WHEREAS, in preparation for and to ensure the success of the Philippines ™ bid to host the World Expo 2002, Executive Order No. 177 was issued on 16 May 1994 establishing the World Expo 2002 Philippine Commission;

WHEREAS, the Philippine government, through the World Expo 2002 Philippine Commission, in its desire to promote the Philippines as a venue for world expositions and recognizing horticulture as an art and a science which contributes to the proper stewardship of the land, will host the first international horticulture exhibition in Southeast Asia on January 11-21, 1998 at the Philippine Christmas Village, entitled œPhilippine International Garden Festival  (FLORIKULTURA ™98);

WHEREAS, FLORIKULTURA ™98 will carry the theme œGardens of the World œ, and will draw participation from local and foreign entities whose interests are related to horticulture and the environment and will continue as a national horticulture event for three (3) months or until 31 March 1998;

WHEREAS, the holding of FLORIKULTURA ™98 at the Philippine Christmas Village, with its trade and tourism potential, is seen as a catalyst to help bring about the rehabilitation of Pampanga, which was devastated by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991;

WHEREAS, in addition to its trade and tourism benefits to the country, the hosting of FLORIKULTURA ™98 will also enhance the environment and world awareness of the Philippine government ™s program on ecotourism and showcase the capability of the Philippines in hosting international events;

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. National Organizing Committee. A National Organizing Committee (NOC) for FLORIKULTURA ™98 is hereby created under the World Expo 2002 Philippine Commission, Office of the President, to be composed as follows:

a. Government Sector

1. Secretary of Foreign Affairs
2. Secretary of Finance
3. Secretary of Public Works and Highways
4. Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources
5. Secretary of Transportation and Communications
6. Secretary of Budget and Management
7. Governor of Pampanga
8. Mayor of San Fernando, Pampanga
9. President and Chief Executive Officer, Clark Development Corporation
10. Chairman, University of the Philippines Department of Horticulture

b. Private Sector

1. President, Federation of Cutflower and Ornamental Plant Growers of the Philippines, Inc.
2. Chairman, Philippine Airlines
3. Chairman of the Paskuhan Village Foundation, Inc.
4. President, United Architects of the Philippines
5. President, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
6. President, Philippine Exporters Federation
7. President, Philippine Association of Landscape Architects

The members of the Board of Advisers of the National Organizing Committee (NOC) may designate an alternate to represent them at the Committee within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this order. The members shall submit the names of their representatives and/or alternates to the NOC Secretariat.

SEC. 2. Government Support. All government-owned and controlled corporations are directed to extend their assistance and support to FLORIKULTURA ™98 to ensure its successful observance. The specific assistance requested from concerned government entities is stated in Annex A.

Said government entities are encouraged to organize related meetings, conventions, exhibitions and other national, regional or international events at the Philippine Christmas Village to coincide with FLORIKULTURA ™98 to maximize the event.

SEC. 3. Authority and Functions of the National Organizing Committee. The Committee shall exercise the following functions and responsibilities:

a. Formulate and implement a work plan and budget for the proper hosting of FLORIKULTURA ™98 and monitor all activities in relation thereto;

b. Act as the coordinating body between the private sector and various government agencies to ensure that all directives subsequently issued to the said agencies for the planning, operationalization and management of FLORIKULTURA ™98 are enforced;

c. Accept or receive donations and other conveyances by gratuitous title of funds, materials and devices for use in the planning, implementation and management, subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations;

d. Call on any department, bureau or office of the Government, including government-owned and controlled corporations for any assistance that may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this Executive Order; and

e. Enter into agreements/contracts necessary for the attainment of the objectives of this Executive Order.

SEC. 4. Executive Committee. The National Organizing Committee (NOC), through the Chairperson, may create an Executive Committee composed of representatives from the government and private sectors enumerated in Section 1 hereof.

SEC. 5. Secretariat. The NOC, through its Chairperson, shall establish a Secretariat headed by a Secretary-General, which shall oversee and supervise the day-to-day implementation and over-all preparations for FLORIKULTURA ™98;

The NOC Chairperson may call on any or all agencies of government represented in the Committee to assign or detail a senior official, at the level of no less than a Division Chief, to the Secretariat. The Commission shall provide such employees with honoraria or allowances as may be allowed by law and at rates consistent with those prescribed pursuant to the Unified Compensation and Position Classification System established under R.A. No. 6758.

SEC. 6. Funding. The funds necessary for the hosting of FLORIKULTURA ™98, including operations of the NOC, its Secretariat and sub-committees, shall come from the following:

a. Subject to approval of the President, an allocation from available funds of the Office of the President;

b. Allocation in the amount of Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00) from the World Expo 2002 Philippine Commission;

c. Allocation from the Department of Tourism Trust Liability Account in the initial amount of Twenty Five Million Pesos (P25,000,000.00);

d. Allocation from the regular budgets and/or contingency funds of the concerned government Departments and Bureaus in relation to their respective roles/responsibilities in this event, as indicated in Annex A, subject to existing auditing rules and regulations;

e. Proceeds from booth rental fees of local and foreign commercial exhibitors and other merchandising activities.

SEC. 7. Coordination with the Private Sector. The FLORIKULTURA ™98 National Organizing Committee shall consult and closely coordinate with the Federation of Cutflower and Ornamental Plant Growers of the Philippines, Inc. and other private sector organizations in the horticulture industry.

SEC. 8. Report to the President. Relative to the performance of its mandated functions, the Committee, through its Chairperson, shall submit periodic reports to the President, and a final report within a reasonable period after the closing rites of FLORIKULTURA ™98.

SEC. 9. Cessation of the Committee. The Committee shall cease to exist sixty (60) days after the submission of its final report, provided in Section 9 hereof, unless otherwise ordered by the President.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. All orders and issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 31st day of March in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Seven.

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

By the President:

(Sgd.) RUBEN D. TORRES
Executive Secretary