38 Government Agencies Now in Koronadal City      

The reorganization, as well as, the transfer of regional government centers for Mindanao regions have been covered by three (3) Executive Orders (EOs). In 1990, the then President Corazon C. Aquino issued EO 429 which provided for the reorganization of the administrative regions in Mindanao and for other purposes. The said EO likewise provided that the Municipality of Marbel (now Koronadal City) in South Cotabato shall serve as the regional center for Region XII which was then composed of the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato and South Cotabato and the cities of Cotabato and General Santos. A restraining order was issued to temporarily delay the transfer of the regional seat in 1991.

In 2001, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, issued EO 36 which provided for another reorganization of the administrative regions in Mindanao. This EO was issued following the inclusion of Marawi City and Basilan to ARMM as a result of the plebiscite conducted. The area coverage of Region XII expanded, to wit: the Provinces of North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat and the cities of Cotabato, General Santos, Kidapawan and Tacurong.

In March 30, 2004 EO 304 was issued designating the City of Koronadal as the Regional Center and Seat of SOCCSKSARGEN Region (Region XII). The EO likewise directed all departments, bureaus and offices of the National Government in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region to transfer their regional seat of operations to Koronadal City.

On the other hand, to operationalize the President’s agenda to decongest Metro Manila and spread development to other parts of the country, the Office of the Presidential Adviser for New Government Centers (OPANGC) was created to spearhead the smooth transfer of regional line agencies to the designated regional center, as well as, the transfer of Central Offices of concerned agencies to mandated areas. A Strategy Planning Matrix (SPM) for the Establishment of New Government Centers was prepared by the OPANGC for appropriate action of all affected regions and departments. Among others, timelines for the establishment of satellite offices by June 2008 and the complete transfer of regional offices by June 2009 in the mandated regional centers were included in the SPM.

To effect the said SPM, the Regional Development Council (RDC) XII passed Resolution No. 57, series of 2007 concurring with the SPM on the establishment of new government centers for inclusion in the Updated Medium-Term Regional development Plan (MTRDP) XII, 2008-2010. Likewise, the Council created the RDC XII Task Force on Regional Government Center (RDC-TFRGC), headed by NEDA with DILG, DBM, DOF-BLGF, DPWH and representatives from OP-PMS and OPANC, as members. The said task force is expected to coordinate the transfer of the regional line agencies to Koronadal City; and assist the Koronadal City Task Force in coming up with a workable development plan for the regional government center site.

Guided by EO 304 and the timelines set in the MTRDP, 2008-2010 the RDC XII, through the TFRGC in coordination with the City Government of Koronadal, has been closely coordinating with the different line agencies in the region on their transfer to Koronadal City.

On the other hand, the OPANGC also conducted series of consultations in relation to the transfer of RLAs and among the major problems raised was the lack of funds for the construction of the office buildings of the concerned agencies;

In response to this concern, the OPANGC coordinated with the Department of Trade and Industries-Build-Operate-Transfer Center (DTI-BOTC) on the possible financing schemes that may be adopted by the concerned regional line agencies for the construction of office buildings. Under the BOT Law, the concept of Build-Lease-Transfer which was presented to RDC XII and this was found to be a feasible and applicable scheme that may be adopted by the concerned agencies of Region XII.

As of September 17, 2009, thirty-eight (38) agencies and bureaus have already fully transferred to Koronadal City. Twenty-seven (27) agencies are still operating outside the regional government center (Cotabato City, General Santos City, Kidapawan City, Midsayap, Cotabato).

 

Of the said agencies and bureaus that have fully transferred to Koronadal City, five (5) own the office buildings they are occupying (DBM, DENR, NTC, DPWH and DSWD). Of the five (5) agencies, DBM, DSWD and DPWH were able to get funding assistance for the construction of new building from their Central Offices and other sources. The DENR was able to own the building through lease-to-own mode, while the NTC purchased a foreclosed property. These five (5) agencies are not located at the regional government center. On the other hand, the construction of DepEd and BJMP buildings are now ongoing at the regional government center. The rest of the agencies are renting the buildings they presently occupy. However, all concerned agencies have included the cost of building construction and other costs incidental to the transfer, i.e., relocation allowance, hauling, etc. in their respective budget proposals for FY 2009 and FY 2010. These budget proposals have been endorsed by RDC XII to the respective central offices of the RLAs.

 
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