EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 369 September 6, 1996

CREATING THE SOCIAL PROTECTION COORDINATING COMMITTEE TO HARMONIZE AND COORDINATE SOCIAL PROTECTION POLICIES AND PROGRAMS

WHEREAS, the provision of and access to social protection is a basic strategy towards the realization of human development and a better quality of life for Filipinos-the overriding goals of the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan;

WHEREAS, the Social Security Law (R.A. No. 1161, as amended), Revised Government Service Insurance Act (PD 1146, as amended), Revised Philippine Medical Care Act (PD 1579, as amended), and the law on Employees' Compensation found in the Labor Code of the Philippines (PD 442, as amended), particularly Articles 166-208A are the laws that govern the right of Filipinos to social security;

WHEREAS, the existing institutional and program frame work for social protection, as provided for by law, needs to be rationalized in the light of present realities;

WHEREAS, the upgrading of social security benefits for workers and the expansion of coverage to include those in the informal sector are concerns raised in the 1996 National Tripartite Conference and the Master Plan of Operations of the Social Reform Agenda for the informal sector, respectively. lawphi1.net

WHEREAS, it was resolved during the National Workshop on Social Security Protection on 30-31 July 1996, attended by policy level representatives from social security institutions, government, employers organizations, labor groups, NGOs and the informal sector that a body to harmonize and coordinate social security programs and policies be created.

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

SECTION 1. Coordinating Committee. A Social Protection Coordinating Committee, attached to the Office of the President, which shall harmonize and coordinate policies and programs on social protection is hereby created.

SEC. 2. Composition. The following shall compose the Committee:

Chairman C Executive Secretary

Co-Chairman C Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform

Vice-Chairman C Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment

Members C Secretary of the Department of Finance

C Director-General of the National Economic Development Authority

C President and General Manger of the Government Service Insurance System

C Administrator of the Social Security System

C President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation

C President and Chief Executive Officer of the Home Development Mutual Fund

C Executive Director of the Employee's Compensation Commission

C President of the Retirement and Separation Benefits System/Armed Forces of the Philippines

C President of the Retirement and Separation Benefits System/Philippine National Police

C One representative from the labor sector

C One representative from the employer sector

The representatives of the labor and employer sectors shall be appointed by the President from among the nominees of their respective organizations.

SEC. 3. Responsibility of the Committee. The Committee shall undertake a complete and comprehensive review and study of the various social protection programs in the Philippines, including but not limited to, the programs being implemented by the SSS, GSIS, ECC, HDMF, the new Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and the RSBS/AFP, with the end view of reforming, rationalizing and aligning them, taking into account the need of the people, on the one hand, and the prevailing social and economic conditions and available resources, on the other. Within six months from the issuance of this Executive Order, the Committee shall submit to the President its findings and recommendations.

SEC. 4. Technical Working Group. To assist the Committee, a Technical Working Group, chaired by the DOLE, is hereby created to conduct technical studies and researches and perform such work as may be assigned to it by the Committee. The Committee shall also establish a secretariat that will provide it administrative support.

The members of the Technical Working Group shall be determined by the Committee and, together with the personnel of the secretariat, shall be drawn from the existing staff of member institutions.

SEC. 5. Hiring of Experts. To ensure the comprehensiveness of the study as called for in this Executive Order, the Committee is authorized to hire the services of national or international experts or consultants, and to seek, as necessary, technical and/or financial assistance from relevant international organizations.

SEC. 6. Funding Support. To finance the operations of the Committee, including the payment of fees of experts and consultants, the members of the Committee shall appropriate the necessary budget from their respective institutions, on the basis of proportionate sharing.

SEC. 7. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately. lawphi1.net

DONE in the City of Manila, this 6th day of September in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Six.


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