[ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 98, June 10, 1993 ]

REORGANIZING THE EXPORT AND INVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INTO THE EXPORT DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL



WHEREAS, it has been the declared policy of the government as embodied in Proclamation No. 167 (1993) to make export development the key to sustainable and balanced agri-industrial Philippine economic growth;

WHEREAS, in order to attain the status of a Newly Industrialized Country (NIC) by the year 2000, it is imperative to provide a policy climate that will foster economic growth based on global competitiveness and people empowerment;

WHEREAS, there is a need for a concerted and collective government and private sector effort to create a favorable business climate which will enhance growth and expansion of the country ™s export industry; and

WHEREAS, reorganizing the Export and Investment Development Council is necessary to strengthen the central agency that will review and assess policy issues affecting the export sector.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the reorganization of the Export and Investment Development Council as follows:

Section 1. Name. - The Export and Investment Development Council shall be renamed the Export Development Council.

Section 2. Composition. - The Export Development Council ("Council") shall be composed of the following:

a.

Secretary of Trade and Industry

-

Chairman

b.

Secretary of Finance

-

Vice-Chairman

c.

Secretary of Agriculture

-

Member

d.

 Secretary of Foreign Affairs

-

Member

e.

Director-General of National Economic and Development Authority

-

Member

f.

Governor of the Central Bank of the Philippines

-

Member

g.

Presidential Assistant for Visayas

-

Member

h.

Presidential Assistant for Mindanao

-

Member

i.

Eight (8) Representatives of the Private Sector

-

Members

A permanent representative from the Office of the President shall be present during all Council meetings.

The representatives from the private sector shall be appointed by and hold office at the pleasure of the President. They shall be selected from among leaders of the export sector.

Other Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies can be called upon to attend Council meetings and assist the Council resolve issues and problems that concern their respective offices.

Section 3. Powers and Functions. - The Council shall:

a. Recommend approval of the Philippine Export Development Plan; coordinate, monitor and assess the implementation thereof, and, when necessary, recommend appropriate adjustments thereon in the light of changing conditions in both the domestic and international environment;

b. Periodically review and assess the country ™s export performance, problems and prospects;

c. Identify the main bottlenecks, problem areas and constraints in all areas/sectors/activities influencing the development of exports, including but not limited to, such matters as policy framework, physical infrastructure, finance, specialized support services, production, promotion and marketing;

d. Provide advice on specific measures required to remove the bottlenecks/problems constraining the development of exports in any of the areas mentioned in (c);

e. Recommend appropriate and necessary export development services and programs for adoption by government and private sector;

f. Assume the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Commission on Export Procedures including the review power on the efficiency of the One-Stop Export Documentation Center as provided for in Executive Order No. 843 (1982); and

g. Constitute such subcommittees and task forces as may be necessary.

Section 4. Executive Committee. - An Executive Committee composed of representatives from DTI, NEDA and three (3) from the private sector is hereby constituted to assist the Council in the coordination, monitoring and assessment of the implementation of the Philippine Export Development Plan.

Section 5. Secretariat. - The Council shall be assisted by a Secretariat based in the Department of Trade and Industry, headed by an official designated by the Chairman of the Council, together with personnel from the government agencies and private sectors represented in the Committee who shall be assigned to the Secretariat, respectively, by the Committee.

Section 6. Meetings. - The Council shall meet at least once a month, and at least once every quarter with the President; provided, whenever the President deems it necessary, he may convene the Council.

Section 7. Funding. - Funding of activities and operational expenses of the Council shall be supported by contributions from the government and the private sector. A seed capital in an amount recommended by the Department of Trade and Industry, upon consultation with the Department of Budget and Management, and approved by the President shall be taken from the Contingent Fund of the President. Thereafter, the annual contributions of the government shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Acts after consultations with the Department of Budget and Management.

Section 8. Repealing Clause. - All other executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly, including:

8.1. Executive Order No. 499 (1991) entitled "Creating an Export and Investment Development Council Defining its Composition, Powers and Functions";

8.2. Executive Order No. 520 (1992) entitled "Amending Executive Order No. 449 dated December 23, 1991, Creating an Export and Investment Development Council, Defining its Composition, Powers and Functions to Include in the Council the Secretary of Foreign Affairs";

8.3. Executive Order No. 24 (1992) entitled "Strengthening the Export and Investment Development Council, Amending for this Purpose Executive Order Nos. 499 and 520, to Increase the Government and Private Sector Members of the Council";

8.4. Executive Order No. 843 (1982) entitled "Creating a Commission on Export Procedures"; and

8.5. Executive Order No. 343 (1988) entitled "Reconstituting the Commission on Export Procedure". This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 10th day of June in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Three.

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

By the President:
(Sgd.) ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel