Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 363)
Integrated Area Development (IAD) programs and projects refer to those requiring multi-sectoral and/or multi-disciplinary approaches covering a defined geographical area.
The overall direction, coordination, and supervision of existing IAD projects are transferred from the National Council on Integrated Area Development (NACIAD) to the respective Regional Development Councils (RDCs) and the Local Government Units (LGUs) concerned.
Regional Development Councils (RDCs) are responsible for policy coordination and direction of all IAD projects at the regional level to ensure consistency of the projects with their respective regional development plans.
For IAD projects that cover only one province, the overall direction, coordination, and supervision of implementation is vested in the concerned Offices of the Provincial Governor (OPG), and the Integrated Area Development Project Offices (IADPOs) are placed under their administrative supervision.
For multi-provincial IAD projects, the Regional Development Council (RDC) concerned is responsible for overall direction, coordination, and supervision of the implementation. They may create a subcommittee to handle close supervision and address inter-provincial and inter-agency concerns.
Budgets for implementation activities, including those of line agencies under the IAD project in the provinces, are integrated and endorsed by the Office of the Provincial Governor (OPG) to the RDC before submission to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Funds for specific components are released directly by the DBM to implementing line agencies at the provincial level and to concerned LGUs.
The RDCs shall adopt measures to improve accountability systems of the LGUs, involve non-government organizations (NGOs) and mass media in informing the public, monitoring progress, and conducting impact evaluations. The OPG is required to submit quarterly physical and financial progress reports to the RDCs.
RDCs and OPGs primarily have policy-setting and overall direction, coordination, and supervision functions. The management and actual implementation of specific sectoral components remain the responsibility of designated departments and agencies, while offices under the Provincial Governor may implement assigned project activities inherent in their functions.
RDCs must ensure specification of responsibilities among agencies, modification of work programs and budgets if needed, functional delineation, formulation of technical assistance programs, and training and assistance programs to enable LGU staff and line agencies to manage and operate the projects effectively.
NEDA formulates a framework plan to guide future IAD projects, including principles for province selection and IAD package formulation, implementation, and operation. NEDA also ensures strict observance of loan agreement terms and conditions by all concerned and promulgates implementing guidelines for institutional mechanisms by RDCs and LGUs.