Mandating the Anti-Terrorism Council to Organize and Carry Out the Scheduled Activities in Connection with the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting Conference on Counter-Terrorism

May 7, 2009

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 264

MANDATING THE ANTI-TERRORISM COUNCIL TO ORGANIZE AND CARRY OUT THE SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE 7TH ASIA-EUROPE MEETING CONFERENCE ON COUNTER-TERRORISM

WHEREAS, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) has developed a comprehensive partnership between Asia and Europe through joint activities and functional cooperation in its political, economic and cultural pillars;

WHEREAS, the ASEM dialogue has increasingly yielded consensus and mutual understanding on political and security cooperation through yearly ASEM Conferences on Counter-Terrorism, which have been held in Beijing (2003), Berlin (2004), Semarang (2005), Copenhagen (2006), Tokyo (2007) and Madrid (2008);

WHEREAS, the Philippines shall host the 7th ASEM Conference on Counter-Terrorism in 2009;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA M. ARROYO, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Executive Committee. — The Anti-Terrorism Council (Council) and its member agencies shall constitute the Executive Committee for the purpose of organizing and implementing activities in connection with the Philippines' hosting of the 7th Conference on Counter-Terrorism (Conference).

SECTION 2. Agency Support. — The Council shall closely coordinate the integrated assistance by obtaining technical, financial and administrative support from its member agencies and other agencies where appropriate and the heads of the Local Government Units where the ASEM conference and related activities will be held.

SECTION 3. Tasks and Functions. — For the above purpose, the Council shall perform, among others, the following tasks and functions:

3.1. Formulate a work program and budget plan for the hosting of the Conference and related activities;

3.2. Implement the work program and supervise and monitor all activities related thereto;

3.3. Call upon any official, agent, employee agency or instrumentality of the national government for any assistance that may be necessary to ensure the success for the Philippine hosting of the Conference and its related activities;

3.4. Engage the support, assistance and cooperation of international, intergovernmental and non-government organizations and private sector entities in the preparations and conduct of the conference, as and when necessary;

3.5. Subject to existing laws, rules and regulations, enter into agreements and contracts necessary for the attainment of this Order.

SECTION 4. Funding. — The initial funding requirement for the preparation of the Conference in the amount of Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) shall be charged against the International Cooperation Fund. Additional funds as may be necessary shall be sourced from funds as may be determined by the Secretary of Budget and Management.

SECTION 5. This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 7th day of May, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.