Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City EIVE
OCT 20
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

o mys
House BillNo,_ 8953 _

Introduced by HONORABLE ELISA T. KHO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 1999, the Government launched the Convergence Strategy as a mechanism to
achieve institutional coordination and eventually success in Rural Development. The 2011-
2016 Philippine Development Plan (PDP) reaffirmed the mechanisms and objectives of the
National Convergence Initiative towards more efficient use of resources.

Unfortunately, institutional weaknesses have plagued the Convergence Strategy,
resulting in little or no results being realized in the almost two decades.These weaknesses
have become entrenched in the Departments of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, and
Environment and Natural Resources ~ the three agencies principally responsible for Rural
Development. As a result, operations have been fragmented, thus weakening rather than
amplifying the impact of development activities on the intended beneficiaries.

To mitigate the institutional coordination problems, Government has repeatedly
underscored the importance of the roles that the DA, DAR, and DENR have to play in the
adoption and implementation of joint and complementary activities in rural areas.Even so,
various assessment measures have repeatedly pointed out poor coordination as a serious
weakness among the three principal development agencies.

It is at this point that one must simply realize that the institutionalization of the
Convergence Framework is necessary for countryside development. As it stands right now,
the Framework is unable to address the challenges which confront not only the DA, DAR,
and DENR, but the LGUs as well. Most ~ if not all - of the aspects of the Convergence
Framework even originate from National Government sources. The capacity of LGUs to
perform tasks associated with the achievement of sustainable countryside development
goals is curbed as a result. By institutionalizing the Framework, it is hoped that the efforts of
the DA, DAR, and DENR would complement those of the LGUs in order to ultimately
contribute to the improvement of the quality of life in the countryside.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this proposed measure is earnestly sought.

Fn i a gd KHO, M.D., FPCCP.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No. 899

Introduced by HONORABLE ELISA T. KHO

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE CONVERGENCE STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL
DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDING THE IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS THEREFORE, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled :

CHAPTER!
INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the National Convergence Initiative Act
of 2016.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies and Objectives. It is the policy of the State to
promote agricultural development as a means to ensure food security and alleviate
Poverty especially among the rural folks. Towards this end, the State shall develop
and operationalize a common framework for sustainable and equitable rural
development that will facilitate the convergence of the resources of the principal rural

development agencies to maximize its impact.

The implementation of the National Convergence Strategy shall be guided by the following

principles :

a. The Department of Agriculture ~ Department of Agrarian Reform ~ Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DA-DAR-DENR) National Convergence
shall be treated as an institutionalized complementation strategy between and
among the three (3) rural development agencies. Whenever the opportunity

arises, the Convergence shall work with other national line agencies, donor agencies,


international and local non-government organizations (NGO's), people’s

organi:

ions (POs) mentioned in Section 6 hereof;
The primary of the Local Government Units (LGUs) as the integrating and
converging force for sustainable rural development at the local level shall be
emphasized;

The participatory approach shall be adopted in all phases of development from
planning and budgeting, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation;
Complementation of resources and expertise of the concerned agencies and
LGUs shall take primordial consideration in the implementation of the
Convergence Initiative;

Convergence shall be mainstreamed in all programs, projects and activities of the
national government agencies and concerned LGUs;

Networking and linkaging with other government entities such as, but not limited
to, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG), State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) and Government-
Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) shall be undertaken by the three
rural development agencies for coverage of potential areas under the
Convergence initiative for rural development;

Instituting relevant measures for an enabling environment to encourage

investment by the private sector;

SECTION 3. Scope. This Act shall apply to all rural development areas primarily

inhabited by the convergence ini

ive programs targeted beneficiaries ~ the marginalized

farmers (both agrarian reform beneficiaries non-agrarian reform beneficiaries), fisherfolks,

upland dwellers and indigenous people.

CHAPTER II
DEFINITIONS

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. As used in and for purposes of this Act, the

following terms shall mean:

a

Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) refer to farmers who were granted lands
under Presidential Decree No. 27, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law and
Republic Act No. 9700 or the “Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Extension with
Reform” and regular farm workers who are landless, irrespective of tenurial

arrangement;


Agricultural lands refer to lands devoted to or suitable for agricultural activity
and not classified by law as mineral, forest, residential, commercial or industrial
land;

Agro-based cluster refers to the concentration of producers, agri-business and
institutions that are engaged in the same agricultural or agro-industrial sub-
sector, and inter-connect;

Coastal areas refer to a band of dry land and the adjacent ocean space (water
and submerged land) in which terrestrial processes and uses directly affect

oceanic process and uses, and vice versa. For purposes of initiating and

implementing the Convergence Initiativ

it shall include foreshore land;
Ecosystem refers to the complex relationships among the living resources,
habitats and residents of an area. it includes plants, trees, animals, fish, birds,
micro-organisms, water, soil, and people;

Enhanced National Convergence Initiative (Enhanced NCI) refers to the National
Convergence Initiative Strategy provided for under DA-DAR-DENR Joint
Memorandum Circular No. 01, Series of 2010;

Farmers refer to natural persons whose primary livelihood is cultivation of land
or the production of agricultural crops, agro-forestry products, livestock and-or
fisheries either by himself/herself, or primarily with the assistance of his/her
immediate farm household, whether the land is owned by him/her by another
person under a leasehold or share tenancy agreement or arrangement with the
owner thereof;

Fisherfolks refer to people directly or personally and physically engaged in taking
and/or culturing and processing fishery and/or aquatic resources;

Good agricultural practices refer to applying available knowledge to addressing
environmental, economic and social sustainability dimensions for on-farm
production and post-production processes, resulting in safe and quality food and
non-food agricultural products;

Local Government Units refer to government units at the sub-national level or
government units at the regional, provincial and municipal levels;

Mangrove forests refer to silt-rich, saline (brackish water) habitat generally found
along large rivers, deltas and estuaries in the coastal areas. It is characterized by

low tree diversity with a low broken canopy. It serves as barrier to strong tidal


p.

waves and habitat of various aquatic species;
Primary forests or old growth forests refer to untouched, pristine forest that
exists in its original condition and has been relatively unaffected by human

activity;

Ridge-to-Reef strategy refers to the development approach to improve the lives
of the ARBs and small farmers, indigenous peoples, marginalized dwellers and
fisherfolks (that is from upland and forest areas, in middle and lowland areas,
down to the coastal areas);

Rural development agencies refer to the Department of Agriculture, the
Department of Agrarian Reform and the Department of Environment and Natural

Resources;

. Strategic Agricultural and Fisheries Development Zones (SAFDZ) refer to areas

within the Network of Protected Areas for Agricultural and Agro-Industrial
Development (NPAAAD) identified for production, agro-processing and
marketing activities to help develop and modernize, with the support of the
government, the agriculture and fisheries sectors, in an modernize, with the
support of the government, the agriculture and fisheries sectors, in an
environmentally and socio-culturally sound manner;

Secondary growth forests refer to the largest and most dynamic natural forest
ecosystem in the Philippines. For purposes of this Act, it shall refer to as an area
which has been disturbed in some way, naturally or unnaturally created in a
number of ways from degraded forest recovering from selective logging to areas
cleared by slash-and-burn agriculture or “kaingin” that have been reclaimed by
forest. It also characterized be a less developed canopy structure, smaller trees

and less diversity;

. Sustainable rural development refers to the development objectives of meeting

the needs of the present generation in the rural communities, without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
consistent with the principles of social equity, efficiency and environmental
integrity;

Upland / forest ecosystems refer to areas with at least 18% slope. For purposes

of this Act, it shall also refer to an area that provides ecological benefits and

support to agricultural production, industries, water and power needs. Timber


production as well as agro-forestry activities may be promoted in these areas to
maximize their utilization;
Watershed refers to a topographically delineated area of land from which

rainwater can drain as surface run-off vis-a-vis a specific stream or river system

to a. common outlet point which may be a dam, irrigation system or urban water

supply take-off point, or where the stream discharges into a river, lake or the sea.

CHAPTER III
PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK

SECTION 5. Guiding Framework. The convergence strategy shall adopt the

watershed and ecosystem management approach as the intervention framework in the

convergence areas. This is primarily because the “ridge to reef” convergence strategy is an

environmentally sustainable approach to development as human interventions in the forest

and upland areas would impact on the lowland areas, and this in turn would affect the

coastal and marine areas. Selection of convergence zones shall likewise take into

consideration the SAFDZ provision of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act
(AFMA) of 1997.

