WHEREAS, one of the declared priorities of the Government is the promotion of regional development and the decentralization of government departments and agencies through the transfer and establishment of new government centers [NGCs] outside Metro Manila;

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to establish an office which shall assume the primary responsibility of advising the President on matters pertaining to the transfer of select government agencies to specific regions or areas where they are needed the most;

WHEREAS, under the Administrative Code of 1987 and other existing laws, the President has the continuing authority to reorganize the administrative structure of the Office of the President;

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

SECTION 1. Creation - The Office of the Presidential Adviser for New Government Centers [OPANGC] is hereby created under the Office of the President, to be headed by the Presidential Adviser for New Government Centers [NGCs], who shall have the rank and emoluments of a Cabinet Secretary.

SECTION 2. Mandate - The Presidential Adviser for NGCs shall advise the President on the programs, policies and projects for the promotion of regional development and the decentralization of government departments and agencies through the transfer and establishment of NGCs outside Metro Manila to regions where they are needed most.

SECTION 3. Powers and Functions - The Presidential Adviser for NGCs shall have the following powers and functions:

1. Identification of ideal sites for proposed NGCs outside Metro Manila, with emphasis on unutilized government-owned buildings and facilities that will house the departments and other national government agencies whose central offices have been previously decided to be transferred or relocated outside Metro Manila;
   
   
2. Conduct consultations with concerned local government officials, the business sector, the academe, concerned civil society groups and other interest groups, in order to gain insights, reactions, acceptability, viability and sponsorship of the identified sites for the establishment of NGCs;
   
   
3. Evaluate and rank the identified sites as possible venues for the establishment of NGCs according, but not limited to, the following criteria:
   
   1. Accessibility;
   2. Proximity to the most number of target clients;
   3. Peace and order situation;
   4. Presence of adequate facilities;
   5. Support of the local government units;
   6. Capital requirements; and
   7. Acceptability by the employees of the concerned department/agency and by the local residents.
4.  Ensure that support facilities (such as access roads, telecommunications facilities, housing, etc.) service and other required facilities are available in the sites recommended to be established as NGCs;
   
   
5. Promote NGCs to be established by attracting locators and support of various groups to achieve the goals for the setting up of the said government centers;
   
   
6. Facilitate the access to national government funding support for the local development plans and programs of the host regions such as provisions for farm-to-market roads, irrigation facilities, post-harvest facilities, roads and bridges, railways and official development assistance packages; and
   
   
7. Perform such other functions as the President may direct.

SECTION 4. Technical and Administrative Support - The Presidential Adviser for NGCs is hereby authorized to formulate the organizational structure of his office, composed of such administrative and technical personnel as may be deemed necessary to efficiently and effectively carry out of the functions and duties as prescribed herein.

SECTION 5. Assistance - The Presidential Adviser for NGCs may call upon any agency or office of the Government for such assistance as may be necessary or appropriate in the performance of his functions.

All heads of departments, agencies, bureaus and offices, including government-owned or controlled corporations, are hereby enjoined to render full assistance and cooperation to the Presidential Adviser for NGCs and to provide such information and data as may be required to carry out his functions pursuant to this Order.

SECTION 6. Funding - The funds to support the operations of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for NGCs shall be sourced from the existing budget of the Office of the President.  Fund requirements for the OPANGC for the succeeding years shall be prepared in accordance with the regular government budget procedures and shall be included in the budget of the Office of the President.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause - All 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 8. Effectivity - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.Adopted: 27 Aug. 2004


By the President:

(SGD.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary