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WHEREAS, the Philippine Government, in its desire to sustain its presence in the international community has committed to organize the Philippine participation in the EXPO 2000 Hannover by presenting the country’s natural and cultural heritage and its thrust of maintaining the critical balance between sustained development and environment;

WHEREAS, the Philippine participation in the EXPO 2000 Hannover provides a major opportunity for the Philippines to present itself to the world in terms of creating awareness for its business potentials, history, and culture vis-a-vis the theme of the EXPO 2000 Hannover: “Humankind, Nature, Technology”;

WHEREAS, there is a need to constitute a Coordinating Committee to organize direct and supervise the conduct of the Philippine participation during the EXPO 2000 Hannover;

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. Constitution of the Coordinating Committee for the Philippine Participation in EXPO 2000 Hannover. A Coordinating Committee (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”) is hereby constituted to oversee and undertake the necessary preparations for the Philippine Presentation in EXPO 2000 Hannover, to be composed of the following:

a. Secretary of Trade and Industry	– Chairman
b. Secretary of Tourism	– Vice-Chairman
c. Secretary of Agriculture	– Member
d. Secretary of Budget and Management	– Member
e. Secretary of Department of Science and Technology	– Member
f. Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources	– Member
g. Secretary of Finance	– Member
h. Secretary of Foreign Affairs	– Member
i. Chairman, National Commission for Culture and Arts	– Member
j. Executive Secretary of the Office of the President	– Member
k. Philippines-German Business Council	– Member
l. Commissioner General, Philippine participation in EXPO 2000 Hannover	– Member

The members of the Committee from the government sector may designate their alternates preferably with the rank of Undersecretary or Assistant Secretary or the equivalent rank thereto.

SECTION 2. Functions. The Committee shall exercise the following functions and responsibilities:

1. Act as the coordinating body between the private sector and various government agencies to ensure that all directives subsequently issued to the said agencies for the planning, operation and management of the Philippine Pavilion at EXPO 2000 Hannover shall be implemented;
2. Ensure that the economic advantages of the Philippine Presentation are maximized through a concerted and cost-effective country approach;
3. Select the theme, concept, and message of the Philippine participation as may be acceptable to both the Governments of the Philippines and Germany;
4. Ensure the safety and protection of government and personal properties, exhibit materials, and special effects needed to complete the Philippine Presentation;
5. Seek the assistance of and coordinate with the private sector and other non-governmental organizations, in implementing the Philippine Presentation and meeting the necessary requirements for the participation;
6. Call on any department, bureau, or office of the government, including Government-Owned and Controlled-Corporations to render such assistance as it may need;
7. Regularly check the progress of the preparations for the Philippine participation to the EXPO 2000 by monitoring the activities of the project Secretariat designated in Section 4 of this Administrative Order;
8. Undertake all other measures necessary for the successful participation of the Philippines at EXPO 2000 Hannover.

SECTION 3. Commissioner General. The Chairman of the Coordinating Committee for the Philippine participation in EXPO 2000 Hannover shall designate a Commissioner General of the Philippine participation in the EXPO 2000 Hannover. The Commissioner General will be the contact person of the EXPO 2000 organizers. The Commissioner General shall also perform such other functions as may be assigned to him by the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee for the Philippine Participation in EXPO 2000 as well as other functions that may be delegated to him by the Coordinating Committee.

SECTION 4. Secretariat. The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall act as the Project Secretariat.

CITEM shall service the Coordinating Committee’s technical and administrative requirements. All agencies of the government represented in the Coordinating Committee may be requested to assign or detail an employee each to complement the Project Secretariat. The Project Secretariat shall also perform the following functions: –

1. Submit a quarterly report to the Coordinating Committee for the Philippine participation in EXPO 2000 Hannover on the status of our preparations for the Philippine presentation;
2. Recommend to the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee for the Philippine participation in EXPO 2000 Hannover the approval of contracts/agreements covering and related to the Philippine participation;
3. Submit a terminal report of the expenditures and other aspects of the project to the Coordinating Committee within sixty (60) days from the termination of the Project; and
4. Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the Coordinating Committee and/or its Chairman or by the Commissioner General.

SECTION 5. Funding. The amount of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION PESOS (P150,000,000.00) shall serve as the Philippine Government contribution to the Project; P100,000,000.00 of which shall be contributed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) from its budget for Fiscal Years 1999 and 2000 to be spent for capital expenditures and services; P50,000,000.00 shall be sourced from the President’s Contingent Fund for Fiscal Years 1999 and 2000.

The private sector shall endeavor on a best efforts basis, to raise additional funds for the EXPO 2000 project.

SECTION 6. Term of Committee. The Committee shall cease to exist upon termination of the Project in December 2000.

SECTION 7. Submission of Quarterly and Terminal Reports. The Committee shall submit to the Office of the President a report on the status of preparations for the Philippine Presentation every quarter as well as a terminal report within sixty (60) days from the termination of the Project.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 16^th of November, in the year of the Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Nine.

(Sgd.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA
President of the Philippines

By the President:
(Sgd.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary