Zp RE
[& >
ley Dr
Republic of the Philippines Ys RECEIVED —

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ig DAT ESUL 97 2h
Batasan Hills, Quezon City *

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

504

House Bill Nol

Introduced by Honorable Florida P. Robes

Article X, Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution states:

“The President shall provide for regional development council, or
other similar bodies composed of local government officials,
regional heads of departments and offices, and representatives
from non-government organizations within the region for
purposes of administrative decentralization to strengthen the
autonomy of units therein and to accelerate the economic and
social development units in the region.”

This bill seeks to further enhance and strengthen Regional Development Councils by
making them more responsive to the needs of their responsive regions through the creation of
central agency that will lead in the crafting of regional development programs on all covered
regions.

This will ensure that all economic and social gains, as well as investment opportunities
are evenly distributed in all cities and municipalities, especially in areas where they are needed

the most.

In view of this, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought

none noves


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill Nol 504

Introduced by Honorable Florida P. Robes

AN ACT
TO ENHANCE THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS BY CREATING A
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION TO STRENGTHEN THE
POLICY-MAKING CAPABILITIES OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
(NGAs) AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Regional Development
Administration Act of 2020”.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to institute an
effective regional governance mechanism that shall empower both elective government
officials and managers and career officers of National Government Agencies (NGAs), as well
non-government organizations at the regional level, The Regional Development
Administration will institutionalize the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) to make them
more empowered in the coordination, formulation and implementation of regional
development plans and investment projects.

Section 3. - Creation of the Regional Development Administration (RDA). - There
is hereby created the Regional Development Administration (RDA), attached to the National
Economie and Development Authority, which will have the lead mandate to establish policies,


priorities, and objectives as well as direct and implement relevant programs and projects in the
regional level in line with the government’s socio-economic development programs,

Section 4. Functions.- The principal functions of the Regional Development
Administration are:

(a) Collect and integrate proposed development projects and
investment projects from all the Regional Development Councils all over the
country;

(b) Develop, formulate and establish priority regional development

programs based on the proposals from the Regional Development Councils,
after due consultations with stakeholders in the municipal, city and provincial
levels, line agencies, state universities and colleges, government-owned and
controlled corporations and special development authorities in the regions,

© Submit to the President of the Philippines, annual, medium and
long-term development plans and investment projects of Regional Development
Councils for consideration and approval,

(d) Integrate approved development and investment programs for
funding and implementation;

6) Implement, monitor and evaluate the approved development and
investment programs as well as the regional physical framework plan and
special development plans,

(f) Review, prioritize and endorse to the national government the
annual and multi-year sectoral investment programs of the region for funding
and implementation,

(g) Promote and direct the inflow and allocation of private investments
in the region to support regional development objectives, policies and strategies;

(hy Coordinate information activities designed to mobilize public
support, cooperation and engagement for development and investment
programs,

(i) As required by the Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC),

review and endorse projects of national government agencies that have an
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 or subsidies, among others;


@ Initiate and coordinate the development, funding and
implementation of regional and special development projects such as those
involving several agencies for LGUs;

() Coordinate the monitoring and evaluation of development projects
undertaken by government agencies, local government units, state colleges and
universities, government-owned and controlled corporations and special
development authorities in the region; and

a Perform such other functions and carry out activities as may be
directed by law.

Section 5. Administrator of the RDA. - The Regional Development Administration
(RDA), shall be headed by an Administrator and who shall be assisted by a Deputy
‘Administrator. They shall be appointed by the President and who shall continue to hold office
at the discretion of the appointing authority. The Administrator shall be a member of the RDA
Board.

Section 6. Board of Directors. - The powers and functions of the Administration shall
be vested in and exercised by the Board of Directors composed of the following:

(a) All Provincial Governors,
(b) All Chairpersons of Regional Development Councils;

(©) All NEDA Regional Directors

(@ Private sector representatives (PSRs) who shall comprise one-

fourth of the members of the fully-constituted authority, selected in accordance
with the guidelines set by Administration

Section 7. Powers of the RDA Board. - The RDA Board shall have the following
powers:

(1) To coordinate, formulate and provide comprehensive regional
development guidelines for the regions as provided for in this Act;

(2) To receive, integrate, prioritize and endorse to the President, all
approved regional development plans in the national development plan,


(3) To implement and monitor all approved regional development plans
and special development projects and submit the appropriate reports on the
status of the same to the President semi-annually,

(4) To coordinate and seek the cooperation of other agencies and
instrumentalities of the National Government including government-owned
or controlled corporations to enable it to achieve its purposes under this Act,

(5) To issue orders, not inconsistent with this Act, negotiating the work
and conduct of its personnel;

(6) To appoint, discipline, and remove personnel of the Administration
in accordance with laws;

(7) To perform such acts as are proper and necessary to carry out the
purposes of the Administration.

Section 8. Appointment of Co-Administrator. - In line with the government’s thrust
on decentralization, the Board shall nominate at least three (3) local chief executives who are
members of the Administration from whom the President shall select and appoint the RDA
Co-Administrator, Regional Directors of national government agencies in the region shall not,
be included in the selection of nominees for Chairman and Co-Chairman.

Section 9. Functions/Powers and Responsibilities of the Administrator and Co-
Administrator. — The Chairman/Co-Chairman shall have the following functions, powers and
responsibilities:

a To implement, enforce, and apply the policies, programs,
plans, standards, guidelines, procedures, decisions, rules and regulations
issued, prescribed, or adopted by the Board;

b. Direct the affiliate committees and regional line agencies of

the RDA to perform tasks the Board may deem necessary,

©. Accept, in behalf of the Board, donations, contributions,
grants, bequests or gifts;


d Represent the Administration in Cabinet meetings and other
activities at the national level;

e. Submit to the President plans, regional investment programs,
annual development reports and other documents on the region as
approved by the Board: and

f Perform other functions and duties as may be directed by the
Board

Section 10. RDA Secretariat, — The Administration shall organize a Secretariat that
shall assist the Administrator and Co-Administrator in the performance of their functions and
shall oversee the technical, administrative and financial operations of the Administration and
shall be accountable for the funds and properties of the RDA.

It shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall be appointed by the President. The
Executive Director shall execute the policies and programs of the Administration and shall be
responsible for the efficient and effective day-to-day management of the operations of the
RDA.

The Executive Director shall recommend to the Administrator and Co-Administrator, for
approval of the Board, the budget of the Secretariat, its staffing pattern, position classification
and compensation scheme, and the appointment of its personnel subject to existing laws, rules
and regulations.

Section 11. Term of Office.— The RDA Co-Administrator who is a local chief
executive and private sector representatives shall serve in the Administration for a fixed term
of three (3) years coinciding with the regular term of local elective officials.

Section 12. Meetings. - The RDA shall meet at least once every other month, It may
adopt its own rules on constituting a quorum.

Section 13. Executive Committee. — The Regional Development Administration shall
create an Executive Committee to act on matters that require immediate attention for and in
behalf of the RDA when it is not in session. The Executive Committee shall comprise one-
fourth of the total membership of the fully-constituted Administration, the membership shall
be determined by the RDA.


Section 14. Sectoral Committees. — To assist the Administration in the performance of
its functions, the Council shall create sectoral committees to handle social, economic,
infrastructure, and development administration concerns whose composition shall be
determined by the Board. The sectoral committees shall perform functions analogous to and
supportive of the functions of the Regional Development Council. They shall review and
endorse matters pertaining to their respective sectors to the RDC and/or the RDA Board.

Section 15. Advisory Committee.— To further strengthen the coordinative and
consultative mechanism in the regions, there is hereby created an Advisory Committee to
advise, assist and support the Administration in discharging its functions. It shall be composed
of the members of the House of Representatives representing the provinces and districts of the
region who shall signify their intention to become members thereof in writing, and members
of the Council’s Executive Committee.

The Administrator and Co-Administrator shall also serve as the officers of the
Advisory Committee

The Committee may meet as often as necessary but not less than once a semester.

Section 16. Affiliate Committees. - The various committees and councils organized to
carry out national and agency programs are considered to be under the umbrella of the
Administration. Their role shall be to assist the Administration to coordinate, monitor and
evaluate their respective specific concerns. In general, secretariat functions to these bodies
shall be provided by the lead agency that organized the council/committee.

Section 17. Regional Development Councils. - Every region shall have a Regional
Development Council which shall be the lead policy-making body in the region and which
shall be composed of the following as members:

(a) All provincial governors;

(b) All city mayors;

(c) All municipal mayors;

(a) The regional directors of agencies represented in the National Economic
and Development Authority Board (NEDA, DAR, DA, DBM, DENR, DOF,
DFA, DOH, DILG, DOLE, DPWH, DOST, DTI, DOTr, BSP) and the regional

directors of DepEd, DSWD and DOT; Provided: That each agency shall be
represented by only one regional director, and


(e) Private sector representatives (PSRs) who shall comprise one-fourth of the
members of the fully-constituted authority, selected in accordance with the
guidelines set by RDA.

Section 18. Functions of the Regional Development Council. ~The Regional
Development Council shall have the following functions:

(a) Coordinate the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of
short and long-term regional development plans and investment programs,
regional physical framework plan and special development plans, including the
formulation of policy recommendations;

(b) 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;

(c.) Review, prioritize, and endorse to the Board government the annual and
multi-year sectoral investment programs of the region for funding and
implementation;

(c)_ Review and endorse to the national government the annual budgets of
agency regional offices, state colleges and universities and special development
authorities;

(a) Promote and direct the inflow and allocation of private investments in the
region to support regional development objectives, policies and strategies,

(f) Review and endorse national plans, programs and projects proposed for
implementation in the regions;

(f) As required by the Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC), review and
endorse projects of national government agencies that have impact on the region
and projects of Local Government Units (LGUs) in the region requiring national
government financial exposure which may come in the form of guarantees,
national government budget appropriations or subsidies, among others,

(h) Initiate and coordinate the development, funding and implementation of
regional and special development projects such as those involving several
agencies or LGUs,

(i) Coordinate the 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, and

(j) Perform other related functions and activities as may be necessary to promote
and sustain the socio-economic development of the regions.

Section 19. Secretariat of the Regional Development Councils.-The NEDA
Regional Office shall be the Secretariat of the RDC. The NEDA Regional Director shall
manage the technical, administrative and financial operations of the RDC and shall be
accountable for the funds and properties of the RDC.

Section 20, Appropriations. - To carry out the purposes of this Act, the initial amount
of One billion pesos (P1,000,000,000) is hereby authorized to be appropriated for
the necessary for the creation of the RDA, its operations, project monitoring and evaluation,
and implementation of programs and special projects and shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act, subject to the usual auditing rules and regulations.

Section 21. Non-Applicability. - This Act shall not apply to the National Capital
Region, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordillera Administrative Region

Section 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The NEDA Board is hereby
directed to prepare and adopt detailed guidelines to implement the specific provisions of this
Act.

Section 23. Separability Clause ~- If any part or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts for provisions hereof which are not affected shall
continue to remain in full force and effect.

Section 24. Non-Impairment Clause. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed as to
diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or made available to disadvantaged,
marginalized, or specific sectors under existing laws.

Section 25. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are
deemed amended, repealed or modified accordingly

Section 26. Effectivity-This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following

completion of its publication in the Official Gazette and in at least two (2) newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,