AN ACT CONSTITUTING THE LEGISLATIVE-EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 7640

Declaration of Policy (Section 1):
- Formulate socioeconomic development programs considering conservation, equitable distribution, increased productivity, and quality of life.
- Promote industrialization, full employment, agrarian reform, and protection of Filipino enterprises.
- Establish the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council for coordinating development planning and budgeting.

Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Section 2):
- Composed of 20 members: President (Chairman), Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, 7 Cabinet members, 3 House members (at least 1 from minority party), and representatives of local government units, youth, and private sector.
- Members from the legislature serve as an extension of their legislative functions.
- Cabinet members serve in an ex officio capacity.
- No additional emoluments for government official members.
- Can form subcommittees and call on government agencies or resource persons for assistance.

Functions of the Council (Section 3):
- Determine and recommend socioeconomic development goals. (Section 3a)
- Provide policy advice to the President on vital issues affecting socioeconomic development. (Section 3b)
- Direct the study of measures to integrate regional development plans into the national plan. (Section 3c)
- Receive and study reports on, and measures to improve, implementation of official development assistance. (Section 3d)
- Assess the effectiveness of the national development plan implementation. (Section 3e)
- Integrate environmental concepts into the national development plan. (Section 3f)
- Review the relationship between the legislative agenda and the national development plan. (Section 3g)
- Study and recommend sources of revenue and measures to reduce unnecessary expenditures. (Section 3h)

Secretariat (Section 4):
- National Economic and Development Authority as the principal secretariat, assisted by the Presidential Management Staff and economic planning staff of the Senate and House.

Meetings (Section 5):
- At least once every quarter, and special meetings as necessary.
- First meeting within one (1) month from the effectivity of the Act.

Priority Concerns (Section 6):
- Involve private sector, non-government groups, and people's organizations in economic planning and monitoring. (Section 6a)
- Integrate priority programs and projects of local development councils into the national plan within budget constraints. (Section 6b)
- Accelerate the study and formulation of livelihood and social service projects funded by national revenues or external grants and loans. (Section 6c)
- Hasten the utilization of grants and loans for priority projects while improving implementation efficiency. (Section 6d)
- Recommend measures to strengthen monitoring and promote efficiency and timeliness of project implementation. (Section 6e)

Reporting (Section 7):
- Render reports after every meeting to non-member Senators and Congressmen, particularly on progress and action taken on priority concerns.

Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 8):
- Promulgate necessary rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from approval of the Act.

Appropriations (Section 9):
- Three million pesos (P3,000,000.00) authorized from the National Treasury for the Council's operating and capital expenditures for Fiscal Year 1993.
- Necessary appropriations to be provided in the Annual General Appropriations Act thereafter.

Separability Clause (Section 10):
- If any provision is declared unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in force.

Repealing Clause (Section 11):
- All laws and executive orders inconsistent with this Act are repealed or amended accordingly.

Effectivity (Section 12):
- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette.