WHEREAS, the Philippines has adopted œdiplomacy for development  as its central foreign policy thrust to further promote the national economic agenda thru active participation in various international and regional fora;

WHEREAS, there is a need to enhance our country ™s regional strategic position by sustaining friendly relations with our ASEAN and Asia-Pacific neighbors;

WHEREAS, to address this concern, the President issued Administrative Order No. 7, Creating the Philippine Council for ASEAN Cooperation (PCAC) on 7 October 1987;

WHEREAS, for purposes of ensuring consistency and synergy, there is a need to expand the coverage of the PCAC to include the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and East Asia Economic Cooperation (EAEC);

WHEREAS, this need has become more imperative in view of the fact that the Philippines will host the APEC Summit Meeting in 1996 and the ASEAN Summit in 1997;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law and the Constitution, do hereby order:

SEC. 1. The Philippine Council on ASEAN Cooperation (PCAC) is expanded to cover APEC and EAEC concerns and shall henceforth be called Philippine Council for ASEAN and APEC Cooperation (PCAAC). The Secretary of Foreign Affairs shall continue to be the Chairman of the Cabinet-level PCAAC.

SEC. 2. The Cabinet-level PCAAC shall create sub-committees and/or working groups as it deems necessary to ensure the efficient and effective discharge of its responsibilities.

SEC. 3. In addition to the Technical Board for ASEAN Economic Cooperation and the Technical Board for ASEAN Functional Cooperation which are currently existing, there shall be a Technical Board for APEC Matters which shall be chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

SEC. 4. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 12^th day of July, in the year of Our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-four.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:
(Sgd.) TEOFISTO T. GUINGONA, JR.
Executive Secretary