EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 228, July 14, 2003

CREATING THE PRESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT OFFICE, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, it is the government's thrust to create labor intensive projects that will generate employment and livelihood for marginalized families, especially out-of-school youth;

WHEREAS, the country has resources that can be transformed into viable income and livelihood opportunities by introducing creative projects and programs;

WHEREAS, there are strategically-located vacant or idle government and GOCC's lands that can be used as vending sites for displaced street vendors, small entrepreneurs and other Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), or as venue for information dissemination campaign of various government agencies, or be utilized as farming lands for vegetable/crop production for the landless and/or the employed in the countryside;

WHEREAS, there is a great and urgent need to make use of all available resources to alleviate poverty in the country;

WHEREAS, pursuant t0 Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987, the President has the continuing authority to reorganize the administrative structure of the government.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. Creation - The Presidential Emergency Employment Office (PEEO) is hereby created under the Office of the President, to be headed by the Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation who shall have the rank and emoluments of a Cabinet Secretary.

Section 2. Powers and Functions. The PEEO shall have the following powers and functions.

a. To design, conceptualize, adopt, implement and monitor a comprehensive Emergency Employment in consonance with the job generation program of the government, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment;

b. To serve as a coordinating forum for various policies, laws, rules, and regulations that need to be revised, amended or proposed, in order to attain job creation;

c. To generate and mobilize resources from domestic and foreign resources for the implementation of the Job Creation Plan, subject to existing rules and regulations;

d. To recommend to the President policies, strategies and programs aimed at promoting the job creation program of the government;

e. To submit periodic reports to the President on the status of programs and projects undertaken; and

f. To perform such other functions as the President may direct.

Section 3. Inter-Agency Coordination. - All concerned departments and their attached agencies, LGU's, government-owned and controlled corporations and other instrumentalities of the government are hereby directed to assist, cooperate and give full support to the PEEO to ensure effective performance of its powers and functions,

Section 4. Funding - Funding for the initial operations of the PEEO shall be provided by the Office of the President. Appropriations for the succeeding years shall be included in the budget proposal for the Office of the President.

Section 5. Administrative and, Implementing Guidelines. – The PEEO shall issue administrative guidelines as may be necessary to implement this Executive Order.

Section 6. Repealing Clause - All orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 7. Effectivity - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila this 14th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Three.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO

Executive Secretary