WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 3, series of 2001, affirms the government's commitment to implement a comprehensive peace process to address the internal armed conflicts in the country and their root causes, which include, among others, poverty and economic inequity;

WHEREAS, Memorandum Circular No. 33, issued by the Office of the President on 23 November 2002, institutionalizes the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) as the government's overarching strategy for poverty reduction, arid enjoins government agencies to observe multi-stakeholder and inter-agency convergence In all poverty reduction activities;

WHEREAS, by virtue of MC No. 33, Regional KALAHI Convergence Groups (RKCGs), charred by the Presidential Assistants (PAs), have been put in place as the focal mechanisms to coordinate anti-poverty efforts in the regions;

WHEREAS, the National Peace Plan, i.e. Chapter 14 or the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan 2004-2010, calls for the mobilization and strengthening of KALAHI in fine with government's peace building and conflict prevention thrust, including rehabilitation and development of conflict-affected areas, as well as support to local peace initiatives of civil society groups and local government units (LGUs);

WHEREAS, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), which oversees and coordinates implementation of the comprehensive peace process, has established close linkage with PAs and the RKCGs as well as LGUs in pursuit of its mandate;

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

SECTION 1. The RKCGs under the leadership of the PAs as "Regional Peace Advisors", shall serve as OPAPP's regional mechanism, with the following functions:

1. Assist the OPAPP in facilitating, coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the comprehensive peace process through programs and projects in the various regions;
2. Coordinate with the Regional Peace and Order Councils (RPOCs) and local government units (LGUs) to ensure complementation and convergence of peace efforts and initiatives at the regional and local levels
3. Provide the venue/forum for sharing of experiences and best practices in peace building and conflict resolution among local government units and civil society groups, as well as for resolution of critical peace issues;
4. Serve as a quick-response mechanism to prevent the outbreak and/or escalation of armed conflicts, and address humanitarian needs and other urgent concerns arising from on-going hostilities, in coordination With other agencies;
5. Provide regular reports and recommendations to the President, through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), on regional peace and conflict situations and the status of Implementation of regional peace plans, programs and projects.

SECTION 2. The OPAPP, in coordination with the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), shall extend technical, capacity-building and mobilization support to RKCGs in the exercise of the abovementioned functions. For this purpose, OPAPP and NAPC shall ensure that sufficient funds shall be appropriated in (heir annual budgets for the provision of said support, as well as tap external sources of funds.

SECTION 3. All orders, issuances, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed and modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. Any provision hereof that may be declared in violation of existing laws shall in no way nullify the other provisions of this Executive Order.

SECTION 5. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately-Done in the City of Manila, this 26 th day of September , in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.
By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary