ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 149 – MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGH THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS TO SUPERVISE AND OVERSEE THE 31ST UNESCO ITI WORLD CONGRESS

WHEREAS, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Theater Institute (ITI), through their respective resolutions, declared the Philippines as the venue for the UNESCO ITI World Congress to be held on May 20-29, 2006;

WHEREAS, the 31st UNESCO ITI Congress has for its overall theme: “Ancestral Roots to New Routes of Artistic Expression: Mobilizing Cultural Diversity to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals” (UN MDGs);

WHEREAS, it is imperative that one department shall have responsibility for the success of the Congress, with the full support of certain other department and agencies;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA M. ARROYO, President Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. Relationship Between the Department of Education and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. - The Department of Education (DepEd) shall oversee the Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in behalf of the President of the Philippines.

Sec. 2. Lead Agency. - The DepEd, through the NCCA, is hereby mandated to be the Lead Agency to supervise and oversee the 31st UNESCO ITI World Congress with the active support of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Tourism and other such departments and agencies as appropriate.

Sec. 3. Functions of the Lead Agency. - The Lead Agency shall prepare the appropriate national program for the 31st UNESCO ITI World Congress that shall be implemented throughout the Philippines. The Lead Agency shall also undertake the necessary preparations for the participation of concerned agencies in national and international activities concerning this event and the development of educational and communications materials and documentation with regard to the 31st UNESCO ITI World Congress and sustained cultural, educational and information programs for the UN MDGs.

The Lead Agency may secure the cooperation of all government and private instrumentalities to ensure the success of its programs and shall be in liaison with the appropriate legislative committees. It shall organize a Secretariat headed by the NCCA, which shall implement the programs and projects of the Lead Agency and which will include staff members from the organizing hosts of the 31st UNESCO ITI World Congress and other stakeholder organizations. The Lead Agency shall be in liaison with the family of UN agencies.

Sec. 4. Funding. - The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this Administrative Order shall be taken from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Sec. 5. Effectivity. - This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA

Executive Secretary