WHEREAS, the Department of Energy (DOE), in pursuance of its mandate under the "Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001" or "EPIW has envisioned the achievement of country's total electrification; WHEREAS, rural power development is a flagship program of the DOE that would provide support for the implementation of reforms and priority investments critical for achieving the goals in a sustainable manner in partnership with the private sector;

WHEREAS, on 27 February 2003, the NEDA﷓Investment Coordination Committee Cabinet Committee (ICC﷓CC) has approved the proposed Rural Power Project (the Project) to be financed by the World Bank through its Adaptable Program Lending (APL) Facility with co﷓financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in support of the country's total electrification program;

WHEREAS, the Project provides a programmatic structure, piloting new strategies and business models in implementing rural electrification program consistent with EPIRA;

WHEREAS, there is the need to create and establish an adequate and full﷓time Project Management Office (PMO) to ensure the implementation and monitoring of the investment and capacity﷓building components of the Project is done in a timely, organized, and efficient manner;

WHEREAS, one of the conditions in the loan consideration by the NEDA﷓ICC is that the DOE shall ensure that the establishment of such PMO shall not lead to the creation of new positions, given the rationalization program of the Department of. Budget and Management, NOW, THEREFORE, the DOE hereby creates and establishes the Project Management Office for the effective management of the Rural Power Project, and ensure the integration and consistency with the rest of the rural electrification programs and activities of the Government through the Department of Energy.