Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 133)
The main purpose of Republic Act No. 7640 is to constitute the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council to ensure consistency in coordinating executive development planning and congressional budgeting, and to promote balanced socioeconomic development in the Philippines.
The President of the Philippines serves as the Chairman of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.
The Council is composed of twenty (20) members: the President (Chairman), the Vice President, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, seven (7) Cabinet members designated by the President, three (3) Senators designated by the Senate President, three (3) House Representatives designated by the Speaker (including at least one from the dominant minority party), and three appointed representatives (local government units, youth, and private sector).
No, members of the Council who are government officials shall not receive additional emoluments, allowances, or pay for their membership as it is considered an extension of their existing positions.
The functions include recommending socio-economic development goals, providing policy advice to the President, ensuring regional development integration, overseeing official development assistance, assessing national plan effectiveness, integrating environmental principles, reviewing legislative agendas relative to development plans, and recommending revenue and expenditure measures.
NEDA acts as the principal secretariat providing staff support to the Council, assisted by personnel from the Presidential Management Staff and the economic planning staff of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Council meets at least once every quarter. The Chairman (President) may convene special meetings as necessary.
Priority concerns include involving the private sector and NGOs in economic planning, integrating local development programs into the national plan, accelerating projects that meet people's livelihood and social service needs, facilitating the use of grants and loans, and strengthening project monitoring and implementation efficiency.
The Council is required to render reports after every meeting to all Senators and Congressmen who are not members of the Council, particularly regarding progress on priority concerns.
RA 7640 took effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette. The Council was mandated to promulgate necessary rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from the approval of the Act for its implementation.