WHEREAS , one of the major governance reform initiatives of the government is the development of a justice system that is responsive and accessible to the poor and disadvantaged by strengthening the other pillars of justice through reforms in the Department of Justice;

WHEREAS , there is a need to heighten and maximize community involvement and participation in the community-based program of probation and parole in the prevention of crime, the treatment of offenders, and criminal justice administration;

WHEREAS , there is a need to change the emphasis of crime prevention from being a police work to being a collective concern of the entire community;

WHEREAS , Presidential Decree No. 968, otherwise known as the Probation Law of 1976, as amended, authorizes the appointment of citizens of good repute and probity to act as volunteer probation aides, thus, there is a great need to implement the VPA program at the local level as a practical and effective means of involving the community, it being the fifth pillar of the criminal justice system;

WHEREAS , it is necessary to amplify and diversify community human resources in meeting the rehabilitation needs of offenders.

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. Revitalization of the Volunteer Probation Aide (VPA) Program. - The volunteer probation aide program shall hereby be revitalized by the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) to strengthen community involvement and participation in crime prevention, treatment of offenders, and the administration of criminal justice.

SECTION 2. Recruitment, Selection, Training and Appointment of Volunteer Probation Aides. - The PPA shall continue to vigorously recruit, select, train and appoint citizens of good repute and probity to effectively provide assistance and other specialized services to the Administration in the supervision and rehabilitation of offenders and along the area of crime prevention.

SECTION 3 . Coordination with Other Government Agencies, Non-Government Organizations and People ™s Organizations. - The PPA shall coordinate with other government agencies, non-government organizations and people ™s organizations that are involved in developing programs related to volunteerism for the purpose of developing programs related to volunteerism and of attaining program impact and synergy. Specifically, the support and cooperation of the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police Community Relations Office, the National Police Commission, the Liga ng mga Barangay, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice, among others, shall be tapped for the foregoing purpose.

SECTION 4. Review and Revision of Rules and Regulations. - The PPA is hereby directed to review the applicable rules and regulations relative to the volunteer probation aide program. In accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Code of 1987 and the Probation Law of 1976, as amended, the PPA shall establish and prescribe, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Justice, new rules and regulations to govern the volunteer probation aide program of the PPA.

SECTION 5 . Adjustment in Organization, System and Operations. - Within ninety (90) days from effectivity of this Executive Order, the PPA shall review its existing organization, system and operations and submit a report with its recommendations to the Secretary of Justice, who shall review and endorse the same to the Office of the President for approval. Any changes in organization and staffing shall be sourced from the existing personnel itemization of the PPA subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management and to the requirements of the rationalization plan of the government.

SECTION 6 . Funding. - The financial resources for any changes in organization and staffing shall be taken from available funds of the PPA.

SECTION 7 . Repealing Clause. - All executive orders, instructions, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 11th day of October, in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Five.

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary