Executive Order No. 233

• WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State to promote the well-being and total development of children and youth, and to protect them from exploitation, abuse, improper influence, hazards and other circumstances prejudicial to their physical, mental, emotional, social and moral development;

• WHEREAS, the Council for the Welfare of Children has been created under the Office of the President by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 603 otherwise known as The Child And Youth Welfare Code with primary functions among others, to coordinate the implementation and enforcement of all laws relative to the promotion of child and youth welfare so as to formulate and evaluate policies, programs and services relative to the development of the general welfare and protection of the best interests of children and youth;

• WHEREAS, it is necessary to revise the composition of and enlarge the membership and organizational structure of the Council to enable the Council to more effectively carry out its responsibilities under the law and to ensure the assistance and cooperation of government agencies concerned with child and youth welfare and development;

• WHEREAS, to provide better focus and perspective, it becomes imperative to redefine the roles and functions of the Council;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON, C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the sovereign will of the Filipino people and the Constitution, do hereby order:

This Executive Order shall otherwise be known as The Reorganization Act of the Council for the Welfare of Children.

The Council shall continue to be an attached agency of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The Council shall be composed of the following members or their duly designated representatives:

• a

  Department of Social Welfare and Development Chairman

• b

  Department of Education, Culture and Sports Member

• c

  Department of Health; Member

• d

  Department of Labor and Employment; Member

• e

  Department of Justice; Member

• f

  Department of Local Government; Member

• g

  Department of Agriculture; Member

• h

  National Economic and Development Authority; Member

• i

  National Nutrition Council; Member

• j

  Council for the Welfare of Children; and Member

• k

  Three private individuals concerned with the welfare of children and youth with no dual role as a government employee and with at least one (1) being an active member of a legitimate youth organization.

• The three private individuals shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Chairman and shall serve for two years subject to renewal.

The Council for the Welfare of Children shall have the following powers and responsibilities:

• a

  Coordinate the implementation and enforcement of all laws relative to the promotion of child and youth welfare;

• b

  Formulate an integrated national policy and long-range programs, monitor and evaluate the implementation of this policy, and all programs and services relative to the development of the general welfare and protection of the best interests of children and youth;

• c

  Advocate and recommend to the President and other appropriate agencies for implementation on a nationwide scale when appropriate, new, innovative, pilot programs and services for the general welfare of children and

• d

  Mobilize resources assistance and call upon and utilize department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentalities, public, private, or voluntary, for such assistance as it may require in the performance of its functions;

• e

  Submit annually to the President, through the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, a comprehensive report on its activities and accomplishments; and,

• f

  Perform such other functions as provided by law.

The Executive Director of the Council shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Chairman, and shall have the rank, privileges and emoluments of a Career Executive Service Officer I, and shall receive such other allowances and benefits as may be provided by law.

The Executive Director of the Council for the Welfare of Children shall be an ex-officio member of the National Nutrition Council.

The Council Secretariat, which is the Executive arm of the Council headed by its Executive Director, shall have the following Divisions:

• a

  Office of the Executive Director;

• b

  Administration and Finance Division;

• c

  Planning and Programming Division;

• d

  Legal and Technical Services Division; and,

• e

  Information, Education and Communications Division.

A Technical Management Committee shall be created under the Council which will be composed of various Bureau and Service Heads of each government Department and Heads of Non-government organizations as appropriate.

Five (5) Sectoral Panels are hereby created corresponding to the five (5) major

concerns of children and youth; Health and Nutrition; Population and Social Welfare;

Education; Livelihood and Shelter; and Legal Protection and Welfare.

Adequate funds shall be appropriate annually from any funds in the National Treasury

not otherwise appropriated for the operation and maintenance of the Council for

the Welfare of Children.

The members and the Chairman of the Council and members of committees, sectoral

panels, and task forces that may be created by the Council shall receive honoraria

for every meeting actually attended the amount of which shall be determined by

an appropriate Council resolution and authorized by the Department of Budget and

Management.

Upon approval of this Executive Order, the officers and employees of the Council

shall, in a hold-over capacity, continue to perform their respective duties and

responsibilities and receive the corresponding salaries and benefits.

The new position structure and staffing pattern by the Council shall be approved

by the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development within one

hundred and twenty (120) days from the approval of this Executive Order and the

authorized positions created thereunder shall be filled with regular appointments

by him or by the President as the case may be. Those incumbents whose positions

are not included therein or who are not reappointed shall be deemed separated

from the service. Those separated from the service shall receive the retirement

benefits to which they may be entitled under existing laws, rules, and regulations.

Otherwise, they shall be paid the equivalent of one (1) month basic salary for

every year of service or the equivalent nearest fraction thereof favorable to

them on the basis of the highest salary received, but in no case shall such payment

exceed the equivalent of 12 months salary.

If any provision of this Order is held invalid, the other provision or provisions not affected thereby shall continue in operation.

This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

All laws, issuances, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.