WHEREAS, Section 7 of Republic Act No. 7796, otherwise known as the "Technical Education and Skills-Development Act of 1994" [RA 7796], provides that the TESDA Board shall be composed of the Secretary of Labor and Employment as Chairperson, the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports and the Secretary of Trade and Industry as Co-Chairpersons, and the following as members: Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Interior and Local Government and Director-General of the TESDA Secretariat, two (2) representatives from the employer/industry organization, three (3) representatives from the labor sector, and two (2) representatives of the national associations of private technical-vocational education and training institutions;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the same Section of RA 7796, the President is authorized to revise the membership of the TESDA Board whenever the President deems it necessary for the effective performance of the Board’s functions through an administrative order;

WHEREAS, Administrative Order No. 180, Series of 1995, and Administrative Order No. 384, Series of 1998, increased then umber of the TESDA Board members to include the Secretary of Science and Technology and the Chairman of the commission on Higher Education [CHED] as ex-officio members, two (2) additional members from the employer/industry organization and three 93) additional members from the labor sector;

WHEREAS, to further encourage and promote active participation from the business and investment sectors in providing technical education and skills development opportunities, the inclusion of two (2) additional members in the TESDA Board is necessary for the effective performance of the TESDA Board’s functions;

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

SECTION 1. Composition of TESDA Board. The composition of the TESDA Board is hereby increased to twenty two (22) members, composed of:

1. Eight (8) Ex-Officio Members

Secretary of Labor and Employment – Chairperson

Secretary of Education – Vice-Chairperson

Secretary of Trade and Industry – Vice Chairperson

Secretary of Agriculture

Secretary of Interior and Local Government

Secretary of Science and Technology

CHED Chairman

Director-General of the TESDA Secretariat

2. Fourteen (14) Private Sector Representatives

Six (6) from the labor sector

Four (4) from the employer/industry organizations

Two (2) from the national associations of private technical-vocational education and training institutions

Two (2) from the business and investment sectors

SECTION. 2. Repealing Clause. Administrative Order No. 180, Series of 1995 and Administrative Order No. 384, Series of 1998, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. All other executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Administrative Order are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 3. Effectivity. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately upon the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the country.

City of Manila, November 17, 2003.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO

Executive Secretary

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