WHEREAS , œKasaganaan para sa lahat, lalo na sa mahihirap  (Prosperity for all, specially for the poor) is the underlying philosophy of the Estrada Administration ™s development agenda, anchored on a poverty eradication program that emphasizes food security, sustainable development, low-cost housing, good governance and peace and order;

WHEREAS , the 1999 General Appropriations Act provides for P2.5 Billion under the Lingap Para sa Mahihirap Program Fund (or Lingap Fund) œto be used exclusively to satisfy the minimum basic needs of poor communities and disadvantaged sectors  through the following programs:

1. Food, Nutrition and Medical Assistance, P500 Million care of the Department of Health (DOH);

2. Livelihood Development, P500 Million care of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA);

3. Socialized Housing, P500 Million care of the National Housing Authority (NHA);

4. Rural Waterworks System, P300 Million care of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA);

5. Protective Services for Children and Youth, P300 Million care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); and,

6. Price Support for Rice and Corn, P400 Million care of the National Food Authority (NFA).

WHEREAS, the Government promotes the principle of decentralized and multi-sectoral policy formulation and program implementation in the pursuit of national development objectives;

WHEREAS, to ensure that the Lingap Fund is fully utilized to support the poverty eradication program of Government, there is a need to define the general principles and institutional arrangements for administering it;

NOW THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA , by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), created under Republic Act 8425 as the coordinating and advisory body for anti-poverty programs, shall exercise policy oversight functions for the Lingap Fund.

SEC. 2. The administration of the Lingap Para sa Mahihirap Program Fund shall be governed by the following general principles:

1. All Implementing Agencies shall target the 100 poorest families per province and city identified by the Local Government Units (LGUs) and the barangays identified by the National Security Council (NSC) as priority beneficiaries of their respective program components.

2. All Implementing Agencies shall build into their project designs the necessary information, education, communication and social preparation activities to ensure that target beneficiaries are ready to participate in their programs.

3. The NHA shall focus its projects in highly urbanized areas outside the National Capital Region, and pro-rate the allocation of its Lingap Fund according to the urban population of these regions.

4. The LWUA shall tap the Water Districts as partners in implementing its program component to ensure the technical feasibility and sustainability of rural waterworks projects.

5. The DOH, DSWD, NFA and CDA shall, as far as practicable, converge services in urban and rural areas where the NHA and LWUA have targeted their projects, to maximize impact on the poverty situation.

SEC. 3. A Program Advisory Committee is hereby created to oversee the implementation of the Lingap Para sa Mahihirap Program, and shall prescribe the following:

1. The criteria for selection or prioritization of program beneficiaries and target sites;

2. General fund allocation and access procedure; and,

3. Mode of participation of Basic Sectors and Local Government Units in program planning, implementation and monitoring.

The Committee shall be composed of:

1. NAPC Vice-Chairperson for the Government Sector, as Committee Chair;

2. Secretary of Budget and Management, as Co-Chair;

3. NAPC Vice-Chairperson for the Private Sector, as Committee Vice-Chair;

4. Heads of the Lingap Fund Implementing Agencies;

5. National President, League of Provinces;

6. National President, League of Municipalities;

7. National President, League of Cities; and,

8. National President, Liga ng mga Barangay.

The NAPC Secretariat and a Technical Working Group (TWG) composed of representatives of the above officials shall provide administrative and technical support to the Program Advisory Committee.

SEC. 4. Every Lingap Fund Implementing Agency shall create a Project Advisory Board for its program, to determine the following:

1. Policies and procedures for incorporation in the Implementing Guidelines;

2. Target beneficiaries identified in cooperation with Local Government Units and concerned legislators;

3. List of project sites and projects to be implemented in each project site;

4. Implementing and Support Agency(ies) for each project;

5. Information, education and communication programs for the social preparation of beneficiaries, if necessary; and,

6. Project monitoring and evaluation system.

The Board shall be composed of:

1. The Head of Agency, as Board Chair;

2. Three (3) NAPC Sectoral Representatives or their alternates, to be designated by the Vice-Chairperson for the Private Sector;

3. Representatives from the concerned Committees of the Senate or House of Representatives; and,

4. Other members who may be designated by the Head of Agency.

The Board shall ensure that the appropriate Committees in the Senate or House of Representatives that are concerned with the Implementing Agency ™s program component are consulted and their inputs considered in the identification of project sites and beneficiaries and the allocation of program funds. The Board may likewise consult with individual legislators, as the need arises.

SEC. 5. Each Implementing Agency shall designate an Office, Unit or Task Force to assist the Head of Agency in managing the Lingap Fund. The Office, Unit or Task Force shall report directly to the Head of Agency concerned, and shall have the following functions:

1. Enforce the Implementing Guidelines for the program component;

2. Ensure that project proposals submitted for approval satisfy the minimum requirements set by the Implementing Guidelines;

3. Develop a menu of projects that are within the Agency mandate, but can be adapted to address the peculiar needs of target beneficiaries and/or localities. To facilitate project development, such project prototypes may be derived from successful experiences of the Agency, other national government agencies or corporations, local government units, non-government organizations, and other sources;

4. Facilitate the release and monitor utilization of program funds, as well as oversee the progress of projects being implemented under their respective Lingap Fund components;

5. Prepare quarterly feedback reports on the status of the Lingap Fund, to be rendered to the NAPC on or before the 30th of the month following each quarter.

SEC. 6. Each Implementing Agency is entitled to an administration cost of not more than 5% of the total allocation of their respective components of the Lingap Fund, net of any reserve impositions, subject to accounting and auditing rules and regulations. The respective Project Advisory Boards shall formulate separate guidelines for the utilization of the administration cost.

SEC. 7. The Project Advisory Boards shall recommend Implementing Guidelines for their program components, for approval by the Program Advisory Committee through a Resolution, not later than 30 April 1999. Upon approval, these Implementing Guidelines shall be published by the Implementing Agencies in at least one (1) newspaper of national circulation. The DBM shall release funds to the Implementing Agencies only after the latter have submitted the approved guidelines and corresponding work and financial plans.

SEC. 8. The Program Advisory Committee and Project Advisory Boards shall undertake a periodic review of the Implementing Guidelines and agree on any necessary revisions.

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

DONE in the City of Manila, this 12th  day of April in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Nine.

(SGD.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(SGD.) RAMON B.CARDENAS
Senior Deputy Executive Secretary