·====--b=~·==---~--~=--·=--=-~~~-=~---- -=~====·=~~=-==··~=~~~~=~----~~-~---~-~~ The Department of Agriculture performs significant role during the negotiation stage of agribusiness venture agreements, particularly if the proponent is a private company, while the Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments has the mandate to scrutinize the validity of the proposal of the private company. By virtue of Administrative Order No. 29 series of 2012, 34 the Department of Agriculture has re-activated its "clearinghouse mechanism" that applies for agribusiness projects with cost below One Billion Pesos (Php1,000,000,000.00), especially if funded from government coffers. The said mechanism deals with investment evaluation processes, such as financial analysis, economic, analysis, environmental analysis and social analysis. This includes the issues on sustainability and triple bottom-line. 35 On the other hand, projects with cost of One Billion Pesos (Php1,000,000,000.00) and above must undergo NEDA process known as Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) Approval Process. 36 DA Administrative Order No. 29 series of 2012 set the criteria in reviewing, evaluating and approving projects and programs, such as the following: • completeness of submitted project documents and other requirements; • use of correct, accurate and recent of data, information and assumptions; • consistency with the following: (i) Philippine Development Plan (PDP), (ii) Public Investment Program (PIP) for the agricultural and fisheries sectors, (iii) the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Plan (AFMP), (iv) commodity and support service roadmaps, (v) sector and regional priorities/thrusts; and/or (vi) other goals, developmental thrusts/pronouncements and plans/programs of the national government particularly the DA; • responsiveness to various emerging national/international issues/concerns (e.g., climate change, global trade order, gender equality, displacement of/impacts on marginalized/special sectors, private sector participation, etc.); • viability of project/program being proposed in terms of applicable feasibility indicators (e.g., technical, socio-economic, financial, economic, market/ demand, organizational, etc.). Figure 3 shows the process flow for the DA clearinghouse system, and how it links with the NEDA process. 34 Subject: Reactivation and reconstitution of the DA-wide project Clearinghouse System (issued Nov. 29, 2012) http://clearinghouse.da.gov.ph/index.php/aboutlthe-guidelines (accessed Oct. 28, 2016) 35 Statement of Mr. Same, NEDAduring the August 17,2016 focus group discussion 36 Investment Coordination Committee- National Economic Development Authority http://www.neda.gov.ph/investmentcoordination-committee/ (accessed Oct. 28, 2016) 13 --~~--~-----·--~~---