WHEREAS, the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) as the highest policy making body for children has the mandate to formulate long range programs for the welfare and best interest of children;

WHEREAS, in 1991 the Philippines through the CWC has formulated a national plan known as the Philippine Plan of Action for Children (PPAC) to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC);

WHEREAS, the PPAC gained the support of the government through Proclamation 855 which called upon the CWC to lead in the operationalization of the plan and directed agencies and organizations to support the implementation of the plan;

WHEREAS, as a successor plan to the PPAC, CHILD 21, a 25 year strategic framework for planning programs and interventions that promote and safeguard the rights of Filipino children was formulated;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order and direct the following:

SECTION 1. Adoption of the Strategic Framework. Child 21 shall be adopted and will serve as the framework for all programs, activities and initiatives for children. Moreover, accompanying Medium Term Development Plans and Sectoral Frameworks that will be within the context of Child 21 such as the Framework for Action Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children shall also be adopted.

SEC. 2. Lead Agency. The Council for the Welfare of Children shall undertake activities for its dissemination and implementation through its different structures/committees on children at the different levels.

SEC. 3. The following agencies are hereby directed to integrate Child 21-related programs and activities to their respective yearly budget proposals. They are further directed to have specific performance indicators against their approved budgets.

1. Department of Social Welfare and Development;
   
   
2. Department of Health;
   
   
3. Department of Education, Culture and Sports
   
   
4. Department of Labor and Employment;
   
   
5. Department of Justice;
   
   
6. Department of the Interior and Local Government;
   
   
7. Department of Agriculture;
   
   
8. National Economic and Development Authority;
   
9. National Nutrition Council; and
   
10. National Youth Commission
    

SEC. 4. All Local Government Units are hereby enjoined to integrate Child 21 in their Local Development Plans and charging the related programs and activities against their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

SEC. 5. Participation of Civil Society. Non-Government Organizations, People ™s Organizations, Children ™s Organizations, Church-based Organizations and other concerned groups are encouraged to contribute to support programs, services and activities for children both of the Gos and NGOs.

SEC. 6. Department Orders. All member agencies of the CWC shall issue department order adopting and implementing programs and projects to achieve the Child 21 goals and targets as indicated in their Sectoral/Agency Plans.

SEC. 7. The sum of Five Million (P5,000,000.00) Pesos is hereby appropriated from the President ™s Social Fund to defray the expenses of the Council for the Welfare of Children in the implementation of this Executive Order. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for this purpose shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act for the CWC and other concerned agencies.

SEC. 8. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 3rd day of November, in the year of Our Lord, two thousand.


By the President:

(Sgd.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary