WHEREAS, the upcoming cultural and international events that will take place in the City of Cebu and adjoining cities and provinces are expected to be attended by thousands of foreign and local delegates and participants who may also visit historical and cultural heritage sites and tourist areas therein;

WHEREAS, achieving the ultimate goal of ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted conduct of all the activities attendant to hosting of significant cultural and international events and keeping both local and foreign participants safe and secure is a shared responsibility between and among government agencies, private sectors, stakeholders and the members of the community;

WHEREAS, Section 17, Article II of the 1987 Constitution declares that œthe State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development; 

WHEREAS, Sections 14 and 15, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution declares that the State shall foster the preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of a Filipino national culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression and shall conserve, promote, and popularize the nation ™s historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as artistic creations; 

WHEREAS, Section 5, Article II of the 1987 Constitution also provides that œthe maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy; 

WHEREAS, there is a need to constitute an Ad Hoc Task Group Cebu to oversee, direct, control and supervise the overall preparation, integration of plans, programs and activities on security, peace and order and emergency preparedness and response to ensure a peaceful and successful hosting of cultural and international events taking place in the City of Cebu and adjoining cities and provinces in January 2016.

NOW, THEREFORE, there is hereby created an Ad Hoc Task Group Cebu on Cultural and International Events.

The Ad Hoc Task Group shall be composed of the following:

Head	:	PCSUPT Prudencio Tom T. Ba as Regional Director, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7
Deputy Head	:	Representative, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
Members	:	RD, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) 7
		Representative/s, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
		Representative/s, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)
		Representative/s, Department of Tourism (DOT)
		Representative/s, Department of National Defense (DND)
		Representative/s, Department of Health (DOH)
		Representative/s, Local Government Units (LGUs)

The Ad Hoc Task Group Cebu shall take charge of government actions and responses in connection with the cultural and international events taking place in the City of Cebu and adjoining cities and province, ensure smooth coordination among public and private sectors, maintain peace and order, ensure the safety of participants and the public, and prepare a traffic management plan for the efficient and smooth transport of persons and goods during cultural and international events that will take place in January 2016, such as the Annual Sinulog Celebration and the 51 st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).

The Ad Hoc Task Group Cebu shall be headed by RD, PRO 7 as the Task Group Commander who shall provide strategic direction, control and supervision over all the activities related to the provision of security, maintenance of peace and order and emergency preparedness.

The Ad Hoc Task Group may call upon any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the government, local government units, non-government organizations, and the private sector for assistance as the circumstances and exigencies may require.

The Ad Hoc Task Group Cebu shall have three (3) main operating Ad Hoc Sub-Task Groups: the Sub-Task Group Security, Sub-Task Group Peace and Order and Sub-Task Group Emergency Preparedness to delineate, synchronize and effectively manage all designated tasks for the upcoming cultural and international events.

Two Regional Centers under the Ad Hoc Task Group Cebu may also be activated, particularly the Regional Intelligence Fusion Center (RFIC) to provide tasked agencies/units the needed intelligence requirements before, during and immediately after the cultural and international events and the Regional Joint Tactical Operations Center (RJTOC) to conduct real time monitoring, information dissemination, synchronize movements and responses member agencies involved.

Owing to the cultural and historical significance of said upcoming international events, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA) shall also participate in accordance with its core functions in the pursuit of cultural preservation and the promotion of the nation ™s intangible cultural heritage as a strategy for maintaining Filipino identity.

As the lead communications arm of the Government and a vehicle of understanding for a well-informed and enlightened citizenry, proud of its heritage, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) shall also take part in the management and supervision of all task and activities related to the coverage and broadcast of the upcoming cultural and international events to ensure a balanced and complete account thereof.

To ensure that the programs and activities to be undertaken in preparation for and during the event will run smoothly, efficiently and effectively, the OP Task Force on Interreligious and Intercultural Concerns shall also participate as government coordinator thereof.

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately and shall be declared functus officio upon the conclusion of cultural and international events taking place in the City of Cebu and adjoining cities and provinces in January 2016.

Done in the City of Manila, this 4th day of December, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand Fifteen.

By authority of the President:

(SGD.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary