A National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) will soon rise in New Clark City, Tarlac.
President Duterte has ordered the establishment of the integrated government center outside Metro Manila, which in case of disaster, will also serve as a recovery center and back-up administrative hub.
In Executive Order No. 119, the President directed all government agencies to establish satellite or field offices at the NGAC in New Clark City. The offices must formulate and adopt appropriate business continuity and financial plans for their back-up offices at the NGAC in case of a calamity that may paralyze operations in National Capital Region.
The legislative, judiciary, independent constitutional bodies, and government owned and controlled corporations are also encouraged to establish field offices at the NGAC.
The order noted that the Metro Manila, where the seat of national government is located, is vulnerable to increased risk of floods due to climate change as well as the "threat of a catastrophic earthquake" that may be caused by movement of the West and East Valley Faults.
"In view of the potential repercussions to the seat of the National Government from aforesaid threats, there is an urgent need to establish an integrated government center outside the NCR, which will serve as a back-up administrative hub and which may be utilized as disaster recovery center, to ensure continuity of government services, as well as facilitate collaboration and coordination between and among government agencies," the order read.
The new government center will also foster ease of doing business, provide equal access to efficient delivery of public services, and stimulate economic opportunities outside Metro Manila, the EO said.
EO 119 stated that the establishment of satellite or field offices shall be done in phases and clusters to be determined by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in coordination with the concerned offices.
The latest order also advised against the creation of unnecessary redundant positions in the manpower requirements for such field offices. Only essential personnel must be deployed for the delivery of public services at the NGAC.
Funds for the establishment of field offices will be sourced from the budget of concerned government agencies.
The latest order, signed on November 17, takes effect after publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper.