CREATING THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND SPECIAL CONCERNS OFFICE (SPASCO), DEFINING ITS FUNCTIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

            In the exigency of the service and pursuant to the rule-making authority of the Immigration Commissioner under Section 3 of Commonwealth Act No. 613 (Philippine Immigration Act of 1940), as amended, the following is hereby ordained:

            Section 1. Creation. - The Strategic Planning and Special Concerns Office (SPASCO) is hereby created under the Office of the Commissioner.

            Section 2. Composition. – The SPASCO shall be composed of a Chairman, Vice Chaiman and eight (8) Members designated by the Immigration Commissioner through an appropriate Personnel Order.

            Section 3. Functions. - The SPASCO shall provide the Bureau with economical, efficient and effective services relating to planning, programming, project development and evaluation. For this purpose, it shall have the following functions:

(a)  Formulate long-range, medium-term and annual development plans and programs, including phasing of implementation;

(b)  Identify strategic projects for development and supervise and evaluate the conduct of feasibility studies and project preparation thereof;

(c)   Prioritize project implementation and the allocation of funds and other resources and package project proposals for funding and implementation;

(d)  Evaluate and Appraise all Divisions, Sections, Units and Subport Offices development plans and programs as to their feasibility and consistency with approved strategies and long- and medium-term plans;

(e)  Initiate regular Bureau-wide planning exercise;

(f)   Gather; analyze and organize needed statistical data and information;

(g)  Advise the Commissioner on all matters relating to immigration planning and concerns;

(h)  Provide technical assistance related to its functions to other offices of the Bureau as needed; and

(i)    Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned or delegated by Commissioner.

Section 4. Secretariat. - A SPASCO Secretariat is hereby created to facilitate efficient and effective communication, support and administrative services related to its functions, the composition of which to be determined by the Commissioner through an appropriate Personnel Order.

Section 5. Technical Working Group. – Whenever necessary, the SPASCO may recommend to the Commissioner the creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG), through an appropriate Personnel Order, to render technical, research and other support services for a specific program or project.

Section 6. Reportorial Requirement. – The SPASCO shall render a monthly accomplishment report to the Commissioner, or as may be required from time to time.

Section 7. Repealing Clause. – All memoranda, circulars, orders and directives inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and modified accordingly.

Section 8. Effectivity. – This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately.

       Let copies of this Memorandum Order be furnished to Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR), U.P. Law Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, and to all concerned.

        Issued this 4th day of May 2011, City of Manila, Philippines. 

                                                                                     (Sgd) RICARDO A. DAVID. Jr.

                  Commissioner