EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 152
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 152 - PROVIDING
FOR THE ACTIVATION OF THE CENTRAL EAST ASIA GROWTH CIRCLE PROGRAM AS AN
ECONOMIC AND DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS,
the Government recognizes the global trend where different economies
are liberalizing economic relations in trade and investment and the
resulting need for the country’s products and services to be globally
competitive;
WHEREAS, different economies have adopted the strategy of forming
regional economic cooperation blocs to strengthen their respective
economies, such as the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines (Mindanao)
- East Asia Growth Area (or BIMP-EAGA);
WHEREAS, the countries across the South China Sea, to the east and to
the north of the Philippines, which are the Philippines (North Luzon),
China, Hongkong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, comprise the economic
heartland of Asia, where Japan, South Korea, Hongkong and Taiwan are
countries rich in capital and advanced technology, where China is a
huge market and where the Philippines is rich in minerals, raw
materials, natural and human resources;
WHEREAS, these economic complementarities can be harnessed through the
formation or activation of a regional economic cooperation bloc which
will convert the region into an economic powerhouse and provide
significant economic benefits to the member countries;
WHEREAS, the aim of this concept is to increase trade and investments
through an improved business climate, with the ultimate target of
creating new jobs and livelihood opportunities for the ordinary
Filipino in the region;
WHEREAS, the national government has taken the initial steps in making
the country, specifically the four (4) administrative regions North of
the National Capital Region, hereinafter referred to as the North
Luzon, namely: Regions 1, 2, 3, and the Cordillera Administrative
Region, ready to meet the challenges of a globally competitive
environment through economic integration.
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. The Creation of the Central East Asia
Growth Circle Program. — There is hereby created under the Office of
the President, a program which is initially to be called the Central
East Asia Growth Circle and hereinafter called the CEA-GC, and which
shall promote and encourage the active and extensive economic
cooperation of the economies above-mentioned in the area of the South
China Sea.
Sec. 2. Implementation Strategy. — The CEA-GC
program shall be implemented by adopting a strategy of phased
progression in establishing economic cooperation with focus areas
within the Growth Circle resulting in a multilateral economic
cooperation agreement among the member countries.
Sec. 3. Presidential Action Officer for CEA-GC . —
The President shall appoint a Presidential Action Officer for the
Central East Asia Growth Circle Program (PAO-CEAGC) with the rank of
undersecretary, and with the following duties and functions:
a)
Promote foreign investments, trade and tourism activities in North
Luzon which would enhance socio-economic development in the area with
focus on but not limited to developing linkages with countries in the
Central East Asia Growth Circle;
b) Coordinate
the related activities of concerned departments, RDC’s and specialized
government development agencies in North Luzon, and ensure their
active, but coordinated participation in the program;
c) Mobilize
private sector participation in all activities of the program;
d) Cause the
preparation of economic and feasibility studies, and explore sources of
financing of priority programs and projects, whether governmental or
private that will support and encourage the active participation of the
North Luzon integrated economy in the program;
e) Advocate to
the constituents of North Luzon, their elected executives and
representatives in Congress and the National Government, national
policies which will foster the active participation of North Luzon, in
such policy areas as banking, investment and lending by financial
institutions, transport and telecommunication, infrastructure, export
of agricultural and other products, tourism, environment,
reforestation, education, science and technology and human resource
development;
f) Negotiate
for sources of funds to include the Overseas Development Assistance on
a bilateral or multilateral basis in accordance with existing rules and
regulations;
g) Provide the
machinery for extending the necessary planning, management and
technical assistance to prospective and existing investors in North
Luzon;
h) Receive and
administer donations, contributions, grants, requests or gifts in cash
or in kind from foreign governments, international agencies, private
entities, and contribute to the development of North Luzon, subject to
existing laws, rules and regulations and;
i) As the
Presidential Action Officer for CEA-GC, he shall exercise
administrative and technical supervision over the Program;
j) Appoint the
officers and staff of the CEA-GC Program Secretariat, and ensure that
it performs its functions and achieves the Program’s objectives;
k) The
PAO-CEAGC shall submit to the President, quarterly reports on its
accomplishments and activities.
Sec. 4. The Advisory Council. — The PAO-CEAGC
shall have an Advisory Council, which shall have the following
functions:
a)
To advise the PAO-CEAGC on the different aspects of the program;
b) To ensure
that the goals and policies of the PAO-CEAGC are consistent with
overall national development goals and policies;
c) To ensure
that programs of PAO-CEAGC are consistent with regional and local
development plans and programs.
Sec. 5. The Members of the Advisory Council. — The
Advisory Council shall be composed of the following:
a)
The Executive Secretary as Chairman;
b) Secretary,
Department of Trade and Industry as Vice- Chairman;
c) Secretary,
Socio-Economic Planning;
d) Secretary,
Department of Tourism;
e) Secretary,
Department of Foreign Affairs;
f) Secretary,
Department of Transportation and Communications;
g) Secretary,
Department of Agriculture;
h) The
Presidential Assistant for North Luzon;
i) The
Presidential Adviser for Development Administration;
j) The
Chairman of the Regional Development Councils or similar bodies of the
aforementioned Regions and;
k) Two private
sector representatives from each region of North Luzon chosen by and
from among the private sector representatives of the concerned Regional
Development Councils;
l) One
Congressional Representative from each region of North Luzon who shall
be chosen by and from among the Congressional Representatives in the
region.
m) One
Governor from each region of North Luzon who shall be chosen by and
from among the Governors in the region;
n) One City
Mayor chosen by and from among the City Mayors of North
Luzon;
o) The
Administrator or equivalent official of all government corporations,
commissions, development authorities and like organizations based in
the four regions such as, but not limited to, the following:
North
Luzon Growth Commission, Presidential Commission for the Central Luzon
Growth Corridor, Cagayan Special Economic Zone Authority, Ifugao
Terraces Commission, Lingayen Gulf Commission, Vigan Heritage
Commission, Clark Economic Zone Authority, Agno River Basin Development
Commission, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Clark Development
Corporation, John Hay Poro-Point Development Corporation.
The
composition of the Advisory Council may be expanded when necessary.
Sec. 6. Technical Support Staff of the PAO-CEAGC .
— A Program Office for CEAGC shall be constituted to assist the
PAO-CEAGC in implementing the program. It shall be headed by a Program
Director to be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of
the PAO-CEAGC. Additional technical and administrative staff from the
National Economic Development Authority, Department of Trade and
Industry, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism and
other government agencies and institutions may also be detailed or
seconded to the Program Office as necessary.
Sec. 7. Role of National Line Agencies, Local
Government Units, GOCC’s, NGO’s. — Concerned national line agencies in
the regions, local government units, development authorities and
special project offices, government owned and controlled corporations,
non-government organizations/the private sector, shall, as appropriate,
serve as implementing entities of activities related to the CEAGC
program. These related activities are inclusive of, but not limited to
the organization of: trade/investment/tourism fairs and missions,
business conventions and forums, technical working group meetings,
senior officials’ meetings, etc.
Sec. 8. Funding. — The Department of Budget and
Management is hereby directed to release from the Presidential
Contingent Fund, an initial lump sum funding of P18,116,833.05 for the
organization, and the administrative and internal operational
requirements of the Presidential Action Office - CEAGC, for the period
September to December 1999. The additional budget for the year 2000
shall be sourced from the Presidential Contingent Fund or any other
fund within the Office of the President. Thereafter, the appropriations
for the continued operations of the PAO-CEAGC shall be included in the
annual general appropriations bill submitted to congress.
Sec. 9. Implementing Authority. — The PAO-CEAGC is
hereby authorized to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to
implement this Executive Order.
Sec. 10. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall
take effect immediately. Provisions of existing executive orders, rules
and regulations inconsistent with this executive order are hereby
superseded by this issuance.
DONE in the City of Manila,
this 28th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred
and Ninety-Nine.
chan
robles virtual law librar
Back to Main
chan
robles virtual law library
Since 19.07.98.