Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH (18"™) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

0461

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by HON. ELISA T. KHO, M.D., FPCCP

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 1999, the Government launched the Convergence Strategy as a mechanisms 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 implantation 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.

adh

HON. ELISA T. KHO, M.D., FPCCP
Representative
2™ District, Province of Masbate


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH (18"™) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Hous Brit. Wo. 9454

Introduced by HON. ELISA T. KHO, M.D., FPCCP

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE CONVERGENCE STRATEGY FOR
SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDING THE
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS THEREFOR

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

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

SECTION I. Title. This Act shall be known as the “National Convergence Initiative
Act.”

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 equitable, inclusive, and sustainable rural development through the
convergence of the resources of the principal rural development departments to maximize its
impact.

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

following principles:

(a) The Department of Agriculture (DA) ~ Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) —
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ~ Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG) (DA-DAR-DENR-DILG). National
Convergence shall be treated as an institutionalized complementation strategy
between and among these four (4) rural development departments. The
Convergence shall work with other national line agencies, donor agencies,
international and local non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s

organizations (POs) mentioned in Section 6 hereof;


(b) The implementation of a national convergence strategy shall in no way alter and/or
impair the respective mandates of the four (4) rural development departments;

(c) The critical role of local government units (LGUs) as the integrating and
converging force for sustainable rural development at the local level shall be
emphasized:

(d) The participatory approach shall be adopted in all phases of development: from
planning and budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;

(©) Complementation of resources and expertise of the concerned departments 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 departments and concerned LGUs;

(g) Instituting relevant measures for an enabling environment to encourage investment

by the private sector, cooperatives and other NGOs;

SECTION 3. Scope. This Act shall apply to all rural development areas primarily
inhabited by the targeted beneficiaries — the marginalized farmers (both agrarian reform
beneficiaries and non-agrarian reform beneficiaries), fisherfolks, upland dwellers and

indigenous people.

CHAPTER I
DEFINITION

SECTION 4. 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 an Emancipation Patent (EP) or a Certificate of Land Ownership
Award (CLOA) under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 27, or the Republic Act (RA)
No. 6657, as amended, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Law of 1988.” ARBs also include the leaseholders to the landowners’ retained areas
who represent the ARB group which are not awarded with lands but whose tenurial
rights have been strengthened through the registration of leasehold contracts.

(b) Agricultural lands refer to lands devoted to or suitable for agricultural activity and

not classified by law as mineral, forest, residential commercial industrial land.


(©) Agro-based cluster refers to the concentration of producers, agribusiness 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 Initiative, it shall include foreshore land.

(e) Convergence Area refers to the physical areas where the national Convergence
Initiative — Sustainable Rural Development is implemented.

(f) 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.

(g) 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 and the DA-DAR-DENR-
DILG Joint Administrative Order No. 01, Series of 2015.

(h) 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 or by another
person under a leasehold or share tenancy agreement or arrangement with the owner
thereof.

(

Fisherfolk refers 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 applied knowledge and practices geared at
addressing environmental, economic and social sustainability dimensions for on-
farm production and post-productions processes, resulting in safe and quality food
and non-food agricultural products.

(k) 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

waves and habitat of various aquatic species.


() National Convergence Initiative (NCI) refers to the complementation of efforts
and resources bet6ween and among the DA, DAR, DENR, DILG, and LGUs that
seek to promote sustainable rural development. It is a response to the fragmented

and sometimes overlapping delivery of agriculture and rural development services.

(m) 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.

(n) 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 from upland and forest areas, in middle and lowland areas, down to the

coastal areas.

(0) Rural development departments in this Act refer to the DA, the DAR, the DENR,
and the DILG.

(p) 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 environmentally and socio-culturally sound

manner.

(q) Secondary growth forests refer to the largest and most dynamic natural forest
ecosystem in the Philippines. Further, it shall refer to an area which has been
distributed in some away, naturally or naturally created in a number of ways such
as degraded forest recovering from the effects of selective logging or areas cleared
by slash-and-burn agriculture or “kaingin” that have been reclaimed by forest
growth. It is also characterized be a less developed canopy structure, smaller trees,

and less diversity.

() Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) refers to the development objectives of
meeting the needs of the present generation in 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.

(8) Upland or forest ecosystems refer to areas or at least an 18% slope 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.


(t) Watershed refers to a topographically delineated area of land from which rainwater
can drain as surface run-off vis-a-vis specific stream or river system to a common
outlet point which may be a dam, irrigation system or urban water supply take-of

point, or where the stream discharges into a river, lake or the sea.

CHAPTER IIL
PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK

SECTION 5. Guiding Framework. The convergence strategy shall adopt
the watershed and integrated ecosystem management (IEM) and integrated area development
(IAD) approaches 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 since 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
convergences zones shall likewise take into consideration the SAFDZ provision of Republic
‘Act No. 8435 otherwise known as the “Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA)
of 1997”.

SECTION 6. Criteria for Selection of Convergence Areas. The following criteria
shall guide the selection of convergence for the agro-enterprise cluster:

(@) Adequacy of ecosystem zones — The convergence sites should cut across the
various ecosystems or should be a combination of two (2) or more ecosystems;

(b) 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 or
services, or for backward linkages;

(©) Combination of sites across major poverty groups — The convergences sites must
cover a significant number of small farmers, agricultural workers including actual
and potential ARBs, fisherfolk, indigenous people, and rural women and upland
dwellers;

(@) The convergence sites should involve LGUs and local chief executives (LCEs) who
are willing to support the convergence initiative;

(©) The convergence sites should have active POs and/or NGOs that can be tapped to


support the convergence initiative, Presence of private, business, academic, and
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 in an ecosystem. The three (3) working
groups are equally important and shall be mutually re-enforcing. They shall ensure that the
objectives of the NCI as a means of improving institutional efficiencies in the governance of
sustainable rural development 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.

(a) 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 concerned departments/units of the DA, DAR, DENR
and the DILG. Other government agencies, NGOs/ POs, the academe, private sector
or business groups, and other associations may also be part of the TWG whenever
necessary.

(b) The TWG on Sustainable Lowland Agriculture shall address issues and concerns
on the use and management of agricultural ecosystems through application of good
agricultural practices. The TWG shall be composed of concerned departments/
units of the DA, DAR, DENR, and DILG. Other government agencies, NGOs /
POs, the academe, private sector or business groups / associations may also be part
of the TWG whenever necessary.

(© The TWG on Forestry and Upland Development shall address 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 forest, and rehabilitation of degraded and denuded
ecosystems. The TWG shall be composed of concerned departments / units of the
DA, DAR, DENR, and DILG, Other government agencies, NGOs/ POs the
academe, private sector or business groups / associations may also be part of the

TWG whenever necessary.


SECTION 8. Components of the NCI. The following shall serves as cross cutting
components of the three (3) 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-Enterprises and Agribusiness Development. The component shall facilitate
enterprise development and agribusiness within the convergence sites though 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 as identified by the SAFDZ maps.

(©) Capacity Development. The component shall ensure the organizational
preparedness of the three agencies and capability of the implementors and other
stakeholders to implement the convergence initiative.

(@) 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 One
National Policy Administration

SECTION 9. NCI Executive Board. The NCI 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.

The Board shall be composed of four (4) voting members:
(a) The Secretary of the DA as Chairperson;
(b) The Secretaries of the DENR, DAR and DILG as members; and
(c) The Executive Director of the NCI Secretariat and as ex-officio member, The
Department Secretaries may appoint their respective permanent alternate
representatives whose rank shall be lower than Undersecretary.

SECTION 10. Powers and Functions. The NCI Executive Board shall assume the

following powers and functions:


(a) Provide overall policy directions 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 operation of the NCI;

(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
NCI Technical Working Group (NCI-TWG) and oversee and supervise NCI
operations.

(d) Consult with other concerned national government agencies, stakeholders, and partner
agencies on policies and major programs related to sustainable rural development;

(©) Approve of Memorandum of Agreements with investors and funding agencies being
recommended for approval by the NCI National Focal Person;

(Q) Approve the implementation and coordination structure of the NCI, including the
membership of the National Convergence Initiative — Technical Working Group
(NCI-TWG), the three (3) NCI-Ecosystem Technical Working Groups (NCI-ETWG)
and the four (4) NCI-Component Working Groups (NCI-CWG), through a Joint
Special Order;

(g) Allocate resources to carry out the plans, programs, projects, and other related
activities of the NCI;

(h) Regularly advise the President on all matters concerning the implementation of

convergence initiative strategies;

SECTION 11. Meetings of the Board. The Board shall meet on a quarterly basis and
may hold special meetings as deemed necessary. The Secretary of the DA shall act as Lead
Convenor while the Secretaries of the DAR, DENR and DILG shall act as Co-Convenors. In
the absence of the Lead Convenor and/or Co-Convenor of the host department, the present
principal members may decide or choose between themselves who will be the Chairperson of
the meeting. Furthermore, the NCI-Executive Board meetings may be done in rotation amongst
the five (5) departments;

SECTION 12. National Focal Person and Deputy National Focal Person. A National
Focal Person, who shall have has a rank of Assistant Secretary, shall be appointed by the NCI
Executive Board to spearhead the NCI-Technical Working Group (NCI-TWG) and supervise
NCI operations. The National Focal Person assisted by a Deputy National Focal Person, shall
have a rank of Director IV. The NEP shall also convene the members of the NCI-TWG to
discuss updates/status on programs, projects and activities before the conduct of NCI Board
meetings. The NFP shall come from the lead agency (DA) while the DNFP shall come from
any of the three (3) co-convenor rural development departments.


SECTION 13. The National Convergence Initiative-Technical Working Group
(NCI-TWG)-The NCI-TWG shall serve as the advisory and recommendatory body to the NCI
Executive Board on matters related to the implementation of the NCI.

SECTION 14. Composition of the NCI-TWG. The NCI-TWG to be convened by the
NCI national Focal Person shall have the following members:

(a) Chairperson, TWG on Coastal and Marine Resources Management

(b) Chairperson, TWG on Lowland Resources Management

(©) Chairperson, TWG on Forestry and Upland Development

(d) Convergence Focal Person, DA (Agro-Enterprise Development)

(e) Convergence Focal Person, DAR ( Policy and Advocacy)

(®) Convergence Focal Person, DENR (Knowledge Management)

(g) Convergence Focal Person, DILG (Capacity Development)

(h) Executive Director, NCI Secretariat Office

SECTION 15. Agency Convergence Focal Persons. Each agency shall designate a
Convergence Focal Person who shall be responsible for the coordination and management of
the convergence program in their respective departments (national and field levels), The
Department Convergence Focal Person shall likewise be a member of the NCI-TWG.

SECTION 16. Creation of NCI Secretariat Office. A permanent NCI Secretariat shall
be created with the corresponding plantilla positions for its administrative and technical staff
compliment. Filling up of permanent personnel shall be based on the current and existing NCI
Secretariat organizational structure. The NCI Secretariat Office shall be headed by an
Executive Director who shall be appointed by the DA Secretary.

‘The NCI Secretariat shall be strengthened with detailed personnel coming from the
secretariat of the four (4) NCI core departments on top of the designated coordinators of each
working group. The NCI Secretariat shall work closely with the NCI National Focal Person
and Deputy National Focal Person, the Chairperson of the different Working Groups and the

Agency Convergence Focal Persons.

SECTION 17. Functions of the NCI Secretariat. The NCI Secretariat shall have the

following functions:

(@) Coordinate the conduct of the NCI-Executive Board and NCI-TWG meetings and

workshops, writeshops, seminars, for a and consultations;


(b) Provide administrative, logistics, and technical support to the NCI-NSC and NCI-
TWG;

(c) Document, prepare, and disseminate the highlights of the proceedings of NCI
Executive Board and NCI-TWG meetings and activities;

(d) Ensure that appropriate actions are taken on agreements reached during NCI
Executive Board and NCI-TWG meetings and activities;

(©) Submit monitoring/progress reports to the NCI Executive Board and NCI-TWG and
other oversight bodies;

(® As coordinators, follow up on the activities to be conducted by the three (3) NCI-
ETWGs. Ensure that the timelines for the activities are strictly followed.

(g) Coordination with the KM-TWG in management of convergence areas’ database; and,

(h) Perform other functions as the NCI Executive Board may direct. There shall be a
satellite secretariat office to be established in the DA, DAR, DENR and DILG
Department. Each satellite secretariat office shall be composed of staff from the
offices of the Departments’ respective Alternate Board Representatives.

Article Two
Sub-National Level Administration

SECTION 18. 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 NCI Executive Board in carrying out its functions.

SECTION 19. Duties and Responsibilities

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

(b) 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, DENR and DILG may enter into an agreement with the Provincial Governor
or LGU leagues, as necessary;

(@ Meet monthly or as deemed necessary.

SECTION 20. Composition of the RCI-TWG. The RCI-TWG shall be composed of:


(@) DA, DA, DENR or DILG Regional Directors, who may act as Chairperson;

(b) Depending on the result of the election of Chairperson, the three other rural
development department directors will act as Co-Chairpersons;

(©) Regional Focal Persons for all the departments and Head RCI-TWG Secretariat as
Members.

(d) The Chairperson of the RCL-TWG shall be a convergence champion and shall be
decided by and among the Regional Directors of DA, DAR, DENR and DILG. 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 composed of representatives from the regional offices of
DA, DAR, DENR, and DILG. The RCI Secretariat shall be headed by the Regional Focal
Person. The Regional Focal Person and the members of the RCI Secretariat shall be
designated by the Chairperson of RC-TWG.

SECTION 21. 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 the Provincial Governor and the Provincial
heads of DAR, DENR and DILG 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), Provincial
Planning and Development Coordinator (PPDC), Provincial Government — Environment
and Natural Resources Officer (PG-ENRO), the Das Agricultural Program Coordinating
Officer (APCO) and Provincial Interior and Local Government Officer (PILGO). The
respective interface mechanisms shall be LGU-led with DA, DAR, DENR and DILG
providing technical and operational support. Existing LGU mechanisms may be adopted
to spearhead or manage the convergence initiatives at the LGU level.

SECTION 22. Municipal Convergence Initiative Technical Working Group
(MCL-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 implementation of the NCI
plans and programs.

The Chairperson of the MCI-TWG shall be headed by the Municipal/City Mayor and
the Municipal head of DAR, DENR, and DILG shall be the Co-Chairpersons. 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),
concerned City/Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (C/MPDC),
City/Municipal Interior and Local Government (C/MILGO) and a designated DA regional

field office representative.

The respective interface mechanisms shall be LGU-led with DA, DAR, DENR and
DILG providing 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

SECTION 23. A monitoring and evaluation system based on performance indicators
set by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall be developed and strictly
implemented and managed, and a regular reporting system shall be installed in an open and
transparent manner, in accordance with the Management for Development Results (MDR)
principles. The monitoring and evaluation report shall contain gaps and issues experienced
during the implementation of the NCls, the learnings on convergence as an approach to
sustainable rural development, and proposed policy recommendation.

CHAPTER VI
TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 24. Convening of NCI Secretariat Office. Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall convene the NCI Secretariat Office.
‘The current head of the NCI Secretariat Office until such time that a regular Executive Director
has been appointed.


SECTION 25. Implementing Rules and Regul

ns. The implementing rules and
regulations of this Act shall be drafted and approved by the NCI departments concerned within
sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 26. Structure and Staffing Pattern. Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the NCI Executive Board shall formulate and submit the NCI Secretariat
Office’s proposed organizational structure and staffing pattern to the President for final
approval through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The DA shall assist in the preparation of the Organizational Structure and Staffing
pattern of the NCI Secretariat Office with corresponding number of plantilla positions as well
as budgetary requirements to effectively carry out its mandated functions under this Act.

SECTION 27. Appropriations. Funds necessary to carry out the implementation of
the NCI shall be taken from the available funds of the DA, DAR, DENR and DILG under the
current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the full
operation of the NCI Secretariat Office and the staggered implementation of NCI plans and
programs shall be included in the respective annual budget of the aforementioned 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 NCI
Executive Board 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 NCIs.

SECTION 28. Non-Impairment Clause. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as to
diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or available to marginalized or basic
sectors under existing laws including Republic Act Nos. 8371, 8550 and 6657.

SECTION 29. Separability 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 30. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, excutive orders, rules and
regulations or parts or provisions thereof that are not consistent with this Act are hereby

repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.


SECTION 31. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,