WHEREAS, the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) was created pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 690, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1703;

WHEREAS, SPDA, an agency attached to the Office of the President, was deactivated by virtue of Executive Order No. 149 dated 18 November 2002;

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the present Administration to foster and accelerate the balanced growth of the Southern Philippines for national economic, social and political stability; and

WHEREAS, under Section 77 of Republic Act No. 9336, also known as the "General Appropriations Act of 2005", the President may direct changes in the organization and key positions in any department, bureau or agency.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Reactivation of SPDA. - The SPDA is hereby reactivated effective immediately. It shall have a lean and professional organization, and shall be under the oversight of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

SECTION 2. Functions of the Board. - The Board shall have, among others, the following functions:

1. Approve policies and implementing guidelines needed to accomplish the purpose and purposes and objectives of of SPDA;
   
2. Determine and approve the organizational structure, staffing pattern and pay scales of SPDA, its officers and employees subject to existing rules and regulations;
   
3. Review and approve annual work and financial plan and budget of SPDA;
   
4. Establish levels of authority and responsibilities of the Administrator and other officers of SPDA;
   
5. Submit an annual report to the President;
   
6. Perform other tasks as may be assigned by the President.
   

The Chairman shall preside at the meetings of the Board. Except for the Administrator, who is ex-officio Vice-Chairman of the Board, no member of the Board shall perform day-to-day administrative or operations work.

SECTION 3. Catch-Up Plan. - SPDA shall be the implementing arm for the economic catch-up plan on the implementation of the 1996 GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement.

SECTION 4. Coordination with ARMM - SPDA shall properly coordinate with the Autonomous Regional Government (ARG) in the implementation of projects within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

SECTION 5. Funds and Assets - Section 6 of Executive Order No. 229 dated 21 July 2003 is hereby repealed. The SPDA shall coordinate with the head of Special Order No. 1391 dated 3 August 2004 for the return to SPDA of its assets and funds.

SECTION 6. Support of Other Agencies. - SPDA may request assistance from such other agencies as may be necessary, including, the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), to assist in the implementation of this Executive Order.

SECTION 7. Budget. - The amount of Ten Million Pesos (P10M), to be taken from the President ™s Contingency Fund, is hereby made available for the reactivation of SPDA. Subsequent budget shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All executive orders, rules regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions if this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon its publication in a national newspaper of general circulation.

Done in the City of Manila, this 29th day of August, in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Six.


By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary