Observance of Araw ng Kagitingan and Philippine Veterans Week

February 3, 1997

MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 414

CONSTITUTING A NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON THE 1997 OBSERVANCE OF ARAW NG KAGITINGAN AND PHILIPPINE VETERANS WEEK

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 203, s. of 1987, declared April 09 of every year as a regular holiday for the celebration of Araw ng Kagitingan;

WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 466, s. of 1989, designated the period from April 05 to 11 of every year as Philippine Veterans Week in order to promote, preserve, and memorialize the principles, ideals, and deeds of our War Veterans and as a means to enhance patriotism and love of country, especially among the youth of the land;

WHEREAS, there is a need to create a body that shall spearhead the commemoration of the said events with fitting activities to ensure their success.

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

SECTION 1. There is hereby constituted a National Executive Committee on the observance of Araw ng Kagitingan and Philippine Veterans Week, which shall be headed by the Undersecretary for Veterans and Reserve Affairs, Department of National Defense, as Chairman, and with representatives of the following agencies who shall be not lower in rank than Assistant Secretary, as members:

National Centennial Commission;

National Historical Institute;

Armed Forces of the Philippines;

Philippine National Police;

Philippine Veterans Affairs Office;

Military Shrines Service;

Philippine Information Agency;

Department of Tourism;

Department of Education, Culture and Sports;

Department of Public Works and Highways;

Department of Interior and Local Government;

Department of Budget and Management;

Department of Transportation and Communications;

Provincial Government of Bataan;

Provincial Government of Tarlac;

Provincial Government of Cavite;

Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP);

Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor (DBC);

VFP Sons and Daughters of Veterans, Inc.;

Boy Scouts of the Philippines; and

Girl Scouts of the Philippines.

SECTION 2. The Committee is hereby empowered to call upon any agency or instrumentality of the government, including government owned and controlled corporations, and to invite any private individual or non-governmental organizations for such financial and other kinds of assistance as it may need in the discharge of its functions and only for the duration of the celebration. cdt

SECTION 3. The release of ONE MILLION PESOS (P1,000,000.00) chargeable against the 1997 President’s Contingent Fund is hereby authorized to carry out the provisions of this Administrative Order. Any deficiency shall be charged against the regular budget of the participating agencies.

SECTION 4. This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 3rd day of February, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Seven.