WHEREAS, pursuant to Memorandum Order No. 23 dated July 26, 2001, certain matters requiring Presidential approval were delegated to the Executive Secretary; 

WHEREAS, additional matters need to be delegated to the Executive Secretary; and it is necessary to amend Memorandum Order No. 23. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, pursuant to the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order: 

SECTION 1. The second paragraph of Memorandum Order No. 23 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"The President shall continue to personally act on the following AFP matters requiring Presidential approval, to wit: 

1. Appointment as Cadet/Cadette of the Philippine Military Academy
2. Commission of Officers (Regular and Reserve Forces) FROM COLONEL/CAPTAIN (PN) AND ABOVE
3. Appointment and Promotion of Officers (Regular and Reserve Forces)
4. Approval of travel of the AFP Chief-of-Staff
5. Key designation of officers
6. Detail of officers and enlisted personnel FROM COLONEL/CAPTAIN (PN) AND ABOVE
7. Retirement of officers FROM COLONEL/CAPTAIN (PN) AND ABOVE
8. Extension of service of the AFP Chief-of-Staff
9. Award, Medal for Valor
10. Award, Philippine Legion of Honor
11. Award, Kagitingan sa Barangay (LAKAN)
12. DESIGNATION OF PHILIPPINE DEFENSE AND ARMED FORCES ATTACHES FROM COLONEL/CAPTAIN (PN) AND ABOVE"

SECTION 2. The third paragraph of the same Memorandum Order No. 23 is also hereby amended to read as follows:

"However, in the exigency of public service and in order to promote sound principles of governance to allow the President to concentrate on more vital and pressing matters relative to her function, the President delegates to the Executive Secretary the following AFP matters requiring Presidential approval to wit:

1. Separation; dropping from the rolls; discharge and other punitive acts, PMA cadet/cadette
2. Separation; dropping from the rolls; discharge and other punitive acts of officers (regular and reserve)
3. Travel authority of officers except the AFP Chief of Staff
4. Schooling of officers
5. Change of branch of service
6. Lateral entry
7. Resignation of officers (regular and reserve)
8. Reversion of reserve officers
9. COMMISSION OF OFFICERS (REGULAR AND RESERVE) FROM SECOND LIEUTENANT/ENSIGN TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL/COMMANDER
10. DETAIL OF OFFICERS AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL FROM LIEUTENANT COLONEL/COMMANDER AND BELOW
11. RETIREMENT OF OFFICERS FROM LIEUTENANT COLONEL/COMMANDER AND BELOW
12. DESIGNATION OF PHILIPPINE DEFENSE AND ARMED FORCES ATTACHES FROM LIEUTENANT COLONEL/COMMANDER AND BELOW AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS FROM TECHNICAL SERGEANT TO CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT
13. [9.] Others i.e. amendment of effective dates of promotion, amendment of serial number, nullification of the amendment of the authority of separation with CDD and the like."

SECTION 3. All order, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Memorandum Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 

SECTION 4. This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately. 

Adopted: 27 Feb. 2003 

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines 

By the President: 

(SGD.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary