EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 353, August 24, 2004

REORGANIZING THE NATIONAL ANTI-POVERTY COMMISSION BY INCREASING THE COMPOSITION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 8425 (s. 1997), otherwise known as the "Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act´ [RA 8425], institutionalized the social reform and poverty alleviation program, creating for the purpose the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) as the coordinating and advisory body for the implementation of the Social Reform Agenda adopted in Section 4 thereof;.

WHEREAS, Section 6 of RA 8425 lists thirteen (13) national government agencies constituting the regular official composition of the NAPC;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 118 (s. 2002) mandates the participation of seven (7) additional agencies and their respective attached agencies in the en banc meetings of the NAPC;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 342 (s. 2004) included the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the National Youth Commission (NYC), as regular members of the NAPC;

WHEREAS, there is a need to reorganize the composition of the NAPC for greater coordination and supervision to ensure the effective implementation of the Government's Social Reform Agenda;

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

Section 1. Composition - The composition of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) is hereby reorganized to include the Vice-President of the Philippines who shall serve as ex-officio Alternate Chairman of the NAPC.

The Lead Convenor of the NAPC, who shall be appointed by the President either from the government or the private sector and who shall likewise serve as the head of the NAPC Secretariat, shall also be known as the NAPC Secretary - General.

Section 2. Repealing Clause - Executive Order Nos. 118 (s. 2002) and 342 (s. 2004) are hereby amended or modified accordingly.  All other executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby revoked, amended, or modified accordingly.

Section 3. Effectivity - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 24 Aug. 2004

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President of the Philippines

By the President:

(SGD.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO

Executive Secretary