MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 162

REVISING THE FUNCTIONS AND TITLE OF THE CABINET OFFICER FOR PROVINCIAL EVENTS

The Cabinet Officer for Provincial Events (COPE) shall now be known as the Cabinet Officer for Presidential Engagements. As such, his primary area of supervisory jurisdiction shall be the calendar of engagements and appointments of the President of the Philippines. His primary function shall be that of Appointments Secretary.
The COPE shall, however, continue to exercise coordinative oversight over the offices previously identified to be under the supervision of the COPE.
Assistant Secretary Malou Frostrom is hereby designated as head of the Office of Regional Concerns. As such, she shall head the advance party for presidential engagements especially in provincial visits.
For social engagements to be held in Malacañan Palace, or social engagements outside Malacañan Palace but hosted by the President, the Social Secretary shall be in charge of making the guest list and issuing invitations, whether by phone call or by written or printed invitation.
In all Presidential engagements, especially outside Malacañan Palace, the COPE and the advance party shall heed the decisions of the Commanding General of the Presidential Security Group regarding security considerations.
This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately.

Issued on March 4, 2005.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary