Establishing the Reconstruction Monitoring and Evaluation System

March 16, 2010

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 870

ESTABLISHING THE RECONSTRUCTION MONITORING AND EVALUATION SYSTEM

WHEREAS, Executive Order (EO) No. 838 dated October 22, 2009 created the Special National Public Reconstruction Commission (SNPRC) to undertake a study of the causes, costs and actions to be taken in the wake of typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Frank, to seek fresh aids to fund reconstruction and to enter into a partnership with the private sector for the foregoing purposes; IHcTDA

WHEREAS, Section 3 of EO 838 mandates the SNPRC to prioritize the projects for reconstruction efforts and to oversee the implementation of reconstruction projects;

WHEREAS, Administrative Order (AO) No. 271 dated November 9, 2009 provided for the composition and additional functions of the SNPRC and established its Secretariat;

WHEREAS, Section 2 of AO 271 mandates the SNPRC Secretariat to draft a disaster reconstruction and recovery master plan jointly with the private sector reconstruction body;

WHEREAS, Section 3 of AO 271 mandates the SNPRC Secretariat to compile and maintain a database of reports on the sourcing and disbursement of funds, and the implementation of reconstruction projects and other disaster recovery undertakings under the SNPRC's oversight; to provide the timely reports, alerts and advisories; to expedite and enhance these funding and project activities; to update on the same the President, the SNPRC, and other key officials and entities as instructed by the President or the SNPRC; and to maintain high standards of transparency;

WHEREAS, in response to the SNPRC Secretariat's mandate to monitor and evaluate projects, and to provide transparency and accountability, there is a need to provide for mechanisms to pursue its objectives more effectively.

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

SECTION 1. The Reconstruction Monitoring and Evaluation System (RMES). — The Reconstruction Monitoring and Evaluation System (RMES) is hereby established.

SECTION 2. Objectives. — The RMES is a monitoring and evaluation system which shall monitor funding, expenditure and implementation of reconstruction programs and projects, with the following objectives:

(a) Provide a comprehensive system for monitoring the funding, expenditure and progress of reconstruction programs and projects, including performance and results; ScEaAD

(b) Involve program/project stakeholders, including government implementing agencies at the national and local governmental level, non-governmental organizations, private sector companies, funding agencies, beneficiary communities and sectors, and other interested groups;

(c) Regularly report performance and results to the President, key stakeholders and the general public; and

(d) Provide a listening post to receive and address complaints.

SECTION 3. Coverage. — The RMES shall monitor the reconstruction and rehabilitation programs and projects undertaken in response to the typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng, and Frank, including, but not limited to, those incorporated in the SNPRC's Disaster Reconstruction and Recovery Master Plan. It shall cover projects implemented by the government, non-governmental organizations, international development organizations and other interested groups.

SECTION 4. Organization. — The RMES shall be implemented by the SNPRC Secretariat through a Reconstruction Monitoring and Evaluation Team (RMET). To effectively carry out its functions, the RMET shall be staffed with the required personnel as may be determined by the Secretary General of the SNPRC Secretariat, either by designation or detail/secondment from other agencies, as may be deemed necessary.

The SNPRC Secretariat shall coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Audit (COA) on matters under the functional responsibility of the said agencies, including the issuance of guidelines for reconstruction monitoring and evaluation.

The SNPRC Secretariat may engage its private-sector partner, the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF), as well as local government units, the community, private-sector, and civil society organizations as third-party monitors of reconstruction projects and programs.

SECTION 5. Inter-Agency Support. — All government departments, agencies and bureaus, offices and instrumentalities, including local government units and government owned and controlled corporations shall proactively participate in the RMES. They are enjoined to extend full assistance and cooperation to the Commission, and to provide necessary, relevant and timely information to the SNPRC Secretariat and the designated monitoring organizations and personnel, as may be requested by the Secretary General.

The DBM shall prescribe policies and procedural guidelines on the handling of fund releases and utilization for programs and projects intended for reconstruction, as well as the required budgetary reports for this specific purpose, which shall include RMES reports, to ensure efficient monitoring and evaluation of progress fund releases. ISAcHD

SECTION 6. Reports. — The SNPRC Secretariat shall submit RMES progress reports to the Office of the President at least once every quarter, and make them available to stakeholders and the public in appropriate forms and media.

The RMES progress reports shall be utilized by the DBM in assessing accomplishments for reconstruction programs and projects, as required before further fund releases to implementing agencies.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The SNPRC and the SNPRC Secretariat, in consultation with other key implementing agencies, shall promulgate its implementing rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Executive Order.

SECTION 8. Funding. — The funding requirements of the RMES shall be recommended by the SNPRC for approval by the DBM, and sourced from appropriate funds in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and/or external donations raised by the SNPRC, subject to the usual audit rules and regulations.

SECTION 9. Repeal. — All executive orders, rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order, are hereby revoked, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 16th day of March, in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Ten.