QuestionsQuestions (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 805)
PD 805 declares the Mindoro Integrated Rural Development Project as a national government project and adopts policies to (a) integrate national and local government agencies into a working team for planning and implementation, and (b) decentralize planning and implementation to the local government level.
The Cabinet Coordinating Committee on Integrated Rural Development Projects of the National Economic and Development Authority (as constituted under PD 805) is empowered as the policy-making and governing body, and it may create a Secretariat.
It includes (among others) the Secretary of Agriculture (Chairman), Secretary of Public Works, Transportation & Communications (Vice-Chairman), Executive Secretary, Director-General of NEDA, Secretary of Finance, Secretary of DLGCD, Secretary of Agrarian Reform, Secretary of Natural Resources, and Secretaries of Public Highways (and other newly involved departments as stipulated), with integrated rural development projects supervised through this Committee.
The Cabinet Committee is directed to create an Executive Committee for the Projects.
It is chaired by the Secretary of Natural Resources. Members include the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Public Highways, Secretary of Health, Secretary of Public Works, Transportation and Communications, and the Governors of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro (or their duly designated representatives).
The Project Director coordinates implementing agencies, monitors and evaluates progress, submits financial/accomplishment reports, approves and consolidates budget release requests, keeps records and consolidated accounts, submits audited accounts to IBRD, ensures compliance with the loan agreement conditions, manages staffing, issues internal rules, calls upon government units for assistance, may apply for grants/donations, prepares feasibility studies as authorized, and performs other inherently necessary operational management functions.
PD 805 creates the Mindoro Integrated Rural Development Office under the direct supervision of the Mindoro Executive Committee, with its principal office in Metropolitan Manila, and it establishes provincial offices in the Mindoro provinces.
The Project Director is appointed by the Executive Committee. He serves until the Mindoro Office is dissolved, unless sooner removed for cause by the Executive Committee.
He must be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least 30 years of age, and have a proven record of executive competence in public administration/infrastructure projects or in management of agricultural/industrial/commercial enterprises.
It extends management assistance and serves as an advisory body to the Project Director, and it resolves problems of inter-agency coordination at the national level.
A Provincial Project Office is created for each of the two Mindoro provinces, headed by the respective Governors who report directly to the Project Director. Additionally, Provincial Development Councils are created for each province, headed by the governors and composed of senior officials of implementing agencies plus representatives from PNB and Rural Banks, to resolve coordination issues and provide advisory/staff assistance.
For each Mindoro province, a council is created reporting to the heads of the Provincial Project Offices. It is headed by the Coordinator of the Provincial Development Staff and includes representatives of national government departments/agencies providing agricultural support services in the province.
PD 805 lists the Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications, Department of Health, Department of Public Highways, Department of Agrarian Reform, DLGCD, National Irrigation Administration, Presidential Assistant on National Minorities, Commission on National Integration, the provincial governments of the Mindoro provinces, and all other concerned government agencies.
Each implementing department/agency must submit its annual project plans, budget, and corresponding work program within three (3) months before the start of the ensuing fiscal year, and it must also submit financial and work plans for every budget release request and periodic reports containing results of operations to the Project Director.
The Department of Public Highways is responsible for procuring commodity and service requirements for its assigned projects and submits documents to the Project Director for information. For all other projects/requirements, procurement is done by the National Irrigation Administration.
All departments, agencies, and provincial governments concerned are enjoined to strictly observe all terms and conditions embodied in the Loan Agreement in planning and implementation.
Appointments may be full-time or part-time and are exempt from Civil Service Law requirements, position classification, salary standardization, and certain restrictions under the Revised Administrative Code, subject to conditions such as non-requirement to reimburse/refund gratuity for government retirees and that personnel shall be permanent and career in status with usual HR benefits for detail, including honoraria/allowances.
Fund releases of IBRD loan funds and Philippine counterpart funds are made by the Budget Commission directly to the parties concerned under existing laws. The COA is enjoined to assign auditors who submit a consolidated project financial report within three months after each fiscal year for transmittal to IBRD.
Expenditures and disbursements for planning and implementation are not subject to government procurement requirements/restrictions, and are exempt from bans/restrictions on purchase of equipment and non-expendable/semi-expendable properties.
Donations/contributions/subsidies/financial aid to the Project are exempt from taxes of any kind and are allowable as deductions from donors’/donees’ income for income tax purposes. Project assets and commodity requirements procured from local/foreign suppliers are exempt from all taxes, duties, fees, charges, imposts, licenses, and assessments imposed by the Republic or any political subdivision.