WHEREAS, a primary objective of Government is the attainment of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace under the Rule of Law and in accordance with Constitutional process, which is the basic function of economic development and national prosperity;

WHEREAS, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), being the agency tasked with the supervisions and administration of basic education, has a great influence in the attainment of the aforementioned objectives;

WHEREAS, the participants in the First Mindanao Educators Congress (FMEC) held on September 27 - 29, 1995 in Zamboanga City came up with recommendations to improve the quality of education in Mindanao for Philippines 2000;

WHEREAS, a Comprehensive Mindanao Education Program (CMEP) demands a holistic approach that will require the cooperative efforts of all sectors of society.

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 constitute a Steering Committee on Mindanao Education.

SECTION 1. Composition. - The Steering Committee shall be composed of the following:

Chairperson	-	Secretary of Education Culture and Sports
Vice-Chairmen	-	Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education
		Presidential Assistant for Mindanao
		Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
		Presidential Assistant for Peace Process
Members	-	Secretary of Education for ARMM
		President, Mindanao Association of State Universities and Colleges
		President, Coordinating Council of Private Education Association
		President, Mindanao State University
		Dean, UP Mindanao
		Secretary General of the National Federation of Arabic Madaris in the Philippines
		A Representative of DECS Regional Directors in Mindanao
		A Representative of CHED Regional Directors in Mindanao
		A Representative of TESDA Regional Directors in Mindanao
		NEDA Area Coordinator for Mindanao
		Two representatives of Private Sector Community Leader of Mindanao

SEC. 2. Functions. - The Steering Committee, which shall meet at least four times a year, shall have the following functions and responsibilities:

1.	Prepare a Comprehensive Mindanao Education Program (CMEP);
2.	Coordinate and monitor the implementation of the activities of the CMEP;
3.	Coordinate the functions and activities of bodies which may be created to implement the various components of the CMEP;
4.	Recommend to the President policies and programs to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the CMEP;
5.	Request the assistance of other GO ™s, NGO ™s and PO ™s in the implementation of the CMEP;
6.	Report to the President, through the DECS Secretary, the progress of the implementation of the CMEP;
7.	Perform such other functions and exercise such powers as may be delegated to the Committee by the President.

SEC. 3. Establishment of a Program Management Office. - A Program Management Office (PMO) shall be established in Mindanao to provide technical and administrative support to the Committee. The PMO shall be composed of the following:

1.	One (1) personnel seconded from any of the DECS Regional Offices in Mindanao who shall act as the Director of the PMO; and
2.	Contractual personnel who shall provide assistance to the PMO Director to the Committee.

The PMO shall be under the direct control and supervision of the Committee.

The location of the permanent office of the PMO shall be identified by the Chairman.

All expenses incurred by the members of the Committee in the performance of their functions shall be charged against their respective local funds subject to the usual accounting and auditing procedures. Members of the Committee representing the private sector shall be entitled to reimbursement of actual expenses.

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

Done in the City of Manila, this 12th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Six.

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

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