EXTENDING THE COORDINATIVE AND MANAGEMENT ROLE AND FUNCTION OF THE SOUTH COTABATO/SARANGANI/GENERAL SANTOS CITY (SOCSARGEN) AREA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICE

WHEREAS, the SOCSARGEN Area Development Project
Office has demonstrated its effectiveness in integrating and
accelerating the implementation of major development activities of the
national government, and ensuring the participation of the local
government units and private sector as mandated by Executive Order No.
474 dated 12 August 1991 and as amended by Executive Order No. 480 dated
16 September 1991;

WHEREAS, the experience and success of the
SOCSARGEN Area Development Project Board in integrating infrastructure
development with private sector-led growth and sustainable use of
environment and natural resources, and in actively promoting
intra-regional economic ties in the BIMP-EAGA Region have made the
SOCSARGEN Area Development Project a frontrunner and model for the
Mindanao 2000 Agenda;

WHEREAS, there is a need to sustain these
initiatives and to champion growth with equity by expanding the scope of
the SOCSARGEN Area Development Project to include programs and policies
that address the basic social needs of marginalized sectors in support
of the national social reform and food security agenda and all other
local and national projects that require integration and coordination at
the sub-regional level;

NOW, THEREFORE, I FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION
1. The provision on the establishment of the South
Cotabato/Sarangani/General Santos City-Area Development Project Office
in Section 1 of Executive Order No. 474 series of 1991, is hereby
amended to read as follows:

SEC. 1. SOSKSARGEN Area
Development Project Office. There is hereby established the South
Cotabato/Sultan Kudarat/Sarangani/General Santos City-Area Development
Project Office, hereinafter referred to as the 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 project undertakings in
SOSKSARGEN. The ADP Office shall be composed of a Project Management
Unit (PMU) which shall hold office in General Santos City.

SECTION 2. The composition of the Project Board under Section 2 of Executive Order No. 474 is hereby reconstituted as follows:

a. The Secretary of Agriculture — Chairman

b. The Regional Director National Economic and Development Authority — Vice Chairman

c. The Provincial Governor of South Cotabato — Member

d. The Provincial Governor of Sarangani — Member

e. The Mayor of General Santos City — Member

f. The Provincial Governor of Sultan Kudarat — Member

g. Representatives from Government Agencies Involved in the Project (DA, DTI, DILG, DOTC, DPWH, DENR, DOH, DECS) — Member

h.
One representative each of the Non-Government Organizations of South
Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani Province and General Santos City —
Member

i. One representative each of the Chamber of Commerce or
Business Community of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani Province
and General Santos City — Member

The powers and functions of the Board under Sec. 2 of Executive Order No. 474 are henceforth amended as follows:

a.
Formulate policies and guidelines and establish development goals
within the context of the Area Growth Plan and the role of SOSKSARGEN in
the Mindanao 2000 Development Plan, supportive of social reform policy,
food, security agenda and other local and national thrusts;

b.
Advocate, supervise, facilitate, orchestrate and provide overall
direction in the planning, timely implementation and monitoring of all
project components and development activities

c. Pool existing
resources and encourage the support and participation of government and
non-government institutions by creating Task Forces, councils or
appropriate bodies to expedite implementation of major development
projects;

d. Review and endorse to the Regional Development
Council Region XI, for approval the multi-year and annual plans and
investment programs under the project;

e. Review and endorse,
through the RDC, to the Department of Budget and Management, the annual
budget for the Project, including that for the operations of the ADP
Office;

f. Review and confirm the organization of the Project Management Unit (PMU) and the appointment of its Project Director;

g. Review and confirm contracts entered into by the Project Director;

h.
Submit to the President, the RDC, the NEDA Board and Congress quarterly
progress reports on the project and such other reports as may be
required;

i. Formulate implementing rules and regulations pertaining to the internal operations of the ADP Office; and

j. Perform such other functions as the President may direct.

(b) Project Management Unit. The provisions on the powers and functions of the PMU are hereby amended to read as follows:

Project
Management Unit. The Project Management Unit (PMU) shall serve as
technical and administrative secretariat of the Board, and as such,
undertake the day-to-day activities of the ADP Office. It shall perform
the following powers and functions:

a. Provide technical
support and assistance and coordinate with the City and Provincial
Planning and Development Offices, regional offices of national
Government Agencies, representatives of financing institutions,
non-government organizations, the private sector and other concerned
entities to facilitate the implementation of the major projects in
SOSKSARGEN; aisa dc

b. Enter into contracts, through its Project
Director, as may be necessary for the technical and administrative
operations of the ADP Office subject to existing laws, rules and
regulations;

c. Undertake periodic review and evaluation of
projects and shall, for the purpose, design and operate a program
implementation and project benefit monitoring and evaluation systems,
and make appropriate recommendations to the ADP Board; and

d.
Ensure the implementation of agreements reached by the ADP Board and
perform such other functions and responsibilities as the Board may
direct.

SECTION 3. The provision on the ADP Office Term is hereby amended to read as follows:

SEC.
7 ADP Office Term. The term of the ADP Office is hereby extended to
December 1998, corresponding to the full operationalization of the
flagship infrastructure projects, and the implementation of the second
round of infrastructure and growth plan projects and Mindanao 2000
related activities.

SECTION 4. Executive Order No. 474, series of 1991 and Executive Order No. 480, series of 1991 are hereby amended accordingly.

SECTION 5. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 15 May 1996

By the President:

(SGD.) RUBEN D. TORRES
Executive Secretary