EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 696, January 18, 2008

CREATING THE PAYAPANG BAYAN TASK FORCE (PBTF) ON LOCAL PEACE INITIATIVES

WHEREAS, Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987 provides the President with continuing authority to organize the Office of the President;

WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 17 of the Constitution provides that the President shall have control of all executive departments, bureaus, and offices;

WHEREAS, there is a need for a Task Force attached directly under the Office of the President that will pro-actively and exhaustively conduct local peace initiatives and assist the President in the campaign for peace and order in all the Provinces all over the Philippines;

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

Section 1. Creation - PAYAPANG BAYAN TASK FORCE (PBTF) is hereby created under the Office of the President, pursuant to Article VII, Section 17 of the Constitution.

Section 2. Composition - The PBTF shall be led by A Member of Civil Society, the National Security Council shall be Vice Chair and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the Department of National Defense, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the Department of Justice and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office shall be its members.

Section 3. Functions - The PBTF shall pro-actively and exhaustively conduct local peace process initiatives, spearhead, advance and lay policy and legal ground work for local peace and security programs in all the Provinces all over the Philippines.

Section 4. Repeal - All other issuances, orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 5. Effectivity. - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon approval.

Done in the City of Manila, this 18th day of January, 2008

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA

Executive Secretary