WHEREAS , in preparation for its participation in the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the World Summit delineating the Goals for Children to be held on September 2001, there is a need for the Philippines to immediately hold a National Summit on Children, which shall take the form of a one-day consultative conference to be participated in by children and adult representatives from multi-sectoral governmental and non-governmental organizations from various regions of the country;

WHEREAS , the above-mentioned National Summit will give the President of the Republic of the Philippines a suitable opportunity to launch the Philippine National Development Plan for Children (otherwise known as œChild 21?) and to deliver his State of the Filipino Child address;

WHEREAS , it is indeed appropriate for the above-mentioned National Summit to be held in October 2000, as the month of October is widely regarded as the month for children;

WHEREAS , this Administration is committed to the protection, survival, and development of Filipino children;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA , President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order the following:

SECTION 1. First National Summit on Children - There shall be held a National Summit on Children on 26 October 2000 at the Heroes Hall, Malaca ang Palace, Manila.

SEC. 2. National Steering Committee - The Office shall be the primary policy-making and coordinating body of all child development programs and institutions in the Philippines.

SEC. 3. Powers and Responsibilities - (a) The Office of the Presidential Adviser for Children ™s Affairs shall have the following powers and responsibilities:

i. To advise the President on issues affecting children and to recommend such measures or programs that will complement the Estrada Administration ™s pro-poor agenda;

ii. To review all legislation for children and to see if there is a need to introduce or amend legislation for the protection and welfare of children;

iii. To facilitate the funding of programs and projects from both foreign and domestic fund sources; and

iv.To perform such other functions as may be authorized by the President of the Philippines.

(b) The Presidential Adviser shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Children ™s Affairs. The Presidential Adviser shall have the following powers and responsibilities:

i. To establish the organizational structure of the Office and appoint, on a permanent or contractual basis, the necessary administrative and subordinate personnel;

ii. To direct and supervise the operations and internal affairs of the Office;

iii. To suspend, dismiss, or otherwise discipline for cause any employee and to approve or disapprove the appointment, transfer, or detail of employees; and

To perform such other functions as may be authorized the President.

SEC. 4. Assistance from Other Government Agencies - All government offices, agencies, and instrumentalities shall give any and all assistance as may be required by the Committee in carrying out its functions. Failure by the appropriate government office, agency, or instrumentality to provide such assistance shall be deemed an administrative offense and shall be dealt with in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

SEC. 5. Funding - To carry out the provisions of this Executive Order, the initial sum of Five Million (P5,000,000.00) Pesos or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized released from the National Treasury from any fund not otherwise appropriated.

SEC. 6. 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.

(SGD.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA

By the President:


(SGD.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary