WHEREAS, pursuant to Executive Order No. 343, dated August 5, 2004 the Commission on Filipinos Overseas was transferred to the Office of the President;

WHEREAS, under Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987, the President has the continuing authority to reorganize the administrative structure of the Office of the President;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me under the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Chairman of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.  The Chairman of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) shall be appointed by the President and shall have a cabinet rank.

SECTION 2. Composition.  The Commission on Filipinos Overseas shall be composed of the Chairman, and representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs, as Vice-Chairman, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Tourism, Department of Education, Department of Justice, Office of the Press Secretary and the Executive Director of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.

The representative shall have a rank not lower than an Undersecretary.

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. All executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of the Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 18 Oct. 2004

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary