[ MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 50, August 27, 2003 ]

AUTHORIZING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON "GLOBAL TRENDS: URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY"



WHEREAS, in commemoration of the Urban Development Week declared under Presidential Proclamation No. 257 dated September 16, 2002, the National Real Estate Association (REA) and the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP) will be holding a National Conference on September 25-27, 2003 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) with the theme: "Global Trends: Urban and Regional Development in the 21stt Century".

WHEREAS, the conference is designed to undertake a program where the Government and the private sector can pursue a comprehensive and continuing Urban Development & Housing Program to uplift the condition of the underprivileged and homeless citizens, optimize the productivity of land and urban resources, develop the use of industrial and commercial areas to generate more economic opportunity for the people, encourage more effective people's participation in the urban development process and improve the capability of local government units to achieve the goals set by our laws;

WHEREAS, the presentations and discussions during the conference among the government officials and the private sector will push forward the governments' state of readiness in the implementation of the laws, rules and regulation on the matter and the private sectors' major participation to achieve such goals.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ALBERTO G. ROMULO, Executive Secretary, by authority of the President, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Heads of departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, including government-owned and/or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries, government financial institutions and local government units are enjoined to allow one (1) representative each from their offices, belonging to the middle-manager level, whose job is relevant to the conference, to attend the conference on official time.

SEC. 2. Government participants will attend the conference on official time with expenses allowable at rates prescribed in accordance with current COA, CSC and DBM policies chargeable against the funds of their respective offices, subject to the availability of funds and the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

SEC. 3. This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila this 27th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Three.

By Authority of the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary