WHEREAS, the State recognizes the important role of professionals in nation-building and, towards this end, it is imperative to maintain the reservoir of our professionals whose competence has been determined by honest and credible licensure examinations and whose standards of professional service and practice are internationally recognized and considered world-class brought about by regulatory measures, programs and activities that foster professional growth and advancement;

WHEREAS, the Philippine Professional Organization - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (PPO-SA) envisions a united and dedicated professional organizations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East pursuant to its mission of coordinating with and supporting the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and concerned Philippine government agencies and departments in the conduct of a Special Professional Licensure Board Examination (SPLBE) for unlicensed organization members and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East;

WHEREAS, the PPO-SA likewise urged Philippine authorities to give these unlicensed organization members and other overseas Filipino workers the opportunity to take the licensure board examinations while residing and working in the aforesaid foreign countries without the need of returning to the Philippines;

WHEREAS, it is the thrust of the National Government to encourage qualified overseas Filipino workers to take and pass the licensure board examinations abroad as it would greatly enhance their edge and competitiveness in the labor market, and it would spare them from expensive travel expenses and rigorous travel permits from their employers and/or host country;

WHEREAS, in response to this call and as a measure of enhancing the employability and competitiveness of our qualified overseas Filipino workers, the Government deems it appropriate to immediately act through the Department of Labor and Employment, which has immediate supervision and control over the Professional Regulation Commission.

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 and direct:

SECTION 1. Coverage  - The Department of Labor and Employment, through the Professional Regulation Commission, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Bureau of Immigration, and the Philippine Professional Organizations - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall hold and conduct Special Professional Licensure Board Examinations for the qualified overseas Filipino workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other middle east countries with whom the Philippines has diplomatic relations.

SECTION 2. Implementation Period - The Special Professional Licensure Board Examinations for the qualified overseas Filipino workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other middle east countries with whom the Philippines has diplomatic relations shall be held once every year starting December 2009.

SECTION 3. Designation of Venue of Examination and Accessibility - The Department of Labor, through the Professional Regulation Commission, and the Department of Foreign Affairs, through its Consular Offices abroad, shall be jointly responsible in facilitating the required permits from the host country(ies), the provision of adequate and conducive venue of examinations, and the processing of travel documents for the personnel who will conduct the Special Professional Licensure Board Examinations.

SECTION 4. Funding - The amount required for the administration of the Special Professional Licensure Board Examination shall be chargeable against the Professional Regulation Commission in its appropriate funding sources as included in its annual budget.

SECTION 5. Effectivity - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 6th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.

	(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
By the President:
(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary