WHEREAS, the Regional Development Council - Caraga Region has formulated its programs called the Economic Recovery through Agri-Forest Productivity in Caraga which aims to respond to the thrust of the administration for food security and poverty alleviation;

WHEREAS, there is a need to establish a coordinative and integrative mechanism to focus on the development activities and projects under this program;

WHEREAS, Sec. 14, Article X of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that: "The President shall provide for regional development councils or other similar bodies composed of local government officials, regional heads of departments and other government offices, and representatives from non-government organization within the region for purposes of administrative decentralization to strengthen the autonomy of units herein and to accelerate the economic and social growth and development of the units of the region";

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. Establishment of the Caraga Development Board. There is hereby established the Caraga Development Board, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall serve as the special body under the Caraga Regional Development Council to coordinate and promote the programs and projects for regional development in Caraga.

SECTION 2. Composition of the Board. The Caraga Development Board shall be composed of the following: (a) RDC Chairperson; (b) RDC Co-Chairperson; (c) RDC Vice-Chairperson; (d) the four Chairpersons of the RDC Sectoral Committees ; (e) Governors of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur Surigao del Sur and the Mayors of the cities of Butuan and Surigao (f) Regional Director of DA; (g) Regional Director of DENR; and (h) six additional members from the private sector to be selected under the supervision of the RDC Secretariat.

SECTION 3. Powers and Functions of Board. The Board shall exercise the following powers and functions:

a)	Provide the general directions in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Project;
b)	Facilitate, oversee and assess the progress of the implementation of the project;
c)	Review the annual and multi-year investment programs for submission o the Regional Development Council for approval;
d)	Review, approve and endorse to responsible agency or LGU all special funds coming into through the Boards initiative, for the implementation of various development projects;
e)	Organize the Project Management Office (PMO) define its organizational set-up, establish its staffing pattern, formulate its implementing rules and regulations pertaining to its internal operations;
f)	Exercise oversight functions of overall contracts entered into by the PMO;
g)	Review and approve all work and financial plans of the PMO;
h)	Accept and manage grants and financial assistance for the development of the area;
i)	Submit to the Regional Development Council an annual progress report of the Project and activities undertaken under it.

SECTION 4. Project Management Office. The Project Management Office is hereby established to serve as the technical and administrative secretariat of the Board. It shall perform the following functions:

a)	It shall serve as the technical and administrative secretariat of the Board, and as such, undertake the day-to-day activities of the Project;
b)	Prepare the annual program for project implementation;
c)	Coordinate with all the agencies involved in the implementation of the new projects;
d)	Identify priority projects for immediate implementation and recommend funding thereof;
e)	Coordinate activities of all on-going pre-feasibility studies and development programs within the areas covered by the Project;
f)	Prepare and recommend to the Board annual appropriation for the operationalization of the PMO and for the implementation of the priority programs under the Project;
g)	Prepare and submit to the Board regular updates on implementation status of the various components of the Project;
h)	Do other functions that maybe required by the Project Board and/or the RDC.

SECTION 5. Coordination and Integration Mechanism. To promote and maintain an effective coordination among development players in the project, the implementing agencies are hereby directed to closely coordinate with CDB, through the PMO, the preparation and implementation of their respective plans and programs to ensure integration and complementation of all development initiatives. Further, said agencies are hereby instructed to attend and actively participate in meetings/consultations and the like, that the CDB may initiate and hold.

SECTION 6. Funding. For the initial funding of the project, a sum of P1.6 M from the contributions of the four (4) provinces and two (2) cities at P200,000.00 each and P20,000.00 each from the twenty (20) national government agencies shall be collected.

As contribution from the National Government, the amount of P20 M from the Office of the President is hereby provided to the Board, through the RDC. The department of Budget and Management shall henceforth provide allocation from the annual budget upon the submission of the Board of its work and financial plans for the year.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. If any part of provision of this Executive Order is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions not affected shall remain valid and effective.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) newspaper of national circulation.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 17th day of April, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand.


By the President:

RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary