WHEREAS, a strong growth of exports is the linchpin for economic recovery;

WHEREAS, the Export Development Council was created as government ™s commitment to support Proclamation No. 167 (1993) declaring export development as the key to a Philippine balanced agri-industrial economic growth;

WHEREAS, a more direct link with the President will strengthen the authority of the Council;

WHEREAS, human resource development is needed to improve the productivity of the workforce of the export industry;

WHEREAS, increasing the Council ™s membership to include the Secretary of Labor and Employment is necessary to strengthen the resolve to improve productivity;

WHEREAS, there is a need for an additional representation from the private labor sector to achieve balanced representation.

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:

SECTION 1. Section 3 of EO 98 is hereby amended to read as follows:

œSection. 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 charging 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. Report directly to the President on Specific measures required to remove the bottlenecks/problems constraining the development of exports in any of the areas mentioned in (c). 

SECTION 2. Section 1 of EO 110 further amending EO 98 is hereby amended to read as follows:

œSection 1. Composition - The Export Development Council ( œCouncil ) shall be composed of the following:

DONE in the City of Manila, this 8th day of June 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