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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS \o, :
First Regular Session
5558
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE LEONARDO L. BABASA, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to reiterate and strengthen the permanence of the designation
of the City of Pagadian in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur as the Regional Center
of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region.

As early as year 1990, the City of Pagadian has been designated as the
Regional Center of Region IX pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order No. 429
series of 1990 issued by President Corazon C. Aquino. This E.O. was further
bolstered when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the transfer of Regional
Offices of all departments and agencies of the government from Zamboanga City to
Pagadian City when she issued Memorandum Circular No. 75 series of 2004.

In compliance with these presidential issuances, majority of the departments
in the executive branch has already transferred their regional offices to and are
efficiently functioning in the City of Pagadian. To this date, multi-level buildings were
already constructed and are now being occupied by these government offices.

Further, construction of buildings that will house and converge the regional
offices of the government into one regional hub are in full swing in a 23 hectare-land
in Brgy. Balintawak, Pagadian City which was donated by the City Government of
Pagadian for such purpose. In fact, an additional three (3) hectare lot was recently
purchased by the City Government to expand the regional center site. Thus, showing
and proving the City of Pagadian’s commitment and readiness to be the Zamboanga
Peninsula’s Regional Center.

‘To immediately and effectively address the needs of the provinces in the
Zamboanga Peninsula Region, there is an urgent need to re-designate the City of
Pagadian as the Regional Government Center, and to transfer to Pagadian City all
existing regional offices within Region IX for efficient delivery of services.

It is therefore recommended that the foregoing bill be approved.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5558
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE LEONARDO L. BABASA, JR.

AN ACT DECLARING THE CITY OF PAGADIAN IN THE PROVINCE OF
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR AS THE REGIONAL CENTER OF REGION IX -
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA REGION

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

Section 1. Regional Center of Region IX. The City of Pagadian in the
Province of Zamboanga del Sur has been designated as the Regional Center
of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region pursuant to Executive Order No. 429,
Series of 1990, as amended.

Section 2. Development Plan. The Regional Development Council of Region
IX shall, in coordination with the Local Government Units, National
Government Agencies and Instrumentalities and private sector in Region IX,
formulate an over-all development program and strategic plan to redefine the
City of Pagadian as the designated Regional Center.

Section 3. Relocation of Regional Offices. All the Regional Offices within
the Region IX shall be relocated to the City of Pagadian City within one year
from the effectivity of this Act. The heads of departments, agencies, bureaus,
government owned-and-controlled corporations and government financial
institutions shall support the regional officers in adopting and implementing
their respective relocation plans including measures that will address the
concerns of the employees affected by the transfer.

Section 4. Satellite Offices. Upon the complete relocation of the regional
offices to the Province of Zamboanga del Sur, all existing Regional Offices shall
automatically be converted into satellite offices for such department within
the province where it is located.

Section 5. Funding Source. The amount necessary for the development,
maintenance and administration of the regional center shall be drawn from
the internally generated funds of the local government units in Region IX and
the National Government. Thereafter, such sum necessary for the continued


operation of the Regional Center shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

Section 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.

Section 7. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,