The House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pushed for the enactment of the bill institutionalizing the National Economic and Development Authority as the independent economic and planning agency of the Philippine government.
A total of 183 lawmakers approved on third and final reading House Bill 9204 or the proposed “The National Economic and Development Authority Act.”
The bill is principally authored by Speaker Arroyo. It defines the functions of the NEDA and seeks to repeal for the purpose Executive Order No. 230, series of 1987.
The bill declares that the NEDA shall generate and provide impartial, objective, and evidence-based analyses and recommendations for the socioeconomic betterment of the nation, particularly to the President of the Philippines, the Congress of the Republic of the Philippines, and Filipinos in general.
To this end, the NEDA shall be transparent and proactive in engaging all Filipinos in the development of and discourse over the government’s socioeconomic policies, strategies, plans, programs and projects, and budgets.
The bill provides that NEDA shall consist of two distinct but functionally related entities: The NEDA Board and the NEDA Secretariat.
Among the powers, functions, and duties of the NEDA is to formulate continuing integrated and coordinated policies, plans, and programs for national and regional development in consultation with public agencies, people’s organizations, the academe, the private sector, and local government units. This includes long-term national development plans, medium-term and short-term national and regional development plans, medium-term national and regional public investment programs, inter-sectoral programs, and evaluation agenda.
The organizational structure and staffing modifications, as necessary shall be submitted by the NEDA to the Department of Budget and Management for review and approval.
Appointments in the NEDA, including those which are policy-determining, primarily confidential or highly technical in nature, shall be only made according to the Civil Service Law, rules, and regulations.
The Office of the Secretary of the NEDA shall comprise the Secretary, four Undersecretaries, eight Assistant Secretaries, the Internal Audit Service, and the Legislative Liaison Office.
Meanwhile, the NEDB shall be composed of the President of the Philippines as Chairperson and Secretary of the NEDA as Vice Chairperson. The members shall comprise the Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Secretaries of Finance; Budget and Management; Interior and Local Government; Trade and Industry; Transportation; Social Welfare and Development; Education; Health; Agriculture; and Public Works and Highways. The President may designate additional members to the NEDB.
All the members of the NEDB shall be voting members except for the Governor of the BSP.
In the exercise of its authority, the NEDB shall 1) direct the formulation and implementation of policies and strategies that would promote economic development and address development concerns of national importance; 2) issue rules and regulations necessary for the effective discharge of powers and functions vested upon the NEDA; and 3) ensure, together with the DBM, that the annual and multi-year appropriations for programs and projects are aligned with the development strategies in the national and regional development plans and public investment programs.