I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order, in view of the volatile political situation in Lebanon, the extension of the duration of the operations of the Presidential Middle East Preparedness Committee (PMEPC) to 31 March 2008 or unless otherwise directed by the President.

The Committee shall be provided with a funding allocation of Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000.00) for its administrative and operational expenses to be provided by the President. Additional financial requirements that may be needed by the Committee shall be sourced out by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) from available funds of the concerned PMEPC member-agencies, subject to the usual government accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

All other rules, regulations and issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 28th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seven.


By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary