WHEREAS , Republic Act (RA) No. 8425 institutionalized the social reform and poverty alleviation program, creating for the purpose the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) as an embodiment of equal partnership of the government and basic sectors;

WHEREAS , thirteen (13) national government agencies listed in Section 6 of RA 8425 constitute the regular official composition of the NAPC;

WHEREAS , other national government agencies mandated to respond to issues of the basic sectors are not included in the list of members of the NAPC either because they were created after the passage of the law, or because they were already performing coordinative and oversight functions;

WHEREAS , there is a need to directly tap the services of these agencies as a measure to enhance NAPC ™s ability to institutionalize the basic sector and NGO participation in effective planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the anti-poverty programs at all levels;

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

SECTION 1. Agency Participation . The following agencies shall participate in and be automatically invited to the en banc meetings of the NAPC:

1. Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)
2. Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)
3. National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
4. Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
5. National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW)
6. National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)
7. Commission on the Welfare of Children (CWC)

SEC. 2. Members with attached agencies . Appropriate attached agencies of regular members of the NAPC shall also be automatically invited to its meetings en banc.

SEC. 3. Repealing Clause . All executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. Separability Clause . If any provision of this Order is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions thereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 5. Effectivity . This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 26th day of August in the year of our Lord, two thousand and two.

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(SGD.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary