Creation of Philippine Preparatory Committee for the 4th Session of the UN Commission on Human Settlements

March 1, 1981

LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 1109

WHEREAS, the United Nations Commission on Human Settlements (UNCHS) at its third session in Mexico City in 1980 accepted the offer made by the Philippines and voted to hold the fourth session of the UNCHS in Manila from 27 April to 8 May 1981;

WHEREAS, such decision of the UNCHS, was subsequently confirmed by the United Nations General Assembly during its 35th regular Session in 1980;

WHEREAS, the choice of Manila by the UNCHS as site of UNCHS IV and the confirmation of this choice by the UNGA manifests recognition of the leadership of the Philippines in the field of human settlements and our nation's ability to organize and host important meetings and conferences as UNCTAD V, Group of 77, IMF and similar conferences;

WHEREAS, in order to ensure that UNCHS IV will likewise be successfully staged, it is necessary to create the organization that will attend to the requirements of hosting and working with the UNCHS Secretariat in preparing for the Conference;

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in me by law, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, do hereby order and direct:

1. The seven officials above-named to constitute themselves into a National Preparatory Committee for UNCHS IV, with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Human Settlements serving as joint-chairmen, and the others as members. casia

2. The National Preparatory Committee immediately constitute and activate working and technical committees and groups that will attend to the various requirements of the Conference, enlisting as members therein such officials and leaders from other government offices and the private sectors that can contribute to the successful staging of the Conference.

3. The Deputy Minister of Human Settlements and the Director General of the MFA Office of United Nations and International Organizations are hereby designated as Executive Officers of the Preparatory Committee for purposes of coordination and day-to-day management.

4. A Secretariat primarily staffed by the Ministries of Human Settlements and Foreign Affairs be immediately activated to serve as support staff to the preparatory and working committees. acd

5. The other members of the Preparatory Committee to assist in their respective areas of competence, to wit:

a. The Minister of Tourism in arranging welcome and departure honors for the delegates, their billeting and tours and social functions.

b. The Minister of the Budget in facilitating release of up to Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000) provided under Section 1 (Chapter XXXIV. International Commitments Fund, KBI 2.1.1) of the 1981 National Budget based on the financial work program submitted by the National Preparatory Committee.

c. The Minister of National Defense in ensuring the safety and well-being of delegates and visitors, many of whom will be high officials of the member-governments of UNCHS. cdt

d. The Minister of Local Government and Community Development in making the delegates and visitors welcome in the various provinces, towns and cities that they may visit.

e. The OIC, Ministry of Public Information in facilitating production, distribution and dissemination of information about UNCHS IV to local and foreign media and to the public in general.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 1st day of March, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-One. cd i