EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 552, August 01, 2006

TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES OVER THE MT. PINATUBO LOWLAND COMMUNITIES FROM THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL (HUDCC) TO THE NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY (NHA)

WHEREAS, by operation of law, specifically Republic Act No. 7637 and Proclamation No. 1201, the Mt. Pinatubo Assistance, Resettlement and Development Commission, hereinafter referred to as Mount Pinatubo Commission (MPC) has expired on 31 December 2000;

WHEREAS, under Executive Order No. 269 dated 19 July 2000 and Executive Order No. 4 dated 5 March 2001, provisions were made to facilitate the winding-up activities of the MPC with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) designated as lead agency of the Commission to supervise the closure of MPC;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 6 issued on 20 March 2001 directed the transfer of resettlement functions and responsibilities over the Mt. Pinatubo lowland communities to the HUDCC;

WHEREAS, under Executive Order No. 54 dated 7 November 2001, the assets, records, funds, personnel, liabilities and responsibilities over the Mt. Pinatubo lowland communities were transferred to the Pinatubo Project Management Office (PPMO) attached to the HUDCC;

WHEREAS, estate management activities including award of housing units and issuance of titles to Mt. Pinatubo housing beneficiaries, and disposition of housing units to non-Pinatubo victims occupying units in said lowland communities including the corresponding collection of housing payments still need to be undertaken;

WHEREAS, estate management and collection fall within the mandated functions and powers of the NHA;

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. Transfer of the Administration of the Mt. Pinatubo Lowland Communities to the National Housing Authority (NHA). The administration and management of the Mt. Pinatubo lowland communities and all other functions performed by the Pinatubo Project Management Office (PPMO) under the HUDCC as provided under Executive Order No. 54 are hereby transferred to the NHA. The HUDCC and NHA shall execute a Memorandum of Agreement to cover the transfer of functions and turnover of all assets, liabilities and pertinent documents and records within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Order.

SECTION 2. Institution of Mechanisms for Reforms. NHA shall institute a mechanism wherein all the stakeholders concerned shall be consulted on the reforms to be instituted and provide the overall strategic framework for the completion of Mt. Pinatubo related tasks.

SECTION 3. Collection Program. A Collection Program shall be implemented to generate revenues from lots occupied by families not qualified as beneficiaries of the Mt. Pinatubo Lowland Communities and from institutional and commercial lots in resettlement sites.

SECTION 4. Establishment of a Trust Fund. The NHA, as project administrator, shall establish a Trust Fund for the Mt. Pinatubo lowland communities in accordance with existing rules and regulations. The Trust Fund shall be maintained as a separate account from other corporate accounts. All existing funds, funds released by the National Government as well as investments recovered and income earned from the operations of the Mt. Pinatubo lowland communities shall be deposited in the Trust Fund. Disbursements from the Trust Fund shall be utilized exclusively for the following purposes:

a. Completion of the remaining work in the resettlement sites including surveys and titling;

b. Project management and administration; and

c. Settlement of obligations.

SECTION 5. National Government Funding. The National Government shall make available funds to the NHA to cover obligations under the Mt. Pinatubo operations incurred prior to the effectivity of the transfer of project administration to NHA.

SECTION 6. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 1st day of August in the year of the Lord, Two Thousand and Six.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President of the Philippines

By the President:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA

Executive Secretary