EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 18 - AMENDING CERTAIN PORTIONS OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 264, SERIES OF 2000, ENTITLED “ESTABLISHING THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE COUNCIL (ITECC) FROM THE MERGER OF THE NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL (NITC) AND THE ELECTRONIC COMMERCE PROMOTION COUNCIL (ECPC)”

WHEREAS, the State recognizes the growing importance of information and communications technology (ICT) in the achievement of national goals; 

WHEREAS, the State recognizes the need to develop ICT policies and competencies in order to participate actively in the New Economy and become the leading sector for economic growth;

WHEREAS, the State also recognizes the need to harmonize and coordinate the government’s and private sector’s ICT programs and projects and other ICT-related initiatives to ensure their consistency with the government’s overall development goals;

WHEREAS, the Information and Technology and Electronic Commerce Council (ITECC), created pursuant to Executive Order No. 264 dated July 12, 2000 from the merger of NITC and ECPC, was established to function as the primary planning and policy advisory body on development, promotion and application of national ICT and e-commerce initiatives;

WHEREAS, there is a need to enhance, expand and accelerate decision-making and ICT-related activities that will redound to the Council’s organizational effectiveness.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the power vested upon me by law, do hereby amend, Executive Order No. 264, series of 2000, and order the following:

Section 1. Reorganization of the Information Technology and Electronic Commerce Council. — Sec. 3 of Executive Order No. 264 is amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 3. Membership. The Council shall be composed of ten (10) members from government and eight (8) members from the private sector as follows:

President, Republic of the Philippines  Chairperson

Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry   Co-Chair

Private Sector Representative  Co-Chair

Secretary, Department of Science and Technology Member
Secretary, Socio-Economic Planning and

Director General, National Economic
And Development Authority Member

Secretary, Department of Transportation
And Communications/National

Telecommunications Commission  Member

Secretary, Department of Budget and Management Member

Secretary, Department of Education, Culture and Sports    Member

Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government   Member

Managing Director, National Computer Center   Member

Commission on Higher Education   Member

Seven (7) other private sector representatives,
who shall represent the academe,
private industries, and consumer
groups, directly related to ICT/e-commerce Member