In view of the promulgation of Executive Order No. 634 on December. 4, 1980 in line with the policy of the Administration to provide every possible national government, support to the autonomous governments of Regions IX and XII and to the Office of Muslim Affairs in order to accelerate the rehabilitation and development of Southern Philippines, the guidelines herein provided shall govern the implementation of the integrated regional cooperatives development program in Regions IX and XII and, furthermore, establish the organization, powers, and responsibilities, of the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Offices in each of the said autonomous regions.

GENERAL PROVISION

SECTION 1. In accordance with the concept of regional autonomy, pursuant to PD No. 1618 and other pertinent issuances, the integrated regional cooperatives develop ment program shall be pursued vigorously in Regions IX and XII without necessarily having to circumscribe the existing national government obligation to extend support to local echelons and international commitments of which the Republic of the Philippines assume responsibility.

SEC. 2. All functions and responsibilities relative to the promotion and development of all types and federations/unions of cooperatives and pre-cooperative associations within the purview of Presidential Decree No. 175 and implementing guidelines or administrative issuances thereto appertaining in Regions IX and XII are assumed by the integrated regional cooperatives development program.

SEC. 3. The Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Offices each of Regions IX and XII shall in all their operational activities be guided by the internationally accepted principles and practices of cooperativism and by the national policies involving the promotion, organization, development and supervision of cooperatives pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 175 and Letter of Implementation No. 23.

SEC. 4. In the implementation of the integrated regional cooperatives development program in Regions IX and XII, the implementors shall endeavor to introduce Innovative Approaches and strategies of cooperativism adaptive to the cultural pattern and environmental conditions obtaining in said autonomous regions.

It shall be the prime concern of the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Offices for Regions IX and XII to focus their main .programs oh*the KILUSANG KABUHAYAN AT KAUNLARAN PROGRAM of the New Republic, especially on the following areas:

a.   Retraining and reorientation of staff and field implementators on the KILUSANG KABUHAYAN AT KAUNLARAN program  and  concept;

b.   Motivation and principal participation of the private sector in the KILUSANG-KABUHAYAN  AT KAUNLARAN projects;

c.   Tight coordination with the local elective officials;  and

d.   Livelihood projects on agro-forestry, agro-livestock, aqua-marine, shelter, cottage and light industry, waste utilization and services.

GENERAL POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

SEC. 5. The Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office, subject to existing laws and regulations, shall have the following powers and functions:

a. To administer the implementation of the integrated regional cooperatives development program within its jurisdiction.

b. To closely coordinate with and/or enlist the support and cooperation of the Office of Muslim Affairs, the regional autonomous government, the Ministry of Agriculture .Regional Office and such other government agencies or private entities as may be deemed vital to the effective; execution of the plans and project designed to accelerate the socio-economic development of the region through the Integrated Regional Cooperatives Development Program.

c. To evolve systematic action plans; employ innovative approaches arid strategies; and conduct continuous evaluation, researches and studies that are necessary in program and project implementation.

d. To promote, organize, register, develop and supervise all forms, federations and unions of cooperatives and pre-cooperative associations pursuant to PD 175 and LOI 23 among all sectors of the_ population and consistently conduct training courses and information drives to institutionalize cooperation among the populace.

e. To contract, receive and/or convey grants, donations, gifts, loans and any other form of bequeathal needled to carry out its plans and projects as provided for in Section 20.

f. To disburse funds within the limits of the budgetary ceiling therefor authorized in accordance with auditing and Accounting rules and regulations.

g. To maintain personnel force within the limits authorized by the Ministry of the Budget and ensure the effective discharge of their duties, their high morale, and their professional growth and development.

ORGANIZATION

SEC. 6. The Regional Cooperative Development Assistance Offices in Regions IX and XII, shall respectively maintain a regional Office and field offices in each province, city and municipality. It shall likewise establish monitoring and/or liaison office in the national level to maintain close coordination with other agencies involved in the implementation of the Program.

SEC. 7. Executive Director. The Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Offices shall be headed each by an Executive Director with the rank of Career Executive Service Officer II appointed by the President of the Philippines. He shall have the following powers and duties:

a. Administers the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office and executes: such plans and policies as are evolved pursuant to the implementation of the integrated regional cooperatives development program.

b. Negotiates and signs contracts under the usual rules and regulations for government contracts in behalf of the Regional Cooperatives .Development Assistance Office in connection with the plans, projects, grants, donations, loans or bequests to and from the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office.

c. Signs administrative issuances, communications, and other documents, including vouchers in the amount authorized under existing law, rules and regulations and the budgetary ceiling or indemnity bond posted in his behalf.

d. Appoint,  promote, transfer, reinstate, terminate and supervise personnel of the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office subject to existing laws, rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission.

e. Performs such other duties and assumes such other responsibilities as the Minister of Agriculture may assign from time to time.

SEC. 8. Deputy Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be assisted by a Deputy Executive Director with a rank, of Career Executive Service Officer III appointed by the President of the Philippines. He shall have the following powers and duties:

a. Assists the Executive Director and acts for and in his absence.

b. Signs vouchers or financial documents as maybe delegated or in accordance with the indemnity bond posted in his behalf.

c. Performs such other duties and assumes such other responsibilities as the Executive Director may delegate from time to time.

SEC. 9. The Executive Director shall be back staffed by different divisions or units to effectively carry out his functions and whose specific responsibilities are herein enumerated.

SEC. 10. Administrative Division. The Administrative Division headed by an officer with the rank of Chief of Division shall exercise the following functions and responsibilities:

a. Performs the housekeeping chores in the Regional Office.

b. Procures supplies and equipment needed by the different division/units of the regional, office and by the field offices and their respective personnel.

c. Maintains the serviciability of vehicles and equipment of the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office.

d. Acts as the nerve center of communication in and for the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office.

e. Performs such other functions as the Executive Director may assign from time to time.

SEC. 11. Budget and Fiscal Division. The Budget and Fiscal Division headed by an officer with the rank of Chief of Division shall have the following functions:

a. Prepares the budget of the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office in cooperation with the Planning and Management Information Division.

b. Maintains the accounting of all funds received and disbursed by the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office and the recording or bookkeeping of the same.

c. Re-alligns from time to time the funding requirements of activities and projects in accordance with the long range plan of the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office, as well as the financial requirements of the personnel, subject to existing budget, laws, rules and regulations and to the approval of the President.

SEC. 12. Planning and Management Information Division. The planning and Management Information Division headed by an Officer with the rank of Chief of Division shall have the followinq functions:

a. Prepares or consolidates the plans of the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office and coordinates with the Budget and Fiscal Division in connection with the funding requirements of said plans.

b. Monitors the activities of the regional and field offices to ensure that the same conform with the plans and programs.

c. Prepares or consolidates the reports of the regional and field offices and maintains a feedback system between them. 

d. Performs such other functions as, the Executive Director may assign from time to time.

SEC. 13. Promotion and Supervision Division. The Promotion and Supervision Division headed by an officer with the rank of Chief of Division shall have the following functions:

a. Conducts periodic and consistent management and financial audit of cooperatives, pre-cooperative associations; and federations and unions of cooperatives and pre-cooperative associations.

b. Provides management and financial guidance and counselling to cooperatives, pre-cooperative associations and federations and unions of cooperatives and pre-cooperative associations.

c. Conducts administrative verification or preliminary investigation of cases affecting questions of facts involving a cooperative, a pre-cooperative or federation or union of cooperative or pre-cooperative associations or its officer or employee versus the cooperative association, or federation/union.

d. Maintains documentation of all cooperatives, pre-cooperative associations, federations and unions of cooperatives and pre-cooperative associations and monitors the reports originating the reform.

e. Performs such other functions as the Executive Director may assign from time to time.

SEC. 14. Training, Education and Research Division; The Training, Education and Research Division headed by an officer with the rank of Chief of Division shall have the following functions:

a. Designs and executes the regional training and information program with the cooperation of the other divisions and/or field offices.

b. Makes available technical resources, if needed, to field trainings conducted in the province, cities or municipalities.

c. Establishes connections to the mass media and enlist the services on the most effective channels for the public information drive of the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office.

d. Conducts consistent evaluation of field training activities to ensure the application of knowledge and skills gained therefrom.

e. Conducts researches and studies to support field program operations.

f. Designs and executes, in cooperation with the Personnel Section/Administrative Division, training programs geared toward the professional growth and development of the personnel.

g. Performs such other functions as the Executive Director may assign from time to time.

SEC. 15. The Executive Director may subject to prior approval of the President, create such other units in the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office as he may deem necessary to maximize the effectiveness of the office.

SEC. 16. Field Offices. There shall be established in each province, city and municipality e; field office of the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office to expedite the services of the Office unto the clientele.

SEC. 17. Provincial Cooperatives Development Assistance Office. A provincial office to be called Provincial Cooperatives Development Assistance Office shall be established in each of the provinces of autonomous Regions IX and XII to monitor the implementation of the integrated cooperatives development program in the province. Manned by technically trained cooperatives development officers, the provincial office shall have the following functions and responsibilities:

a. Provides, support and technical assistance to the municipal offices in the execution of activities and projects undertaken thereat.

b. Monitors the reports of municipal offices and ensure communication channels between the regional and lower offices.

c. Closely coordinate with the local government units and other government agencies based at the provincial level in carrying out its functions.

d. Performs such other functions as the Executive Director may assign from time to time.

e. City and Municipal Offices. There shall likewise be established in each city and municipality of Regions IX and XII, city and municipality field offices, which shall serve as the frontline agencies of the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office in the implementation of the integrated cooperatives development program in their respective jurisdiction.

FUNDS AND PROPERTIES

SEC. 18. All properties, records, personnel liabi lities and responsibilities of the present Regional Cooperatives Development Task Forces in Regions IX and XII, as well as those of the Regional Cooperatives Development Divisions of the Ministry of Agriculture in Regions IX and XII,   and such funds as are allocated under the Budgetary Provisions of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Ministry of Agriculture and the Regional Autonomous Government  are hereby transferred to the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Office of Regions IX and XII, respectively, and therefore, the Project Directors of the former offices shall immediately effect the turn-over of the same to the Executive Director of the latter offices.

SEC. 19. The Minister of the Budget is hereby authorized to appropriate P5 million (from lump-sum authorizations the appropriations act) OUT OF THE CY 19 82 PROGRAM to each of the Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Offices AND to augment their limited budgetary allocations for current operating expenses for CY 1981 OUT OF THE SAVINGS OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FROM SUCH APPROPRIATE LUMP SUMS AS MAY BE AUTHORIZED BY THE PRESIDENT.

SEC. 20. The Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Offices shall endeavor and, are hereby authorized, subject _to the usual rules and regulations of audit and approval of the Office of the President, to locate and negotiate for loan, donation, or subsidy from local and foreign institutions deemed necessary to effectively carry out the responsibilities of said offices in the implementation of the integrated regional cooperatives development program in, Regions IX and XII.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISION

SEC. 21. The Regional Cooperatives Development Assistance Offices are hereby tasked to give priority to the cooperative needs of the rebel returnees and victims of the insurgency in Mindanao, who are economically dislocated as a result thereof.

SEC. 22. All orders, instructions and other issuances inconsistent therewith are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 23. This Letter of Implementation shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 13th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-two.

(Sgd.)  FERDINAND E. MARCOS
Presidential of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) JUAN C. TUVERA
Presidential Executive Secretary