Constitutional basis and policy intent
- The Executive Order is anchored on Article X, Section 14 of the Constitution, which authorizes the President to create regional development councils composed of regional local government officials, regional heads of departments and other government offices, and representatives from non-governmental organizations within the regions.
- The order states that the RDCs exist to strengthen administrative decentralization, strengthen local government autonomy, and accelerate socio-economic development of the regions (preamble).
- The order declares a State policy that government socio-economic development programs and activities must be undertaken with extensive and active participation, support, and coordination of government agencies and private sector institutions at the national, regional, and local levels (preamble).
- The order recognizes a need for a responsive regional forum for meaningful participation and support from members of the House of Representatives representing the region (preamble).
- The order declares the need to reorganize and strengthen RDCs to make them more effective institutions for ensuring sustainable, participatory, and equitable development (preamble).
Legal basis, predecessor laws repealed
- The Executive Order repeals Executive Order No. 308 (series of 1987), as amended by Executive Order Nos. 318 (s. of 1988), 347 (s. of 1989), 366 (s. of 1989), 455 (s. of 1991), and 505 (s. of 1992) (preamble).
- Section 19 further provides that all previous issuances inconsistent with this Executive Order are repealed or modified accordingly.
Membership and representation rules
- Section 1 establishes the regular members of the RDC as:
- all provincial governors;
- all city mayors;
- mayors of municipalities designated as provincial capitals;
- all presidents of the provincial league of mayors;
- the mayor of the municipality designated as the regional center;
- the regional directors of specified agencies represented in the NEDA Board, namely: NEDA, DAR, DA, DBM, DENR, DOF, DFA, DOH, DILG, DOLE, DPWH, DOST, DTI, DOTC, BSP; and the regional directors of DECS, DSWD, and DOT.
- Section 1 limits agency representation such that each agency shall be represented by only one regional director.
- Section 1 provides that private sector representatives (PSRs) comprise one-fourth of the members of the fully-constituted council.
- Section 2 provides that the selection of PSRs must follow guidelines approved by the NEDA Board.
- Section 3 authorizes the RDC, subject to the concurrence of a majority of its regular members, to designate special non-voting members of the Council.
Governance structure and officials
- Section 5 requires that the RDC be jointly headed by a Chairman and Co-Chairman appointed by the President.
- Section 5 designates the NEDA Regional Director as ex-officio Vice-Chairman.
- Section 5 designates the NEDA Assistant Regional Director as Secretary of the RDC.
- Section 6 creates an Executive Committee that acts on matters needing immediate attention for and on behalf of the RDC when it is not in session.
- Section 6 provides that the Executive Committee comprises one-fourth of the total membership of the fully-constituted Council, with membership determined by the Council.
- Section 6 makes all sectoral committee chairmen created under Section 7 automatically members of the Executive Committee.
- Section 6 states that the Chairman, Co-Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary of the RDC also serve as officers of the Executive Committee.
Committees and advisory bodies
- Section 7 requires the creation of sectoral committees to assist the RDC on social, economic, infrastructure, and development administration concerns.
- Section 7 provides that the composition of sectoral committees is determined by the Council.
- Section 7 states that sectoral committees perform functions analogous to and supportive of the RDC, and they review and endorse sector matters to the RDC Executive Committee and/or the RDC Full Council.
- Section 8 creates an Advisory Committee to advise, assist, and support the RDC in discharging its functions.
- Section 8 provides that the Advisory Committee is composed of:
- members of the House of Representatives representing the provinces and districts of the region who signify in writing their intention to become members; and
- members of the RDC Executive Committee.
- Section 8 states that the Chairman, Co-Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary of the Council also serve as officers of the Advisory Committee.
- Section 8 requires meetings of the Advisory Committee as often as necessary but not less than once a semester.
- Section 9 provides that committees and councils organized to carry out national and agency programs are under the umbrella of the RDC as affiliate committees.
- Section 9 states that affiliate committees assist the RDC to coordinate, monitor and evaluate their respective specific concerns.
- Section 9 provides that, in general, secretariat functions for these bodies are provided by the lead agency that organized the council/committee.
Core functions and meeting requirements
- Section 4 requires the RDC to coordinate preparation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of:
- short and long-term regional development plans and investment programs; and
- the regional physical framework plan and special development plans, including the formulation of policy recommendations.
- Section 4 requires the RDC to integrate approved development plans of:
- provinces and cities;
- line agencies;
- state universities and colleges;
- government-owned and controlled corporations; and
- special development authorities in the region into the regional development plan.
- Section 4 requires the RDC to review, prioritize, and endorse to the national government:
- the region’s annual and multi-year sectoral investment programs for funding and implementation.
- Section 4 requires the RDC to review and endorse to the national government the region’s annual budgets of:
- agency regional offices;
- state colleges and universities; and
- special development authorities.
- Section 4 requires the RDC to promote and direct the inflow and allocation of private investments in the region to support regional development objectives, policies, and strategies.
- Section 4 requires the RDC to review and endorse national plans, programs, and projects proposed for implementation in the regions.
- Section 4 requires, as required by the Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC), review and endorsement of:
- projects of national government agencies that have impact on the region; and
- projects of LGUs in the region requiring national government financial exposure, which may come in the form of guarantees, national government budget appropriations, subsidies, among others.
- Section 4 requires the RDC to initiate and coordinate development, funding, and implementation of regional and special development projects involving several agencies or LGUs.
- Section 4 requires the RDC to coordinate monitoring and evaluation of development projects undertaken by:
- government agencies;
- local government units;
- state colleges and universities;
- government-owned and/or controlled corporations; and
- special development authorities in the region.
- Section 4 requires the RDC to perform other related functions and activities necessary to promote and sustain socio-economic development of the regions.
- Section 10 requires the RDC Full Council to meet at least once every quarter.
- Section 10 authorizes the RDC to adopt its own rules on constituting quorum.
Appointment, term, and RDC chair powers
- Section 11 requires the RDC to nominate at least two (2) local chief executives who are ex-officio members and two (2) private sector representatives from whom the President selects and appoints the RDC Chairman and Co-Chairman.
- Section 11 requires that if the Chairman is from the government sector, the Co-Chairman must be selected from the private sector (and vice-versa).
- Section 11 bars regional directors of national government agencies in the region from being included in the selection of nominees for Chairman and Co-Chairman.
- Section 12 requires the Chairman/Co-Chairman to:
- preside over Council meetings;
- direct members of the Council, affiliate committees, and regional line agencies to perform tasks the RDC deems necessary;
- accept, on behalf of the Council, donations, contributions, grants, bequests, or gifts;
- represent the region in Cabinet meetings and other national-level activities;
- submit to the President through the NEDA Board regional plans, regional investment programs, annual development reports, and other documents on the region as approved by the Council; and
- perform other functions and duties directed by the President.
- Section 14 fixes the term of office of the RDC Chairman, Co-Chairman, and PSRs at three years, coinciding with the regular term of local elective officials.
Secretariat, funding, and transitions
- Section 13 designates the NEDA Regional Office as the Secretariat of the RDC.
- Section 13 requires the NEDA Regional Director to manage the RDC’s technical, administrative, and financial operations.
- Section 13 requires the NEDA Regional Director to be accountable for the RDC’s funds and properties.
- Section 15 provides that funds necessary for RDC operations, project monitoring and evaluation, and implementation of special projects are included in the annual general appropriations bill submitted to Congress, subject to the usual auditing rules and regulations.
- Section 18 provides a transitory rule: existing private sector representatives continue to serve until their term expires.
- Section 18 provides that selection of the new set of private sector representatives will then follow Section 2 (guidelines approved by the NEDA Board).
Implementation, non-applicability, and repeals
- Section 16 provides that the Executive Order does not apply to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
- Section 17 directs the NEDA Board to prepare and adopt detailed guidelines to implement the specific provisions of the Executive Order.
- Section 19 repeals or modifies all previous inconsistent issuances.
- Section 20 provides that the Executive Order takes effect immediately.