WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 325, series of 1996, directed the organization of the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) in the various regions of the Country;

WHEREAS, Metropolitan Manila or the National Capital Region, composed of the cities of Manila, Quezon, Pasay, Caloocan, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Para aque, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, and Las Pi as, and the municipalities of San Juan, Taguig, Pateros, Navotas, and Malabon is declared as special development and administrative region;

WHEREAS, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), through the Metro Manila Council (MMC), has virtually been performing the functions of the RDC for Metropolitan Manila;

WHEREAS, the establishment of an RDC for Metropolitan Manila is consistent with the policy that socio-economic development programs and activities of government therein should be undertaken with the extensive, active and meaningful participation and support from, and in coordination with the various local government units (LGU), national government agencies and the private sector;

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

SECTION. 1. The Regional development Council (RDC). - The Metro Manila Council is hereby constituted and shall serve as and perform the functions of the RDC for the National Capital Region, as follows:

a. Coordinate the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of medium 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 the cities and municipalities, 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, and prioritize, and endorse to the national government the annual and multi-year sectoral investment programs of the region for funding and implementation;

d. Review and endorse to the national government the annual budgets of agency regional offices, state colleges and universities and special development authorities;

e. Promote 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 region;

g. Review and endorse projects of national government agencies to the Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC) that have 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;

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 region.

SEC. 2. Composition. - As a Regional Development Council, the Metro Manila Council shall have, in addition, the following as non-voting members:

a. The regional Directors of the Departments of Education, Environment and Natural Resources, Finance, Health, Interior and Local Government, Labor and Employment, Science and Technology, Social Welfare and Development, and Trade and Industry, Technical Education and Skill Development Authority, Commission on Higher Education, National Historical Institute, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor and a representative from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; and

b. At least five (5) representatives from the private sector and four (4) representatives from the non-government organizations shall comprise one-fourth of the fully constituted RDC.

SEC. 3. RDC Officials. - The Chairman of the Metro Manila Council shall act as the chairman of the RDC. A Vice-Chairman shall be selected and nominated by the Metro Manila Council from among the voting members to be appointed by the Chairman. The MMDA General Manager shall be the Secretary of the RDC.

SEC. 4. RDC Executive Committee. - The Executive Committee of the Metro Manila Council shall serve as the RDC Executive Committee provided that its membership shall include the four (4) sectoral committee chairmen as provided for in SEC. 5 and private sector representatives. The RDC Executive Committee shall comprise one-fourth of the total membership of the fully constituted RDC. The Secretary of the RDC shall also serve as member of the RDC Executive Committee.

SEC. 5. Sectoral Committees. - To assist the RDC in the performance of its functions, the Council shall create, but not limited to the following Sectoral Committees: a) Economic Development Committee; b) Social Development Committee; c) Infrastructure Development Committee; and d) Finance and Development Administration Committee.

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 Executive Committee and/or the RDC Full Council.

SEC. 6. Affiliate Committees. - The various committees and councils organized to carry out national and agency programs are considered to be under the umbrella of the RDC. Their role shall be to assist the RDC coordinate, monitor and evaluate their respective specific concern. In general, secretariat functions to these bodies shall be provided by the lead agency that organized the council/committee.

SEC. 7. Functions of the RDC Chairman/Vice-Chairman. - The RDC Chairman shall assume and perform the following functions:

a. Preside over the meeting of the Regional Development Council;

b. Direct members of the Regional Development Council, affiliate committees and regional line agencies to perform tasks the RDC may deem necessary;

c. Accept, on behalf of the Regional Development Council, donations, contributions, grants, bequests or gifts;

d. Represent Metro Manila in Cabinet meetings and other activities at the national level;

e. Submit to the President, through the NEDA Board, regional plans regional investment programs, annual development reports and other planning documents on Metro Manila as approved by the Council; and

f. Perform other related functions and duties as may be directed by the President.

In the absence of or in case of vacancy arising from resignation, sickness or temporary incapacity of the RDC Chairman, the RDC Vice-Chairman shall assume said functions.

SEC. 8. Term of Office. - The RDC Chairman shall have a term of office coinciding with his term as Chairman of the Metro Manila Council. The RDC Vice-Chairman, the private sector representatives, and the NGO representatives shall have a term of office coterminous with that of the chairman.

SEC. 9. RDC Secretariat. - The MMDA shall be the secretariat of the RDC.

SEC. 10. Funds. - Funds for the operation of the RDC shall be incorporated in the annual budget of the MMDA. The RDC Chairman shall manage the technical, administrative and financial operations of the RDC, including being accountable for the funds and properties of the RDC.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules. - The Metro Manila Development Authority shall promulgate and adopt detailed guidelines to implement the specific provisions of this Executive order.

SEC. 12. Appealing Clause. - All previous issuances inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity. - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 17th day of July in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Two.

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(SGD.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary