EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 65 - CONSTITUTING THE STEERING COMMITTEE TO UNDERTAKE AND COORDINATE THE PREPARATORY WORK FOR THE WORKING GROUP ON MARINE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, the Indonesian Government the convenor of the annual informal Workshops on “Managing Potential Conflicts in the South China Sea”, has invited the Philippines to host one or both of the two Working Groups established by the third Workshop held in Yogyakarta in 1992;  

WHEREAS, these annual Workshops, although unofficial in nature, constitute an important confidence-building mechanism and a valuable dialogue forum for maintaining the peace and avoiding conflict over an area that is commonly regarded as a potential “flashpoint”;

WHEREAS, the Philippine Government has accepted the Indonesia invitation and decided to host and organize the Working Group on Marine Scientific Research in March 1993;

WHEREAS, the Philippine Government considers the responsibility of hosting the Working Group on Marine Scientific Research in the South China Sea to be an important and valuable one because the Working Group will form an active part of a peace process aimed at promoting cooperation and avoiding conflict in the South China Sea, and will provide opportunities for joint efforts in marine scientific research which could yield valuable results for the populations and ecologies of the region;

WHEREAS, there is a need to constitute a Steering Committee to undertake and coordinate the preparatory work for the meetings and other activities of the Working Group;  

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

Section 1. The Steering Committee which will undertake and coordinate the preparatory work for the Working Group on Marine Scientific Research in the South China Sea is hereby constituted and shall be composed of representatives from the following:

Department of Foreign Affairs Chairman

Department of Science and Technology  Vice-Chairman

Department of Environment and   Member Natural Resources

Department of National Defense   Member
Marine Science Institute

University of the Philippines Member

Office of the National Security    Member Adviser

Institute of Strategic and   Member
Development Studies