WHEREAS, in pursuit of the government's decentralization policy, efforts are directed to make institutions more effective and more responsive to the needs and conditions of local communities by bringing decision making and action at the local level;

WHEREAS, decentralization shall be effected meaningfully in all aspects of plan implementation;

WHEREAS, it is imperative to synchronize planning, programming and budgeting and to complement the devolution efforts already ongoing in the institutional processes for development planning and policy formulation, programming, budgeting, with decentralization efforts in plan and project monitoring and evaluation;

WHEREAS, as a consequence of said policies on decentralization and administrative delegation, Executive Order No. 308, as amended, mandates the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) to monitor, evaluate, and formulate recommendations on the implementation of development plans and programs in the region;

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to institutionalize a comprehensive and decentralized project monitoring and evaluation system with the kind of timeliness that is necessary in order to take quick action on problems that are confronted in the implementation of projects at the lowest level;

WHEREAS, this has been initially effected through the creation of Project Monitoring Committees in the provincial and municipal levels under Memorandum Order No. 175, as amended;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in we by the Constitution, do hereby order the establishment and adoption of the Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System (RPMES).

SECTION 1. Objectives. The RPMES primarily aims to expedite project implementation and devolve project facilitation, problem-solving, monitoring and evaluation to the regions and sub-regional levels, particularly to the provincial and municipal levels. More specifically, the RPMES aims to achieve the following objectives:

1. To provide up-to-date information on the overall status of project implementation for planning and budget allocation, to include employment generation of the various programs/projects expressed in man-days;
   
   
2. To identify problems/issues which impede project implementation for remedial actions at the regional and sub-regional levels and to elevate unresolved issues and problems at these levels to the Cabinet or the President for resolution and final action;
   
   
3. To integrate all monitoring activities in the region;
   
   
4. To assess and ascertain whether projects implemented are supportive of regional development goals and plans as well as national development thrusts and priorities;
   
   
5. To provide information on lessons learned in project implementation for planning and implementation of future similar projects;
   
   
6. To provide a venue for greater participation of non-government organizations (NGOs) in the development planning process.
   

SEC. 2 Scope and Coverage. The RPMES envisions to monitor and evaluate all development projects (economic, social, infrastructure and other development projects) at the regional, provincial, city and municipal levels. These development projects may be funded from national government and locally-generated resources.

At the national level, the monitoring and evaluation of the economic and physical performance of government corporations shall, likewise, be undertaken by the Government Corporate Monitoring and Coordinating Committee (GCMCC) to validate capital expenditure programming by the corporations under it.

At the regional level, the projects to be monitored may include projects contained in the Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP), other foreign-assisted or nationally-funded projects implemented and managed at the regional level and the regional components of nationwide projects.

At the provincial, city and municipal levels, the scope of monitoring shall include projects implemented and managed at these levels with the NALGU funds released directly to the province/city/municipality, foreign and nationally-funded projects, and other projects funded from locally-generated resources.

SEC. 3 Organization. The RPMES shall be implemented by the development councils at the various levels (RDC, PDC, CDC and MDC). A Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) shall be established under the RDC in addition to the Project Monitoring Committees (PMCs) created through Memorandum Order No. 175, as amended. At the nationa1 level, the RPMES shall be implemented initially through the Cabinet Action Committee on Implementation Assistance (CACIA) with the NEDA Secretariat to serve as the Secretariat. At the national level, the participation of the Government Corporate Monitoring and Coordinating Committee (GCMCC) is hereby effected to monitor and evaluate corporate financial and physical performance of the government corporations under it.

The Presidential Management Staff (PMS), independent of the RPMC, shall focus on monitoring the President's commitments in the various regions.

The extensive participation of non-government organizations (NGOs) as project monitors shall be advocated at all levels. NGO membership in the provincial, city and municipal levels shall include, but shall not be limited to, representatives from either civic and/or religious groups.

At the regional level, the Nationa1Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director shall be the Chairman of the Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Regional Director as Co-Chairman. The Committee shall have representatives from the Department of Local Government (DLG) and non-government/religious organizations as members. The NEDA Regional Office shall serve as the Secretariat of the Regional PMC.

The PMCs created through Memorandum Order No. 175, as amended, to implement the RPMES at the sub-regional levels (province and municipality) will each be composed of representatives from the DLG, NGOs and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) President or PTA Federation representative. There shall likewise be established City Project Monitoring Committees with the same functions and membership, as applicable to the city. The Provincia1/City/Municipal Budget Officer will be the Chairman of the Committee with the Provincial/City/Municipal Development Coordinator as Co-Chairman. Secretariat support to the sub-regional PMCs will be provided by the Provincial/City/Municipal Planning and Development Office.

The operationalization of the PMCs at the various levels shall be ensured by the DBM and NEDA in coordination with the DLG.

The Project Monitoring Committees may, in their discretion, consult the Commission on Audit representatives assigned to their respective areas of jurisdiction on matters falling under the functional responsibility of the Commission on Audit.

SEC. 4 Responsibilities of Entities. The specific roles and responsibilities of various units/organizations involved in the RPMES are as follows:

Department of Budget and Management (DBM)

1. Jointly with NEDA, provide over-all direction and coordination of RPMES activities;
   
   
2. Provide the PMCs with information on project fund releases;
   
   
3. Evaluate and report on the budget performance of implementing agencies; and
   
   
4. Operationalize the creation of Project Monitoring Committees at the Regional, Provincial, City and Municipal levels.
   

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

1. Provide feedback to Regional PMCs on actions made on issues raised to the Cabinet or the President;
   
   
2. Provide the secretariat services as are here indicated; and
   
   
3. Conduct training for the operationalization of the RPMES, together with DBM.
   

Office of the Cabinet Secretary - OP

1. Include in the agenda of the monthly CORD-RDC Chairmen meeting with the President or other appropriate venue, issues/problems raised through RPMES that require the action of the Cabinet/President;
   
   
2. Follow-up with the Cabinet members/agency heads actions on recommendations to expedite project implementation; and
   
   
3. Provide feedback to concerned CORD/RDC Chairman on problems/issues raised for discussion.
   

Presidential Management Staff (PMS) - OP

1. Monitor compliance with President's commitments in the various regions, independently of the RPMC
   

Government Corporate Monitoring and Coordinating Committee (GCMCC)

1. Monitor and evaluate financial and physical performance of government corporations under it.
   

Project Implementors (Regular agencies, non-financial government-owned/controlled corporations and local government units)

1. Submit list of projects for implementation during the year to the monitoring committees using suggested initial report forms;
   
   
2. Submit periodic reports to the monitoring committee on the status of project implementation based on suggested reporting form;
   
   
3. Provide authorized monitors access to more detailed information on project implementation (e.g. work program);
   
   
4. Submit to the next higher level of the line agency reports on status of project implementation; and
   
   
5. Implement/institute remedial measures on problems/issues identified as suggested by the development council.
   

NGO Authorized Monitors

1. Assist the PMC or development council in monitoring and evaluation of projects by identifying implementation problems or outstanding performance through project exception reports;
   
   
2. Ensure effective/efficient implementation of projects through vigilance; and
   
   
3. Act as government partners in ensuring transparency in project implementation.
   

Project Monitoring Committee

1. Provide list of projects to be monitored to NGOs involved in project monitoring;
   
   
2. Collect and process reports of implementers and NGO monitors on the status of project implementation for the development council and next higher level project monitoring committee;
   
   
3. Pinpoint problems, verify, information and recommend remedial measures to be submitted for analysis and action of the development council;
   
   
4. Provide feedback on the remedial actions of the development council and follow-up their implementation;
   
   
5. Prepare and disseminate periodic (monthly or quarterly) project monitoring reports on the status of project implementation; and
   
   
6. Elevate the higher level bodies problems/issues which are not resolved at their level.
   

Development Counci1s (RDC, PDC, CDC, MDC)

1. Supervise and coordinate activities of the PMCs;
   
   
2. Assess problems encountered in project implementation and provide remedial action possible at their levels or refer problems/issues to appropriate units or development council;
   
   
3. Evaluate the implementation of projects and derive lessons for future planning and project implementation;
   
   
4. Provide policy direction in planning and budget allocation based on the overall status of project implementation;
   
   
5. Report on the status of project implementation to appropriate bodies (President, Cabinet, Congress, etc.) for information or action; and
   
   
6. Inform PMCs of action taken on problems referred to appropriate units (i,e., Cabinet, OP).
   

Department of Local Government

1. Coordinate with the DBM in creating and operationalizing the PMCs at the municipal, city and provincial levels;
   
   
2. Ensure expanded scope of monitoring and evaluation (provided by MO 175, as amended) to include other development projects specified under this Executive Order; and
   
   
3. Assist the DBM and NEDA in the conduct of training for the RPMES.
   

The reports herein required shall include as part of its reporting formats employment generation of the various programs/projects expressed in man-days.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Secretary of Budget and Management, jointly with the Director-General of NEDA, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Executive Order.

SEC. 6. RPMES Manual of Operations. A Manual of Operations to implement the RPMES shall be formulated jointly by the DBM, NEDA, DLG, and other concerned agencies for the effective and efficient implementation of the same for the guidance of all.

Trainings/workshops on the use of the RPMES Manual of Operations shall be conducted within the next six months.

SEC. 7. Funding. Funds needed to implement the RPMES shall be made available from sources to be recommended by the DBM, with the approval of the President. Subsequent funding requirements of the RPMES such as the granting of financial incentives to NGO monitors, training, capability-building and other administrative costs shall be provided in the General Appropriations Act under the Regional Development Fund. The funds for the RPMES shall be administered by the DBM.

SEC. 8. Rescission Clause. All orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby revoked or modified accordingly. However, this Executive Order should complement Memorandum Order No. 175, as amended, which provides for, among others, the creation of Project Monitoring Committees.

SEC. 9. Efrectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 2nd day of November in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-nine.


By the President:

(Sgd.) CATALINO MACARAIG, JR.
Executive Secretary