Constitution of Special Cabinet Cluster Under Cluster "E"

April 4, 1997

MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 425

CONSTITUTING A SPECIAL CABINET CLUSTER UNDER CABINET CLUSTER "E" (SECURITY AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT CLUSTER) TO OVERSEE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GRP-MNLF PEACE AGREEMENT

WHEREAS, various directives have been issued by the President to implement the provisions of the GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement signed on 2 September 1996, specifically on economic development programs in the Special Zone of Peace and Development (ZOPAD);

WHEREAS, there is need to strengthen coordination and undertake closer supervision among concerned government agencies for effective implementation of the Peace Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Memorandum Order No. 142 dated 7 July 1993 created Cabinet Cluster "E" (Security and Political Development Cluster) to recommend measures on policy and operational matters affecting security and political development.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law and the Constitution, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Constituting a Special Cluster Under Cabinet Cluster "E" to Oversee Implementation of the GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement. — There shall be constituted a Special Cluster under Cabinet Cluster "E" to oversee the implementation of the GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement.

SECTION 2. Composition. — The Special Cluster shall be chaired by the Executive Secretary with the Head of the Presidential Management Staff as Vice-Chair and the Secretary of National Defense as Co-Vice-Chair. The Special Cluster shall have the following members:

a. Secretary, Department of Agriculture

b. Secretary, Department of Agrarian Reform

c. Secretary, Department of Education, Culture and Sports

d. Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources

e. Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government

f. Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment

g. Secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways

h. Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry

i. Secretary, Department of Transportation and Communications

j. Director-General, National Economic and Development Authority

k. Chairman, Commission for Higher Education

l. Director-General, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority

m. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

The concerned Secretaries may designate their respective action officers at the level of an Undersecretary to oversee the participation of their respective agencies in monitoring the implementation of the Peace Agreement.

SECTION 3. Assistance from Other Agencies. — The Chairman may call on any government agency to provide the necessary assistance and support to the Special Cluster, especially on economic development aspects.

SECTION 4. Secretariat. — The Presidential Management Staff shall provide technical and secretariat support to the Special Cluster.

SECTION 5. Submission of Report to the President. — The Special Cluster shall submit regular reports to the President every month through Cabinet Cluster "E".

SECTION 6. Effectivity. — This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 4th day of April, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Seven.