WHEREAS, poverty alleviation is the main agenda of the present administration and requires the utmost attention of the President;

WHEREAS, the participation of NGOs and POs in the poverty alleviation program of the government will enhance the successful implementation of the program;

WHEREAS, there are NGO and PO initiatives that can augment the poverty alleviation program of the government with activities that promote sustainability;

WHEREAS, innovative funding mechanisms with NGO and PO involvement directly contribute to the poverty alleviation program of the government as well as promote the empowerment of the NGO and PO in fund management;

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 the Presidential Assistant for Poverty Alleviation, NGO and PO to represent the Government of the Philippines and/or the Office of the President in the following bodies in ex-officio capacity:

Foundation for the Philippine Environment
Philippine Council for Sustainable Development
Coordinating Council of the Philippine Assistance Program

In addition, the presidential assistant shall work for the establishment of innovative funding mechanisms that will result in the reduction of the Philippine foreign debt, such as, but not limited to, debt-for-nature swaps and debt-for-equity swaps.

The concerned agencies, especially, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Finance, the Central Bank of the Philippines and the National Economic Development Authority, shall be guided accordingly.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 1^st day of October, in the Year of Our Lord Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Eight.

(Sgd.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA
President of the Philippines

By the President:
(Sgd.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary