GMA extends life of Middle East Preparedness Committee
MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo has extended the life of the Presidential Middle East Preparedness Committee (PMEPC) owing to the continued volatility of the security situation in the region.
Mrs. Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 752 on Sept. 19, 2008 to extend the operations of the PMEPC at least until the end of the year.
She said the PMEPC would be provided with P3 million to finance its administrative and operational expenses to be taken from the President’s Contingency Fund.
She said the Department of Budget and Management would source additional financial requirements that may be needed by the committee from available funds of concerned PMEPC member-agencies but subject to the usual government accounting rules and regulations.
PMEPC was created in December 2002 ahead of the US-led invasion of Iraq. The committee was created to anticipate the contingency situation of the 1.4 million Filipino workers in the Middle East.
The committee is tasked “to coordinate the preparation and implementation of appropriate responses, policies, and modes of coordination to protect the 1.4 million OFWs in the Middle East,” a Palace statement said.
Last week, Mrs. Arroyo ordered concerned government officials to prepare a contingency plan for OFWs amid the global economic crisis. –Paolo Romero
- Latest
- Trending
