LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 393

TO    :      The Secretary of Foreign Affairs

        All Other Government Departments and Agencies

1.    To review inventory and assess all programs and activities vis-a-vis the ASEAN in which the Philippines is participating and/or expected to actively participate in within the next two (2) to three (3) years and to determine the current and expected needs (in terms of institutional, manpower, program needs and resources) to enable the Philippines to participate in a competent and adequate manner.

2.    To reorganize, improve and expand the institutional, manpower, financial, program planning and logistical capabilities and resources of the present ASEAN National Secretariat of the Philippines as provided for in the original ASEAN (Bangkok) Declaration of 1967. In view of the expanded activities of the Association brought about by the Kuala Lumpur Declaration of 1971 and the Declaration of ASEAN Concord, the ASEAN National Secretariat of the Philippines has to be transformed and elevated into a full-fledged national coordinating machinery in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

3.    The present ASEAN National Secretariat in that Department is therefore instructed to prepare within sixty (60) days such plant and requirements as may be needed for this purpose and to submit to the Office of the President the said integrated plan within the period specified, including recommendations for the appropriate mandate for the purpose of institutionalizing the development plan.

4.    For the drawing up of the said plan, the present National Secretariat may seek assistance and cooperation from other government agencies and offices as it may deem necessary.

5.    All other departments, government agencies and instrumentalities are hereby instructed to extend all possible assistance to the present National Secretariat in the Department of Foreign Affairs and to lend the necessary cooperation as may be requested in the preparation of such a plan.

6.    In the meantime, all Philippine departments and agencies involved in ASEAN activities are directed to coordinate with the present ASEAN National Secretariat of the Philippines all their position papers and documents on all ASEAN conference and projects to ensure that the Secretariat is fully involved in these activities here and abroad, and to enable said Secretariat to service effectively all ASEAN conferences.

Since 19.07.98.