Executive Order No. 96 (2019)

Section 1. — Creation and Mandate. —The Philippine Railways Institute (PRI) is hereby created as a research and training center under the DOTr, and shall serve as the planning, implementing, regulating and administrative entity for the development of human resources in the railways sector, to ensure efficient, reliable and safe railway transportation services. The PRI shall be placed under the administrative supervision of the DOTr.

Section 2. — Powers and Functions. —The PRI shall have the primary powers and functions of developing, formulating and recommending plans, programs, standards and guidelines pertaining to the development of personnel in the railways sector. Consistent with its mandate, the PRI, with the guidance and supervision of the DOTr Secretary, shall:

(a) Formulate and recommend guidelines regarding human resources development in the railways sector, including the promotion of safety in train operations;

(b) Establish and administer a comprehensive human resources development program for railways personnel, and for this purpose, call on relevant agencies and entities whose development programs include human resources development for railways personnel, to participate and assist in the preparation and implementation of such program;—

(c) Coordinate with the Department of Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Commission on Higher Education, Professional Regulation Commission, the University of the Philippines - National Center for Transportation Studies, and relevant government agencies to assist in the formulation of guidelines on human resources development and other matters related thereto, including relevant research, and issue technical standards to ensure competency of railways personnel;

(d)— Prescribe rules and regulations for the issuance of certificates attesting to the competence of railways personnel, including train drivers;

(e) Prescribe rules and regulations for the accreditation of training facilities of railways operators and independent training centers;

(f) Assist in the enforcement of laws, rules and regulations in the field of human resources development for the railways sector;

(g) Determine and collect reasonable fees, dues or assessments relative to certificates and accreditations issued under this Order, and all trainings and services to be administered by the PRI;

(h) Accept, through the DOTr, donations, grants, services and assistance of all kinds from private and public sources, foreign governments, as well as international institutions, and utilize the same for the purposes set forth in this Order, provided that acceptance of donations and grants from foreign governments shall be subject to prior clearance and approval by the President or his authorized representative; and

(i) Perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Order.

Section 3. — Organizational Structure. —The PRI shall consist of appropriate divisions on training, certification and accreditation, and research and development.

There shall be an Executive Director (ED), with the rank of an Undersecretary, who shall be appointed by the President. The ED must have at least a Master's Degree in a related field and has experience in the administration, management or implementation of transportation capacity development programs.

The ED shall be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the PRI and exercise control over its personnel.

The ED shall submit to the Department of Budget and Management the Organizational Structure of the PRI, as approved by the DOTr Secretary. ℒαwρhi৷

Section 4. — Funding. —The initial budget of the PRI shall be sourced from the available funds of the DOTr. Appropriations for the succeeding years shall be incorporated in the annual budget proposal of the DOTr.

Section 5. — Repeal. —All issuances, orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with this Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 6. — Separability. —In the event that any provision of this Order or any part thereof is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Section 7. — Effectivity. —This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

DONE, —in the City of Manila, this 21st day of November in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Nineteen.

(SGD.)— RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

By the President:

(SGD.)— SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA Executive Secretary