WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 220 dated July 15, 1987, created the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) comprising the Provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, and the City of Baguio;

WHEREAS, on this historic day, the Cordillera people saw the realization of their aspirations for administrative decentralization, which they have been struggling to achieve for more than half a century;

WHEREAS, there is a need to provide opportunity for the people of CAR to hold fitting celebrations to highlight the historic significance of the occasion.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ALBERTO G. ROMULO, Executive Secretary, by order of Her Excellency, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, do hereby declare Tuesday, July 15, 2003, as a special (non-working) day in the Cordillera Administrative Region..

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines.

Done in the City of Manila, this 11th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Three.


By the Executive Secretary:

(Sgd.) JOAQUIN C. LAGONERA
Deputy Executive Secretary