Executive Order No. 142




MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES [ Executive Order No. 142, August 13, 1999 ] REVIVING THE MUNICIPAL TELEPHONE PROJECT OFFICE (MTPO) AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR FROM THE CONTINGENCY FUND OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT WHEREAS, the MTPO was given zero allocation under 1999 General Appropriations Act and as a consequence thereof, was deactivated pursuant to Executive Order No. 78 dated 05 March 1999; WHEREAS, after a further review of the MTPO programs in relation to the present national development objectives and the pro-poor thrusts of the administration, together with concept modifications thereto under the “Telepono sa Barangay” program in order to provide our people in the unserved and underserved areas in the Philippines full access to the national, political, social and economic mainstream and to the global free market economy, it was found that the continued implementation thereof is indispensable to spur and speed up economic development especially at the barangay level; WHEREAS, the nature, magnitude and urgency of the existing MTPO programs and the concept modifications thereto under the “Telepono sa Barangay” program require that an entity with the appropriate mandate, structure and staffing should focus its attention to, and energy on, said activities; accordingly, the MTPO which RA 6849 created for the purpose is the appropriate project office that should handle such programs instead of the Telecommunication Office which, after a deeper scrutiny, has areas of concern and responsibility different from those of the MTPO. WHEREAS, in the absence of budget and until such time that the appropriate allocation in the national budget is given to the MTPO, there is a need to pursue and continue the projects already started as the corresponding loan packages have already been arranged, and further delays in the implementation of projects already started and for implementation will most likely cause substantial upward adjustments in the total project cost; WHEREAS, considering the importance and urgency of the ongoing programs and the subsequent programs to be implemented under the Improved “Telephone sa Barangay” project, the revival of the MTPO and infusion of funds therefor to finance its undertakings and operation appear advisable under the circumstance. NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order: 1. Revival of the Municipal Telephone Project Office – The Municipal Telephone Project Office (MTPO) under the Department of Transportation and Communications, which was deactivated under Executive Order No. 78, is hereby revived. Accordingly all functions, programs, equipment, facilitates, records, and properties as well as obligations transferred to the Telecommunications Office, are hereby reverted to the MTPO. 2. Provision of Funds – The sum of Four Hundred Million (P400M) Pesos from the Contingency Fund of the President is hereby allocated to the MTPO to fund its operations and project covered by duly executed contract and perfected loan/financing agreements, subject to availability of funds, and existing budget, accounting and auditing rules and regulations. 3. MTPO Streamlining – The Project Director, subject to the control and supervision of the DOTC Secretary, shall streamline MTPO operations and project implementation with the end in view of employing the least number of personnel and incurring the least cost therefor. 4. All executive orders, rules, regulations or other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby revoked or modified accordingly.1aшphi1 This Executive Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the completion of its publication in at least one national newspaper of general circulation. DONE in the City of Manila, this 13th day of August in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Nine. (Sgd.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA President of the Philippines By the President: (Sgd.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA Executive Secretary The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation