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WHEREAS, Philippine foreign policy has become increasingly linked to ASEAN’s development and towards advancing ASEAN’s full integration and strengthening the global competitiveness of ASEAN Member Countries;

WHEREAS, to carry out the ASEAN Leaders’ directive towards realizing the ASEAN vision of a single ASEAN community by 2020, the 38th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos on 26 July 2005 elected Malaysia and the Philippines as Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of the ASEAN Standing Committee until July 2005;

WHEREAS, on the basis of ASEAN practice on rotation of chairmanship and the relinquishment of Myanmar of its turn to chair the ASC in July 2006, the Philippines will be the Chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee starting July 2006 until July 2007 and will host the 12th ASEAN Summit in December 2006;

WHEREAS, there is a need to constitute a national committee to organize and carry out efficiently and effectively all the scheduled activities relative to the ASEAN Standing Committee, ministerial meetings, post ministerial conferences and the hosting of the 12th ASEAN Summit and other related summits;

NOW THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order that:

SECTION 1. Lead Agency – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) shall be the lead agency to organize the hosting of the 12th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.

SECTION 2. Agency Support – The DFA shall coordinate the integrated assistance by seeking technical, financial and administrative support from the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Department of Education (DEPED), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Office of the Press Secretary (OPS), Office of the Presidential Protocol (OPP), Office of the Group Commander, Presidential Security Group, the Heads of the Local Government Units (LGUs) where ASEAN Meetings will be held, and from the private sector.

SECTION 3. Tasks and Functions – The DFA shall perform the following tasks and functions:

3.1	Formulate and recommend a work program and budget plan for the hosting of the 12th ASEAN Summit and its related meetings to the President within ninety (90) days from the signing of this Administrative Order;
3.2	Implement the work program once approved by the President and supervise and monitor all activities in relation thereto;
3.3	Call upon any official, agent, employee, agency or instrumentality of the national or local government for any assistance that may be necessary to ensure the success of the Philippine hosting of the 12th ASEAN Summit and its related meetings;
3.4	Engage the support, assistance and cooperation of the private/business sector and non-governmental organizations in the preparations and conduct of the meetings;
3.5	Create committees, task forces and other appropriate bodies to effectively carry out its objectives;
3.6	Subject to existing laws, rules and regulation, enter into agreements and contracts necessary for the attainment of the objectives of this Administrative Order, including contracts for services.

SECTION 4. Coordination with PCAAAC – The DFA shall coordinate with the Philippine Council on ASEAN, APEC, ASEM Cooperation (PCAAAC), which shall continue to be responsible for formulating the Philippine position in substantive issues related to ASEAN.

SECTION 5. Funding – The initial funding requirement for the preparation and hosting of 12th ASEAN Summit in the amount of Twenty Million Pesos (P20 M) shall be charged against the President’s Contingent Fund. Additional amounts as may be necessary shall be sourced from savings of the DFA or from any available funds as may be determined by the Secretary of Budget and Management.

SECTION 6. Administrative Guidelines/Order – The DFA may adopt such administrative guidelines or regulations as may be necessary to achieve the objectives of this Administrative Order.

SECTION 9. Effectivity – This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 27th day of January, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.


By the President:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary