RENAMING THE OFFICE OF CONSTITUENCY AFFAIRS, AND CLARIFYING ITS FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 344

WHEREAS, Section 4 of Executive Order (EO) No. 344, dated August 9, 2004, created the Office of Constituency Affairs (OCA);

WHEREAS, under said EO 344, OCA was created to address the objectives of the President towards the participation of the constituencies in the development and implementation of the administration’s program of government;

WHEREAS, under Section 31, Chapter 50, Tale III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987, the President has the continuing authority to reorganize the administrative structure of the Office of the President;

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

SECTION I. Office of External Relations – The Office of Constituency Affairs created EO 344 is hereby renamed Office of External Affairs. It shall be headed by a Presidential Adviser for External Affairs, who shall have the rank and emoluments of a Cabinet Secretary.

SECTION 2. Functions and Responsibilities – The Office of External Affairs shall perform the following functions and responsibilities:

Liaison with constituency groups

Build grassroots support for the administration’s agenda and legislation

SECTION 3. Administration – The Office of External Affairs shall have an organization structure to carry out its functions and responsibilities.

1. The system of Presidential Advisory Assistants for Regional Concerns shall form part of the Office of External Affairs.
2. The Presidential Adviser for External Affairs shall be assisted by a Head Executive Assistant appointed by the President.
3. There shall be a representative to the Office of External Affairs in the United States with the rank of Attache.
4. There shall be account officers in charge of liaising with specific constituency groups.

SECTION 4. Funding – The funds to support the operations of the Office of External Affairs shall be sourced from the budget of the Office of the President. Fund requirements in the succeeding years shall be prepared in accordance with the regular budget procedures and shall be included in the budget of the Office of the President.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause – All issuances, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity – This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

City of Manila. October 4, 2004

                (Sgd.) PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO