WHEREAS, pursuant to Executive Order (EO) No. 649 (s. 2007), the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) was transferred from the Office of the President to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) so that the latter could effectively monitor the development, regulatory, and service delivery undertakings of PITC pertinent to international trade and commerce;

WHEREAS, there is a need to transfer PITC-Pharma, Inc. to the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure available, affordable and accessible medicine to the Filipino people;

WHEREAS, there is likewise a need to designate the Secretary of Trade and Industry as ex-officio chairman of the PITC; and the Secretary of Health as ex-officio chairmen of the PITC-Pharma, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, under Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987, the President has the continuing authority to reorganize the administrative structure of the Office of the President;

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

SECTION 1. Section 2 of EO 649 (s. 2007) is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 2. Chairman of the PITC Board. - The DTI Secretary shall be designated as the ex-officio Chairman of the PITC Board"

SECTION 2. A new section in EO 649 (s. 2007) shall be added to read as follows:

"Section 2-A. Transfer of PITC-Pharma, Inc. to DOH and designating the Secretary of Health as ex-officio Chairman thereof. - The PITC-Pharma, Inc. shall be transferred to the DOH and the Secretary of Health shall be designated as the ex-officio Chairman thereof."

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - All executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby revoked, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. Effectivity. - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

City of Manila, 10 April 2008.


By the President:

(Sgd.) IGNACIO R. BUNYE
Executive Secretary