WHEREAS, pursuant to EO No. 429, Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 75 (s. 2004) directed all regional offices of all departments and agencies of the National Government to transfer from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City, except the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Tourism (DOT), which shall all remain in Zamboanga City, but shall establish presence in Pagadian City;

WHEREAS, MC No. 11 (s. 2010), as amended, imposed a moratorium on the transfer of regional offices from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City and directed that a study be conducted on the economic and social costs thereof;

WHEREAS, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board Regional Development Committee has determined that the designation of Pagadian City increased the accessibility to the public of the regional government center, and fostered inclusive growth which resulted in economic vibrancy for the rest of the region; and

WHEREAS, the designations of Pagadian City as the regional government center and Zamboanga City as the commercial and industrial center of Region IX are consistent with the 10 Point Socioeconomic Agenda of the Administration to accelerate rural development, as well as the development strategy espoused in the Regional Spatial Development Framework 2016 to 2045 approved by the NEDA - Regional Development Council (RDC) IX;

NOW , THEREFORE, the following are hereby ordered:

Section 1. The moratorium on the transfer of regional offices from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City, imposed under MC No. 11. as amended, is hereby lifted.

Section 2. The remaining regional offices of all departments and agencies of the National Government in Region IX situated in Zamboanga City, or wherever they are currently located, are hereby ordered to transfer to Pagadian City, except those of the DTI, DOLE and DOT, which shall remain in Zamboanga City, but shall establish presence in Pagadian City. The transfer of these agencies, to be supervised by the NEDA RDC IX in coordination with the City Government of Pagadian City, must be completed within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Circular.

Section 3. All departments, bureaus, agencies, and offices of the National Government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and state universities and colleges, are hereby directed to extend the necessary support, including technical and logistical assistance, in the implementation of this Circular.

Section 4. Any violation of this Circular shall be dealt with in accordance with Civil Service laws, rules and regulations.

Section 5. The funding requirements to operationalize the transfer to Pagadian City of the remaining regional offices shall be sourced from their respective office budgets or, in the absence thereof, from the budget of their mother departments or agencies.

Section 6. MC No. 11 is hereby repealed. All other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Circular are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 7. If any part or provision of this Circular is held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 8. This Circular shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 25th day of June in the Year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty.