EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 549
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 549 - CREATING
THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR ISLAMIC AFFAIRS
WHEREAS,
the establishment of Autonomous Regions in Southern Philippines with
their respective Regional Assemblies and Regional Executive Councils
requires corresponding administrative changes in the administration of
Islamic Affairs by the Office of the President;
WHEREAS, the President needs a more efficient system of staff
assistance in the coordination and integration of all government
activities affecting Islamic affairs;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Presidential Decrees Nos. 1, 830, 831, and 955,
the President is granted continuing authority to reorganize the Office
of the President consistent with the requirements imposed upon the
Presidency as Chief Executive of the Government;
WHEREAS, the President is granted general and continuing authority to
reorganize the entire administrative machinery of government pursuant
to Presidential Decree No. 1416.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines,
by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, and pursuant
to the authority vested in me by Presidential Decree No. 1416, do
hereby order:
Section 1. Creation. — There is hereby created an
Office of the Commissioner for Islamic Affairs under the Office of the
President. It shall be headed by a Commissioner who shall be appointed
by the President.
Sec. 2. Powers and Functions. — The Commissioner
for Islamic Affairs shall have the following powers and functions:
a.
Assist and, when so authorized, represent the President on matters
concerning Islamic affairs:
b. Provide
advice and assistance to the President in the formulation,
coordination, and implementation of policies affecting Islamic affairs;
c. Serve as
the link between the President and agencies and entities, both internal
and external, that are involved in the administration or pursuit of
operations, activities and projects involving Islamic affairs;
d. Coordinate
for the President all development programs on Islamic matters being
implemented by various government agencies and entities;
e. Recommend
to the President development programs and projects on Islamic matters,
including their implementation schemes;
f. Monitor for
the President all development programs being implemented, whether
public or private, concerning Islamic affairs as well as recommend such
actions as may be necessary for their efficient, effective and economic
implementation;
g. Act as the
government entity through which the Islamic communities can seek
government as well as private assistance and serve as the
instrumentality through which assistance from both the government and
the private sector may be extended to the Islamic communities. For this
purpose, the Commissioner is hereby authorized to give grant-in aid out
of its appropriations or other funds from whatever source to
cooperating government or private entities for such programs or
projects geared to the development of Islamic Communities;
h. Enter,
subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines, into such
contracts, agreements or arrangements, with the government or private
agencies as may be necessary to attain the objectives of the Office;
i. Accept
grants, donations, gifts, funds, and/or property for the benefit of
Islamic communities in whatever form and from whatever source, and
administer the same in accordance with the terms thereof, or in the
absence of any condition, to administer the same in such manner
consistent with the interests of Islamic communities; and
j. Perform
such other functions as may be directed by the President or assigned by
law.
Sec. 3. Organizational Support. — The Office of
the Commissioner for Islamic Affairs shall recommend to the President
for approval such supportive administrative arrangements as would
enable it to best carry out its functions, exercise its powers and
achieve its objectives. It may have such consultants and other experts
as may be needed, who may be drawn from the private sector by
appointment or on contractual basis or from government agencies or
instrumentalities on detail or through other arrangements, whose
compensation, allowances or honoraria shall be in accordance with such
schedules as may be approved by the President.
Sec. 4. Appropriations. — The Office of the
Commissioner for Islamic Affairs shall receive an annual lump sum
appropriation in such amounts as may be sufficient to finance its
operation and its programs, projects and activities.
Sec. 5. Repeal of Inconsistent Laws. — All laws,
orders, proclamations, rules, regulations, or parts thereof which are
inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Executive Order, are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 6. Separability Clause. — Any portion or
provision of this Executive Order that may be declared
unconstitutional, shall not have the effect of nullifying the other
provisions thereof: Provided, That such remaining portions can still
stand and be given effect in their entirety to accomplish the
objectives of this Executive Order.
Sec. 7. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall
take effect immediately.
DONE in the City of Manila,
this 23rd day of July, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and
Seventy-Nine.