SEC. 2. Section 5, Subsections (a), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of
the said Act are hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 5. Purposes.—The Authority shall have the
following purposes:
To make a comprehensive survey of the physical and natural
resources and potentialities of the region, including its social
conditions, values and institutions, and special regional problems and,
on the basis thereof, to draft a comprehensive and detailed plan
designed to promote the region's rapid social and economic development
along the general lines set forth by the National Economic and
Development Authority.
To coordinate and/or integrated such projects or operations
of local governments, governmental agencies, public corporations and,
where clearly necessary and feasible, those of private entities, as bear
directly upon the plans and activities of the Authority so as to make
possible the accelerated and balanced development of the region within
the context of the guidelines formulated by the National Economic and
Development Authority; for this purpose, to set up a compact and
well-trained staff for effective liaison and consultation or joint
planning and/or implementation with such government and private
entities: Provided, That disputes involving jurisdiction between
the Authority and any department, bureau, office, or agency or
instrumentality of the government within the area covered by this Act,
and these arising in the coordination or integration of government
plans, projects or operations in the area shall be settled by decisions
of the President of the Philippines.
To engage in industry, agriculture or other enterprises
within the region which may be necessary or directly contributory to the
socio-economic development of the region and, for this purpose, whether
by itself or in cooperation with private persons or entities, to
organize, finance, invest in, and operate subsidiary
corporations when such an arrangement is clearly necessary to
implement the powers granted to it by this Act: Provided, That
the Authority shall engage only in those activities as are in the nature
of pioneering ventures or are demonstrably beyond the scope,
capacity, or interest of purely private enterprises due to
consideration of geography, technical or capital requirements,
returns on investments, and risks : Provided, further, That the
Authority may undertake and/or invest in social and/or invest in social
and/or service-oriented projects upon the prior approval of the
President, on recommendation of the National Economic and Development
Authority [NEDA].
To advise, cooperate in and, if necessary, to undertake by
itself the readjustment, relocation or resettlement of population in
any part of the country that may be displace or affected by the
socio-economic measures of the government in cooperation with the
national, provincial, city and municipal agencies organized towards that
end.
To make a report annually to the National Economic and
Development Authority and the President, based upon its continuing
assessment and evaluation, in the light of the Authority's approved
plans and objectives, of the progress of its activities,
including those done in collaboration with various government and
private entities engaged in the implementation of socio-economic plans
and projects in the region, including in such report, among other
items, a general survey of the social economic conditions of the
regions, socio-economic problems having special reference to work of the
Authority, a comparison of the development targets set for the year
ending and the manner in which actual accomplishments measure up to such
targets, and appropriate administrative and legislative
recommendations.
