WHEREAS, the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) is a government-owned institution, constructed pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 520 (s. 1974), as amended, as an international conference center suitable for the holding of international conferences, meetings, and the like;

WHEREAS, the PICC possesses world-class facilities and equipment which meet international standards, and is operated by an experienced and professional staff who can meet the requirements of sophisticated domestic and foreign clienteles;

WHEREAS, while Administrative Order No. 136 (s. 2005) encourages all government departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities to hold their meetings, workshops, seminars, conferences and other special events at the PICC, it has been noted that the number of government-organized and -sponsored events held at the PICC has continued to decline through the years vis-a-vis the number of such events held at privately-owned establishments;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, it is preferred that government agencies lease publicly-owned real property or conference venues from other government agencies;

WHEREAS, the same IRR provides that in the event the procuring authority would resort to privately-owned real property or conference venue, the end-user shall justify that the same is more efficient and economical to the government;

NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby directed that:

SECTION 1. All departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, government financial institutions and other government corporate entities, and state universities and colleges, shall give preference to the facilities of the PICC in holding their local, regional, national and international conventions, conferences, meetings, seminars, workshops, symposiums, exhibitions, commencement exercises and other similar official activities and events.

SECTION 2. The PICC shall develop and offer special packages, discounts, and other incentives for such official and/or governmental activities and events, which should be competitive but not detrimental to the financial viability of the PICC.

SECTION 3. This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 14th day of February in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Seventeen.