WHEREAS, there is an imperative need to upgrade the capability of the Government to eliminate or reduce work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths which have resulted in huge economic losses in terms of manhours, destruction of property and more expenditure for employees' compensation, not to mention the untold suffering of victims of industrial accidents and their families;

WHEREAS, the effective implementation of occupational health and safety programs will enhance significantly the productivity of industries, a critical factor in the attainment of national development goals, and at the same time, promote the health, efficiency and general well-being of the Filipino worker through the improvement of the quality of his working life;

WHEREAS, there is a need to establish an expert industrial disease and occupational safety intelligence and training center that will provide the mechanisms in the achievement of the objectives set forth in the issuance;

WHEREAS, the Government of Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency has so graciously acceded to the request of the Philippines to finance the construction of the Center envisioned in this issuance and equip the same with the necessary instruments, equipment, laboratories and other facilities as well as appropriate technology and expertise under its grant-aid and technical cooperation programs;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. There is hereby established in the Employee's Compensation Commission the Occupational Safety and Health Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center.

SECTION 2. The Center shall have the following powers and functions:

a. To undertake continuing studies and researchers on occupational safety and health, including those relating to the establishment of causal connection between diseases and occupations and the development of medical criteria in determining the nature and extent of impairment or diminution in health, functional capacity or life expectancy of the employees as a result of their work and working conditions;

b. To plan, develop and implement training programs in the field of occupational safety and health, and related interests;

c. To serve as a clearing house of information and innovative methods, techniques and approaches in dealing with occupational safety and health problems and institute a mechanism of information dissemination to the general public;

d. To monitor the working environment by the use of industrial hygiene, field and laboratory equipment and conduct medical examinations of workers exposed to hazardous substances for the ready detection of occupational diseases;

e. To act as the duly recognized agency to undertake practical testing for safe use and set standard specifications or personal protective and other safety devices;

f. To assist government agencies and institutions in the formulation of policies and standards on occupational safety and health and other matters related thereto and issue technical guidelines for the prevention of occupational diseases and accidents;

g. To adopt annually a budget of expenditures of the Center and its staff chargeable against the State Insurance Fund: Provided, That the SSS and GSIS shall advance on a quarterly basis the remittances of allotment of the loading fund for this Center's operational expenses based on its annual budget as duly approved by the Department of Budget and Management; Provided, further, That such budget shall not exceed 4% of the 12% loading fund based on the total of the State Insurance Fund and its earnings as of December 31st of the preceding years;

h. To perform such other acts as it may deem appropriate for the attainment of the purposes of the Center and proper enforcement of the provisions of this Executive Order; and

i. To enlist the assistance of government agencies and private organizations in carrying out the objectives of the Center.

SECTION 3. The Employees' Compensation Commission shall be the governing body of the Center.

SECTION 4. The general conduct of operations and management functions of the Center shall be vested in the Executive Director under the immediate supervision of the Employee's Compensation Commission. He shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Chairman of the Employees' Compensation Commission. He shall be assisted by e Deputy Executive Director who shall likewise be appointed by the President of the Philippines. The Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director must have at least a Bachelor's degree and must have had experience of at least a Bachelor's degree and must have had experience of at least five years in the administration of occupational health and safety or employees' compensation and social security programs. Their annual salary shall be determined by the Employees' Compensation Commission.

The Executive Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Center and for as long as necessary, a chief expert on occupational safety and health from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, shall sit as non-voting members of the Board.

SECTION 5. The technical staff and other personnel of the Center shall be appointed by the Employees' Compensation Commission upon recommendation of the Executive Director.

SECTION 6. To insure its accessibility to workers, employers and the general public, the Center shall be located at North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, in a two-hectare lot owned by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Department of Labor and Employment.

SECTION 7. The Administrator, Social Security System (SSS) and the President and General Manager, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) are hereby ordered to immediately release the amount of THIRTY MILLION PESOS (P30,000,000.00) out of the loading fund of the State Insurance Fund and its earnings, on a sharing of 70% for the SSS and 30% for the GSIS for calendar year 1987: Provided, That no part of the aforesaid amount shall be used in the acquisition of the land provided for under Section 6 hereof. Thereafter, the SSS and GSIS shall remit to the Center, on the same sharing basis, such amount corresponding to its annual budget in accordance with the provisions of this Executive Order.

SECTION 8. The Employees' Compensation Commission shall issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Executive Order.

SECTION 9. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 4th day of November, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-seven.


By the President:

(Sgd.) CATALINO MACARAIG, JR.
Acting Executive Secretary