EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 193
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 193 - CREATING
THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION ADVISORY AND ASEAN FREE TRADE ADVISORY
COMMISSIONS, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS, on 15 April 1994, the
Philippines was one among 111 countries that signed the Uruguay Final
Art at Marrakesh, Morocco;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Uruguay Round Agreement which is
expected to take effect on 1 January 1995, the General Agreement on
Tariff and Trade (GATT), shall then be known as the World Trade
Organization (WTO);
WHEREAS, in view of the far-reaching effects of the Uruguay Round
Agreement under the World Trade Organization, the Government recognizes
the need to create a WTO Advisory Commission;
WHEREAS, the President issued Executive Order No. 38 (dated 27 November
1992) creating the ASEAN Free Trade Area Advisory Commission to ensure
that the principles of just, equitable and sustainable development are
incorporated in its studies and recommendations and to define the roles
played by each sector in the attainment of its objectives;
WHEREAS, in order to maximize the efficiency of both multisectoral
commissions, there is need to merge and consolidate the AFTA Advisory
Commission with the WTO Advisory Commission;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law and the
Constitution, do hereby order:
Section 1. Creation of the WTO/AFTA Advisory
Commission. — There is hereby created the WTO/AFTA Advisory Commission
(hereinafter referred to as the Commission), under the Office of the
President.
Sec. 2. Composition. — The Commission shall be
composed of the following:
a.
Secretary of the Department of — Chairman
Trade and
Industry
b.
Representative from the private — Co-Chairman
sector to be appointed by the
President
c. Secretary
of the Department — Member
of
Foreign Affairs
d. Secretary
of the Department
of
Finance
— Member
e. Secretary
of the Department of — Member
Agriculture
f. Secretary
of the Department of — Member
Transportation and
Communications
g. Secretary
of the Department of — Member
Environment and Natural
Resources
h. Secretary
of the Department of — Member
Labor
and Employment
i. Secretary
of the Department of — Member
Agrarian Reform
j. Director
General of the National — Member
Economic and Development
Authority
k. Press
Secretary
— Member
l. Governor of
the Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas
m. Head of the
Presidential
— Member
Legislative Liaison Office
n. Eleven
Representatives from the — Members
private sector representing
industry, agriculture, labor,
banking, export, academe,
research and consumers
The members of the Commission may designate their duly authorized
representatives. Such designated representatives shall have full powers
to vote and act for, and in behalf of their principals, in any action
to be taken by the Commission unless their designation provides
otherwise.
The Commission, by a majority vote of all members, may replace past
members and invite additional members whenever the circumstance so
warrant.
Sec. 3. Powers and Functions. — The Commission
shall have the following powers and functions:
a.
To prepare and implement a plan of action to be adopted by government
and the private sector to comply with the Philippine commitments to the
Uruguay Round and the ASEAN Free Trade Agreements through the
following:
i.
review and evaluation of existing laws and policies in light of
Philippine commitments to the Uruguay Round and the ASEAN Free Trade
Agreements;
ii. conduct of
researches and studies on the issues and implications to the Philippine
economy of both the regional and global agreements;
iii.
recommendation of the amendment and/or revision of existing laws and
policies or the enactment of additional laws, rules and regulations and
policies when warranted; and
iv.
identification of private sector initiatives and technological
innovations that will enhance our competitive advantages in both the
regional and global markets.
b.
To conduct an education and information campaign on the effects and
implications of the Uruguay Round and ASEAN Free Trade Agreements. For
this purpose, the Commission may publish brochures, conduct seminars
and workshops and undertake the necessary measures to achieve the
widest dissemination of information relative to the commitments under
the Uruguay Round and ASEAN Free Trade Agreements;
c. To
coordinate and enlist the assistance of any branch, department, bureau,
office, agency and instrumentality of the government including
government-owned and controlled corporations, as well as
representatives of the private sector relative to the ratification of
the Uruguay Round Agreement by the Senate and the legislation of new
laws or amendment of existing ones by both Houses of Congress;
d. To enhance
collaboration and build consensus among the various sectors that may be
affected;
e. To create
such sub-committees, task forces and technical working groups as may be
necessary to accomplish its functions; and
f. To adopt
rules and guidelines to govern the internal affairs of the Commission;
g. To perform
such other powers and functions as may be necessary to achieve the
objectives of this Order.
Sec. 4. Meetings and Quorum. — The Commission
shall meet at least once every month or as often as may be necessary
upon the call of the Chairman.
The Commission shall convene and hold its first meeting within thirty
(30) days from the promulgation of this Executive Order.
The presence of a majority of the members shall constitute a quorum and
the vote of a majority of said quorum shall be sufficient for the
approval of any action of the Commission.
Sec. 5. Secretariat. — The Commission shall
establish a Secretariat to be headed by an Executive Director with the
rank equivalent to a Department Assistant Secretary, who shall be
appointed by the Chairman.
Sec. 6. Executive Committee. — The Commission
shall establish an Executive Committee which shall exercise such powers
and functions as may be delegated by the Commission. It shall be
composed of the Chairman, the Co-Chairman and such members as may be
designated by the Chairman.
Sec. 7. Relationship with the Philippine Council
on ASEAN Cooperation-Cabinet. — The Commission shall report and submit
studies, proposals and recommendations on all AFTA matters to the
Philippine Council on ASEAN Cooperation at the Cabinet level. It shall
also be represented at the PCAC-Cabinet and at the PCAC-Technical Board
for ASEAN Economic Cooperation.
Sec. 8. Funding. — The initial appropriations
shall be drawn from the President’s Contingent Fund subject to the
approval of the President. Succeeding appropriations shall be
incorporated in the budget proposals of the Office of the President.
Sec. 9. Dissolution of the AFTA Advisory
Commission. — The AFTA Advisory Commission is hereby dissolved and all
its functions, budget and personnel shall be absorbed by the
Commission. Provided, however, that the present structure, officials,
as personnel of the AFTA Advisory Commission shall be kept intact as
much as possible.
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. — The provisions of
this Order are hereby declared to be separable, and in the event of any
provision or part thereof is declared unconstitutional, the other
provisions or parts thereof which are not affected thereby shall remain
in full force and effect.
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. — The provisions of
Executive Order No. 38 (dated 27 November 1992) are hereby modified and
amended to conform to this Order. All other laws, orders, issuances,
rules and regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Order
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectively Clause. — This Order shall
take effect immediately.
DONE, in the City of Manila, on
this 2nd day of August in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and
ninety-four.
chanrobles virtual law library
Back to Main
chan
robles virtual law library
Since 19.07.98.