WHEREAS. with reference to the President’s 10-Pont Legacy, the Government shall endeavor to achieve the creation of 6 to 10 million jobs and the development of 1 to 2 million hectares of agribusiness lands;

WHEREAS, in order for all concerned offices and agencies of the Government to have unity of purpose and consistency in action to achieve these objectives, there is an urgent need to establish an office which shall coordinate, on a full-time basis, the effective and timely implementation of the Government’s commitments as outlined herein;

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 Jobs Generation [OPAJG] is hereby created under the Office of the President, to be headed by the Presidential Adviser for Jobs Generation, who shall have the rank and emoluments of a Cabinet Secretary.

SECTION 2. Mandate. – The Presidential Adviser for Jobs Generation shall coordinate the effective and timely implementation of the Government’s Roadmap for Jobs Generation, consisting of its commitment to create 6-10 million jobs and the development of 1 to 2 million hectares of agri-business lands within the next 6 years.

SECTION 3. Powers and Functions. – The Presidential Adviser for Jobs Generation shall have the following powers and functions:

1. Advise the President on the programs, policies and projects that shall ensure the full realization of the Government’s commitment to create 6 to10 million jobs in the next 6 years;
2. Coordinate initiatives and projects of concerned government agencies and offices, including government owned or controlled corporations [GOCCs], as well as with the private sector, in order to ensure the successful realization of the Government’s Roadmap for Jobs Generation as embodied herein;
3. Oversee the packaging of credit facilities, guarantee programs and other financial assistance schemes for small farmers and fisherfolk, small and medium enterprises [SMEs}, micro-business enterprises, those engaged in food and non-food production, trading and processing, and other rural-based organizations and individuals, and to monitor and supervise the delivery thereof to the intended beneficiaries;
4. Oversee other government agencies and government financial institutions, including but not limited to the Land Bank of the Philippines [LBP] and the Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corporation [QUEDANCOR], and private-sector resources to support the Roadmap for jobs Generation and micro-business enterprises, SMEs and agri-business credit;
5. Promote public-private sector cooperation to generate and support entrepreneurial endeavors;
6. Lead in the values formation and information campaign for confidence-building in the countryside as viable investment areas;
7. Conduct periodic evaluation of programs, policies and projects and propose changes and reforms that shall increase efficiency and effectivity of agriculture development programs and projects;
8. Call upon any agency of the Government for such assistance as may be necessary to address problems affecting the efficient and timely implementation of the Government’s commitment to generate 6 to 10 million jobs and to transform 1 to 2 million hectares of productive agri-business lands;
9. Prepare and submit periodic reports to the President on the status, progress, enforcement of policies, and execution and implementation of programs and projects related to the major components of the Government’s 10-Point Legacy; and
10. Perform such other functions as the President may direct.

SECTION 4. Ex-Officio Chairman. – In order to efficiently and effectively perform his functions and duties as prescribed herein, the Presidential Adviser for Jobs Generation shall serve as ex-officio Chairman of the governing boards of the LBP and QUEDANCOR.

SECTION 5. Technical and Administrative Support. – The Presidential Adviser on Jobs Generation shall establish and maintain a Secretariat which shall provide technical and administrative support.

The Presidential Adviser on Jobs Generation is hereby authorized to formulate the organizational structure of its Secretariat, composed of such administrative and technical personnel as may be deemed necessary to efficiently and effectively carry out the functions and duties as prescribed herein. Subject to existing civil service laws, rules and regulations, personnel from QUEDANCOR, LBP and other concerned agencies involved in jobs generation as provided herein may also be detailed by their respective heads to the OPAJG.

SECTION 6. Assistance. – The Presidential Adviser on Jobs Generation 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 on Jobs Generation and to provide such information and data as may be required to carry out his functions pursuant to this Order.

SECTION 7. Funding. – Subject to existing laws, and the usual government accounting and auditing rules and regulations, the funding for the administrative and operational expenses of the OPAJG and its Secretariat shall be sourced from available funds of the LBP and QUEDANCOR.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. – Executive Order Nos. 322 and 323 dated July 5, 2004, insofar as they are inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order, are hereby amended or modified accordingly. All other executive issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of the Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. – This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

City of Manila, JUL 19 2004

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO