WHEREAS, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Commission on Filipino Language (CFL) and the National Museum are agencies attached to the Office of the President (OP);

WHEREAS, the National Historical Institute (NHI), National Library (NL) and the Records Management and Archives Office (RMAO) are agencies attached to the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS);

WHEREAS, these cultural agencies are mandated to ensure the preservation, development, and promotion of Philippine culture;

WHEREAS, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is mandated by Republic Act No. 7356 to coordinate the implementation of policies and programs on the development of culture and arts in coordination with cultural agencies;

WHEREAS, the mandate of the cultural agencies and the program of government to achieve a coordinated implementation of policies and programs for the development of culture and arts could be properly effected if the cultural agencies are placed under the NCCA;

WHEREAS, Sec. 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 NCCA, by virtue of Sec. 23, Chapter 8, Title II, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987, is an agency attached to the Office of the President; and,

WHEREAS, Sec. 31, Chapter 10, paragraph 3, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987 grants the President the continuing authority to transfer any agency under the Office of the President to any other department or agency as well as transfer agencies to the Office of the President from other departments or agencies.

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. Transfer. The following cultural agencies are hereby transferred from OP and DECS to NCCA, which shall exercise administrative supervision over them:

a. Cultural Center of the Philippines;

b. Commission on Filipino Language;

c. National Historical Institute;

d. National Library;

e. National Museum; and

f. Records Management and Archives Office

SEC. 2. Powers and Functions. These agencies shall continue to operate and function in accordance with their respective charters or laws creating them, except as otherwise provided herein.

SEC. 3. Coordination Between NCCA And The Cultural Agencies. The NCCA shall devise such cooperative and collaborative arrangement and working relationship with the attached agencies designated above to ensure their involvement and participation as active partners of the said Commission in the pursuit of its mandate and objectives under the Constitution and the law.

The aforementioned attached agencies shall periodically report to NCCA on the progress of their programs and projects.

SEC. 4. Appropriations. Such sums as may be needed to carry out the provisions of this Executive Order which are appropriated for the cultural agencies at the time of the approval of this Executive Order shall continue to be carried in subsequent annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. All Executive Orders, Rules and Regulations or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

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

DONE in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 5th  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