Administrative Order No. 325




MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES [ Administrative Order No. 325, March 23, 1960 ] AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO ACT AS THE CLEARING HOUSE FOR ALL PROPOSED ACTION BY DEPARTMENTS, OFFICES, AND AGENCIES OF THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT WITH THE VIEW TO EFFECTING INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION FOR THE PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIOR CONSULTATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE III OF THE LAUREL-LANGLEY AGREEMENT AND ON ALL MATTERS INVISAGED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE AGREEMENT WHICH ARE OF MUTUAL INTEREST TO THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND PRESCRIBING THE PROCEDURE THEREFOR. WHEREAS, under the provisions of Article III of the Laurel-Langley Agreement, either country shall give notice of any proposed action to the other party as far in advance as may be practicable and shall afford it opportunity to consult in respect of such action: WHEREAS, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the United States had time and again called each others attention to the effect that the prior consultation provisions of Article III of the Laurel-Langley Agreement had been overlooked in connection with certain actions taken; WHEREAS, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the United States equally favor liberal attitude regarding the scope of prior consultation and each would seek to undertake prior consultation on all matters envisaged within the framework of the Agreement which are of mutual interest to both countries; NOW, THEREFORE, I CARLOS P. GARCIA, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, and in order to effect the necessary inter-departmental coordination for the proper implementation of prior consultation pursuant to Article III of the Laurel-Langley Agreement and on all matters envisaged within the frameworks of the agreement which are of mutual interest to the Republic of the Philippines and the United States, do hereby authorize the Department of Foreign Affairs to act as the clearing house for all proposed action by the departments, offices, and agencies of the Philippine Government, more particularly, the Central Bank of the Philippines, Department of Finance, Department of Commerce and Industry, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, National Economic Council, and Tariff Commission, and prescribe the following procedure to be observed, to wit: 1. Any proposed action shall be referred to the Legal Officer of the department, office, or agency concerned, who shall determine whether it falls within the prior consultation provisions of Article III of the Laurel-Langley Agreement or whether it is envisaged within the framework of the Agreement and is of mutual interest to both countries. 2. Upon an affirmative determination by the said Legal Officer, the department, office, or agency concerned shall forward the matter to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs who, if he concurs therein, shall give notice to the Government of the United States through diplomatic channels as far in advance as may be practicable and afford it opportunity to consult in respect of such proposed action.1aшphi1 Done in the City of Manila, this 23rd day of March, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and sixty, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the Fourteenth. (Sgd.) CARLOS P. GARCIA President of the Philippines By the President: (Sgd.) NATALIO P. CASTILLO Executive Secretary The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation