WHEREAS, Administrative Order No. 232 (AO 232) provided for the clustering of the existing programs of agencies dealing with social welfare into a national social welfare program;

WHEREAS, AO 232 provided that the work of clustering shall be headed by the Administrator of the SSS;

WHEREAS, non-wage benefits for the labor sector should be integrated into the program;

WHEREAS, planning background of the new Administrator of the Social Security System should be made good use of;

WHEREAS, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is already organized to executive a national social welfare program;

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

Section 1. There is hereby created a small group of visible frontline Departments and Palace Agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Government Service Insurance System, the Social Security System, (SSS) the Department of Labor and Employment to launch the national social welfare program.

Section 2. The Administrator of the SSS shall be the Chairman of the policy-level group.

Section 3. The actual implementation of the program shall be coordinated by the Secretary of the DSWD, which shall act as the Secretariat for the program.

Section 4. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

Manila, 28 July 2008


By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary