MALACAÑANG

Manila

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 349

DESIGNATING THE YEARS 1994 TO 1995 AS THE PERIOD FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES FROM JAPANESE OCCUPATION DURING WORLD WAR II AND RELATED EVENTS

WHEREAS, the year 1994 is the fiftieth anniversary of the historic Leyte Landing, signifying the beginning of the end of Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II;

WHEREAS, the year 1995 is the fiftieth anniversary of the historic Lingayen Gulf Landing, the Liberation of Cabanatuan, Los Baños, and University of Santo Tomas Prisoner of War Camps, the Battles of Manila, Corregidor, and Bessang Pass, the Final Surrender of the Japanese Forces in Baguio, and other liberation campaigns;

WHEREAS, these events should be appropriately celebrated to promote, preserve, and memorialize the principles, ideals, and deeds of Filipino war veterans as a means of enhancing patriotism and love of country, especially among the youth of the land;

WHEREAS, these events will foster and maintain international friendships, understanding and cooperation among peace loving nations;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the years 1994 to 1995 as the period for the observance of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Liberation of the Philippines from Japanese occupation during World War II and related events.

Pursuant thereto, there is hereby constituted a National Executive Committee to be composed of the following:

Members:

The Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports

The Secretary of the Interior and Local Government

The Secretary of Transportation and Communications

The Secretary of Public Works and Highways

The Secretary of Budget and Management

The Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines

The Administrator, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office

The Chairman, National Historical Institute

The Director, Philippine Information Agency

The Chairman, Metropolitan Manila Authority

The President, Veterans Federation of the Philippines

The National Commander, Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor

The President, VFP Sons and Daughters Association

The President, DBC Sons and Daughters Association

The National President, Boy Scouts of the Philippines

The National President, Girl Scouts of the Philippines

The Chief, Military Shrines Service

The Committee shall prepare the budget, formulate all the guidelines, and implement all the projects and activities related to the observance of the aforementioned events, and is authorized to call upon any department, bureau, agency, office, and other instrumentality of the government, as well as to invite any non-governmental organization for such assistance as it may need in the discharge of its duties and functions. Sub-Committees may be formed if necessary.

Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this Executive Order shall be taken from the appropriations of the respective agencies involved in the current General Appropriations Act and for the years 1994 to 1995.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 25

^th

day of March, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety four.

(Sgd.)

FIDEL V. RAMOS

By the President:

(Sgd.) TEOFISTO T. GUINGONA, JR.