MALACAÃANG
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 161
EXTENDING THE TERM OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 371 “PROCLAIMING A SPECIAL ZONE OF PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES AND ESTABLISHING THEREFOR THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES COUNCIL FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY”
WHEREAS, Congress has passed Republic Act 8753, “Resetting the Regular Elections for the Elective Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao provided for under Republic Act 8746 and for other purposes;”
WHEREAS, such postponement of the ARMM elections for one (1) year to the 2nd Monday of September 2000 accords the government an opportunity to complete the implementation of Phase 1 of the 1996 GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement and ensure the passage of the amendatory law to RA 6734, the Organic Act for Muslim Mindanao;
WHEREAS, this has also opened an opportunity to accelerate socio-economic development programs in the SZOPAD, to include the ARMM provinces.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law and the Constitution, do hereby order the following:
SECTION 1. EXTENDING THE EFFECTIVITY OF EO 371 s. 1996. The Special Zone of Peace and Development (SZOPAD), the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) and the Consultative Assembly (CA) are hereby extended for a one year period corresponding to the period covered by RA 8753.
SEC. 2. CONTINUITY OF ORGANIZATION, FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. The organization, functions and responsibilities of SPCPD and CA, as provided for in EO 371 shall continue to be in force and effect in the period covered by this executive order.
SEC. 3. SPECIAL ROLE OF SPCPD WITH RESPECT TO DEVELOPMENT CONCERNS. With respect to peace and development concerns in SZOPAD, the SPCPD shall, pursuant to the 1996 Final Peace Agreement, undertake the following additional tasks:
a) Directly supervise offices and projects located in the Special Zone of Peace and Development particularly the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA), the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) and the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) formerly Office of the Southern Cultural Communities.
b) Task Forces such as the Basilan Development Task Force, the Central Mindanao Development Task Force and the Sulu Development Task Force are also placed under the control and supervision of SPCPD.
SEC. 4. EFFECT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS. Nothing in this Executive Order shall effect the existence or diminish the powers and functions under existing laws of all local government units in the SZOPAD, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
SEC. 5. FUNDING. Funds for the operation of SPCPD and the Consultative Assembly shall continue to be sourced from the Office of the President and from such other funding sources as may be recommended by the Department of Budget and Management.
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. This Executive Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two newspapers of national circulation.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 30th day of September in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Nine.
(Sgd.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary
Source: Presidential Management Staff
Office of the President of the Philippines. (1999). [Executive Order Nos. : 1-338]. Manila : Presidential Management Staff.
