EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 224, April 03, 2000

AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 180 TO RENAME THE QUICK RESPONSE ONE STOP ACTION CENTER FOR INVESTMENTS (QROSACI) AND TO DELINEATE THE OFFICE OF THE INVESTMENT OMBUDSMAN AS AN OFFICE ATTACHED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, intensive efforts are being undertaken to promote the country as an attractive investment destination;

WHEREAS, as a parallel effort, it is vital to ensure that focused attention be given to servicing the needs and addressing the complaints of existing local and foreign investors against departments, offices, and agencies of the government which has investment-related functions, including local government units;

WHEREAS, activities and experience of the Investment Ombudsman since 01 December 1999 when executive Order No. 180 creating the position of the Investment Ombudsman, was implemented, show that the complaints of existing investors, particularly the foreign investors who have large and significant investments in the country, demand full-time attention, and that the Investment Ombudsman is now perceived as a resources to ensure that the operations of local and foreign investors, particularly, exports, are not impeded.

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. Renaming the Quick Response One Stop Action Center for Investments (QROSACI) into the One Stop Action Center (OSAC) and reverting it to the Board of Investments (BOI) as an office thereof. To sustain the recognition and name recall it has earned from the time it was originally constituted, the QROSACI shall revert to its original name of One Stop Action Center (OSAC). Further, in order to effectively focus the operations of the Center to complement the investment promotion efforts of the BOI, the Center shall be reverted back to its former status as an office under the BOI.

Section 2. Delineating the Office of the Investment Ombudsman, hereinafter referred to as OIO, which was created under Executive Order No. 180 to perform the specific function of assisting current and potential investors, shall be an office attached to the DTI for administrative supervision and policy coordination.

Section 3. Repealing Clause. All issuances, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed and modified accordingly.

Section 7. Effectivity. This Executive Order takes effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 3rd day of April in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand.

(Sgd.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA

By the President:

(Sgd.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA

Executive Secretary