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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 701
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL “JAVI” L. BENITEZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 21, Article II of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to 
promote comprehensive rural development. Towards this end, the National 
Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development was established.  
The NCI-SRD is a strategic framework that integrates planning, 
budgeting, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of rural 
development programs of the Department of Agriculture, Department of 
Agrarian Reform, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and 
Department of Interior and Local Government. It addresses the fragmented 
interventions for rural development and promotes integrated ecosystem 
management or sustainable integrated rural development which takes into 
consideration the conservation, restoration and protection of natural 
ecosystems and resources from ridge to reef. Its implementation mechanism 
involves inter-agency bodies at regional, provincial and municipal levels. 
It ensures that development is guided by ecological principles, and 
development pressures do not disrupt natural cycles that sustain the rich 
biodiversity in the mountains and down its rolling slopes to the coast and the 
sea. Verily, NCI-SRD embeds social responsibility to conserve and protect our 
environment so that future generations can benefit from its abundance. 
Established in 1999 through DA-DAR-DENR Joint Memorandum 
Circular No. 01, s. 1999, the NCI-SRD was expanded to include the DILG in 
2015, pursuant to DA-DAR-DENR-DILG Joint Memorandum Circular No. 01, 
s. 2015. It started with nine pilot convergence areas in 2000 to demonstrate the
feasibility of the convergence framework. This has grown into 15 convergence
areas in 10 regions in 2019. Convergence areas are selected based on a set of
criteria, including potential for fisheries and agro-forestry, target groups, status
of intersecting ecosystem services, and performance of local government units.
July 1, 2025 
8:04 am


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This bill aims to institutionalize the NCI-SRD as an integral component of 
the poverty reduction policy of the Government. This bill had been thoroughly 
deliberated and approved on third reading in the 18th Congress, through the 
leadership of Rep. Elisa Olga Kho, then Chairperson of the House Committee 
on Rural Development. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 701
Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL “JAVI” L. BENITEZ 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE CONVERGENCE STRATEGY FOR 
SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDING THE 
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
General Provisions 
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “National 
Convergence Strategy for Sustainable Rural Development (NCS-SRD) Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to promote 
agricultural development as a means to ensure food security and alleviate 
poverty. Towards this end, the State shall develop and operationalize a 
common framework for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable rural 
development through the convergence of the resources of the principal 
departments of the National Government concerned with rural development, 
namely the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform 
(DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). This convergence shall 
be implemented through a national convergence strategy. 
SEC. 3. Guiding Principles. — The implementation of the National 
Convergence Strategy for sustainable rural development (NCS-SRD) is guided 
by the following principles: 


 
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a) 
The 
National 
Convergence 
Strategy 
is 
an 
institutionalized 
complementation strategy among the DA, DAR, DENR, and the DILG. 
The four (4) rural development departments shall work with other 
national line agencies and government-owned and controlled 
corporations 
(GOCCs). 
primarily 
the 
National 
Electrification 
Administration (NEA), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and 
National Food Authority (NFA), the academe, donor agencies, 
international and local non-government organizations (NGOs), people's 
organizations (POs), and other relevant stakeholders to mitigate 
institutional coordination problems; 
 
b) 
The complementation of resources and expertise of the DA, DAR, 
DENR, and the DILG, and local government units (LGUs) shall be the 
primordial consideration in the implementation of the National 
Convergence Strategy: Provided, that such collaborative activities shall 
not alter or impair the respective mandates of the DA, DAR, DENR, and 
the DILG; 
 
c) 
The primacy of the LGUs as the integrating and converging force for 
sustainable rural development at the local level shall be emphasized. 
The NCS-SRD shall aim to strengthen the LGUs into becoming 
sustainable economies; 
 
d) 
The National Convergence Strategy must have a defined constituency. 
Intervention following the ridge-to-reef strategy shall focus on 
smallholder farmers, both agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), and 
non-ARBs, small fisherfolk, upland dwellers, and Indigenous Peoples 
(IPs); 
e) 
The participatory approach shall be adopted in all phases of 
development: planning and budgeting, implementation, monitoring 
and evaluation, reporting and knowledge sharing; 
 
f) 
The National Convergence Strategy shall be incorporated in all 
programs, projects and activities of the national government 
departments and concerned LGUs to enhance the complementation of 
resources and expertise of the DA, DAR, DENR, DILG, and LGUs; 
 
g) 
The National Convergence Strategy shall include relevant measures for 
an enabling environment to encourage investment by the private sector, 
cooperatives and other NGOs. 
 
SEC. 4. Scope. — This Act shall apply to all rural development areas 
primarily inhabited by targeted beneficiaries, namely, the smallholder farmers, 
both ARBs and non- ARBs, small fisherfolk, upland dwellers, and IPs. 


 
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SEC. 5. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act: 
 
a) 
Agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) refer to landless farmers and regular 
farm workers, irrespective of tenurial arrangement, who were awarded 
lands as evidenced by as Emancipation Patent (EP) or a Certificate of 
Land Ownership Award (CLOA) under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 27 
or Republic Act (RA) No. 6657, as amended, otherwise known as the 
“Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988”, including the 
leaseholders to the landowners’ retained areas who represent the ARB 
group which were not awarded with lands but whose tenurial rights 
maybe evidenced by the registration of leasehold contracts; 
 
b) 
Agribusiness refers to agriculture and fishery-based activities that put 
farmers, processors, distributors, consumers, and other players within a 
system that produces, processes, transports, markets, and distributes 
agricultural and fishery products using appropriate technologies and 
applications; 
 
c) 
Convergence refers to the integration, complementation, harmonization 
and optimization of institutional, technical, financial, and human 
resources; 
 
d) 
Ecosystem refers to a physically defined environment made up of two 
inseparable components which are the i) biotope, or a particular physical 
environment with specific characteristics such as the climate, 
temperature, humidity, and concentration of nutrients, and the ii) 
biocenosis which is a set of living organisms such as animals, plants or 
micro-organisms that are in constant interaction and are, therefore, in a 
situation of interdependence; 
 
e) 
Forest ecosystem refers to a dynamic complex of plant animal and micro-
organism communities and their abiotic environment interacting as a 
functional unit, where trees are a key component and where humans, 
with their cultural, economic and environmental needs are an integral 
part of; 
 
f) 
Indigenous peoples (IPs) refers to a group of people or homogenous 
societies identified by self-ascription and ascription by others who have 
continuously lived as an organized community on communally 
bounded and defined territory, and who, under claims of ownership 
since time immemorial, occupied the same; possessed customs, tradition 
and other distinctive cultural traits, or who have, through resistance to 
political, social and cultural inroads of colonization, now-indigenous 
religions and culture, became historically differentiated from the 


 
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majority of Filipinos; 
 
g) 
Small holder farmers refer to marginal and sub-marginal farm households 
that own or cultivate not more than three (3) hectares of land including 
ARBs and non-ARBs; 
 
h) 
Small fisherfolk refer to people directly or personally and physically 
engaged in culturing and processing fishery and aquatic resources; 
 
i) 
Sustainable rural development (SRD) refers to the development objective 
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. 
 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
Physical Framework 
 
SEC. 6. Guiding Framework. — The convergence strategy shall adopt the 
ridge-to- reef or sustainable integrated area development approaches as the 
intervention framework in the convergence areas. 
 
The ridge-to-reef strategy refers to the development approach where 
coastal and estuarine ecosystems are managed so human settlements in upland 
and forest areas, in middle and lowland areas, or in coastal areas, may use the 
resources therein to support livelihood and derive income therefrom in a 
sustainable manner, minimizing therefore damage to wetlands and marine 
environments. On the other hand, integrated area development refers to a 
development approach that considers the ecological, economic, political, 
cultural and human challenges and opportunities in a specific area. 
 
For purposes of this Act, convergence area refers to the physical area that 
is selected according to a set of criteria mandated under Section 7 of this Act, 
and shall be developed according to a Convergence Area Development Plan 
(CADP) proposed by the LGU, and approved by the NCS-SRD Executive Board 
created under Section 10 of this Act. 
 
SEC. 7. Criteria for Selection of Convergence Areas. — There shall be a set 
of mandatory and prioritization criteria that shall guide the identification and 
selection of a convergence area. 
 
a) 
The mandatory criteria include the following: 
 
1) 
Adequacy of ecosystem zones. — The convergence area 


 
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must cut across the various ecosystems or must be a 
combination of at least two (2) ecosystems; 
 
2) 
Good financial housekeeping record. — The LGU must 
show proof of good governance performance in internal 
housekeeping, particularly in sound fiscal management. 
 
b) 
The prioritization criteria include the following: 
 
1) Key production areas with connectivity for increased 
productivity and income. — The convergence areas must 
have been identified by the DA, DAR, DENR and the 
DILG for agro-forestry and fisheries development for 
major production or with potential for expansion, scaling 
up or connection to allied industries, services for 
backward and forward integration; 
 
2) Combination of sites across major poverty groups. — The 
convergence areas must cover a significant number of 
smallholder farmers, agricultural workers including 
actual and potential ARBs, fisherfolk, IPs, rural women, 
and upland dwellers; 
 
3) Presence of relevant stakeholders and civil society 
organizations (CSOs). — The convergence areas must 
have active CSOs that may be tapped to support the 
convergence initiative; these include private, business, 
academic, and research institutions that are willing to 
partner within the convergence area. 
 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
NCS-SRD Ecosystem Technical Working Groups and Components 
 
SEC. 8. Ecosystem Technical Working Groups of NCS-SRD. – Three (3) 
technical working groups (TWGs) shall implement the NCS-SRD in an 
ecosystem. They shall be equally important and mutually re-enforcing, and 
shall ensure that the objectives of the NCS- SRD as a means of improving 
institutional efficiencies are achieved. 
 
Infrastructure development shall form part of the improvement of the 
ecosystem and shall sufficiently consider the impact of such development on 
ecosystem services. 
 


 
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The TWG on Coastal and Marine Resources Management shall address 
the issues and concerns 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 representatives of the 
concerned offices and units of the DA, DAR, DENR and DfLG. Other 
government agencies, NGOs, POs, the academe, private sector or business 
groups, and other associations may, upon determination of the NCS-SRD 
Executive Board. be invited to participate in the work of the TWG. 
 
The TWG on Sustainable Lowland Agriculture shall address the issues 
and concerns on the use and management of agricultural ecosystems through 
the application of good agricultural practices or applied knowledge and 
practices geared at addressing environmental, economic and social 
sustainability dimensions of on-farm production and post-production 
processes, resulting in unique and exceptional non-food agricultural products, 
and safe and nutritious food products. The TWG shall be composed of 
representatives of the concerned offices or units of the DA, DAR, DENR, and 
DILG. Other government agencies, NGOs, POs, the academe, and private 
sector may upon the determination of the NCS-SRD Executive Board, be 
invited to participate in the meetings and activities of the TWG. 
 
The TWG on Forestry and Upland Development shall address the issues 
and concerns on 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 forests, and rehabilitation of 
degraded and denuded ecosystems. The TWG shall be composed of 
representatives of the concerned offices and units of the DA, DAR, DENR, and 
DILG. Other government agencies, NGOs, POs, the academe, private sector or 
business groups may, upon determination of the NCS-SRD Executive Board, 
be invited to participate in the meetings and activities of the TWG. 
 
For purposes of this section, primary or old growth forests refer to 
untouched, pristine forests that exist in their original condition and relatively 
unaffected by human activity, while secondary growth forest refers to the 
largest and most dynamic natural forest ecosystem in the Philippines which is 
typically an area which has been disturbed, whether naturally or unnaturally, 
such as those recovering from the effects of selective logging, or areas that have 
been degraded by slash-and-bum agriculture or kaingin but have been 
reclaimed by forest growth and are characterized by a less developed canopy 
structure, smaller trees, and less diversity. 
 
SEC. 9. Components of the NCS-SRD. — The components of the functions 
of the three (3) TWGs are as follows: 
 
a) 
Policy and Advocacy. This component shall address the issues and 


 
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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. This component shall 
facilitate enterprise development and agribusiness within the 
convergence areas through the establishment of agro-enterprise 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 in the strategic agricultural and fisheries 
development zones maps. 
 
For purposes of this section, a strategic agricultural and fisheries 
development zone refers to an area within the Network of Protected 
Areas for Agricultural and Agro-industrial Development 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 environmentally and socio-culturally sound 
manner. 
 
c) 
Capacity Development. This component shall ensure the organizational 
preparedness of the DA, DAR, DENR, and the DILG and the building 
up of the capacity of other stakeholders to implement the NCS-SRD 
through training and technology-transfer activities. 
 
d) 
Knowledge Management. This component shall ensure that the NCS-SRD 
programs, projects and activities are properly and efficiently monitored 
and documented to facilitate adoption, expansion and scaling up of 
innovations, when possible and necessary. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
Implementing Structure and Mechanism 
 
Article One 
 
National Policy Administration 
 
SEC. 10. NCS-SRD Executive Board. — The NCS-SRD Executive Board, 
hereinafter referred to as the Board, is established to act as the policy making 
body of the NCP-SRD. The Board shall direct the implementation of the 
provisions of this Act, and shall have the following as cx-officio members: 
 
a) 
Secretary of Agriculture as Chairperson; 
b) 
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources; 
c) 
Secretary of Agrarian Reform; 


 
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d) 
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government; and 
e) 
Executive Director of the NCS-SRD National Secretariat. 
 
The Department Secretaries may appoint their respective permanent 
alternate representatives whose rank shall not be lower than Undersecretary. 
 
SEC. 11. Powers and Functions. — The Board shall exercise the following 
powers and functions: 
 
a) 
Provide the overall policy directions for the implementation of 
programs, projects and other related activities under the NCS-SRD; 
 
b) 
Approve programs, projects, and plans, and the implementing 
rules and regulations pertaining to the operation of the NCS-SRD; 
 
c) 
Appoint the national focal person (NFP) with a rank of Assistant 
Secretary and a deputy national focal person (DNFP) with a rank 
of Director IV to spearhead the NCS-SRD Technical Working 
Group (NCS-SRD TWG) and oversee and supervise NCS-SRD 
operations; 
 
d) 
Consult with other concerned national government agencies, 
stakeholders, and partner agencies on policies and major programs 
related to sustainable rural development; 
 
e) 
Approve memoranda of agreement with investors and funding 
agencies as recommended for approval by the NCS-SRD national 
focal person; 
 
f) 
Approve the implementation and coordination structure of the 
NCS-SRD, including the membership of the National Convergence 
Strategy Technical Working Group (NHS-SRD TWG), the three (3) 
NCS—SRD Ecosystem Technical Working Groups (NCS- SRD 
ETWG) and the four (4) NCS-SRD Component Working Groups 
(NCS-SRD CWG), through a Joint Special Order; 
 
g) 
Allocate the resources to carry out the plans, programs, projects, 
and other related activities of the NCS-SRD; 
 
h) 
Regularly advise the President of the Philippines on all matters 
concerning 
the 
implementation 
of 
convergence 
initiative 
strategies. 
 
SEC. 12. Meetings of the Board. — The Board shall meet on a quarterly 
basis and may hold special meetings as deemed necessary. The Secretary of 


 
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Agriculture shall act as the Lead Convenor and the Secretaries of Agrarian 
Reform, Environment and Natural Resources, and the Interior and Local 
Government shall act as Co-Convenors. The meetings may be held in rotation 
amongst the four (4) departments of the convenors. In the absence of the Lead 
Convenor or Co-Convenor of the host department, the principal members 
present may decide or choose among themselves who shall chair the meeting. 
 
SEC. 13. National Focal Person and Deputy National Focal Person. — 
The Board shall appoint a National Focal Person (NFP), with a rank of Assistant 
Secretary, to spearhead the NCS-SRD Technical Working Group (NCS-SRD 
TWG) and supervise the NCS-SRD operations. The NFP shall act as the 
Chairperson of the NCS-SRD TWG and shall be assisted by a Deputy National 
Focal Person (DNFP), with a rank of Director IV, and by the NCS-SRD 
Executive Director. The NFP shall also convene the members of the NHS-SRD 
TWG to discuss the status of the NCS-SRD programs, projects and activities 
before the conduct of Board meetings. The NFP shall come from the DA as the 
lead department, the DNFP shall come from the DENR DAR, or DILG. 
 
SEC. 14. Convergence Focal Persons. — The DA, DAR, DENR, and the 
DILG shall designate a Convergence Focal Person responsible for the 
coordination and management of the convergence program in their respective 
departments in the national and field levels. 
 
SEC. 15. NCS-SRD TWG. — The NCS-SRD TWG shall serve as the 
advisory and recommendatory body to the Board on matters related to the 
implementation of the NCS-SRD. 
 
SEC. 16. Composition of the NCS-SRD TWG. — The NHS-SRD TWG shall 
be composed of the following members: 
 
a) 
Chairperson, TWG on Coastal and Marine Resources Management 
b) 
Chairperson, TWG on Lowland Resources Management 
c) 
Chairperson, TWG on Forestry and Upland Development 
d) 
Convergence Focal Person, DA (Agro-Enterprise Development) 
e) 
Convergence Focal Person, DAR (Policy and Advocacy) 
f) 
(I) Convergence Focal Person, DENR (Knowledge Management) 
g) 
Convergence Focal Person, DILG (Capacity Development) 
h) 
Executive Director, NCS-SRD National Secretariat Office 
 
SEC. 17. NCS-SRD National Secretariat Office. — A permanent NCP-
SRD National Secretariat is created with a plantilla for its administrative and 
technical staff complement. Filling up of permanent personnel must be based 
on the current and existing NCS-SRD National Secretariat organizational 
structure. The NHS-SRD National Secretariat Office headed by an Executive 
Director who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The Executive 


 
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Director shall have a rank of Director IV and shall oversee and supervise NHS- 
SRD operations and the National Secretariat. The Executive Director shall come 
from DA and shall directly report to the Board. 
 
The NCS-SRD National Secretariat shall be composed of personnel to be 
selected and seconded from the DA, DENR, DAR and the DILG in addition to 
the designated coordinators of each working group. The NCS-SRD Nations 
Secretariat shall work closely with the NCS- SRD national focal person and 
deputy national focal person, the Chairpersons of the different TWGs and the 
Convergence Focal Persons. 
 
SEC. 18. Functions of the NCSMRD National Secretariat. — The NCS-
SRD National Secretariat shall have the following functions: 
 
a) 
Assist in the conduct of Board and NCS-SRD TWG meetings and 
workshops, write shops, seminars, fora, and consultations; 
 
b) 
Provide administrative and technical support to the Board and 
NCS-SRD TWG; 
 
c) 
Document and disseminate the highlights of the proceedings of the 
Board and NCS-SRD TWG meetings and activities; 
 
d) 
Ensure that appropriate actions are taken on agreements reached 
during the Board and NCS-SRD TWG meetings and activities; 
 
e) 
Submit monitoring and progress reports to the Board and NCS-
SRD TWG and other oversight bodies; 
 
f) 
Follow up on the activities to be conducted by the three (3) NCS-
SRD ETWGs and four (4) NCS-SRD CWGs, and ensure that the 
timelines for the activities are strictly followed; 
 
g) 
Manage the database of the convergence areas in coordination with 
the CWG on knowledge management; and 
 
h) 
Perform other functions as the Board may direct. 
 
There shall be a satellite secretariat office to be established in the rural 
development departments. Each satellite secretariat office shall be composed 
of staff from the offices of the respective permanent Alternate Board 
Representatives. 
 
Article Two 
 


 
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Sub-National Level Administration 
 
SEC. 19. Regional Convergence Strategy - Technical Working Group 
(RCS-TWG). – Parallel to the NCS-SRD TWG, the RCS-TWG shall manage and 
supervise the programs, projects, and other related activities at the regional 
level. 
 
SEC. 20. Duties and Responsibilities. — The duties and responsibilities of 
the RCS- TWG are as follows: 
 
a) 
Work closely with the 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 strategy interventions are aligned with the 
regional development agenda and initiatives; 
 
b) 
Facilitate complementation of efforts and resources for greater 
impact; 
 
c) 
Coordinate and work closely with the Provincial LGUs in the 
implementation of the NCS-SRD plans, programs, projects, and 
other related activities. The Regional Directors of rural 
development departments may enter into an agreement with the 
Provincial Governor or LGU leagues, as necessary; 
 
d) 
Meet monthly or when necessary, to discuss issues and problems 
related to the implementation of plans, programs and activities. 
 
SEC. 21. Composition of the RCS-TWG. — The RCS-TWG shall be 
composed of the following: 
 
a) 
Regional Directors of the DA, DENR, DAR, AND DILG, one of 
whom maybe elected as the chairperson; 
 
b) 
The three (3) other rural development department regional 
directors will act as co-chairpersons; and 
 
c) 
Regional Focal Persons of the rural development departments and 
the Head of the RCS-TWG Secretariat as Members. 
 
The Chairperson of the RCS-TWG shall be a convergence champion and 
shall be voted upon by and among the Regional Directors of the DA, DAR, 
DENR, and DILG. Upon the organization of the TWG, a resolution attesting to 
the assumption of duties and functions shall be submitted to the NCS-SRD 
National Secretariat. If necessary, the membership of the RCS-TWG may be 


 
14
expanded to include representatives from the Provincial LGUs and other 
agencies. 
 
The RCS-Secretariat is composed of representatives from the regional 
offices of DA, DAR, DENR and DILG. The RCS Secretariat is headed by the 
Regional Focal Person. The Regional Focal Person and the members of the RCS 
Secretariat shall be designated by the Chairperson of the RCS-TWG. 
 
SEC. 22. Provincial Convergence Strategy Technical Working Group 
(PCS-TWG). — The PCS-TWG is responsible for implementing the plans, 
programs, projects, and other related activities of the NHS-SRD at the 
provincial level in collaboration with RCS- TWG. The PCS-TWG shall identify 
and determine appropriate interventions, resources, and support services 
needed such as infrastructure, logistics, extension, inputs, lands, and 
institutional development for the implementation of the NCS plans and 
programs. 
 
The Provincial Governor shall chair the PCS-TWG and the Provincial 
Directors of the DAR, DENR and DILG shall act as Co-Chairpersons. The 
members of the PCS-TWG are the Provincial Environment and Natural 
Resources Officer (PENRO), Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO), 
Provincial Agriculture Officer (PAO), Provincial Planning and Development 
Coordinator (PPDC), Provincial Government-Environment and Natural 
Resources Officer (PG-ENRO), Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer 
(APCO) of the DA and Provincial Interior and Local Government Officer 
(PILGO). The provincial LGU shall lead the interface mechanisms and the rural 
development departments shall provide the technical and operational support. 
Existing LGU mechanisms may be adopted to spearhead or manage the 
convergence initiatives at the LGU level. 
 
SEC. 23. Municipal Convergence Strategy Technical Group (MCS-TWG). 
— The MCS-TWG is responsible for implementing the plans, programs, 
projects, and other related activities of the NCS-SRD at the respective 
municipalities in collaboration with the PCS-TWG. The MCS-TWG shall 
identify and determine appropriate interventions, resources, and support 
services needed such as infrastructure, logistics, extension, inputs, lands, and 
institutional development tor the implementation of the NCS-SRD plans and 
programs. 
 
The Chairperson of the MCS-TWG is headed by the Municipal Mayor and 
the Municipal Head of DAR, DENR and DILG are the Co-Chairpersons. The 
members of the MCS-TWG are the Community Environment and Natural 
Resources Officer (CENRO), City or Municipal Environment and Natural 
Resource Officer (C/MENRO), Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer (MARO), 
Municipal Agriculture Officer (MAO), concerned Municipal Planning and 


 
15
Development Coordinator (MPDC), Municipal Interior and Local Government 
Officer (MILGO) and a designated DA regional field office representative. 
 
The municipal or city LGU shall lead the interface mechanisms and the 
DA, DAR, DENR and DILG shall provide the technical and operational 
support. Existing LGU mechanisms may be adopted to spearhead or manage 
the convergence initiatives at the LGU level. 
 
Article Three 
 
Monitoring and Evaluation 
 
SEC. 24. Mentoring and Evaluation. — A monitoring and evaluation 
system based on the performance indicators set by the Department of Budget 
and Management (DBM) shall be developed and strictly implemented and 
managed. A regular reporting system shall be installed in an open and 
transparent manner in accordance with the Management for Development 
Results (MDR) principles aimed to help keep track of the progress and end 
result of the project implementation of the convergence area. The monitoring 
and evaluation report must identify and describe the gaps and issues 
experienced during the implementation of the NCS, the learnings on 
convergence as an approach to sustainable rural development, and the 
proposed policy recommendations. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
Final Provisions 
 
SEC. 25. Convening of NCS-SGD National Secretariat Office. — Within 
sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
convene the NCS- SRD National Secretariat Office. The current head of the 
NCS-SRD National Secretariat shall sit temporarily as Officer-in-Charge of the 
NCS-SRD National Secretariat Office until such time that a regular Executive 
Director is appointed. 
 
SEC. 26. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretaries of the DA, DAR, DENR, and the 
DILG shall jointly issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 27. Structure and Staffing Pattern. — Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the NCS Executive Board shall formulate and submit 
the NCS-SRD National Secretariat Office's proposed organizational structure 
and staffing pattern for final approval to the DBM. 
 
The DA shall assist in the preparation of the Organizational Structure and 


 
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Staffing Pattern to ensure that the NCS-SRD National Secretariat may 
effectively carry out its mandated functions under this Act. 
 
SEC. 28. Appropriations. – The funds necessary to carry out the 
implementation of the NCS-SRD shall be taken from the available funds of the 
rural development departments under the current General Appropriations Act. 
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the full operation of the NCS-
SRD National Secretariat Office and the staggered implementation of NCP 
plans and programs shall be included in the respective annual budget of the 
rural development departments 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 the NCS-SRD Executive Board to support the 
program, subject to the regular auditing guidelines and procedures. Cost-
sharing or counter parting schemes among national government and LGUs are 
also encouraged to support the implementation of the NCS-SRD. 
 
SEC. 29. Non-Impairment CIause. — Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed to diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or available 
to marginalized or basic sectors under existing laws including Republic Act No. 
6657, as amended, Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as “The Indigenous 
Peoples Rights Act of 1997,” and Republic Act No. 8550, as amended, otherwise 
known as the “Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.”  
 
SEC. 30. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions or parts not 
affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 31. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, niles 
and regulations or parts thereof which are not consistent with or contrary to 
the provisions of this Act are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 32. Activity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved.