Establishing a National Government Administrative Center in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, Providing for an Integrated Government Center Outside the NCR in Case of Disaster

November 17, 2020

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 119

ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER IN NEW CLARK CITY, CAPAS, TARLAC, PROVIDING FOR AN INTEGRATED GOVERNMENT CENTER OUTSIDE THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION IN CASE OF DISASTER, AND DIRECTING THE WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH SATELLITE OFFICES THEREIN

WHEREAS, the government reiterates its commitment to strengthen the country's resilience against earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters for the purpose of ensuring public safety, government and business continuity, and national security;

WHEREAS, the coastal communities in the Philippines, particularly those in the National Capital Region (NCR), are most vulnerable to subsidence, rising sea levels, and increased risk of floods, resulting from climate change and contributory human activities;

WHEREAS, the NCR, where the seat of the National Government is presently located, is also exposed to the threat of a catastrophic earthquake that may be caused by the movements of the West and East Valley Faults;

WHEREAS, in view of the potential repercussions to the seat of the National Government from aforesaid threats, pursuant to the strategies under Executive Order No. 52 (s. 2018), there is an urgent need to establish an integrated government center outside the NCR, which will serve as a back-up administrative hub and which may be utilized as disaster recovery center, to ensure continuity of government services, as well as facilitate collaboration and coordination between and among government agencies;

WHEREAS, the establishment of a back-up government center outside the NCR supports the policy of addressing longstanding issues on the lack of sustainable employment opportunities in the countryside, unbalanced regional development, and unequal distribution of wealth;

WHEREAS, the development of integrated government centers is aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, which espouses strategies towards the decongestion of the NCR, and is in accordance with AmBisyon Natin 2040, which makes countryside development as one of its priority sectors;

WHEREAS, the establishment of integrated government centers fosters ease of doing business, provides equal access to efficient and effective delivery of public services, and serves as a catalyst for the creation of new economic opportunities outside the NCR, through the development of new townships and commercial business districts; and

WHEREAS, Section 17, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution grants the President control of all the executive departments, bureaus and offices;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Establishment of a National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) in New Clark City. — An NGAC is hereby established in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, to serve as an integrated government center outside the NCR, and, in case of disaster, a recovery center and back-up administrative hub.

All departments, bureaus, offices and agencies under the Executive Branch, are hereby directed to establish satellite or field offices at the NGAC in New Clark City, in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations. For this purpose, all concerned offices shall formulate and adopt appropriate business continuity and financial plans, including the operationalization of their respective back-up offices at the NGAC, in case of a calamity capable of paralyzing government operations in the NCR.

To the extent consistent with their mandates and purposes, government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) are encouraged to locate satellite or field offices at the NGAC in New Clark City. In the same manner, the Legislative and Judicial Branches of Government, and independent constitutional bodies, are encouraged to establish appropriate offices thereat.

The foregoing shall be without prejudice to national government departments, bureaus, offices and agencies, including GOCCs, transferring their respective Central Offices at the NGAC in New Clark City, especially if their functions do not require their main offices to be in the NCR.

SECTION 2. Phases and Clusters for the Establishment of Satellite and Field Offices. — The establishment of satellite or field offices shall be done in phases and clusters to be determined by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, in coordination with the concerned offices.

The departments or agencies which have an existing regional, field or satellite office within the vicinity of or proximate to the New Clark City may transfer their regional office at the NGAC established herein, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.

SECTION 3. Manpower Requirements. — The manpower requirements for such offices shall not be a basis for the creation of unnecessary redundant positions, and shall be limited to those which are essential to the implementation of their respective disaster contingency plans, and when warranted, the delivery of public services at the NGAC.

SECTION 4. Assistance for the Establishment of Offices at the NGAC. — The Bases Conversion and Development Authority shall assist concerned government agencies in securing advantageous, cost-efficient and flexible logistical and financial arrangements relative to the establishment of their respective satellite or field offices at the NGAC.

SECTION 5. Funding. — The budgetary requirements for the implementation of this Order shall be sourced from available funds of the concerned agencies and offices, and when appropriate and necessary, such other funding sources as the Department of Budget and Management may identify, subject to existing policies, budgeting, accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations.

SECTION 6. Repeal. — All issuances, orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with this Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability. — In the event that any provision or portion of this Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. — This Order shall take effect immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 17th day of November, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty.

 

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 116, No. 48, p. 7812 on November 30, 2020.