Objectives of the PAMANA Program
- Reduce poverty and vulnerability in conflict areas and those covered by peace agreements.
- Improve governance.
- Empower communities to strengthen capacities for conflict and peace resolution promoting social cohesion.
Strategies and Approaches
- Bring government services to PAMANA-identified areas.
- Ensure communities benefit from improved delivery of basic services.
- Ensure responsive, transparent, and accountable local governance.
- Four main approaches: convergence of service delivery; good governance; community empowerment; and asset reform addressing agrarian and resource issues.
- Principles of social cohesion: inclusion, participation, transparency, accountability, and conflict-sensitivity.
- DA’s role: focus on food security, governance improvement, sub-regional development, poverty reduction, and social cohesion.
Program Framework
- Three strategic pillars:
- Policy reform and development to build peace foundations and resilient communities.
- Micro-level service delivery at household/community levels by national and local agencies.
- Meso-level interventions addressing regional/sub-regional development challenges.
- Implementation by national agencies partnered with LGUs.
- Specific agency roles for 2013 outlined.
- Pillar 3 focuses on sub-regional economic integration, connectivity, and community resilience.
- Emphasis on relationships within and among communities and with government.
- Application of Social Cohesion Principles: inclusion, participation, transparency & accountability, and conflict-sensitivity.
Program Coverage
- Seven geographical zones prioritized based on peace process lines.
- Includes conflict-affected and Indigenous People (IP) areas.
Program Fund
- Source: 2013 General Appropriations Act (GAA) to DA’s regional units and related agencies.
- Funding supports sub-regional development and community projects linked to closure programs with specific peace groups.
Fund Access Mechanics
Eligibility Requirements
- Eligible LGUs are those prioritized by OPAPP aligned with peace agreements.
- Eligible projects must:
- Aim for high-impact sub-regional economic integration and development.
- Be locally-driven and owned reflecting community needs, especially vulnerable sectors.
- Follow inclusion, participation, and conflict-sensitive planning processes.
- Be included in provincial and local development plans.
- Follow terms of peace agreements.
Procedural Requirements
- LGUs prepare project designs with assistance from DA regional units.
- Submissions include procurement and financial plans, technical descriptions, geo-tagging data, and authorization resolutions.
- Closure program projects prepared by DA regional offices with OPAPP coordination.
Project Approval and Implementing Partners
- DA regional units review and approve proposals.
- Counterpart funds required per guidelines.
- Implementation may be by LGUs, DPWH, or AFP engineering units.
- Selection based on capability, readiness, and security.
- Non-qualifying LGUs include those with outstanding fund liquidations.
Project Replacement
- Allowed for double funding or technical infeasibility.
- Replacement requests reviewed by Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) and OPAPP.
- Replacement projects must be conflict-sensitive and cost-neutral.
- Peace agreement project areas require clearance from respective Project Management Offices.
Fund Approval
- MOA between regional DA officials and implementing partners after requirement verification.
- Issuance of Certificate of Availability of Funds subject to bank certification and local government appropriations ordinance.
Fund Administration and Management
- Compliance with COA circulars and government financial regulations.
- Separate Special Trust Accounts (STAs) established by DA regional offices and implementing partners.
- Funds released based on approved plans and in tranches.
Fund Release Mechanics
- Three tranches for all project types:
- 50% upon mobilization.
- 40% after 70% disbursement and liquidation of 1st tranche.
- 10% upon submission of evidentiary support and completion/acceptance certificates.
- One-time procurement projects receive full release upfront.
- Fund release requests require supporting documents.
- LGUs responsible for liquidation and reporting.
Implementation Arrangements
National Steering Committee (PNSC)
- Co-chaired by OPAPP and DA Undersecretaries.
- Provides policy guidelines and program oversight.
- Endorses annual plans.
Regional and Provincial Steering Committees (PR/PSC)
- Comprise members of Regional/Provincial Peace and Order Councils.
- Coordinate program harmonization, activity coordination, and mainstreaming into government plans.
- Support OPAPP in monitoring.
- Review project replacements.
Implementing Partners Responsibilities
- Enter MOAs for fund release.
- Open Special Trust Accounts for fund management.
- Designate focal persons for project coordination.
- Implement projects via administration or contract complying with RA 9184 and COA regulations.
- Ensure physical implementation conforms to MOA provisions.
- Submit monthly financial and physical reports with geo-tagged data.
- Manage liquidation and refund unexpended balances when applicable.
- Install billboards at project sites as information transparency measure.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- OPAPP leads monitoring in partnership with implementing agencies.
- Regular site visits and reports to assess project status and conflict-sensitive integration.
- Civil Society Organizations engaged as third-party monitors under transparency mechanisms.
- Project status, including geo-data, posted online.
- Reports submitted to DA and OPAPP Secretaries, Peace and Order Councils.
- Consolidated monitoring reports submitted to Office of the President and Congress.
Penalties and Sanctions
- Regional DA officials may terminate or cancel projects for:
- Non-compliance with processes and requirements.
- Corruption or fraudulent practices.
- Impracticable project conditions.
- LGU request.
- Implementing partners at fault must refund unexpended funds.
- Suspension or withholding of fund release occurs if:
- Procurement violations or unsatisfactory performance.
- Force majeure or extraordinary conditions.
- One-month period given to resolve issues before termination.
Effectivity
- The Administrative Order becomes effective 15 days after publication in two newspapers and filing with the UP Law Center Administrative Register.