Section 6. Criteria for Selection of Convergence Areas. The following entries shall

guide the selection of convergence for the agro-enterprise cluster:

a

Completeness of ecosystem zones. The convergence sites should cut across the
various ecosystems or should be a combination of two or more ecosystems;

Key production zones, Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) and clusters with
connectivity for increased productivity and income. The convergence sites should
be current key production areas or with potential to substantially expand and
scale-up production. As such, the area may transform; from mono-cropping to
integrated, multi-cropping or high value farming system. in terms of connectivity,
the key production zone may be linked with surrounding areas for allied
industries/services or for backward linkages;

Combination of sites across major poverty groups. The convergence sites must
cover a significant number of small farmers/agricultural workers including actual
and potential ARBs, fisherfolks, indigenous people a rural women and upland

dwellers;


d. Presence of development-oriented local government leaders and LGU alliances.
The convergence sites should have LGU’s and Local Chief Executives (LCEs) that
share a common perspective in rural development and are willing to support the
convergence initiative;

e. Presence of NGO’s POs, private sector and academic/research community. The
convergence sites should have active POs and/or NGOs that are willing to
support the convergence initiative. Presence of private/business and academic
/research institutions that are willing to partner within the convergence

framework shall be an advantage.

CHAPTER IV
NCI TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS (TWGs) AND COMPONENTS

SECTION 7. Technical Working Groups of NCI. The implementation of the NCI shall
be done through Technical Working Groups along ecosystem. The three working groups
shall be mutually re-enforcing and are equally important in ensuring that the objectives are
achieved and is seen to improve institutional efficiencies in the governance of sustainable

rural development.

a. TWG on Coastal and Marine Resources Management — shall address the issues
and concern on pertaining to the use and management of coral reefs, sea grasses
and algal beds, brackish wetland areas, mangroves and beach forests
ecosystems. The TWG shall be composed of concerned agencies / units of the
DA, DENR and the DILG. Other government agencies, NGOs/ POs, the academe,
private sector or business groups / associations may also be part of the TWG
whenever necessary.

b. TWG on Lowland Sustainable Agriculture ~ shall address issues and concerns on
the use and management of the agricultural ecosystems through application of
Good-Agricultural Practices (GAP). The TWG shall be composed of concerned
agencies / units of the DA, DAR, DENR and the DILG. Other government agencies,
NGOs / POs, the academe, private sector or business groups / associations may

also be part of the TWG whenever necessary.


¢. TWG on Forestry and Upland Development — shall address issues and concerns
fon the use and sustainable management of the upland areas and forests
ecosystems through conservation of biodiversity, protection of primary or old
growth forests and secondary growth forest, and rehabilitation of degraded and
denuded ecosystems. The TWG shall be composed of concerned agencies / units
of the DA, DAR, DENR and DILG. Other government agencies, NGOs/ POs, the
academe, private sector or business groups / association may also be part of the

TWG whenever necessary.

SECTION 8. Components of NCI. The following shall serve as cross cutting
components of the three TWGs.

a. Policy and Advocacy. The component shall address the issues and problems of
conflicting, overlapping, and other unclear policies related to land
administration, regulatory, framework, operational strategies and jurisdictional
boundaries.

b. Agro-Enterprise and Agribusiness Development. The component shall facilitate
enterprise development and agribusiness within the convergence sites though
the establishment of agro-enterprises clusters in all provinces. These clusters
shall be the focus for agribusiness initiatives based on the potential of the areas
especially those designated as strategic zones as identified by the SAFDZ maps.

©. Capacity Development. The Component shall ensure the organizational
preparedness of the three agencies and capability of the implementers and other
stakeholders to implement the convergence initiative

d. Knowledge Management. The component shall ensure that NCI programs,
Projects and initiatives are implemented and monitored in an efficient and
effective manner. It shall likewise ensure that innovations are documented for

possible adoption, expansion and scaling up.

CHAPTER V
IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE AND MECHANISM

Article 1
National Policy Administration

SECTION 9. Creation of the National Convergence Initiative Administration (NCIA).


primary coordinating body of the NCI program and shall be under the Office of the
President. As a primary coordinating body it shall also be the convenor of the current

National Convergence Initiative Technical Working Group (NCI-TWG).

SECTION 9. A. Composition. The NCI~TWG to be convened by the NCIA shall have
the following members:

Administrator

se

Deputy Administrator

Chairperson, TWG on Coastal and Marine Resources Management

eo

Chairperson, TWG on Lowland Resources Management

Chairperson, TWG on Forestry and Upland Development

f. Chairperson, Working Group on Policy and Advocacy

8. Chairperson, Working Group on Agro-Enterprises Development
h. Chairperson, Working Group on Knowledge Management

i, Chairperson, Working Group on Capacity Development

j. Convergence Focal Person, DA

k. Convergence Focal Person, DAR

|. Convergence Focal Person, DENR

m. Head, NCI Secretariat

SECTION 9.8. Powers and Functions of the NCIA. The NCIA shall have the following

powers and functions:

a. Formulate sustainable rural development framework and recommend to the
Board (Section 13) necessary adjustment;

b. Integrate, harmonize and oversee the implementation of the convergence
initiative plans and programs of the sub-national TWGs;

¢. Recommend to the Executive Board the operational plans, programs, and
guidelines relevant to the NCI Framework;

d. Carty out data-based management of convergence area and prospective
convergence areas nation-wide;

e. Mobilize concerned personnel to actively participate in various activities relative

to the Convergence Initiative ;


8. Fac

‘ate the formation of Convergence teams together with other concerned
stakeholders;
h. Monitor and evaluate the progress of implementation of Convergence

projects/activities;

SECTION 9. C. Powers and Functions of the NCIA Administrator. The Administrator

shall also have the following powers and functions :

a. Act as the executive head of the NCIA and Secretary of the Board and perform
the powers and functions incident to the said positions;

b. Be responsible for the implementation and overall execution of the policies, rules
and regulations and decisions adopted by the Board and as such, shall issue the
corresponding implementing administrative issuances and promulgate opinions
and interpretative circulars and rulings to ensure expeditious and effective
implementation thereof;

¢. Approve plans and programs prepared by the Regional, Provincial and Municipal
Convergence initiative Technical Working Group;

d. Review fulfillment of the commitments of the respective agencies related to the
implementation of the NCI; and

e. Perform other powers and functions as may be inherent, incident, or related to

the foregoing;

SECTION 9. 0. Qualification of the Administrator. The Admi

trator must have a
background or significant training preferably in the field of economics, business
economics agriculture, agribusiness, land resources management, and development
planning and management for a period of at least five (5) years. The Administrator
shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines and shall have
the rank of Undersecretary.

Section 9.£. Deputy Administrator. The Administrator shall be assisted by a Deputy
Administrator who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the
Board’s recommendation. The Deputy Administrator shall have the same

qualifications as the Administrator and shall have the rank of Assistant Secretary.


The Deputy Administration shall be the operational and administrative manager of

the NCIA and shall assist the administrator in routine housekeeping functions.

SECTION 10. CIA Executive Board. The NCIA shall have an Executive Board
hereinafter referred to as the Board which shall act as the policy making body of the NCI.
‘The Board shall direct the implementation of the provisions of this Act.

Section 10. A. Composition. The Board shall be composed of five (5) voting
members:

a. The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture as Chairperson,

b. The Secretaries of the Department of Environment and Natural
Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Agrarian
Reform as Vice-Chairpersons;

c. The Secretaries of the Department of Interior and Local Government and
the Director-General for the Natural Economic Development Agency as
members;

d. The Administrator of NCIA, as ex-officio member, who shall likewise act as
Secretary to the Board.

The Secretaries may appoint their respective permanent alternate

representatives with a rank of not lower than Undersecretary.

Section 10. 8. Powers and Functions. The NCIA Executive Board shall assume the

following powers and functions of the current National Steering Committee, namely.

a. Provide overall policy dire:

ns. for the implementation of
programs/projects and other related activities under the NCI;
b. Approve/ratify implementing rules and regulations, programs, projects

and plans pertaining to the operations of the NCI;

c. Consult other concerned national government agen

stakeholders, and partner agencies on p

ies and major programs
related to sustainable rural development;

d. Approve of Memorandum of Agreement with investors and funding



e. Regularly advise the President on all matters concerning the

implementation of convergence initiative strategies;

Section 10. C. Meetings. The Board shall meet on a quarterly basis and may hold

Special meetings as deemed necessary. However, hosting of NSC me

es may

rotate amongst the three rural development agencies.

SECTION 11. Technical Working Groups and Components of the NCI-TWG. The
Administrator shall convene the members of the respective Working Groups to elect
amongst them the Chairperson for each Working Group. The Chairperson of each Working
Group shall then designate or appoint a Coordinator from their respective agency. The
functions and composition of the Technical Working Groups and Components shall remain
in force until revised by the NCIA Board.

SECTION 12. Convergence Focal Person. Each agency shall designate a Convergence
Focal Person who shall be responsible for the coordination and management of the
convergence program in their respective agency (national and field levels). The agency
Convergence Focal Person shall likewise be a member of the NCIA TWG. The agency
Convergence Focal Person shall work closely with the NCI Secretariat for effective

coordination of concerns of NCI and the working groups relative to their respective agency.

SECTION 13. National Convergence Initiative Secretariat. The Board shall appoint
the Head of the NCI Secretariat with the Coordinators of each of the Technical Working
Groups and components as members. There will also be permanent members of the
Secretariat coming from the three agencies on top of the coordinators of each working
group. The NCI Secretariat shall work closely with the NCIA Administrator, the Chairperson
of the different Working Groups and the agency Convergence Focal Person.

SECTION 13. A. Functions of the NCI Secretariat. The NCI Secretariat shall :

a. Implement approved plans and projects;

b. Facilitate the provision of administrative and logistics support to the


Ensure that appropriate actions are taken on agreements reached during
meetings/workshops;

|. Submit monitoring/progress reports to the Board through the NCIA and
to the other oversight bodies;

. Work closely with the NCIA and the Working Groups;

Together with the NCIA Admi

trator, convene the members of the
Working Group and conduct election for the Chair of the Working
Groups;

Maintain effective and efficient data management system of the NCI.

Article Two.
Sub-National Level Administration

SECTION 14. Regional Convergence Initiative-Technical Working Group (RCI-
TWG). Parallel to the NCI-TWG, the RCI-TWG shall manage and supervise the programs,

projects, and other related activities at the regional level. The RCI-TWG shall be the regional

arm of the NCIA in carrying out its functions:

SECTION 14. A. Duties and Responsibilities.

Work closely with other government line agencies and offices and with
the Regional Development Council (RDC) and concerned Provincial
Development Council (PDC) to ensure that the enhanced convergence
initiative interventions are aligned with the regional development agenda
and initiatives;

Facilitate complementation of efforts and resources for greater impact;
Coordinate and work closely with the Provincial LGUs in the
implementation of the NCI plans, programs, projects and other related
activities. The Regional Directors of DA, DAR, and DENR may enter an
agreement with the Provincial Governor or LGU leagues, as necessary;

|. Meet monthly or a deemed necessary.

SECTION 14. B. Composition of the RCI-TWG. The RCI-TWG shall be composed of.


a. DA, DAR or DENR Regional Director as Chairperson

b. Depending on the result of the election, the two latter directors will act as
Co-Chairpersons

©. Regional Focal Persons for all the departments and Head RCI-TWG

Secretariat as Members.

The Chairperson of the RCI-TWG shall be a convergence champion and shall
be decided by and among the Regional Directors of DA, DAR and DENR. Upon
the completion of the RCI-TWG composition, a resolution to that effect shall
be submitted to the NCI Secretariat. Membership of the RCI-TWG may be
expanded to include representatives from the Provincial LGUs and other

agencies as deemed necessary.

The RCI-Secretariat shall be created and would be composed of
representatives from the regional offices of DA, DAR, and DENR. The RCI
Secretariat shall be headed by the Regional Focal Person. The Regional Focal
Persons and the members of the RCI Secretariat shall be designated by the
chairperson of RCI-TWG (from the agency where the Chairperson belongs).

SECTION 15. Provincial Convergence Initiative Technical Working Group (PCI

TWG). The PCI-TWG shall be responsible in implementing plans, programs, projects, and
other related activities of the NCI at their respective provinces in collaboration with RCI-
TWG. The PCI-TWG shall identify or determine appropriate interventions, resources, and
support services needed such as, but not limited to infrastructure, logistics, extension,
inputs, lands, and institutional development for the implementation of the NCI plans and

programs.

The Chairperson of the PCI-TWG shall be Provincial Governor and the Provincial head of DAR
and DENR shall be the Co-Chairpersons. The members of the PCI-TWG are the Provincial
Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO), Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer
(PARO), Provincial Agriculture Officer (PAO), and Provincial Planning and Development
Coordinator (PPDC) and Provincial Government ~ Environment and Natural Resources

Officer (PG-ENRO).


The respective interface mechanisms shall be LGU-led with DA, DAR, and DENR providing
technical and operational support. Existing LGU mechanisms may be adopted to spearhead

or manage the convergence initiatives at the LGU level.

