EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 175, February 10, 2003

DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT TO ALLOCATE THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF FIVE HUNDRED MILLION PESOS FOR AN AUTOMATED ELECTION SYSTEM FOR THE MAY 10, 2004 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS AND SUBSEQUENT NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTORAL EXERCISES

Upon the request of the Commission on Elections, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to allocate the additional amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos (P500,000,000.00) to be sourced from existing appropriations and from other sources authorized by law, to augment the amount of Two Billion and Five Hundred Million Pesos (P2,500,000,000.00) (inclusive of whatever amounts have been previously released or appropriated for an Automated  Election System)  which was allocated by virtue of Executive Order No. 172 dated January 24, 2003, in order to fund the full requirements of establishing in time for the May 10, 2004 National and Local Elections, an Automated Election System as prescribed under Republic Act (RA)  No.  8436, entitled  "An Act Authorizing the Commission on Elections to Use an Automated Election System in the May 11, 1998 National or Local Elections and in Subsequent National and Local Electoral Exercises, Providing Funds Therefor and For Other Purposes," specifically the following:

a. Voting process;

b. Counting of votes; and

c. Canvassing/ consolidation of results of the national and local elections.

The DBM shall ensure that, like the amount of Two Billion and Five Hundred Million Pesos (P2,500,000,000.00) allocated by virtue of Executive Order No. 172 dated January 24, 2003, the aforementioned additional amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos (P500,000,000.00) shall be used exclusively for the Automated Election System prescribed under RA No. 8436, particularly "the process of voting, counting of votes and canvassing/consolidation of results of the national and local elections" (Sec. 6, RA No. 8436).

All executive orders, rules, and regulations inconsistent with any provision of this Executive Order shall be deemed revoked, amended or modified accordingly.

This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

City of Manila, February 10, 2003.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO

Executive Secretary