WHEREAS, Executive Order ("EO") No. 236 (s. 2003) rationalized the roster of civil awards and decorations of the Philippines to ensure consistency of criteria in conferring honors, preserve integrity and prestige thereof, clarify and definitively establish their order of precedence, in conformity with internationally-accepted traditional and protocular norms and practices;

WHEREAS, under EO 236, the Order of National Artists shall be conferred upon the recommendation of the Cultural Center of the Philippines ("CCP") and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts ("NCCA");

WHEREAS, there is a need to harmonize the procedure for awarding the Order of National Artists with the purpose and intent of existing laws, i.e., Proclamation No. 1001, as amended by Proclamation No. 1144 and Presidential Decree No. 208, as well as Republic Act No. 7356, in relation to Section 20, Chapter 7, Title 1, Book III of Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the "Administrative Code of 1987";

WHEREAS, due recognition must be given to National Artists for their valuable contributions to the cultural heritage of the country, as well as encouragement of the spirit of excellence in the arts and letters;

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 amend Section 5 (IV) of EO No. 236, entitled "Establishing the Honors Code of the Philippines to create an Order of Precedence of Honors Conferred and for Other Purposes," on Order of the National Artists, to read as follows:

 

"IV. Order of National Artists (Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining): Order of National Scientists (Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Agham); Order of National Social Scientist (Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Agham Panlipunan); Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (Award for National Living Treasures) -

 

Order of National Artists  

 

Pursuant to Proclamation No. 1001 dated April 27, 1972 and Republic Act No. 7356, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines shall advise the President on the conferment of the Order of National Artist, the highest national recognition conferred upon Filipinos who have made distinct contributions to development and promotion of Philippine culture and the arts.

 

The National Artist for Historical Literature, created under Executive Order No. 451 dated October 9, 1997, is subsumed under the Order of National Artists."

This amendment shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 8 June 2005

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

By the President:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary