WHEREAS, Section 1 of Republic Act No. 7656 provides that:

"Section 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State that in order for the National Government to realize additional revenues, government-owned and/or controlled corporations, without impairing their viability and the purposes for which they have been established, shall share a substantial amount of their net earnings to the National Government."

WHEREAS, to support the viability and mandate of government-owned and/or controlled corporations (GOCCs), the liquidity, retained earnings position and medium-term plans and programs of these GOCCs were considered in the determination of the reasonable dividend rates of such corporations on their 2001 net earnings;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5 of RA 7656, the Secretary of Finance recommended the adjustment on the percentage of annual net earnings that shall be declared by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. The percentage of net earnings to be declared and remitted by the MWSS as dividends to the National Government as provided for under Section 3 of Republic Act No. 7656 is adjusted from at least fifty percent (50%) to thirty percent (30%).

SEC 2. The adjusted dividend rate provided for under Section 1 are only applicable on 2001 net earnings of the MWSS.

SEC 3. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 13th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, two thousand three.

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary