisdiction in its EEZ with regard to the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations and structures; marine scientific research; protection and preservation of the marine environment; and other rights and duties provided for in UNCLOS; and

WHEREAS, in the exercise of sovereign jurisdiction, the Philippines has the inherent power and right to designate its maritime areas with appropriate nomenclature for purposes of the national mapping system.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. The maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago are hereby named as the West Philippine Sea. These areas include the Luzon Sea as well as the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo De Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal.

Section 2. The naming of the West Philippine Sea is without prejudice to the determination of the maritime domain over territories which the Republic of the Philippines has sovereignty and jurisdiction.

Section 3. The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) shall produce and publish charts and maps of the Philippines reflecting the West Philippine Sea in accordance with this Order.

Section 4. The Philippine Government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in consultation with NAMRIA and other appropriate government agencies, shall deposit, at the appropriate time, a copy of this Order enclosing the official map reflecting the West Philippines Sea with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and notify accordingly relevant international organizations, such as the International Hydrographic Organization and the United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names.

Section 5. All departments, subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities of the Government are hereby directed to use and employ the name West Philippine Sea in all communications, messages and public documents, to popularize the use of such name in the general public, both domestically and internationally.

Section 6. All departments, subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities of the Government are enjoined to use the official Philippine maps produced and published by NAMRIA in accordance with this Order.

For this purpose, the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and state universities and colleges (SUCs) are directed to issue circulars requiring the use of said official Philippine maps in relevant subjects, researches and instructional materials, such as, among others, text books, instructional materials, and audio-visual presentations.

Section 7. The NAMRIA shall ensure compliance with this Order, pursuant to Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order (DENR-AO) No. 31 (s. 1988) and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations.

Section 8. The expenditures which may be incurred in the implementation of this Order shall be funded from the existing annual budget of the concerned agencies, subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

Section 9. If any provision of this Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional by competent authority, the other provisions unaffected shall remain valid and subsisting.

Section 10. All issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are hereby revoked, amended, or modified accordingly.

Section 11. This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, 5^th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twelve.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 28

CREATING AN INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE FOR THE PHILIPPINE EXHIBITION AT THE MUSÉE DU QUAI BRANLY

WHEREAS, the Philippines was chosen as the featured exhibiting country at the Musée du Quai Branly, the premier museum in France for indigenous art and culture, to be held on 09 April to 21 July 2013 in Paris, France;

WHEREAS, must-see artworks on pre-colonial Philippines from national collections of the Philippines, United States and Europe, as well as private collections will be put on display during the Exhibition;

WHEREAS, the Philippine Exhibition provides an excellent opportunity for the Philippines to promote and create awareness about its rich cultural heritage, history and people to a wider audience across Europe;

WHEREAS, the Exhibition will enable the Philippines to promote and present its products, tourism and trade, and promote general awareness about the country in Europe; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to create an Inter-Agency Committee to plan and carryout the activities necessary for the success of the Philippine Exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Creation of the Committee. An Inter-Agency Committee (IAC) for the Philippine Exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, France, is hereby created to be composed of the following:

SECTION 2. Authority and Functions. The IAC shall exercise the following functions and responsibilities:

a. Formulate and implement a work program for the proper implementation of the Philippine Exhibition and its parallel activities with the aim to maximize benefits, through a concerted and cost effective approach, in promoting Philippine products, tourism, trade and culture;

b. Coordinate with the Government of France, the Musée du Quai Branly and all concerned agencies/entities, including private persons and entities, for the preparation and conduct of the Exhibition and its related activities;

c. Ensure that the Government of France and the Musée du Quai Branly will guarantee the safety, protection and return of all the Exhibition pieces, including properties and equipment of the Philippine Government used in the Exhibition;

d. Subject to existing laws, rules and regulations, through its designated representative, enter into agreements/contracts and secure approvals/permits necessary for the attainment of the objective of this Administrative Order (AO), including arrangements for the loaning and shipment of artworks and pieces for the Exhibition and their safe return; and

e. Undertake any or all other measures necessary for the successful conduct of the Philippine Exhibition.

SECTION 3. Secretariat. The IAC, through its Chairperson, shall establish a Secretariat that shall provide the necessary administrative support, undertake and supervise the preparations for the Exhibition, and oversee its conduct.

SECTION 4. Funding. The financial requirements of the IAC shall be shouldered by member agencies, chargeable against their regular budgets.

The packaging, transit, forwarding and insurance costs of all cultural artifacts to be used in the Exhibition will be shouldered by the Musée du Quai Branly.

SECTION 5. Report to the President. Relative to the performance of its mandate, the IAC, through its Chairperson, shall submit a report to the President thirty (30) days after the Exhibition.

SECTION 6. Cessation of the IAC. Unless otherwise ordered by the President, the IAC shall cease to exist thirty (30) days after submission of its report as provided in Section 5 hereof.

SECTION 7. Separability. If any provision of this AO is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 8. Repeal Clause. All orders, rules, regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this AO, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. This AO shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 4^th day of September, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twelve.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:

(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary