WHEREAS, pursuant to the abovementioned policy, the government has created the Presidential Fact-Finding and Policy Advisory Commission on the Protection of Overseas Filipinos (otherwise known as the Gancayco Commission) by virtue of Executive Order No. 231 dated 20 March 1995;

WHEREAS, the Gancayco Commission has submitted various recommendations requiring Executive and legislative actions to, among others, improve the Philippine Government ™s protection of overseas Filipinos; and,

WHEREAS, there is a need to follow-up and ensure the effective implementation of the Commission ™s various recommendations designed to redound to actual benefits for overseas Filipinos.

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. Oversight and Action Group (OAG). There is hereby created an Oversight and Action Group (OAG) to follow-up and insure effective implementation of the Gancayco Commission ™s recommendations, which shall hereinafter be referred to as the œOversight and Action Group (OAG) .

SEC. 2. Functions. The OAG shall have the following functions and responsibilities:

a)	Prepare an Action Plan for the Protection of Overseas Filipinos, which shall review and translate the Gancayco Commission ™s recommendations into specific/detailed measures, including timetables for implementation. In the preparation of the Action Plan, the Committee shall undertake appropriate coordination with concerned departments and agencies;
b)	Oversee and cause the implementation of the Action Plan for the Protection of Overseas Filipinos;
c)	Update and/or revise the Action Plan, based on the outcome of its implementation or other doable recommendations to protect overseas Filipinos;
d)	Monitor the implementation of the Action Plan and submit regular reports to the President, including recommendations to address any issues which may be encountered.

The Oversight Committee shall submit the Action Plan for the Protection of Overseas Filipinos to the President not later than one (1) month from the issuance of this Order.

SEC. 3. Composition. The OAG shall be chaired by the Executive Secretary or his designated representative, with an Undersecretary from the Department of Foreign Affairs as Vice-Chairman. The following shall serve as members of the Committee:

a)	Department of Labor and Employment;
b)	Department of Social Welfare and Development;
c)	Department of Justice;
d)	One (1) representative from the non-government organizations; and
e)	One (1) each representatives from labor and academe.

Government members to the OAG shall have the rank of Undersecretary.

Non-government members to the Committee shall be designated by the President, upon recommendation of the Executive Secretary.

The OAG is authorized to call upon any department instrumentality or agency of the government for assistance and cooperation.

SEC. 4. Secretariat. The Department of Foreign Affairs shall provide the necessary technical and administrative support to the OAG.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 13^th day of July, in the Year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Five.

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

By the President:
(Sgd.) RUBEN D. TORRES
Executive Secretary