Duterte creates Philippine Organizing Committee for Expo 2020 Dubai 

MANILA, Philippines —  President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the creation of the Philippine Organizing Committee for the country’s participation in the Expo 2020 Dubai.

The President issued Administrative Order No.17 on April 24 but was released to the media only on Friday.

Expo 2020 Dubai will be held between October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

The President said the expo will provide the Philippines with “an excellent opportunity to further enhance the country’s presence in a global scale, and promote the country’s commercial and public interests in the Middle East , Africa, and the South Asia region.

He added that the expo “offers a platform to foster creativity, innovation, and global cooperation, which will contribute to the country’s goal of vigorously advancing science, technology, and innovation as a strategy for long-term growth, consistent with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022.”

According to the President, the organizing committee will be composed of the Trade Secretary, as Chairperson and Commissioner-General.

The Tourism Secretary will serve as the Vice Chairperson while the Foreign Affairs Secretary, Budget Secretary, Labor Secretary, Science and Technology Secretary, and the Information and Communications Technology Secretary will be members.

The President said the committee will “formulate and implement work plan” for “appropriate theme, concept, and message of the Philippines, which will present the country as an ideal destination for trade, tourism, and investments , and showcase the best of Filipino culture and heritage, while adhering to the over-all themes and sub-themes of the Expo 2020 Dubai.”

The expo’s theme is “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.”

Meanwhile, the President also ordered the committee to propose a budget to cover the expenses for the country’s participation.

He directed the committee to “ensure that the benefits of the Philippine participation are maximized through a concerted and cost-effective national approach.”

Among the other functions of the committee was to “accept or receive sponsorship, and gratitude title of funds, materials, and devices essential for planning, implementing, and managing the participation of the Philippines in the Expo 2020 Dubai, subject to relevant laws and existing government accounting and auditing rules and regulations.”

The committee, the President said, should “submit quarterly reports of its accomplishments not later than 30 days after the end of every quarter and a final report within 60 days after the closing of the Expo 2020 Dubai” to the Office of the President and the Department of Budget and Management.

The President said the committee will be rendered “functus officio” or no longer with official authority, 60 days after the submission of its final report.  /muf