Authority and Responsibility
- The Secretary of Foreign Affairs is designated as the lead official responsible for the preparations and arrangements related to all incoming State and Official Visits.
- This role includes planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and evaluating the entire national effort in foreign relations concerning these visits.
Collaborating Agencies and Officials
- Various key government officials and agencies are directed to fully collaborate with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, including:
- Chairman, Metro Manila Development Authority
- Undersecretaries of Departments of Public Works and Highways, National Defense, Trade and Industry, Interior and Local Government, Tourism, Transportation and Communications, and Budget and Management
- Office of the Press Secretary
- Chief of Protocol and Social Secretary of the Office of the President
- General Manager, Manila International Airport Authority
- Group Commander, Presidential Security Group
Responsibilities of Collaborating Agencies
- These agencies and officials are tasked with:
- Ensuring proper planning, coordination, and execution of preparations for State and Official Visits
- Implementing Presidential instructions related to such visits
- Preparing detailed programs, including provisions for security and media coverage
Authority to Request Assistance
- The Secretary of Foreign Affairs may call upon any government agency or instrumentality, including government-owned and controlled corporations, to assist in fulfilling the duties under this order.
Obligation to Cooperate
- All government agencies are enjoined to cooperate fully with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to ensure effective implementation of the order.
Effectivity
- The Memorandum Order takes effect immediately upon issuance on March 22, 2005.
Summary
- This Memorandum Order centralizes responsibility for managing all State and Official Visits to the Philippines under the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, promoting inter-agency collaboration, detailed planning, security readiness, and media management to ensure the success of these high-level diplomatic events.