SECTION 16. Municipal Convergence Initiative Technical Working Group (MCI-

TWG). The MCI-TWG shall be responsible in implementing plans, programs, projects, and
other related activities of the NCI at their respective municipalities in collaboration with the
PCI-TWG. The MCI-TWG shall identify or determine appropriate interventions, resources,
and support services needed such as, but not limited to, infrastructure, logistics, extension,
inputs, lands, and institutional development for the implementations of the NCI plans and

programs,

The Chairperson of the MCI-TWG shall be headed by the Municipal/City Mayor. The
Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer (MARO) and the Community Environment and Natural
Resources Officer (CENRO) shall act as Co-Chair. The members of the MCI-TWG are the
Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO), City/Municipal
Environment and Natural Resource Officer (C/MeNRO), Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer
(MARO}, Municipal Agriculture Officer (MAO) and concerned City/Municipal Planning and
Development Coordinator (C/MPOC)..

The respective interface mechanisms shall be LGU-led with DA, DAR, and DENR providing
technical and operational support. Existing LGU mechanisms may be adopted to spearhead

or manage the convergence initiatives at the LGU level.

Article Three
Other National Government Agencies and Local Government Units

SECTION 17. Scope and Nature of Support from Government Line Agencies and
Offices. The NCIA shall work closely with other government line agencies and offices to
ensure complementation and alignment of NCI interventions with that of other related
agencies and offices. Conversely, all concerned National Government agencies/bodies shall
render technical administrative support if called upon the NCIA relative to the

implementation of the provisions of this Act.


SECTION 18. Local Government Units. The Local Government Units which have the
mandate to coordinate and manage local development shall take an active role in the

implementation of an institutionalized convergence strategy.

CHAPTER VI
‘TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS.

SECTION 19. Convening of NCIA. Within thirty (30) days from the effectively of this
Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall convene the NCIA. The current head of the Enhanced
National Convergence Initiative Secretariat shall sit temporarily as Administrator and ex-
officio member of the NCIA Executive Board until such time that a regular Administrator has

been appointed by the President.

SECTION 20. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The said rules and regulations
shall be submitted to the Congressional Oversight on the National Convergence Initiative as
created by the succeeding provision for approval.

SECTION 21. Congressional Oversight Committee on the National Conversion
Initiative. There is hereby created a Congressional Oversight Committee composed of five
members each from the Committee on Agriculture of the Senate of the Philippines and the
Committee on Rural Development of the House of Representatives. The members of the
Senate President based on proportional representation of the parties or coalitions therein
with at least two (2) senators representing the minority. The members from the House of
the Representatives shall be appointed by the Speaker also based on proportional
representation of the parties or coalitions therein with at least two (2) congressmen

representing the minority.

The oversight committee which shall function for a period of not more than five (5) years,
shall have the power to review the implementing rules issued by NCIA within thirty (30) days
from the promulgation of the said rules and oversee the implementation of this Act.
Provided, that the Secretariat of the Oversight Committee shall be drawn from the existing

Secretariat personnel of the committees compromising the oversight.


Funding shall be taken from the appropriations of both the Senate and the House of the

Representatives.

SECTION 22. _Effectivity of the Creation of the NCIA. Until such time that the NCIA
has been organized and fully operational, the current operational set-up on the NCI as
provided for under DA-DAR-DENR Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2010, and its
relevant amendments, shall continue. Hiring separation, replacement, and appointment of

personnel shall be in accordance with existing Civil Service rules and regulations.

SECTION 23. Structure and Staffing Pattern. Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the NCIA Board Chairperson shall formulate and submit to the
Congressional Oversight Committee for its review and approval, the NCIA’s proposed
organizational structure and staffing pattern. After such review and approval, the proposed
organizational structure and staffing pattern of the NCIA shall be submitted to the
President for final approval through the Department of Budget and Management (08M)
within ninety (90) days.

SECTION 24. Appropriations. Funds necessary to carry out the implementation of
the NCI shall be taken from the available funds of the three rural development agencies
under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary
for its staggered implementation shall be included in the respective annual budget of the

aforementioned rural development agencies in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

Other sources of funds such as grants, donations, and other forms of assistance from donor
agencies and other public or private entities may be tapped and facilitated by NCI Board
and/or the NCIA to support the program, subject to regular auditing guidelines and
procedures. Cost-sharing or counter-parting schemes among national government and LGUs

is also encouraged to support the implementation of the Convergence Initiative.

SECTION 25. Non-Impairment Clause. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as to

diminish, impair or repeal rights recognit

d, granted, or available to marginalized or basic
sectors under existing laws including but not limited to Republic Act Nos. 8371, 8550 and
6657.


SECTION 26. Clause. If for any reason or reasons, any part or

provision of this Act shall be declared or held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts
or provisions hereof, which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and

effect.
SECTION 27. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspaper of general

circulation.

Approved,