STRENGTHENING THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION FOR THE URBAN POOR

WHEREAS, Section 10, Article XIII
of the 1987 Constitution provides that “Urban or rural poor dwellers
shall not be evicted nor their dwellings demolished, except in
accordance with law and in a just and humane manner;”

WHEREAS, on
29 September 2011 , the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) issued an
“Advisory on the Right to Adequate Housing and Humane Treatment of
Informal Settlers;”

WHEREAS, Executive Order
(EO) No. 82 (s. 1986), as amended, created the Presidential Commission
for the Urban Poor (PCUP) under the Office of the President (OP) to
coordinate the speedy implementation of government policies and programs
for the urban poor;

WHEREAS, Administrative
Order (AO) No. 111 (s. 1989) directed concerned government departments,
agencies and offices to coordinate with PCUP and actively participate in
tri-sectoral dialogues and activities concerning the urban poor;

WHEREAS, Republic
Act (RA) No. 7279 otherwise known as the “Urban Development and Housing
Act (UDHA) of 1992,” requires local government units (LGUs), in
coordination with PCUP, to afford program beneficiaries an opportunity
to be heard and to participate in the decision-making process over
matters involving the protection and promotion of their collective
interests;

WHEREAS, Section 28 of RA No. 7279
and its implementing rules and regulations uphold the
constitutionally-guaranteed rights of the homeless and underprivileged
citizens;

WHEREAS, EO No. 152 (s. 2002), as
amended by EO No. 708 (s. 2008), directed PCUP to monitor all demolition
and eviction activities involving the homeless and underprivileged
citizens;

WHEREAS, there is a need to
strengthen the mandate of PCUP to achieve the strict observance of the
law and the Ten-Point Covenant of the President with the urban poor;

WHEREAS, EO
No. 364 (s. 2004) placed PCUP under the supervision and control of the
Department of Land Reform (DLR), now known as the Department of Agrarian
Reform (DAR) by virtue of EO No. 456 (s. 2005). However, the concerns
of the urban poor go beyond undertaking a continuing program of land
reform and housing and shall therefore include the totality of all
factors for decent living and support services designed to alleviate the
plight of the urban poor; and

WHEREAS, Section
31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987
provides for the continuing authority of the President to reorganize the
administrative structure of the OP.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines , by virtue of the power vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Transfer of PCUP to the OP. The
PCUP shall be transferred to the OP to effectively coordinate,
formulate, and evaluate policies and programs concerning the urban poor.

SECTION 2. Social Preparation Activities. The
PCUP shall undertake social preparation activities related to asset
reform, human development and basic social services, employment and
livelihood, and other programs of the government for the urban poor.

SECTION 3. Representation in HUDCC, Key Shelter Agencies (KSAs) and in Local Housing Boards. The
PCUP shall participate in policy discussions relating to the urban poor
in board meetings of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating
Council (HUDCC), key shelter agencies (KSAs), Local Housing Boards (LHB)
or other similar bodies.

SECTION 4. Institutional Arrangements and Support. (1)
The PCUP, HUDCC, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD),
Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), in
coordination with the CHR, shall jointly formulate the necessary
operational mechanisms and guidelines to ensure strict compliance with
Section 28 of RA No. 7279, as well as the implementation of the
provisions of this Order, within forty-five (45) days from the issuance
hereof.

(2) All other heads of departments, agencies, bureaus,
and offices, including government-owned or controlled corporations, as
well as local government units, civil society or people’s organizations,
shall render full assistance and cooperation and provide such other
information and data as may be required to carry out its functions
pursuant to this Order.

SECTION 5. Submission of Periodic Reports. The
PCUP shall submit quarterly reports to the OP, relative to the status
of compliance with the provisions of this Order and the pertinent
provisions of the law governing eviction and demolition activities.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. If
any provision of this EO is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the
other provisions unaffected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. All
other executive issuances not consistent with the provisions of this
order are hereby amended, modified, or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivlty Clause. This EO shall take effect immediately upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

DONE, in the City of Manila , this 29th day of March, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twelve.

	(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
	President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary