Executive Order No. 243




MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES [ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 243, May 13, 2000 ] CREATING AND RECONSTITUTING A PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON TRANSPORTATION STRIKES AND/OR MASS ACTIONS WHEREAS, in a Memorandum dated 26 May 1999, the President constituted the Task Force to take charge of the government’s actions and responses for the projected transport strike in Metro Manila and to prepare a longer range plan for similar incidents in the future, taking note of the need to balance oil prides, transport rates, wage levels, and other economic and social factors; WHEREAS, under the same Memorandum, the following were designated as Task Force members, namely: Secretaries of DOTC, DOE, DOLE and DTI, Chief PNP, Director-NCR, PNP, Chairman, LTFRB, Chief of Staff, AFP and Chairman of MMDA as Task Force’s Head and the personal representative of the President; WHEREAS, the Task Force was convened to address major incidents in Metro Manila including the transport strikes of May 27 and June 07, 1999, March 20, 2000 and the most recent March 30, 2000 as well as the two (2) mass actions of August 20 and September 21, 1999; WHEREAS, there is a need to synchronize and harmonize the required actions and responses of the members of the Task Force and as there is also a need to include the other agencies, notably the DPWH and the PIA and other agencies, not earlier designated as members of the Task Force; NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order and direct: Section 1. An Inter-Agency Group is hereby created to be known as the Presidential Task Force on Transport Strike and Mass Action or TRASMA, to ensure a hierarchical level of responses/options to cover any contingency to cover transport strikes and/or mass actions within Metro Manila and its immediate environs taking note of the need to balance oil prices, transport rates, wage levels, and other economic and social factors. Section 2. The Task Force shall be headed by the MMDA Chairman with the Secretaries of DILG, DOTC, DPWH, DECS, DOLE, DTI, the AFP Chief of Staff, the PNP Director-General, the LTFRB Chairman, the LTO Assistant Secretary, and the Commissioner on Higher Education, as members. Section 3. The Task Force shall take charge of government actions and responses for transport strikes and similar incidents and further prepare a long range plan to prepare for similar incidents in the future, taking note of the need to balance transportation rates, wage levels, and other economic and social factors. Section 4. An Inter-Agency Technical Working Group (TWG) is hereby created to provide technical assistance to the Task Force, chaired by the MMDA, consisting of the following members, namely: PMS, AFP, TMG, LTO, LTFRB, PIA and others as may be determined by the Task Force. Section 5. The Office of the President shall allocate a budget of five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) from any of its available funds and said allocation shall be replenished in accordance with the government’s general accounting principles and procedures. Section 6. The Task Force shall issue the necessary implementing orders to carry out the provisions of this Executive Order. Section 7. All previous issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order shall be deemed revoked or amended accordingly. Section 8. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately. Done in the City of Manila, this 13th day of May in the year of Our Lord, two thousand. (Sgd.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA By the President: RONALDO B. ZAMORA Executive Secretary The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation