EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 355 - REACTIVATING THE NATIONAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR THE FIFTH ASIAN AND PACIFIC MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

WHEREAS, The Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference in Preparation for the World Summit for Social Development held in Manila, Philippines on 12-18 October 1994 adopted the Manila Declaration on the Agenda for Action on Social Development in the Economic And Social Commission For Asia And The Pacific (ESCAP) Region, which contains strategies to address critical social development issues facing the countries of the region;

WHEREAS, the World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen, Denmark on 6-12 March 1996 adopted the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action which embody the commitments, policies, actions and measures to address the global problems of poverty, unemployment and social disintegration in a framework of sustained economic growth, sustainable development, and a national and international environment favorable to social development;

WHEREAS, the Fifth Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on Social Development, hereinafter referred to as the Conference scheduled in 1997 or early 1998, will opportunity to review implementation of the Manila Declaration on the Agenda for Action on Social Development in the ESCAP Region as well as the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action;

WHEREAS, as requested by the United National ESCAP during its 52nd Session held in April 1996 in Bangkok, Thailand, the Philippines agreed to host the Conference;

WHEREAS, a National Organizing Committee, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, was created through Executive Order No. 154 issued by the President in 27 January 1994 for the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference in Preparation for the World Summit for Social Development;

WHEREAS, there is a need to reactivate the Committee to facilitate preparations for the Conference to fully ensure its success;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby reactivate the Committee and authorize the same to undertake the necessary preparations for the Conference.

The composition of both the Committee and the Executive Committee is amended to include the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Social Development, as member, in lieu of the Office of the President.

Such amounts as may be necessary for the operation of the Committee, its Secretariat and Subcommittees and the holding of the Conference shall be included in the International Commitments Fund portion of the Fiscal Year 1997 budget.

This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 9th day of July in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Six.
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