WHEREAS, the Philippines, committed to the continued development of closer and meaningful cooperation between East Asia and Latin America, has joined the Forum for East Asia - Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), which to date is composed of 30 countries, 15 from East Asia - Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - and 15 from Latin America - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela;

WHEREAS, the Philippines, as a founding member of FEALAC has actively participated in the activities of FEALAC and is currently the Regional Co-coordinator Pot-East Asia;

WHEREAS, the Philippines will host the FEALAC Sixth Senior Officials Meeting (SOM VI) and Second Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM II) to be scheduled in January 2004;

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. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs shall organize and supervise the hosting of the 2004 Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) meetings. As such, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs is tasked to:

1. Formulate and recommend to the President a preliminary work plan and estimated budget for the proper hosting of the said meetings;
2. Implement the work plan once approved by the President and supervise and monitor all activities in relations thereto;
3. Negotiate and conclude agreements and contracts necessary for the attainment of the objectives of this Administrative Order, including contracts of services.

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs may call upon any official, agent, employee, agency or instrumentality of the national or local government for any assistance that may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Administrative Order.

The DFA Secretary may also invite private individuals and organizations to support the forum.

SEC. 2. Funding - The expenses for this purpose shall be funded by the existing FEALAC funds in the DFA, without prejudice to the DFA Secretary submitting a supplemental budget, ail to be drawn from the President's Contingent Fund (2004), subject to existing budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

SEC. 3. Guidelines - The DFA Secretary shall adopt such guidelines as may be necessary to achieve the objectives of this Administrative Order.

SEC. 4. Effectivity - This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 15th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Three.

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary