MALACAÑANG

MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 29

RECONSTITUTING THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES COUNCIL FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY ESTABLISHED UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 371 DATED OCTOBER 2, 1996 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, by virtue of Executive Order No. 371 dated October 2, 1996, a Special Zone of Peace and Development (SZOPAD) in Southern Philippines was proclaimed and the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) and the Consultative Assembly were established as transitory bodies to promote and accelerate development efforts in the Southern Philippines;

WHEREAS, Section 14 of Executive Order No. 371 dated October 2, 1996 provides for the duration of existence of the SPCPD and the Consultative Assembly of three (3) years unless extended by the President;

WHEREAS, the duration of existence of the SPCPD and the Consultative Assembly was extended for a one-year period by Executive Order No. 161 dated September 30, 1999 and further extended until May 2001 by Executive Order No. 288 dated September 22, 2000;

WHEREAS, under Article XVIII, Section 16 of Republic Act No. 9054, the SZOPAD, SPCPD and the Consultative Assembly shall continue to exist until the date of approval of said law in a plebiscite to be conducted for such purpose or, in the event of its rejection, until they are abolished by law;

WHEREAS, in view of the modification made by Republic Act No. 9054 and to enhance the representation of local government units comprising the SZOPAD, there is a need to reconstitute the SPCPD and the Consultative Assembly;

WHEREAS, Article X, Section 14 of the 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-governmental organizations within the regions for the purposes of administrative decentralization to strengthen the autonomy of the units therein and to accelerate the economic and social growth and development of the units in the region;”

WHEREAS, under Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987, the President has the continuing authority to reorganize her office.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law and the Constitution, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Duration of Existence of the SZOPAD, the SPCPD and the Consultative Assembly. – Pursuant to Article XVIII, Section 16 of Republic Act No. 9054, the SZOPAD, the SPCPD and the Consultative Assembly shall continue to exist until the date of approval of said law in a plebiscite to be conducted for such purpose or, in the event of its rejection, until they are abolished by law.

SECTION 2. Reconstitution of the SPCPD and Consultative Assembly. – The SPCPD is hereby reconstituted and shall be composed of one Chairperson, one Vice-Chairperson and three Deputies. The Chairperson shall be designated by the President from among the provincial governors and city mayors in the SZOPAD, including the Governor of the ARMM. The other members of the SPCPD shall be designated by the President from among the heads of departments or other government offices or appointed from representatives of non-governmental organizations within the SZOPAD.

The Consultative Assembly is hereby reconstituted and shall be composed of the following:

a. Chairperson of the SPCPD, who shall be the presiding officer of the Consultative Assembly;

b. The Governor and Vice-Governor of the ARMM;

c. All provincial governors in the SZOPAD;

d. All city mayors in the SZOPAD; and

e. Fifty-five (55) members from various sectors, including representatives of non-governmental organizations and people’s organizations.

SECTION 3. Functions. – The SPCPD and the Consultative Assembly shall continue to perform their functions and tasks as provided in Executive Order No. 371 dated October 2, 1996, Executive Order No. 161 dated September 30, 1999 and Executive Order No. 288 dated September 22, 2000.

SECTION 4. Effect on Local Government Units. – Nothing in this Executive Order shall affect the existence or diminish the powers and functions under existing laws of all local government units in the SZOPAD, including the ARMM.

SECTION 5. Funding. – Funds for the operations of the SPCPD and the Consultative Assembly shall continue to be sourced from the Office of the President and from such other funding sources as may be recommended by the Department of Budget and Management.

SECTION 6. Repeal. – All orders, rules, regulations and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. – This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon approval.

City of Manila, August 3, 2001.

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

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary

Source: Malacañang Records Office

Office of the President of the Philippines. (2001). [Executive Order Nos. : 1 – 100]. Manila : Malacañang Records Office.