MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 507, February 15, 2006 ]
EXTENDING THE COORDINATIVE ROLE AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS OF THE SOUTH COTABATO/COTABATO/SULTAN KUDARAT/SARANGANI/GENERAL SANTOS CITY (SOCSKSARGEN) AREA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICE UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
WHEREAS, the SOCSKSARGEN Area Development Project (ADP) Office, since its inception in August 1991, achieved significant strides in integrating and accelerating the implementation of critical development initiatives of its component local government units;
WHEREAS, the integrated area development approach, with the support of the national government and active participation of the local government units and the private sector, has proven to be an effective mechanism in coordinating and implementing programs and projects aligned with the agri-industrial development goals of Southern Mindanao;
WHEREAS, under Executive Order (EO) No. 140, series of 2002, the SOCSKSARGEN Area Development Project Office was extended and placed it under the Department of Agriculture with its term until 31 December 2004;
WHEREAS, E.O. No. 223, series of 2003, reconstituted the members of the SOCSKSARGEN Area Development Project Board with the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture as Chairman;
WHEREAS, E.O. No. 36, series of 2001, that reconfigured Region 12, formally adopted its Medium Term Regional Development Plan through the Regional Development Council (RDC) recognizing SOCSKSARGEN as a major economic growth cluster;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO , President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the power vested in me by law, do hereby order:
Section 1. The provision on the term of the ADP Office in Section 1 of EO 140, series of 2002, is hereby amended to read as follows:
“SOCSKSARGEN ADP Office Term. the term of SOCSKSARGEN ADP Office is hereby extended to December 31, 2010.“
Section 2. The provision on the establishment of the South Cotabato/Sarangani/General Santos City Area Development project in Section 1 of E.O. No. 474, series of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows:
“SOCSKSARGEN Area Development Project Office. There is hereby established the South Cotabato/Cotabato/Sultan Kudarat/Sarangani/General Santos City-Area Development Project Office, hereinafter referred to as the SOCSKSARGEN ADP Office, as a Special Project under the Department of Agriculture for integrating, coordinating, supervising, directing, and formulating policies and guidelines for the implementation of major development initiatives in the SOCSKSARGEN area. The SOCSKSARGEN ADP Office shall be composed of a Project Board and a Project Management Unit (PMU) which shall hold office in General Santos City.”
Section 3. Project Board. – The SOCSKSARGEN ADP Office composed of the Project Board and The Project Management Unit (PMU) shall function under the Secretary of Agriculture (DA).
Section 4. Members of the Project Board. – The composition of the project Board under Section 2 of EO 223, series of 2003, shall be composed of the following:
a. The Secretary of Agriculture as Chairman;
b. The Mayor of General Santos City;
c. The Governors of the Provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat;
d. The Region 12 Directors of the following departments and agencies; National Economic and Development Authority, Agriculture, Public Works and Highways, Air Transportation Office, Philippine Ports Authority, Trade and Industry, Environment and Natural Resources, Interior and Local Government, and Agrarian Reform;
e. The Commanding General of the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army;
f. One (1) representative of the Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) nominated by the various NGOs accredited by the Regional Development Council of Region 12;
g. One (1) representative of the business sector nominated by the Chambers of Commerce in the project area.
Section 5. Vice Chair of the Project Board. – The Vice Chair of the Board shall be elected by the member of the Local Government Executives from among themselves.
Section 6. Powers of the DA. – The powers and function of the DA regarding SOCSKSARGEN shall be as follows:
a. Formulate policies and guidelines and establish sustainable development goals within the context of the Regional Development Plan and the role of SOCSKSARGEN in the Mindanao Development Framework;
b. Provide general direction and formulate appropriate policies in the development of SOCSKSARGEN’s agricultural and agro-industrial potentials in support to the national goal of promoting agribusiness development and in increasing productivity and production efficiency;
c. Require the concerned government agencies, non-government organizations and private sector groups to coordinate and submit their respective area-specific plans and programs to the Project Board through its secretariat, the Project Management Unit, to ensure complementation of various development initiatives in the area;
d. Advocate, supervise, facilitate and provide overall direction in the planning and implementation of SOCSKSARGEN Food Security Program, activities and major infrastructure projects that will have critical impact to the agro-industrial development of the area like the proposed construction of the Awang-Upi-Lebak-Kalamansig-Palimbang Road, expansion of General Santos Fish Port, development of master plan for General Santos City Airport and development of a feeder airport at M’lang, Cotabato Province and the expansion of GSC Makar Port to adequately cater the increasing volume of exported agricultural commodities;
e. Pool existing resources and encourage the support and participation of government and non-government institutions by creating task forces or appropriate bodies to expedite implementation of major development projects;
f. Review and endorse to the RDC 12, for approval, the multi-year and annual plans and investment priority programs and projects;
g. Review and endorse, through the RDC 12, to the Department of Budget and Management, the annual budget for the programs and projects;
h. Review and approve the organization of the PMU;
Review and approve contracts not otherwise governed by applicable law, rules, and regulations;
j. Submit to the RDC 12, NEDA Board, and Congress progress reports and such other reports as may be required;
k. Formulate implementing rules and regulations pertaining to the internal operations of SOCSKSARGEN ADP Office; and
l. Perform such other functions as the President may direct.
Section 7. Project Management Unit. – The PMU shall serve as the technical and administrative secretariat of the SOCSKSARGEN ADP Office. It shall perform the following functions:
a. Provide the technical support to the City and Provincial Planning and Development Offices, regional offices of the national government agencies, representatives of financing institutions, non-government organizations, and other entities to facilitate the implementation of major programs and projects and to ensure the smooth operation of the completed flagship projects in SOCSKSARGEN;
b. Enter into contracts, through its Project Director, necessary for the technical and administrative operation of the SOCSKSARGEN ADP Office, subject to existing laws, government rules and regulations;
c. Undertake periodic monitoring of the implementation of programs/projects, conduct program/project results monitoring and evaluation and make appropriate recommendations to the Project Board;
d. Facilitate other required assistance in the implementation of programs and initiatives by concerned local and national government agencies, non-government organizations and private sector groups for the sustainable development of SOCSKSARGEN.
Section 8. Coordination and Integration Mechanism. – To promote harmonious working relationship and maintain an effective coordination among development players in the area, all concerned government agencies and offices are hereby directed to closely coordinate and submit to the DA, through the PMU, their area specific plans, activities and programs, including therein accomplishments on projects monitored and coordinated by the SOCSKSARGEN ADP Office in order to ensure complementation of all development initiatives. These agencies are hereby instructed to attend and actively participate in meetings/consultations that the SOCSKSARGEN ADP Board may initiate.
Section 9. Operational Requirements. – The Department of Budget and Management shall allocate, under the budget of the Department of Agriculture in the General Appropriations Act, such amount appropriate and necessary for the operational requirements of the SOCSKSARGEN ADP Office based on the work and financial program as submitted by the DA and endorsed by the RDC 12.
Section 10. Repealing Clause. – All issuances or any parts thereof, which are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 11. Effectivity. – This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 15th day of February, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.
(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
By the President:
(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary
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