Amendment to E.O. No. 474 s. 1998 Re: Designation of DA as Program Manager of the Mindanao Rural Development Program

July 24, 2007

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 642

AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 474, SERIES OF 1998, TO DESIGNATE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AS THE PROGRAM MANAGER OF THE MINDANAO RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, the first phase of the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP-1) supported by the Government of the Philippines through an adaptable program loan from the World Bank was concluded I 2004; EIDaAH

WHEREAS, MRDP-1 implementation in 32 municipalities of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan del Sur, Compostela Valley and Maguindanao in Mindanao through better-targeted and sustainable agriculture and fisheries-related rural development and marine biodiversity conservation projects triggered improvements in incomes and food security of participating households and enhanced the institutional, technical, management and financial capabilities of the local government units (LGUs);

WHEREAS, the learning-by-doing approach adopted in MRDP-1 provided an operational model on how a national sectoral agency like the Department of Agriculture (DA) can facilitate the devolution of functions and responsibilities to the LGUs;

WHEREAS, the DA, as the lead national government agency of MRDP is responsible for coordinating the preparations for the next phases of the program;

WHEREAS, the expanded geographic coverage of the next phase of the program under MRDP-2 and the coordination of activities streamlined into the DA's regional field units requires clear accountabilities;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA M. ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Lead Agency. — The MRDP's Program Management Board is hereby abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the DA.

For this purpose the DA shall have the following powers and functions:

a. Provide policy directions to guide the planning and implementation of Program activities;

b. Provide overall direction in harmonizing functions of collaborating national agencies;

c. Mobilize existing resources of, and encourage the support and participation of National Government Agencies, LGUs and National Government Institutions;

d. Approve the organizational structure and staffing requirements of the Program Support Office (PSO) and Regional Program Coordination Office (RPCO);

e. Review and endorse the annual budget of the MRDP-2;

f. Review and take appropriate action on operational and administrative matters;

g. Reorganize the PSO and RPCO;

h. Perform such other functions and responsibilities as the President may direct.

The Special Projects Coordination and Management Assistance Division of the DA (SPCMAD) shall serve as the technical and administrative secretariat of the DA for the implementation of the MRDP. The SPCMAD shall have the following functions in its implementation:

a. Provide pre-implementation assistance to the PSO in setting up the RPCOs;

b. Coordinate with the RPCOs through the PSO in the preparation of initial global and annual work and financial plans, and facilitate the approval of such plans and their inclusion in the annual budget of the DA;

c. Conduct operational monitoring or the Program and coordinate the dissemination of physical and financial progress reports and other information requirements to NEDA, DBM, DOF, the World Bank and other stakeholders;

d. Review and analyze the projects' physical and financial progress reports, audit and technical reports and other study/activity reports and subsequently prepare recommendations to the DA management;

e. Coordinate with the funding agency and other offices on the various implementations of the project; and

f. Perform such other functions as the Secretary of DA may direct.

SECTION 2. DA Regional Field Office (DA-RFU). — The DA-RFU in the six (6) regions of Mindanao shall serve as the regional counterpart of the DA. For the MRDP it shall have the following functions:

a. Ensure that policy directions are carried out in the planning and implementation of MRDP-2 activities within the region;

b. Ensure overall direction toward the harmonization of project roles and responsibilities of collaborating regional offices;

c. Mobilize existing resources of, and encourage the support and participation of LGUs, People's Organizations and non-government organizations;

d. Review and recommend appropriate actions to resolve operational and administrative issues that cannot be solved at the lower levels of the overall implementation structure;

e. Review the progress of implementation and of project activities and provide guidance to improve Project performance; and

f. Endorse annual regional work and financial plan to the Undersecretary for Operations.

SECTION 3. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). — The BFAR shall assist the Program's implementing units in achieving the objectives and accomplishing the targets set for the Natural Resource Management component as well as for the Coastal Marine and Biodiversity Conservation Component, under the Global Enhancement Fund. The Director of BFAR shall assign a focal person at the central office and its regional offices in Mindanao, who shall coordinate closely with the DA-RFUs in general, and with the RPCOs in particular.

SECTION 4. PSO. — The PSO is hereby created, which shall provide support to the RPCOs in the DA. The PSO shall have the following functions:

a. Assist in setting up the RPCOs and provide technical assistance to enable them to fulfill their functions in MRDP-2;

b. Ensure that all activities are properly coordinated with the RPCOs;

c. Promote cohesion and synergy in the planning and implementation of the project;

d. Facilitate a quarterly conference of RPCOs to promote integration;

e. Recommend to the Undersecretary for Operations/Project Implementation Officer through the SPCMAD policy and institutional reforms;

f. Consolidate regional reports on physical and financial progress of implementation and submit these to the Undersecretary for Operations/PIO through the SPCMAD;

g. Undertake periodic reviews and evaluation of the Program;

h. Preparation and consolidation of Implementation Financial Report;

i. Advocate and support social and environmental safeguard compliance;

j. Review and consolidate annual and financial Plan; and

k. Ensure Indigenous Peoples' participation in the Program.

The PSO shall be headed by a full-time Program Director to be appointed by the DA Secretary. The PSO shall have a staff complement, the composition and structure of which shall be reviewed and approved by the DA Secretary. It shall be supervised by the Office of the Undersecretary for Operations and shall coordinate with the DA-SPCMAD regarding the overall implementation of the project activities during the project duration. It shall report to the SPCMAD. aSEHDA

As a phase out plan on the PSO, the DA Secretary shall ensure that necessary steps are taken toward the gradual institutionalization of the management and supervision of MRDP to the SPCMAD, and all the coordination functions to the DA-RPCOs with the aim of mainstreaming the program's various processes in the DA's organic structures. The SPCMAD will report to the PIO as mandated.

SECTION 5. RPCO. — RPCOs shall be created and organized in each of the six DA-RFUs. The RPCOs shall be supported by existing staff of the DA-RFUs. They shall have the following functions:

a. Lead in the preparation of a regional multi-year and annual work and financial plan;

b. Provide technical assistance to enable LGUs to meet program policies, standards and processes;

c. Institutional use of participatory approach in the preparation of local development plans;

d. Ensure the integration of local plans into regional plans;

e. Process and validate sub-project proposals from the LGUs and provide feedback to the proponents of on the status of such proposals;

f. Monitor the physical and financial progress of Provincial Program Management Implementing units plan implementation in accordance with agreed reporting arrangements as prescribed in the projects' Management Information System and Monitoring and Evaluation System; and

g. Coordinate with partner agencies or other relevant institutions in the region with respect to the delivery of required services of implementing units.

SECTION 6. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall take effect following its publication.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 24th day of July, in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seven.