Enhancing the Government's Institutional Mechanism for Interfaith Activities

March 12, 2008

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 714

ENHANCING THE GOVERNMENT'S INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM FOR INTERFAITH ACTIVITIES, RENAMING THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON INTERFAITH COOPERATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, the Philippine Constitution articulates a policy of peace, cooperation and amity with all nations as well as maintain peace and order in the country for everyone to fully enjoy the blessings of democracy; acSECT

WHEREAS, interfaith initiatives have been proven crucial to the promotion of peace, cooperation and amity within and outside the country, as well as the development of moral, spiritual and intellectual capacities for the upholding and enhancement of human dignity;

WHEREAS, Executive Order (EO) No. 626, s. 2007, created the National Committee on Interfaith Cooperation (NCIC) to consolidate, rationalize, and ensure the consistency of the country's policies and position in various interfaith initiatives and forums in and outside the country; aDECHI

WHEREAS, improvements in the present institutional arrangements are deemed necessary to improve the governmental mechanism or interfaith activities as a tool for promoting peace and upholding human dignity;

WHEREAS, Section 31, Chapter 10, Book III of EO 292 otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987, vests the President with the continuing authority to reorganize the administrative structure of the Office of the President;

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

SECTION 1. Renaming the NCIC. — The NCIC is hereby renamed as the Council on Interfaith Initiatives (CII) which shall be the highest policy-setting body for the country's interfaith initiatives and involvement both here and abroad.

SECTION 2. Restructuring the CII. — The CII shall have the Chairman of the Presidential Council on Values Formation (PCVF) as Chairman, with the Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process as members.

SECTION 3. Presidential Committee on Interfaith Initiatives. — To implement the policies set forth by the CII, there is hereby created under the CII a Presidential Committee on Interfaith Initiatives (PCII) that shall be composed of representatives, with ranks not lower than Assistant Secretary, from the PCVF, the DFA and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). The PCVF representative shall serve as Chairman of the PCII.

SECTION 4. Functions of the PCII. —The PCII shall have the following functions:

1. In coordination with all government agencies, local government units, the academe, and the non-government sectors, formulate and submit for the approval of the CII, a Philippine Plan of Action on Interfaith Cooperation (PPAIC);

2. With the OPAPP as lead, monitor and ensure that the goals and targets within the country under the approved PPAIC are met;

3. With the DFA as lead, represent the country and articulate Philippine interfaith policies and position in different local and foreign forums; cHSIAC

4. Ensure that the Philippines is well-represented and is able to maintain its leadership and its effective participation in the various international interfaith initiative and activities;

5. Receive, approve and prioritize program and project proposals consistent with the approved PPAIC;

6. Make quarterly reports to the CII regarding the status of the PPAIC; and

7. Perform such other functions that the CII may assign.

SECTION 5. Government Agency Support. — All government departments, agencies and offices are directed to assist the PCII pursuant to the accomplishment of its functions. Such support includes the establishment of interfaith desks and the designation of focal persons who shall be responsible for undertaking PCII-approved interfaith-related programs and projects in their respective offices. HSDCTA

SECTION 6. Secretariat Support. — The PCVF Secretariat shall provide staff support to the PCII.

SECTION 7. Funding. — The Department of Budget and Management is hereby directed to release one million pesos (P1,000,000.00) from the President's Contingent Fund to cover the expenses of the PCII for the year 2008. Funding requirements of the PCII in succeeding years shall be included in the PCVF budget.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. — All issuances, specifically EO 626, as well as rules and regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with this order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 12th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Eight.