WHEREAS , the existing and proposed bridges connecting mainland Cebu and Mactan islands are very important to the economic activities and development of the region; and

WHEREAS , there is a need for a body to coordinate the development, maintenance and use of the existing and future bridges connecting the two islands.

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

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHING A MACTAN-CEBU BRIDGE MANAGEMENT BOARD (MCBMB) . A Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board, hereinafter referred to as the Board, is hereby established to coordinate the activities of concerned agencies with regard to the development, management, and use of the said bridges. The Board shall be under the supervision of the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC).

SEC. 2. COMPOSITION. The Board shall be composed of the following:

1 The Regional Director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region VII who shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Board.

2. The Chairman of the Central Visayas RDC Infrastructure Development Committee who shall be the ex-officio Co-Chairman of the Board.

3. The Provincial Governor of Cebu.

4. The Mayor of the City of Mandaue.

5. The Mayor of the City of Lapu-lapu.

6. The Mayor of the City of Cebu.

7. The Mayor of the Municipality of Cordova.

8. The Regional Director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) 7.

9. The Regional Director of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7.

10. Two (2) private sector representatives (PSR) to be chosen from among the PSR members from Cebu in the RDC.

SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS . The Board shall have the following functions:

a) Review and approve policies, plans, projects, rules and regulations necessary for the development, maintenance, and use of the Mactan-Cebu bridges;

b) Coordinate and ensure the effective implementation of the said policies, plans, projects, rules and regulations by the concerned agencies;

c) Generate and administer funds and other resources needed for the operations of the Board, its technical working groups and the support staff;

d) Create operating units composed of personnel from different agencies and hired personnel necessary to support and carry out the activities of the Board; and

e) Perform other related functions to be assigned by the RDC.

SEC. 4. RDC SUPERVISION. The RDC shall provide general policies and guidelines for the technical and administrative activities of the Board. All resolutions of the Board shall be submitted to the RDC for review and confirmation. The Board shall submit quarterly reports of accomplishment to the RDC.

SEC. 5. TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS. The Board shall create the necessary technical working groups (TWG) to assist the Board to carry out its functions.

SEC. 6. SUPPORT STAFF. The Board ™s principal office shall be at the DPWH Regional Office, which shall provide basic support to the Board. The Board is authorized to hire additional technical and administrative personnel necessary to carry out its activities.

SEC. 7. FUNDING. The operations and activities of the Board shall be funded by the administration fee from bridge toll collection, donations, grants, service charges, and contributions from local government units and line agencies as may be approved by the RDC.

SEC. 8. FUND MANAGEMENT. The funds of the Board shall be held in trust by DPWH Regional Office No. 7 and shall be disbursed in accordance with government accounting and auditing rules. The budget of the Board shall be approved by the RDC subject to government budgetary rules.

SEC. 9. COMPENSATION. The members of the Board and the technical working groups and support staff detailed from other agencies may be given honoraria for actual services rendered, subject to availability of funds and relevant government rules and regulations. The compensation of hired personnel shall be based on the budget approved by the RDC subject to government rules.

SEC. 10. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. Any provision of this Executive Order declared illegal shall not nullify the other provisions hereof provided that the remaining provisions can be given force and effect to accomplish the purposes of this Executive Order.

SEC. 11. EFFECTIVITY . This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 9th day of December in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety nine.

(SGD.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(SGD.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary