Streamlining the Process of Authenticating Documents Intended for Use Abroad and Transferring the Authentication Office from the Office of the President to the Department of Foreign Affairs

December 4, 2006

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 582

STREAMLINING THE PROCESS OF AUTHENTICATING DOCUMENTS INTENDED FOR USE ABROAD AND TRANSFERRING THE AUTHENTICATION OFFICE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the government to reduce red tape by streamlining processes and eliminating duplicative cross-agency activities:

WHEREAS, both the Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Authentication Office of the Office of the President (AO-OP) perform similar authentication functions;

WHEREAS, Chapter 1, Article 5, sub-article (F) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and Optional Protocols of which the Philippines is a signatory of this Convention provides that a given state's consular office shall act "as notary and civil registrar and in capacities of a similar kind, and performing certain functions of an administrative nature";

WHEREAS, Executive Order (EO No. 292 s. 1987) mandates the Department of Foreign Affairs to serve as the official channel for foreign relations, including official communications to and from the Republic of the Philippines, and carry out legal documentation functions under pertinent laws and regulations, among others;

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. Responsibility for Authentication. — The DFA-OCA is hereby mandated to be the agency solely responsible for authenticating documents certified as authentic by the issuing agency office. HDAaIS

In this regard, the AO-OP is hereby directed to transfer to the DFA-OCA all equipment, furniture, materials, pertinent documents and other facilities necessary for the operations of authentication function.

SECTION 2. Detail of OP Personnel. — The AO-OP personnel shall be detailed to the DFA-OCA for a maximum of six (6) months in order for the DFA-OCA to acquire the necessary competence to carry out the authentication process according to the service standards set by the one day authentication process of the AO-OP. After this transition period, personnel detailed from the AO-OP to the DFA-OCA shall have the option to stay in the DFA-OCA or avail of early retirement privileges.

SECTION 3. Accrual of Proceeds. — Revenues collected or receipts of any kind from the streamlined authentication process shall be remitted to or deposited intact with the National Treasury. The DBM shall, however, allocate an appropriate amount, proposed by the DFA-OCA, for the operations of the office.

SECTION 4. Continuing Research. — The DFA, in coordination with concerned government agencies, shall conduct continuing research for further improvements of the authentication process.

SECTION 5. Rules and Regulations. — The DFA Secretary shall issue rules and regulations to implement this Executive Order.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. — Letter of Instruction (LOI) 1446 s. 1985, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. ACEIac

SECTION 7. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila this 4th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.