WHEREAS, Section 25, Article XVIII, of the 1987 Constitution provides, that: “After the expiration in 1991 of the Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America concerning Military Bases, foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and, when the Congress so requires, ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State”;
WHEREAS, there is a need to conduct in-depth studies on the alternative uses of the bases including concrete plans and programs of implementation to enable the Philippine Government to respond immediately in the event a new treaty on military bases is not entered into;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:
SECTION 1. There is hereby created a Joint Executive-Legislative Committee, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, to be composed of:
Secretary of Foreign Affairs | - Chairman |
Secretary of Finance | - Member |
Secretary of Agriculture | - Member |
Secretary of Labor and Employment | - Member |
Secretary of National Defense | - Member |
Secretary of Trade and Industry | - Member |
Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning | - Member |
Executive Secretary | - Member |
Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations | - Member |
Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs | - Member |
Chairman, Senate Committee on Economic Affairs | - Member |
Chairman, House Committee on Economic Affairs | - Member |
Chairman, Senate Committee on National Defense | - Member |
Chairman, House Committee on National Defense | - Member |
SECTION 2. The Committee shall exercise the following functions and duties:
- To undertake in-depth studies, detailed plans and concrete programs on the alternative uses of U.S. military facilities in Philippine bases;
- To request assistance from other government offices and agencies as may be needed to conduct and complete the work of the Committee;
- To submit regular reports to the President and the Congress of the Philippines on the recommendations of the Committee; and
- To perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to meet the objectives of the Committee
SECTION 3. The Committee shall have a Secretariat which shall be located in the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Secretariat shall provide staff support to the Committee.
SECTION 4. The amount of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND (P100,000.00) PESOS, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized to be released from the Compensation and Organizational Adjustment Fund in the 1988 General Appropriations Act or from such other applicable lump-sum appropriations as may be determined by the Department of Budget and Management for the operational requirements of the Joint Executive-Legislative Committee.
SECTION 5. The Committee shall complete its work on or before 30 November 1988, and shall wind up its affairs and shall cease to function on or before 31 December 1988.
SECTION 6. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 8th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-eight.
(Sgd.) CORAZON C. AQUINO
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
CATALINO MACARAIG, JR.Executive Secretary