EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 20
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 20 -
ESTABLISHING AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF HONORARY INVESTMENT AND TRADE
REPRESENTATIVES TO ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY IN
PROMOTING THE PHILIPPINES GLOBALLY
WHEREAS,
due to the present Asian economic recession, there is an urgent need to
attract more foreign investments into the Philippines as well as to
expand the markets for Philippine products and services
abroad;
WHEREAS, available resources constrain the expansion of the corps of
Philippine trade attaches;
WHEREAS, there is very encouraging interest on the part of many
overseas Filipinos and other friends of the Philippines to help the
country weather the on-going Asian financial crisis;
WHEREAS, the Philippine government is desirous of working with these
distinguished personalities in the pursuit of early economic recovery.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby
order:
Section 1. There is hereby established an
international network of Honorary Investment and Trade Representatives
whose members shall be screened, evaluated and appointed by the
Secretary of Trade and Industry in accordance with such criteria as he
may formulate.
Sec. 2. These Representatives shall not be limited
to Filipino citizens, the primary consideration being there sincere and
personal desire to assist in the economic development of the
Philippines. They are to be appointed annually for specific states,
areas or territories, and for terms not exceeding twelve (12) months at
a time. Renewals of such appointments shall always be based on:
a.
satisfactory performance in terms of actual investments brought into
the Philippines on their initiative, or expanding the market for
Philippine goods and services in their respective states, areas or
territories; and
b.
non-involvement in questionable activities or practices that will
adversely affect the good name and honor of the country or its
officials.
Sec. 3. Being quasi-official extensions of the
Department of Trade and Industry, these Representatives shall be of
impeccable business, personal and professional reputation, with
verifiable track records of business and economic achievements. They
shall receive no salary, allowance, or remuneration from the Philippine
government except a token sum of One Peso (P1.00) per
annum.
Sec. 4. There is also hereby created a Task Force
on Honorary Investment and Trade Representatives under the Secretary of
Trade and Industry which shall take full and exclusive charge of
organizing, monitoring, coordinating, managing and harnessing the full
potentials of the appointed honorary representatives. All reports of
the Representatives shall be sent directly to the Task Force but copies
thereof should be furnished the trade attaché if there is one in
the state, area or territory concerned.
Sec. 5. The funding requirements of the Task Force
shall be sourced from the budget of the Department of Trade and
Industry or any of its agencies, or any other funds that may be
authorized by the President.
Sec. 6. The Secretary of Trade and Industry may
tap the assistance and services of any department, office or agency of
the government including but not limited to the Board of Investments,
the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Bureau of Immigration and
Deportation, and specifically, the Philippine International Trading
Corporation (PITC), for the full and effective implementation of this
Executive Order. For this purpose, the Task Force shall maintain a
direct link and working coordination with the PITC as a corporate arm
of the Department of Trade and Industry to avail of the latter’s
international trading connections and resources.
Sec. 7. The Secretary of Trade and Industry may
issue the implementing rules and regulations of this Executive Order.
DONE in the City of Manila,
Philippines, this 14th day of September, in the year of Our Lord,
Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Eight.
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Since 19.07.98.