WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 317, Series of 1996, issued pursuant to Republic Act No. 6734, effected the devolution to the Autonomous Regional Government (ARG) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) of certain powers and functions of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) including control and supervision over its offices, programs and projects in ARMM;

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9054 was enacted into law on March 31, 2001 in order to strengthen and expand the Organic Act for the ARMM, and the same was ratified on August 14, 2001 with the addition of the Province of Basilan (except Isabela City) and the City of Marawi to the original four (4) provinces comprising the ARMM;

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the National Government to devolve, as far as practicable and consistent with the Constitution and RA 6734, as amended by RA 9054, as many functions and powers of the national government agencies to the ARG;

WHEREAS, the devolution of powers and functions of the National Government to the ARG is part of the government's peace process to find ways and means for a durable lasting peace in Mindanao; and

WHEREAS, the Oversight Committee created pursuant to Section 3, Article XVIII of RA 9054, deemed it imperative to devolve to the ARG the control and supervision of TESDA offices, programs and projects in the Province of Basilan and City of Marawi.

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

SECTION 1. Transfer of Powers. Functions. Personnel. Assets and Budget. The TESDA Basilan Provincial Office and the Provincial Training Center together with its personnel, assets and liabilities, and budget for the current year shall be devolved to the ARG.

The appropriate budgetary support for Technical Vocational Training Programs and Projects for Marawi City shall be carved out of the operations of TESDA Region XII and likewise be devolved to the ARG.

SEC. 2. Provincial Offices. In order to strengthen the implementing capability of TESDA-ARMM and to be at par with the administrative regions, Provincial Offices are hereby established in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to conform with the provisions of the TESDA Act of 1996.

SEC. 3. Technical Assistance. TESDA shall make available to the ARG such technical assistance as may be necessary to carry out effectively the objectives of this Executive Order.

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules. TESDA, in close coordination with the ARG, shall issue the implementing rules and regulations to effect the devolution and turn-over within ninety (90) days from effectivity of this Executive Order.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Executive Order is declared unconstitutional or contrary to law, the validity and effectivity of the other provisions hereof shall not be affected.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a national newspaper of general circulation and one local newspaper of general circulation in the ARMM.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 27th day of February, in the year of Our Lord, two thousand and three.


By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary