WHEREAS, the Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS) is one of the nine flagship programs under the Social Reform Agenda, specifically aimed at empowering the disadvantaged communities to access services that will address their minimum basic needs;

WHEREAS, Administrative Order No. 194, Series of 1995 (otherwise known as the SRA Convergence Policy), clearly indicates the roles and responsibilities of all SRA major stakeholders, either as primary responsible entity or as support agency, in the delivery of services that respond to Minimum Basic Needs (MBN) indicators;

WHEREAS, the CIDSS has been implemented in 825 barangays of 275 municipalities and covering 49 provinces which resulted in the reduction of the unmet minimum basic needs by an average of fifty-seven percent (57%) within a span of two years. Likewise, it afforded the following major lessons on poverty alleviation program, validating the effectiveness and viability of the CIDSS approach:

a. Poverty alleviation program requires a thorough social preparation of the community to ensure accelerated, effective and sustained access to basic services, some of which can be eventually managed or provided by the community;

b. CIDSS, as a nationally-coordinated flagship program, complements local anti-poverty initiatives especially in 5th and 6th class municipalities that are usually low in resources, absorptive capacity and technical capabilities, requiring a transition mechanism prior to assuming full responsibility for anti-poverty programs;

c. The MBN Approach is a valuable tool for focused targeting, convergence of services and evaluation of the attainment of a better quality of life for poor households and communities;

d. Operationalizing convergence at the community level necessitates a focal agency for the installation of the MBN Approach with a network mechanism at all levels to coordinate poverty mapping; social preparation of the community; agency participation/matching of needs and programs/services for focused-targeting; and the conduct of continuing community mobilization for self-management of poverty alleviation program; and

e. Full implementation of the MBN Approach requires a balance of entrepreneurship and social responsibility.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the adoption of the Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS) as the national delivery mechanism for the Minimum Basic Needs (MBN) Approach.

SECTION 1. Department of Social Welfare and Development as Lead Agency. - The Department of Social Welfare and Development being the CIDSS Flagship Champion under the SRA, is directed to undertake appropriate steps to implement and/or further strengthen the CIDSS in all 5th and 6th class municipalities, as well as urban poor communities, as first priority, and in disadvantaged communities in 3rd and 4th class municipalities, as second priority. Selection of barangays within the aforementioned municipalities or urban areas shall give priority to SRA convergence areas as defined under Administrative Order 194.

CIDSS implementation shall include, among others, the following activities:

a. Undertake orientation-consultation, MBN survey, poverty mapping and other preparatory activities with the Presidential Commission to Fight Poverty, local government units and other Convergence Lead Agencies to ensure the eventual adoption and implementation of CIDSS in their respective areas by phases;

b. Include resource requirements for nationwide adoption of the CIDSS in its succeeding budget proposals;

c. Interface with existing local development councils and SRA technical working groups at all levels to ensure convergence of services for effective CIDSS implementation and full transfer of program, including its funds, to the local government units within five (5) years; and

d. Prepare necessary operational system with CIDSS partner agencies.

SEC. 2. Partner Agencies. - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Presidential Commission to Fight Poverty (PCFP), as CIDSS major partner agencies, are hereby directed to determine their specific program inputs to CIDSS; designate focal teams at all levels who shall coordinate with DSWD; issue agency directives; and allocate funds for these purposes.

SEC. 3. Implementation of CIDSS. - All local government units of 5th and 6th class municipalities; urban poor communities as well as 3rd and 4th class municipalities are hereby directed to adopt and implement the CIDSS in coordination with the DSWD; issue local ordinance to this effect; allocate local government counterpart funds; and designate community-based implementor.

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules And Regulations. - The DSWD, in consultation with the partner agencies and representatives of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, the League of Cities of the Philippines, League of Provinces and Liga ng Mga Barangay, is tasked to prepare the implementing rules and regulations of this Executive Order within thirty (30) days after its signing.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed to this Order.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 24^th day of September in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Seven.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) RUBEN D. TORRES
Executive Secretary