WHEREAS, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) has developed a comprehensive partnership between Asia and Europe through joint activities and functional cooperation in its political, economic and cultural pillars;

WHEREAS, the ASEM dialogue has increasingly yielded consensus and mutual understanding on environment, sustainable development, and economic cooperation through yearly issue-based conferences;

WHEREAS, during the 6th ASEM Summit held in Helsinki, Finland on 10 to 12 September 2006, the Philippine initiative on biofuels - œHarmonization of Biofuels Standards and Application to Vehicle Technologies  was accepted by the Leaders;

WHEREAS, the Philippines is a leading proponent on the issue of energy security; and,

WHEREAS, in order to push the initiative forward, the Philippines shall host the ASEM Conference on the Harmonization of Biofuels Standards and Application to Vehicle Technologies on 10 to 11 November 2011.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Executive Committee. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) shall constitute the Executive Committee to be co-chaired by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of Energy, or their duly designated representatives with ranks not lower than Undersecretary, for the purpose of organizing and implementing activities in connection with the Philippine hosting of the ASEM Conference on the Harmonization of Biofuels Standards and Application to Vehicle Technologies (hereinafter, the Conference) on 10 to 11 November 2011.

SECTION 2. Agency Support. The Executive Committee shall closely coordinate the integrated assistance by obtaining technical, financial, and administrative support from other relevant agencies and local government units (LGUs) where the Conference and other related activities will be held.

SECTION 3. Tasks and Functions. Pursuant to its mandate under Section 1 hereof, the Executive Committee shall perform the following tasks and functions:

a) Formulate a work program and budget plan for the hosting of the Conference and related activities;

b) Implement the work program, and supervise and monitor all activities therein;

c) Call upon any official, agent, employee, agency or instrumentality of the government for any assistance that may be necessary to ensure the success of the Philippine hosting of the Conference and its related activities;

d) Engage the support, assistance and cooperation of international, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and private sector and/or entities in the preparations and conduct of the Conference, as and when necessary; and,

e) Subject to existing laws, rules and regulations, enter into agreements and contracts necessary for the attainment of this Order.

SECTION 4. Funding. The funding requirement for the preparation and conduct of the Conference amounting to Nine Million, Four Hundred Fifty-One Thousand Pesos (P9,451,000.00) shall be charged against the International Commitments Fund (ICF), through the DFA.

SECTION 5. Separability. If any provision of this Administrative Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions unaffected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. All issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Administrative Order are hereby revoked, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 6^th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Eleven.


By the President:

(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.

Executive Secretary