EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 131 - FACILITATING THE STATE FUNERAL OF DECEASED NATIONAL ARTISTS AND NATIONAL SCIENTISTS

WHEREAS, National Artist and National Scientists are heroes who, upon death, are entitled to state funeral, the arrangements for and the expenses of which shall be borne by the Government, upon death;  

WHEREAS, State funeral for these purposes shall mean appropriate honors/ceremonies befitting the stature of the deceased;

WHEREAS, it is desirable to make more efficient the administrative functions and operations of the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA), the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in providing state funeral services:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution do hereby order and direct:

Section 1. Upon the death of a National Artist or a National Scientist, the NCCA or the NAST respectively shall appoint a funeral director to arrange for the wake, necrological, and the state funeral services with the immediate members of the family of the deceased;

Sec. 2. As may be appropriate, the Executive Director of the NCCA or the President of NAST shall inform the Chief of Presidential Protocol Officer and the Chief of Staff, AFP, about the death of a national artist or a national scientist providing information about the arrangements made for the state funeral;

Sec. 3. The necrological and interment services shall be conducted by the NCCA or NAST as the case may be with the AFP providing ceremonial elements;

Sec. 4. The NCCA or NAST are directed to provide the AFP the lists of national artists and national scientist, update these periodically, and arrange modest accommodation for individuals who provide the ceremonial service;  

Sec. 5. Any portion or provision of this Executive Order that may be declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying the provisions thereof;

Sec. 6. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 26th day of October in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Three.
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