WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 203, s. of 1987, declared April 9 of every year as a regular holiday for the celebration of Araw ng Kagitingan;

WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 466, s. of 1989, designated the period from April 5 to 11 of every year as Philippine Veterans Week in order to promote, preserve and memorialize the principles, ideals and deeds of our war veterans as a means to enhance patriotism and love of country, especially among the youth of the land;

WHEREAS, the policy of the administration is not to create committees;

WHEREAS, there is a need to assign an official to supervise, coordinate and integrate the commemoration of the said events with fitting activities to ensure their success;

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 Secretary of National Defense shall execute the observance of Araw ng Kagitingan and Philippine Veterans Week.

SECTION 2. The Secretary of National Defense is hereby empowered to call on any agency or instrumentality of the government including government-owned and controlled corporations and to invite any private individual, or non-government organization for assistance he may need in the discharge of his functions but only for the duration of the celebration.

SECTION 3. The release of TWO MILLION PESOS (P2,000,000.00) chargeable against the President's Contingent Fund for FY 2003 is hereby authorized to carry out the provisions of the Memorandum Order. Any deficiency shall be charged against the regular budget of the participating agencies.

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

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary