105 OG No. 16, 2305 (April 20, 2009)
WHEREAS, pursuant to
Republic Act No. 8525, “An Act Establishing an “Adopt-A-School
Program”, Providing Incentives Therefor and For Other Purposes”, it is
the policy of the State to provide quality and relevant education to
the Filipino youth and to encourage private initiative to support
public education;
WHEREAS,
towards this end, the State shall institute programs to encourage
private companies and enterprises to help in the upgrading and
modernization of public schools in the country, particularly those in
poverty-stricken
provinces;
WHEREAS, the
Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
(Federation) has launched a long-term project designed to provide
school houses for the accommodation of school-age children and has
already donated around 3,600 two-room school houses to needy barangays
all over the country;
WHEREAS,
the Federation, although a private institution, has been undertaking
priority projects and activities of a public character and therefore
deserves the recognition and support of the
government;
WHEREAS, the school
houses donated under “Operation: Barrio Schools” of the Federation are
ought to be recognized as donations to the Government of the Republic
of the Philippines or to any of its agencies or political subdivisions,
and the funds donated for the building of such school houses are
exclusively used to finance, provide for or to be used in undertaking a
priority activity in education under and in accord with the National
Priority Development Plan determined by the National Economic and
Development Authority
(NEDA);
WHEREAS, as an incentive
to those who will contribute and donate to the Federation’s “Operation:
Barrio Schools” project, it is proper to classify such contributions or
donations as exempt from all forms of taxes and allowing such
contributions or donations as deductible in full for income tax
purposes in accordance with existing laws, rules and
regulations;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby
order:
SECTION 1. Upon the
recommendation of the Secretary of Finance, the Federation of
Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (Federation)
is hereby authorized to conduct a series of fund campaigns among its
members and on the public to finance and support its “Operation: Barrio
Schools” project for a period of one (1) year from date of issuance
hereof.
SECTION 2. All funds
generated from the fund campaigns through donations or contributions to
the “Operation: Barrio Schools” project shall be exempted from all
forms of taxes and the donor or contributor shall be allowed to deduct
such donations or contributions in full for income tax purposes, in
accordance with existing laws, rules and
regulations.
SECTION 3. All
Filipino Citizens and/or residents of the country are hereby enjoined
to give generously in support of this project to ensure its successful
implementation.
SECTION 4. This
Executive Order shall be effective for a period of one (1) year from
date of issuance hereof, subject to
renewal.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I
have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the
Philippines to be affixed.
Done
in the City of Manila, this 19
th day of
February, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and
Nine.
(Sgd.)
GLORIA M. ARROYO
By the
President:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO R.
ERMITAExecutive
Secretary