EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 378, October 25, 2004

AMENDING SECTION 6 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 285 DATED 25 JULY 1987 BY REMOVING THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE NATIONAL PRINTING OFFICE (NPO)OVER THE PRINTING SERVICES REQUIREMENTS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND INSTRUMENTALITIES

WHEREAS, there is a continuing need to institute reforms in the government in order to improve and upgrade efficiencies in the delivery of public services;

WHEREAS, one of the areas which need immediate improvement is government printing services to ensure that the government benefits from the best services available from the market at the best price;

WHEREAS, recent advances in technology has made printing services a highly competitive service area with great outsourcing potential;

WHEREAS, the NPO, created pursuant to EO No. 285 dated July 25, 1987, is the agency mandated to have exclusive jurisdiction over the printing, binding and distribution of all government standard and accountable forms, official ballots, and other public documents;

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

Section 1. The NPO shall continue to provide printing services to government agencies and instrumentalities as mandated by law.  However, it shall no longer enjoy exclusive jurisdiction over the printing services requirements of the government over standard and accountable forms.  It shall have to compete with the private sector, except in the printing of election paraphernalia which could be shared with the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, upon the discretion of the Commission on Elections consistent with the provisions of the Election Code of 1987.

Section 2. Government agencies/instrumentalities may source printing services outside NPO provided that:

2.1 The printing services to be provided by the private sector is superior in quality and at a lower cost than what is offered by the NPO; and

2.2 The private printing provider is flexible in terms of meeting the target completion time of the government agency.

Section 3. In the exercise of its functions, the amount to be appropriated for the programs, projects and activities of the NPO in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) shall be limited to its income without additional financial support from the government.

Section 4. The Director General of the Philippine Information Agency shall prepare guidelines/safeguards to be adopted by the government agencies and instrumentalities in tapping private providers in the printing of accountable and standard forms, in case the NPO could not match the price, quality, and timeliness of delivery by private providers.

Section 5. All executive orders, issuances, orders, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby revoked, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 6. This Executive Order shall take effect upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 25th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Four.

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President of the Philippines

By the President:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA

Executive Secretary