WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State to promote physical education, encourage and sustain the development of sports in the country, foster physical fitness, self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry through a unified national sports promotion and development program;

WHEREAS, under Section 5 of Executive Order No. 117 (s. 1987), the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) is mandated to formulate, plan, implement and coordinate policies, plans, programs and projects for physical education;

WHEREAS, Section 16 thereof mandates the DECS - Bureau of Physical Education and School Sports (BPESS) to develop human resources through mass-based sports education; promote the revival of indigenous games and sports; identify and nurture sports talents and promote excellence in sports, traditional games and other physical activities;

WHEREAS, in view thereof, DECS-BPESS supervises and implements various sports programs and projects at the national, regional, provincial and district levels and provides financial augmentation to other government and non-government organizations for the conduct of their respective sports activities;

WHEREAS, pursuant to R.A. 6847 (s. of 1990), the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is mandated to plan, implement and oversee an integrated amateur sports promotion and development program for the country, being the sole policy-making and coordinating body of all amateur sports development programs and institutions in the Philippines;

WHEREAS, there is need to rationalize the implementation of sports programs and activities with the end in view of avoiding duplication and maximizing limited resources for sports development;

WHEREAS, Section 21, Chapter 8, Title II, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987 defines the organization of the Office of the President as consisting of the Office of the President Proper and the agencies under it;

WHEREAS, the PSC, by virtue of Section 23, Chapter 8, Title II, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987 and Section 4 of R.A. 6847 (s. 1990), is an agency attached to the Office of the President; and,

WHEREAS, paragraph 2, Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987 grants the President the continuing authority to reorganize the Office of the President by, among others, transferring any function, to include certain programs, from other Departments and/or Agencies to the Office of the President.

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

SECTION 1. Transferring the Sports Programs and Activities of the DECS to the PSC. All the functions, programs and activities of DECS related to sports development as provided for in Sec. 16 of E.O. 117 (s. 1987) are hereby transferred to PSC.

SEC. 2. Defining the Role of DECS in School-Based Sports. The DECS shall have jurisdiction and function over the enhancement of Physical Education (P.E.) curriculum and its application in whatever form inside schools.

SEC. 3. Role of PSC. As the primary agency tasked to formulate policies and oversee the national sports development program, the management and implementation of all school-based sports competitions among schools at the district, provincial, regional, national and international levels, in coordination with concerned public and private entities shall be transferred to PSC.

SEC. 4. Implementing Guidelines. The PSC, in coordination with the DECS and other concerned entities, shall formulate the rules and guidelines for the effective implementation of this Order within forty-five days after its effectivity.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. All Executive Orders, Administrative Orders and other executive issuances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 05th  day of March in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Nine.

(SGD.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(SGD.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary