QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 7640)
RA 7640 states that the State shall formulate socio-economic development programs after consultations with appropriate public agencies, the private sector, and local government units, taking into account conservation and ecology, and in line with the constitutional mandate to promote an equitable distribution of opportunities, income, and wealth; to sustain growth in goods and services for the people; and to expand productivity to raise quality of life, especially for the underprivileged.
It constitutes an effective advisory and consultative mechanism to ensure consistency in coordinating executive development planning and congressional budgeting.
The Council has 20 members: the President (Chairman), the Vice President, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House; seven (7) Cabinet members designated by the President; three (3) Senators designated by the President of the Senate; three (3) Representatives designated by the Speaker (at least one from the dominant minority party); and appointees by the President including: a representative of LGUs, a youth representative, and a private sector representative (from business cooperatives, agriculture, labor, or any combination).
Cabinet members are members of the Council in an ex officio capacity, meaning their membership comes by virtue of their positions as Cabinet officials, not by separate appointment or election to the Council.
No. The Chairman and members who are government officials shall serve without any additional emoluments, allowances, or pay, by virtue of and in connection with their positions.
The Council may form its own subcommittees as needed and may call on any government agency or resource persons for assistance.
Examples include: (1) determining and recommending socio-economic development goals to guide the national development plan; (2) providing policy advice to the President on vital socio-economic development issues; (3) directing studies to ensure regional development plans integrate into the national plan; (4) receiving and, in appropriate cases, requiring reports on and studying measures to improve implementation of official development assistance; (5) assessing effectiveness of implementation of the national development plan; (6) integrating environmental concepts into the plan; (7) reviewing the relationship between the legislative agenda and the national development plan; (8) studying and recommending sources of revenue and measures to reduce unnecessary expenditures.
The Council can receive, and in appropriate cases require reports on, and study measures to improve the implementation of official development assistance from multilateral and bilateral entities.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) secretariat is the principal secretariat providing staff support, assisted by personnel from the Presidential Management Staff and the economic planning staff of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Council must meet at least once every quarter. Special meetings may be convened by its Chairman as necessary. The first meeting must occur within one (1) month from the effectivity of the Act, at a time and place designated by the Chairman.
The Council must render reports after every meeting to all Senators and Congressmen who are not members of the Council, particularly on the progress and action taken on the priority concerns under Section 6.
Key priorities include: (1) involving the private sector, relevant non-government groups, and people’s organizations in economic planning and monitoring; (2) integrating priority development programs/projects from local development councils into the national development plan within budget constraints; (3) accelerating study and formulation of livelihood and social service projects/programs; (4) hastening utilization of grants and concessional loans while improving project implementation efficiency; and (5) recommending measures to strengthen monitoring and ensure efficiency and timely completion.
Within sixty (60) days from approval of the Act, the Council must promulgate all necessary rules and regulations to carry out its provisions.
It authorized P3,000,000.00 out of the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated for operating and capital expenditures for FY 1993. Thereafter, necessary appropriations must be provided in the annual General Appropriations Act.
The separability clause states that if any provision is declared unconstitutional, the remaining unaffected provisions stay in force. The repealing clause states that laws and executive orders inconsistent with the Act are repealed or amended accordingly.
RA 7640 takes effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette.