Executive Order No. 149-A, December 16, 2002

AMENDING SECTIONS 2 AND 5 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 149, DATED NOVEMBER 18, 2002, ENTITLED “DEACTIVATION OF THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY”

WHEREAS, under Section 2 of E.O. No. 149, s. of 2002, it is necessary that the SPDA Deactivation Task Force created be chaired by a representative of the Office of the President;

WHEREAS, under Section 5 of E.O. No. 149, s. of 2002, personnel of the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) shall be deemed separated from the service effective 30 December 2002;

WHEREAS, it would be in the interest of the employees of SPDA to move their cut-off date from December 30, 2002 to March 30, 2003 in order to give affected individuals sufficient time to make adjustments to address their financial needs.

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

Section 1. Section 2 of E.O. No. 149, s. of 2002, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 2. Creation of Task Force. A Task Force is hereby created, to be chaired by a representative of the Office of the President, with representatives from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), National Economic & Development Authority (NEDA) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) as members, that shall oversee the deactivation process of SPDA.

“The Task Force shall be assisted by a skeletal force consisting of SPDA personnel assigned from the members of the Task Force for the task of winding up SPDAs operations and the safekeeping of its resources. Unless otherwise transferred to other agencies, members of the skeletal force from SPDA shall be deemed separated from the service due to abolition of position pursuant to a bona fide reorganization effective 30 June 2003.”

Section 2. Section 5 of the said E.O. 149 shall be amended to read as follows:

“Section 5. Separation or Retirement of SPDA Personnel – Except for those who shall be needed for the skeletal force, all SPDA personnel, whether permanent or contractual, consultant or job hired, etc. shall be deemed separated from the service effective 30 March 2003, pursuant to a bona fide reorganization resulting to abolition, redundancy, merger, division, or consolidation of positions in order to meet the exigencies of the service. SPDA personnel qualified for retirement may elect optional retirement as they may deem proper. All benefits, including payment of accrued leave credits, that may lawfully be given to SPDA employees by virtue of their transfer, retirement or separation from services shall be paid within one (1) month from the filing of the necessary clearances and other pertinent documents”.

Section 3. Repealing Clause – All previous issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby modified or amended accordingly.

Section 4. Effectivity – This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 16th of December 2002, in the year of our Lord, two thousand two.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO

Executive Secretary