[ LETTER OF INSTRUCTION NO. 1062, September 02, 1980 ]

DIRECTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LIVELIHOOD SETTLEMENT AREA IN NORTH COTABATO AND MAGUINDANAO, REGION XII

TO:
The Minister of Agrarian Reform
   
  The Minister of Agriculture
   
  The Minister of the Budget
   
  The Minister of Human Settlements
   
  The Minister of Natural Resources
   
  The Officer-in-Charge, Southern Philippines Development Authority
   
 
The Commanding General, Central Mindanao Command
   
  The Chairman, Development Bank of the Philippines
   
  The Chairman, Presidential Committee on the
Rehabilitation and Development of Southern
Philippines (PCRDSP)
   
  All Heads of Ministries, Bureaus, or Agencies,
Government-owned or controlled corporations;
and local Government units

WHEREAS, it is the Government's policy to hasten the economic development of Southern Philippines and generate new sources of livelihood for mustered-out trainees, draftees/lCHDF's, retired military personnel, MNLF's, returnees and other persons involved or affected by the conflict in Southern Philippines;

WHEREAS, it is the government's desire to involve the foregoing segment of society in economic activities designed to promote their own well being and self-sufficiency in their economic existence;

WHEREAS, the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA), has been tasked as the specific government agency, under Presidential Decree No. 1703, to institute  and implement economic development projects in Southern Philippines;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, do hereby order and instruct the following:
  1. The Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) to organize a plans and program committee composed of representatives from SPDA as Chairman, the Ministry of Agrarian Reform, Bureau of Forest Development, Bureau of Lands and the Bureau k of Soils as members, which shall prepare the area development y plans, work programs, cost estimates and other technical plans and designs necessary for the total development of settlements and compact/cooperative farms.

  2. The Bureau of Forest Development to undertake  the classification of all timberland blocks embraced by the accompanying proclamation and to release as alienable and disposable all areas  which are suitable  for agricultural purposes, particularly areas marked below 18% in slope gradient in the attached  Annex Plan "1".

    It shall issue  the  necessary licenses and/or permits for the gathering of forest products  found within areas classified as alienable or disposable lands in the settlement area in accordance with the development plan therefor and existing forestry rules and regulations.

  3. The Bureau of Land to undertake the boundary, topographic and subdivision surveys of area.

    It shall transfer to the Southern Philippines Development Authority all alienable and disposable lands within previously released by them.  However in the disposition of the same, vested rights such as land patents or titles and approved applications for issuance of patents filed by public land applicants who have complied with the requirements of the Public Land Law, as amended shall be respected.

  4. The Bureau of Soils  to undertake the soil survey of the area.

  5. The SPDA, shall manage, oversee and supervise the implementation of  the development plans and programs of the Project.

    It will issue lease contracts to qualified beneficiaries in accordance with existing rules and regulations.

  6. The Ministry of Agriculture shall organize farm cooperatives and provide  all necessary imputs for agricultural development and production.

  7. The Ministry of Natural Resources shall cancel all logging permits within the area and all pasture permits and pasture lease agreement will not be renewed upon its expiration.

  8. The Ministry of Agrarian Reform shall establish the compact farm in accordance with the development plans and shall establish equipment/tractor pool to support the project.

  9. The Minister of Human Settlements shall provide the necessary BLISS type housing units and community facilities and the appropriate financial arrangements for livelihood projects.

  10. The Commanding General of Central Mindanao and the Chairman of tho Regional Committee XII, PRDSP shall recommend mustered-out trainees, draftees/ICHDF's, retired military personnel and other persons involved or affected by the conflict in Southern Philippines as beneficiaries in this settlement Project.

  11. The Minister of the Budget is hereby directed to effect tho immediate release of ten (10) million peso out of the special activities fund in the office of the President as equity contribution to the SPDA to underwrite the pre-operationg and planning cost and part of the initial development cost of the foregoing project.

  12. The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is hereby directed to extend such loans to the SPDA as may be needed to underwrite part of the development cost upon presentation of the appropriate detailed project feasibility and viability studies, in accordance with the policies and programs of that Bank.

  13. The SPDA is hereby directed to secure funding assistance from external sources to underwrite the remaining cost of the projects.

  14. All Ministries, bureaus, offices, agencies, Government-owned and controlled corporations and local government units are hereby directed to extend their assistance to expedite implementation of the foregoing projects as may be requested by the SPDA.
Done  in the  City of Manila, this 2nd day of September, in the year of Our Lord,  Nineteen Hundred and Eighty.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines