WHEREAS, Administrative Order No. 102 dated July 2004 created an Ad Hoc Committee to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Leyte Landings on October 20, 2004;

WHEREAS, it is but fitting to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of other equally significant events in the Philippines, including the Surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita in Kiangan, Ifugao and Baguio City that led to the end of the Second World War in the Philippines;

WHEREAS, among these significant events are the Allied Landings in Lingayen, Pangasinan (January 9, 2005); the Liberation of the Pangatian Prisoner of War Camp in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija (January 30, 2005); the Allied Landings in Nasugbu, Batangas 31 January 2005); the Liberation of Manila (February 3, 2005); the Liberation of the Los Banos Prisoner of War Camp in Los Banos, Laguna (February 3, 2005); the Liberation of Corregidor (March 2, 2005); the Allied Landings in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga ( March 10, 2005); the Liberation of Panay and Romblon (March 18, 2005); Veterans Week (April 5-9, 2005); the Battle of Balete Pass in Sta. Fe, Nueva Viscaya (May 13, 2005); the Battle of Ipo Dam in Bulacan (May 19, 2005) the Battle of Bessang Pass in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur (June 14, 2005) and the Surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita in Kiangan, Ifugao and Baguio (September 2-3, 2005):

WHEREAS, It is the moral obligation of every citizen, specially the youth, to acknowledge the heroism and sacrifices of our Filipino soldiers, guerillas and civilians who answered the call to duty and defended the country from foreign invasion during its darkness years of the Second World War;

WHEREAS, these events should be appropriately celebrated to rekindle a deep spirit of pride, unity and nationalism among Filipinos;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. An Ad Hoc Committee is hereby created to take charge of the preparations to commemorate the Surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita in Kiangan, Ifugao and Baguio on September 2-3, 2005 and other significant events leading to the end of the Second World War in the Philippines, to be composed of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs as Chairman; Senator Richard Gordon, from the Senate, as Co-Chairman; the Secretary of Tourism, the Secretary of National Defense, the Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police and the Executive Director of the National Historical Institute as members. The Ad Hoc Committee may designate and/or appoint other members.

Section 2. The Ad Hoc Committee shall plan, coordinate and implement all programs, projects and activities relating the 60th Anniversary of the Surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita in Kiangan, Ifugao and Baguio on September 2 and 3, 2005 and other significant events leading to the end of the Second World War in the Philippines.

Section 3. All departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the government and all local government units and government-owned and controlled corporations are hereby enjoined to give full support, assistance and cooperation to the Ad Hoc Committee in the exercise of its responsibilities under this Order.

Section 4. All branches of government are enjoined to participate in the Anniversary of Surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita in Kiangan, Ifugao and Baguio and other significant events leading to the end of the Second World War in the Philippines as well as to enlist the participation of private sector groups and non-governmental organizations to ensure the success of the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War in the Philippines.

Section 5. In support of the commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War in the Philippines, an initial amount of Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00) is hereby released from the contingency fund of the Office of the President, All other concerned agencies and local government units are, subject to budgetary laws and issuances, authorized to allocate such amounts as may be necessary to defray expenses for said event.

Section 6. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 30th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Five.


By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary