EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 573
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 573 -
ABOLISHING THE PHILIPPINE EXPORT COUNCIL AND CREATING THE PHILIPPINE
EXPORT ADVISORY COUNCIL
WHEREAS,
a critical need exists for further integrating under one ministry the
authority and responsibility for export trade promotion, particularly
in the formulation of policies and programs;
WHEREAS, the Ministry of Trade is the logical repository of the
functions and authority required to render operational the national
export strategy in a manner consistent with the Philippine
Socio-Economic Development Plans;
WHEREAS, the private sector must parallel governmental efforts to
generate foreign currency earnings through exports, an objective which
is best accomplished through the participation of the private sector in
the process of determining policy directions and identifying necessary
changes in such directions whenever required for the purpose of
formulating appropriate measures to meet changing foreign market
patterns;
WHEREAS, by virtue of its linkages to the private sector, the Ministry
of Trade possesses the necessary means for relating itself to the
requirements and needs of the export industry and for encouraging the
private sector to participate in the national effort to expand and
diversify foreign markets for Philippine-made or processed products;
and
WHEREAS, under Presidential Decree No. 1416, the President is empowered
to undertake such organizational and related improvements as may be
appropriate in the light of changing circumstances and new
developments.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines,
by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, and the
authority vested in me by Presidential Decree No. 1416, do hereby order
and ordain.
Section 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby
declared to be the policy of the government to promote and develop its
foreign trade and, towards this end, encourage, expand and diversify
export to existing and prospective foreign markets in order to generate
additional employment and income, improve the balance of payments, and
accelerate the economic development of the nation.
It is hereby further declared to be the policy of the government to
assist and support private sector producers and traders in the
development and promotion of Philippine commodities and services for
export, and to optimize private sector participation in the formulation
and implementation of government export development and promotion
programs.
Sec. 2. Creation of the Philippine Export Advisory
Council. — There is hereby created a Philippine Export Advisory
Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, which shall be
attached to the Ministry of Trade. The Council shall be composed of the
Minister of Trade, as ex-officio Chairman, and eight members from the
private sector to be appointed by the President of the Philippines for
a term of three (3) years from among the qualified candidates nominated
by industry or trade associations whose members are involved in the
production, marketing or financing of exports: Provided, however, That
for the initial appointments to the Council, two members shall be
appointed for one (1) year, two shall be appointed for two (2) years,
and four shall be appointed for a full term of three (3) years.
Thereafter, all succeeding appointments shall be made for a term of
three years except appointments made to replace a member who for any
reason whatsoever does not serve his full term, in which case the
appointment of his replacement shall be conterminous with the unexpired
term of the member replaced. The present members from the private
sector of the Governing Council of the Philippine Export Council shall
continue to serve as members of the Philippine Export Advisory Council
until their successors have been appointed.
Sec. 3. Functions of the Council. — The Council
shall render advice and counsel to the Minister of Trade with respect
to Philippine products the export potential of which can be further
developed; projects and programs on export promotion and market
diversification; facilitation of trade procedures; and areas of
possible collaboration between the Government and the private sector.
The Council shall likewise adopt policy recommendations for submission
to the Minister of Trade who shall, if he deems it appropriate or where
other agencies are involved, present the same to the Cabinet or
directly to the President of the Philippines for approval.
On its own initiative or on the basis of the recommendation of the
various Product Committees created Sec. 5 hereof, the Council shall
recommend ways and means of improving the operating environment for
export producers and traders to the Minister of Trade who shall, if he
deems it appropriate or where other agencies are involved, present the
same to the Cabinet or directly to the President.
Sec. 4. Rules of Proceedings. — The Council shall
adopt such rules as may be necessary to govern its proceedings.
Sec. 5. Product Committees. — The Council shall
create Product Committees to be composed principally of members from
the private sector to be appointed by the Chairman of the Council with
the concurrence of a majority of the members thereof.
Sec. 6. Functions of the Product Committees. — The
Committees shall conduct policy studies, formulate position papers on
policy issues; gather, process, and disseminate export trade
information; and adopt recommendations for submission to the Council,
which shall submit them to the Minister of Trade. The Minister of Trade
shall, if he deems it appropriate or where other agencies are involved,
present the same to the Cabinet or directly to the President.
Sec. 7. Chairmanship and Proceedings of the
Committees. — Each Committee shall elect a Chairman from among its
members with the concurrence of the Council. The rules or proceedings
for the Committee shall be prescribed by the Council.
Sec. 8. Secretariat for the Council. — The Council
shall have a Secretariat which shall be under the supervision and
control of the Chairman of the Council.
The Chairman of the Council shall appoint the personnel of the
Secretariat subject to existing applicable rules and regulations,
except as may otherwise be provided by law or Presidential directives:
Provided, However, That contractual personnel of the Council who are to
be wholly paid from funds contributed by the private sector shall be
exempt from Office of Compensation and Position Classification and
Civil Service rules and regulations.
Sec. 9. Abolition of the Philippine Export
Council. — The Philippine Export Council including the Committee on
Accredited Trading Companies and the Export Advisory Board, is hereby
abolished and its appropriate functions, together with applicable
appropriations, records, equipment, property and such personnel as may
necessary are transferred to the Ministry of Trade: Provided, That part
of the appropriations of the abolished Philippine Export Council as may
be determined by the Minister shall be made available to the Philippine
Export Advisory Council for its initial operating expenses.
Sec. 10. Contributions from the Private Sector. —
The Chairman of the Council may arrange for contributions or donations
from the private sector to augment the funds of the Council: Provided,
however, That disbursements from these funds shall be in accordance
with policies and guidelines as may be prescribed by the Council as
well as with applicable laws.
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. — Any and all acts,
statutes, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall
take effect immediately.
DONE in the City of Manila,
this 7th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and
Seventy-Nine.