EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 17, September 01, 1992

ESTABLISHING THE TECHNICAL COOPERATION COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES

WHEREAS, the Philippine Government is currently engaged in cooperative efforts to promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among developing countries in the context of their national development goals with the end in view of establishing a New International Economic Order;

WHEREAS, the Philippine pledge of US $500,000 made at UNCTAD IV in Nairobi in 1976 in implementation of technical assistance program in favor of developing countries (LCDs) has been made available and is currently administered by the Technical Assistance Council (TAC);

WHEREAS, the First United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), held in Paris on 1-5 September 1981, finalized and adopted the substantial new Programme of Action for the 1980s for the Least Developed Countries, and the Second United Nations Conference on LDCs, held again in Paris on 3-14 September 1990, finalized and adopted the Paris Declaration and Programme of Action for the 1990s for the LDCs;

WHEREAS, several resolution have been adopted within the United Nations system, including, inter-alia, the Manila Declaration and Programme of Action on Economic Cooperation Among Developing Countries (ECDC) and the Buenos Aires Plan of Action on Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries (TCDC), calling for the promotion and implementation of activities under the TCDC and ECDC;

WHEREAS, the First, Second, and Third Biennial Meetings of the Heads of National Agencies for Technical Cooperation have called for the establishment of national focal points to promote TCDC activities;

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for a body to act as the focal point to coordinate and implement the Philippine Technical Cooperation Program with other developing countries, including the least development among them, and similar projects and activities implemented by other government agencies;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, by virtue of the power vested in me under Book III, Title III, Chapter 10, Section 31, of the 1987 Administrative Code, do hereby order the following:

Section 1. The Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines (TCCP), hereinafter referred to as the Council, is hereby created. It shall be responsible for the implementation of the Philippine Technical Cooperation Program in favor of developing countries, particularly the least developed among them, and the coordination of related projects and activities implemented by other agencies of government.

Section 2. The Council shall be composed of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs as Chairman, the Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority as Vice-Chairman, and the Secretary of Agriculture and Food, the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, the Secretary of Science and Technology, and the Secretary of Trade and Industry as Members.

The Chairman of the Council, however, may designate other Members to the Council as the need arises.

The Members of the Council may designate their alternates, who shall be senior officials of the departments or agencies concerned, not lower than Director level, to attend Council meetings.

Section 3. The Council shall be charged with the following responsibilities:

a. Formulate and implement a National Technical Cooperation Program in line with Philippine commitments to Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) and to Economic Cooperation Among Developing Countries (ECDC), specifying the guiding policies, areas of concern, linkages with national and international agencies, projects to be undertaken at the sectoral level, and the implementing mechanisms and strategies;

b. Coordinate all TCDC-related activities participated in by the Philippines, such as international seminars and conferences, technical consultancies, study-visits, exchange programs, etc., and all other projects and activities undertaken by government agencies concerned with technical cooperation among developing countries;

c. Formulates and implement the administrative and financial requirements necessary for the effective implementation of the Philippine Technical Cooperation Program;

d. Administer all funding related to the Philippine Technical Cooperation Program, including the Philippine pledge of US $500,000 made at UNCTAD IV, and such other funds as may be appropriated for TCDC activities.

e. Accept and administer grants-in-aid and other financial and technical assistance from international organizations and institutions in support of the National Technical Cooperation Program as referred to in Section 3.A; and

f. Submit a yearly report on its activities to the President.

Section 4. A Secretariat to the Council shall be established in the Department of Foreign Affairs and shall have the following functions and responsibilities:

a. Provide technical and administrative support to the Council;

b. Undertake research on the technical assistance requirements of the Philippines and other developing countries and implement prototype programs to meet such needs;

c. Manage the finance of the Council for projects and other relevant expenditures as may be duly approved by the Council; and

d. Submit a quarterly report of its activities to the Council.

Section 5. The Secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Director to be designated by the Chairman of the council.

Section 6. To enable the Secretariat to effectively discharge its functions and responsibilities, the Council shall prepare and submit to the Department of Budget and Management a staffing pattern for the Council Secretariat. Such positions as may be created shall be classified in accordance with existing guidelines.

Section 7. The funding requirements of the Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines shall be taken from the appropriations authorized for the Technical Assistance Council during the year of effectivity and, subsequently, included in the succeeding General Appropriations Act.

Section 8. The Council shall formulate and adopt its implementing rules and regulations.

Section 9. The functions, appropriations, assets and liabilities of the Technical Assistance Council of the Philippines, created under Letter of Instructions No. 858, dated 11 May 1979, and the Inter-Agency Technical Committee on Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries, created under NEDA Memorandum Order No. 6-80, are hereby transferred to and absorbed by the Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines established under this Executive Order.

Section 10. This Executive Order repeals Letter of Instructions No. 858, dated 11 May 1979, and NEDA Memorandum Order No. 6-80, Series of 1980.

Section 11. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 1st day of September, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety-two.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS

President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) DIONISIO C. DE LA SERNA

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary