WHEREAS, it is the priority thrust of the government to ensure food security and pursuant thereto, it is desirable to promote the modernization of agriculture through the sustainable development of agricultural estates and zones;

WHEREAS, Leyte Sab-a Basin, having the strategic geographical comparative advantages and the needed natural resources, has the tremendous potentials to be a food basket and contribute to the food sufficiency of the country;

WHEREAS, the Enhanced Resource-Based Area for Productivity (ERAP) Project has been formulated to realize the above development potentials of the Leyte Sab-a Basin.

WHEREAS, there is a need to provide institutional mechanism to efficiently pursue the development of the Leyte Sab-a Basin, considering that the abolition of the Leyte Sab-a Basin Development Authority and the absence of any existing bodies to provide the coordinating mechanism covering the area.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 31, Chapter 10 Title III, Book III of Executive Order No. 292 otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987, the President œshall have continuing authority to re-organize the administrative structure of the Office of the President. For this purpose, he may take any of the following actions: x x x (3) Transfer any function under the Office of the President to any Department or Agency as well as transfer functions to the Office of the President from Departments and Agencies; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law and the Constitution, do hereby order the following:

SECTION 1. Creation of the Inter-Agency Committee for Leyte Sab-a Basin. There is hereby created the Inter-Agency Committee to coordinate the efficient implementation of the Enhanced Resource-based Agenda for Productivity (ERAP) Project.

SEC. 2. Composition. The above Inter-Agency Committee shall be chaired by the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Flagship Programs and Projects with the following members: Secretaries of the Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Provincial Governor of Leyte, as members.

The Committee may invite representatives of the regional offices of concerned government agencies in Eastern Visayas, local government units, non-government organizations and people ™s organizations to perform tasks that are germane to the purposes of this Order.

SEC. 3. Duties and Responsibilities. The Committee shall have duties and responsibilities:

a. Provide policy directions on the development of the area towards ensuring its consistency with the role of the Basin as a food basket;

b. In consultation with the concerned Local Government Units and private sector, formulate and implement multi-agency development program to promote the sustainable socio-economic development of the basin;

c. Coordinate, review and prioritize the implementation of policies and projects by government agencies and private sector affecting the area;

d. Promote the active private sector participation in the development of the area, specifically in the implementation of programs and projects designed to enhance the agricultural productivity of the Basin; and

e. Other duties and responsibilities which may be assigned by the President.

SEC. 4. Secretariat. The Provincial Government of Leyte shall provide secretariat and administrative support to the Committee in the discharge of its duties and responsibilities as well as technical services in the implementation of the above project.

SEC. 5. Implementing Guidelines. The Committee shall formulate and adopt, within thirty (30) day from the effectivity date of the Order, the implementing rules and regulations to efficiently implement the provisions of the same.

SEC. 6. Reportorial Requirements. The Committee shall submit to the President a quarter report on the progress of the development plan of the area, including the disposal status of the assets and properties of the defunct Leyte Sab-a Basin Development Authority, the rules and procedures for which shall be formulated by the Committee in coordination with the concerned agencies.

SEC. 7. Budget. There shall be no additional budget outlay appropriated on account of the creation of this Committee. The member agencies shall perform their respective activities as part of their regular and relevant functions without additional compensation.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 10th day of October, in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand.

(SGD.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA

By the President:

(SGD.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary