MALACAÑANG

MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 634

CREATING THE BICOL CALAMITY ASSISTANCE AND REHABILITATION EFFORT COMMITTEE

WHEREAS, funding for the River Basin and Watershed Management Project, a project funded by the National Government with a World Bank loan, is now available;

WHEREAS, the project has two major components, namely: 1) Bicol River Basin Management Component; and 2) Water Resources Management Component;

WHEREAS, the Bicol River Basin Management Component which will pilot the integrated water resources management approach on the ground is further subdivided into four subcomponents. These are: 1) Institutional Strengthening, 2) Watershed Development and Management to be led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and co-implemented by the Local Government Units (LGUs) within the Bicol River basin; 3) Irrigation Management to be implemented by the National Irrigation Administration; and 4) Flood Mitigation to be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways;

WHEREAS, the total project cost is estimated at $30 Million, around $22 Million of which is expected to be borrowed from the World Bank;

WHEREAS, the Bicol Region has been adversely affected by a series of massive typhoons particularly Caloy, Milenyo, Reming and Seniang;

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9401 or the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2007 sets the parameters as to the allocation for the Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Effort (CARE) of Eight Billion Pesos (P8,000,000,000.00) under the Calamity Fund and Two Billion Pesos (P2,000,000,000.00) under the Department of Education (DepEd), the implementing/recipient departments and agencies and use of the fund;

WHEREAS, to date, the Department of Budget and Management has released some P5.2 Billion under the Calamity Fund and the P2.0 Billion under the DepEd for school buildings in typhoon stricken areas or a total of P7.2 Billion to various implementing departments and agencies specified in the GAA, as follows:

Department of Agriculture (DA)
P1.0 Billion

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
P0.500 Billion

Department of Energy/National Electrification Administration (DOE/NEA)
P0.500 Billion

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
P0.500 Billion

Department of Education (DepEd)
P2.0 Billion

National Housing Authority (NHA)
P0.500 Billion

Department of Health (DOH)
P0.300 Billion

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
P1.425 Billion

State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)
P0.400 Billion

Local Government Units (LGUs)
P0.126 Billion

WHEREAS, prior to the release of funds, work program of the individual implementing agencies were submitted to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), an inter-agency body with the Office of Civil Defense as the technical Secretariat. The said Council serves as the clearing house for all claims/request and upon consolidation/evaluation, the requests are endorsed and recommended to the Office of the President (OP) for approval. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is notified of the OP approval as basis for the release of the fund.

WHEREAS, the NDCC normally handles calamity funds of about Two Billion Pesos (P2,000,000,000) to coordinate calamity response all over the country;

WHEREAS, the Ten Billion (P10,000,000,000.00) allocated for CARE is many times bigger than what the NDCC normally handles;

WHEREAS, a wholistic approach is needed in the implementation of government rehabilitation, repair and reconstruction works and activities in order to immediately mitigate the devastation caused by the aforementioned typhoons;

WHEREAS, some components of the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management may interface or overlap with CARE;

WHEREAS, there is a need to establish relationships to synchronize the operations of existing government structures in order to strengthen synergy and efficiency;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, do hereby order:

Section 1. Creation. – The Bicol CARE Commission (B CARE C) is hereby created.

Section 2. Mandate. – The B CARE C shall integrate relief, rehabilitation, resettlement, recovery, livelihood and development efforts in the different areas of the Bicol Region particularly affected by typhoons Caloy, Milenyo, and Reming. It shall likewise ensure that public funds allocated for victims of said disasters shall be spent judiciously and effectively through efficient prioritization of programs and consistent monitoring of projects. It shall replace NDCC as the clearing house for all claims/requests. Upon consolidation/evaluation, it shall approve the appropriate requests. It shall notify the DBM of its approval as a basis for the release of the fund.

Section 3. Powers. – The B CARE C shall have the following powers:

a. To generate proposals from the implementing agencies for relief, rehabilitation, resettlement, recovery, livelihood and development efforts as well as infrastructure support;

b. To work with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on hazard mapping for the Bicol Region;

c. To work with the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project Management Office on common or overlapping project activities;

d. To regularly monitor the status of programs, projects and activities in the areas devastated by typhoons Caloy, Milenyo, Reming and Senyang in the Bicol Region to ensure their prompt and efficient execution;

e. To recommend courses of action to ensure cohesiveness in objectives and coordinated action to improve the implementation of rehabilitation, repair and reconstruction works and activities in the said areas;

f. To coordinate and consult with concerned national and local officials, both elective and appointive, as well as accredited non-government organizations in the prosecution of programs and projects;

g. To mobilize the assistance and support of any government agency or instrumentality as well as civil society and donor community to address identified gaps and requirements in rehabilitation efforts; and

h. To formulate policies, plans and programs for relief, rehabilitation, resettlement, recovery, livelihood and development efforts as well as infrastructure support with regard to CARE funds unallocated to date or funds for a similar purpose that may be allocated in the future.

Section 4. Composition. – The B CARE C shall be composed of the following:

a. The Chairman of the NDCC, as Chairman of the B CARE C

b. The Secretary of Agriculture

c. The Secretary of Agrarian Reform

d. The Secretary of Social Welfare and Development

e. The Secretary of Budget and Management

f. The Secretary of Education

g. The Secretary of Health

h. The Secretary of Public Works and Highways

i. The Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education

j. The Administrator of NEA

k. The General Manager of NHA

l. The Chairman of the Region V Development Council

Section 5. Organization of the Secretariat. – The B CARE C shall maintain a Secretariat to be headed by the Executive Director. It may request that personnel from different government agencies and instrumentalities be detailed by their respective heads.

Section 6. Assistance of Government Entities. – All departments, agencies, bureaus, offices and instrumentalities are hereby enjoined to extend full assistance and cooperation, and to provide necessary information and data to B CARE C.

Section 7. Secretariat. – The B CARE C shall be supported by the secretariat to be headed by an Executive Director. Technical and administrative personnel shall be provided by member agencies on detail basis. The Executive Director shall have the following powers and functions:

a. Administer and manage the day-to-day affairs and operations of the B CARE C;

b. Coordinate the activities of agencies and instrumentalities in the implementation of projects;

c. Coordinate and liaise with accredited non-government organizations, international relief agencies and other groups or individuals involved in relief, resettlement, rehabilitation and livelihood services;

d. Conduct studies on disaster mitigation and other related alternative measures to minimize the adverse effects to lives, properties and livelihood of residents in the Bicol Region that may be caused by similar disasters;

e. Work with the DENR on Hazard mapping for the Bicol Region;

f. Monitor the implementation of projects and programs in connection with the relief, rehabilitation, resettlement, recovery, livelihood and development efforts;

g. Report to the B CARE C, which shall meet at least monthly, on the status, situation and developments concerning projects and programs; and

h. Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the President.

Section 8. Reportorial Requirements. – The B CARE C shall submit to the appropriate Congressional oversight committee a quarterly report on the funds allocated indicating the amount released, obligated and disbursed for:

a. Aid, relief, resettlement, rehabilitation and livelihood services; and

b. Construction or repair and reconstruction of infrastructure projects being financed, and the accomplishments for the expended appropriations.

Section 9. Term. – The B CARE C shall exercise its powers and functions for a period of two (2) years unless otherwise directed by the President.

Section 10. Funding. – The funding for the administrative and operational expenses of the B CARE C shall be sourced from the Calamity Fund.

Section 11. Repealing Clause. – All other executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 12. Effectivity. – This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 3rd day of July in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seven.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary

Source: Malacañang Records Office

Office of the President of the Philippines. (2007). [Executive Order Nos. : 601 Р700]. Manila : Malaca̱ang Records Office.