WHEREAS, the government in its desire to promote Filipino creativity aims to present, demonstrate and showcase to the world not only its culture and people, but also its products;

WHEREAS, high standards of Filipino creativity have great influence on how the Philippines is viewed as a design destination of quality products;

WHEREAS, creativity, together with knowledge and access to information, has been declared by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as a powerful engine of economic growth and promotes development;

WHEREAS, there is a need to highlight the creativity and design capability of the Filipinos to bring in opportunities for economic development towards viable trade benefits;

WHEREAS, there is a need to organize activities that will create local and global awareness about the uniqueness of Philippine creativity and design by showcasing the wealth of different product innovations and craftsmanship, through trade exhibitions, festivals, workshops and conferences; and,

WHEREAS, to ensure that benefits are maximized from such activities, a concerted effort of both the government and private sector is necessary to address various issues and concerns towards sustaining the development and promotion of the Philippines ™ design capability.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare every third week of March and October of every year as DESIGN WEEK PHILIPPINES.

I hereby direct the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) and the Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines (PDDCP) as the lead implementing agencies in the conduct of activities that will promote the Philippines as a Design Destination in Asia. In time with the DTI-CITEM ™s signature show, the Manila FAME International, œDesign Week Philippines  shall be held twice a year as the platform to showcase the application of creativity and design capability of local manufacturers and design professionals that would bring in buyers locally and worldwide to source their products and inspirations.

I call on the Department of Tourism (DOT), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) as co-organizers of the œDesign Week Philippines  celebration.

I also call on Philippine designers, artists and design training institutions, associations and all other entities involve in the design industry, both from the government and the private sector, to collaborate with DTI-CITEM and PDDCP in the observance of the DESIGN WEEK PHILIPPINES by organizing fitting activities that will strengthen the positioning of the Philippines as a major design destination.

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 20th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Eleven.

	(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
By authority of the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA JR.
Executive Secretary