WHEREAS, the Government recognizes the global trend where different economies are liberalizing economic relations in trade and investment and the resulting need for the country ™s products and services to be globally competitive;

WHEREAS, different economies have adopted the strategy of forming regional economic cooperation blocs to strengthen their respective economies, such as the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines (Mindanao) - East Asia Growth Area (or BIMP-EAGA);

WHEREAS, the countries across the South China Sea, to the east and to the north of the Philippines, which are the Philippines (North Luzon), China, Hongkong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, comprise the economic heartland of Asia, where Japan, South Korea, Hongkong and Taiwan are countries rich in capital and advanced technology, where China is a huge market and where the Philippines is rich in minerals, raw materials, natural and human resources;

WHEREAS, these economic complementarities can be harnessed through the formation or activation of a regional economic cooperation bloc which will convert the region into an economic powerhouse and provide significant economic benefits to the member countries;

WHEREAS, the aim of this concept is to increase trade and investments through an improved business climate, with the ultimate target of creating new jobs and livelihood opportunities for the ordinary Filipino in the region;

WHEREAS, the national government has taken the initial steps in making the country, specifically the four (4) administrative regions North of the National Capital Region, hereinafter referred to as the North Luzon, namely: Regions 1, 2, 3, and the Cordillera Administrative Region, ready to meet the challenges of a globally competitive environment through economic integration.

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

SECTION 1. THE CREATION OF THE CENTRAL EAST ASIA GROWTH CIRCLE PROGRAM. There is hereby created under the Office of the President, a program which is initially to be called the Central East Asia Growth Circle and hereinafter called the CEA-GC, and which shall promote and encourage the active and extensive economic cooperation of the economies above-mentioned in the area of the South China Sea.

SEC. 2. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY, The CEA-GC program shall be implemented by adopting a strategy of phased progression in establishing economic cooperation with focus areas within the Growth Circle resulting in a multilateral economic cooperation agreement among the member countries.

SEC. 3. PRESIDENTIAL ACTION OFFICER FOR CEA-GC. The President shall appoint a Presidential Action Center Officer for the Central East Asia Growth Circle Program (PAO-CEAGC) with the rank of undersecretary, and with the following duties and functions:

a)	Promote foreign investments, trade and tourism activities in North Luzon which would enhance socio-economic development in the area with focus on but not limited to developing linkages with countries in the Central East Asia Growth Circle;
b)	Coordinate the related activities of concerned departments, RDC ™s and specialized government development agencies in North Luzon, and ensure their active, but coordinated participation in the program;
c)	Mobilize private sector participation in all activities of the program;
d)	Cause the preparation of economic and feasibility studies, and explore, sources of financing of priority programs and projects, whether governmental or private that will support and encourage the active participation of the North Luzon integrated economy in the program;
e)	Advocate to the constituents of North Luzon, their elected executives and representatives in Congress and the National Government, national policies which will foster the active participation of North Luzon, in such policy areas as banking investment and lending by financial institutions, transport and telecommunication, infrastructure, export of agricultural and other products, tourism, environment, reforestation, education, science and technology and human resources development;
f)	Negotiate for sources of funds to include the Overseas Development Assistance on a bilateral or multilateral basis in accordance with existing rules and regulations;
g)	Provide the machinery for extending the necessary planning, management and technical assistance to prospective and existing investors in North Luzon;
h)	Receive and administer donations, contributions, grants, requests or gifts in cash or in kind from foreign governments, international agencies, private entities, and contribute to the development of North Luzon, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations and;
i)	As the Presidential Action Officer for CEA-GC, he shall exercise administrative and technical supervision over the Program;
j)	Appoint the officers and staff of the CEA-GC Program Secretariat, and ensure that it performs its functions and achieves the Program ™s objectives;
k)	The PAO-CEAGC shall submit to the President, quarterly reports on its accomplishments and activities.

SEC. 4. THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. The PAO-CEAGC shall have an Advisory Council, which shall have the following functions:

a)	To advise the PAO-CEAGC on the different aspects of the program;
b)	To ensure that the goals and policies of the PAO-CEAGC are consistent with overall national development goals and policies;
c)	To ensure that programs of PAO-CEAGC are consistent with regional and local development plans and programs.

SEC. 5. THE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. The Advisory Council shall be composed of the following:

a)	The Executive Secretary as Chairman;
b)	Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry as Vice-Chairman;
c)	Secretary, Socio-Economic Planning;
d)	Secretary, Department of Tourism;
e)	Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs;
f)	Secretary, Department of Transportation and Communications;
g)	Secretary, Department of Agriculture;
h)	The Presidential Assistant for North Luzon;
i)	The Presidential Adviser for Development Administration;
j)	The Chairman of the Regional Development Councils or similar bodies of the aforementioned Regions and;
k)	Two private sector representatives from each region of North Luzon chosen by and from among the private sector representatives of the concerned Regional Development Councils;
l)	One Congressional Representative from each region of North Luzon who shall be chosen by and from among the Congressional Representatives in the region.
m)	One Governor from each region of North Luzon who shall be chosen by and from among the Governors in the region;
n)	One City Mayor chosen by and from among the City of Mayors of North Luzon;
o)	The Administrator or equivalent official of all government corporations, commissions, development authorities and like organizations based n the four regions such as, but not limited to, the following:

North Luzon Growth Commission, Presidential Commission for the Central Luzon Growth Corridor, Cagayan Special Economic Zone Authority, Ifugao Terraces Commission, Lingayen Gulf Commission, Vigan Heritage Commission, Clark Economic Zone Authority, Agno River Basin Development Commission, Subic Bat Metropolitan Authority, Clark Development Corporation, John Hay Poro-Point Development Corporation.

SEC. 6. TECHNICAL SUPPORT STAFF OF THE PAO-CEAGC. A Program Office for CEAGC shall be constituted to assist the PAO-CEAGC in implementing the program. It shall be headed by a Program Director to be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the PAO-CEAGC. Additional technical and administrative staff from the National Economic Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism and other government agencies and institutions may also be detailed or seconded to the Program Office as necessary.

SEC. 7. ROLE OF NATIONAL LINE AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, GOCC ™S, NGO ™S. Concerned national line agencies in the regions, local government units, development authorities and special project offices, government owned and controlled corporation, non-government organizations/ the private sector, shall, as appropriate, serve as implementing entities of activities related to the CEAGC program. These related activities are inclusive of, but not limited to the organization of: trade/investment/tourism fairs and missions, business conventions and forums, technical working group meetings, senior officials ™ meetings, etc.

SEC. 8. FUNDING. The Department of Budget and Management is hereby directed to release from the Presidential Contingent Fund, an initial lump sum funding of P18,166,833.05 for the organization, and the administrative and internal operational requirements of the Presidential Action Office - CEAGC, for the period September to December 1999. The additional budget for the year 2000 shall be sourced from the Presidential Contingent Fund or any other fund within the Office of the President. Thereafter, the appropriations for the continued operations of the PAO-CEAGC shall be included in the annual general appropriations bill submitted to congress.

SEC. 9. IMPLEMENTING AUTHORITY. The PAO-CEAGC is hereby authorized to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Executive Order.

SEC. 10. EFFECTIVITY. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately. Provisions of existing executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with this executive order are hereby superseded by this issuance.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 28th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Nine.


By the President:

(Sgd.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary