Strengthening the Authority of the Presidential Council on Values Formation

March 12, 2008

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 713

STRENGTHENING THE AUTHORITY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL ON VALUES FORMATION TOWARDS THE EFFECTIVE PURSUIT OF A JUST AND MORAL PHILIPPINE SOCIETY, AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDERS 314 AND 347, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, the Ad Hoc Council on Values Formation was created by virtue of Executive Order (EO) No. 314, s. 2004, as amended by EO No. 347, s. 2004, to pursue the establishment and institutionalization of just and moral governance; IcHDCS

WHEREAS, the establishment and institutionalization of just and moral governance is a long-term undertaking founded on the establishment of a just and moral Philippine society;

WHEREAS, continuing efforts to establish just and moral governance sanctioned in previous organizations need to be better coordinated to achieve optimal effect;

WHEREAS, the pursuit of just and moral governance in Philippine society is an undertaking that requires an institutional response that is equipped with sufficient authority beyond that provided by the ad hoc structure of existing council;

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 Ad Hoc Council on Values Formation. — The Ad Hoc Council on Values Formation is hereby renamed as the Presidential Council on Values Formation (PCVF).

SECTION 2. PCVF Composition and Structure. — The President shall remain as PCVF Chairman and the Secretary of Education as Vice Chairman. The President shall invite a maximum of nine (9) leaders from the various religious groups of the country to be members of the PCVF. Members invited as members of the PCVF shall retain their character as private citizens without government remuneration.

The Council shall determine the appropriate structure for the efficient and effective performance of its functions. ECcaDT

SECTION 3. PCVF Secretariat. — The technical and administrative requirements of the PCVF shall be serviced by a PCVF Secretariat, herein created, which shall be headed by a Secretary General to be appointed by the President. The PCVF Secretary General shall have the rank of Assistant Secretary.

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

1. Be the lead government agency which shall work and coordinate with the non-government sector in pursuing the goal of establishing a strong foundation for just and moral governance;

2. Serve as the primary mechanism for effectively coordinating and orchestrating existing values formation programs initiated during previous Administrations;

3. Receive, approve, prioritize and assist in the implementation of programs and projects submitted to the Office of the President that seek to inculcate and strengthen moral values not just for the bureaucracy, but in Philippine society and its subsectors, such as but not limited to the youth and Filipino families, consistent with the value formation aspirations of the Administration;

4. Design, on its own, or with the cooperation of the non-governmental sector, and assist in the implementation of programs and projects with aims similar to those programs and projects mentioned in the previous paragraph;

5. Make recommendations to the President with regard to any duly supported and substantiated information on incorrigible and undesirable government personnel. Any member of the Council may appear as complainant in any case filed pursuant to such recommendations before the appropriate agency;

6. Manage the Values Formation Fund created in Section 5 of this Executive Order; and

7. Perform other functions such as may be assigned by the President.

SECTION 5. Creation of the Values Formation Fund. — The PCVF shall manage the Values Formation Fund, herein created.

SECTION 6. Government Agency Support. — All government departments, agencies and offices are directed to extend full support for all activities of the PCVF. TAacIE

SECTION 7. Funding. — The Department of Budget and Management is hereby directed to release one million pesos (P1,000,000.00) to cover the expenses of the operations of the PCVF and the PCVF Secretariat. Funds for the operation of the PCVF and the PCVF Secretariat in succeeding years shall be included in the budget of the Office of the President.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. — All issuances, including EOs 314 and 347, s. 2004, rules and regulations inconsistent with this order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. cHECAS

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.