Section 6May 6, 1997, Sec./Art. 6

Sec. 9 of Republic Act No. 6977 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 9. Designation of the Bureau of Small and Medium Business Development as a Council Secretariat. - The Bureau of Small and Medium Business Development is hereby designated to act as the Council Secretariat and shall have the following duties and functions:

"(1) to prepare, in coordination with local government units and/or associations of local government officials, and recommend annual as well as medium-term small and medium enterprises development plans for approval of the Council;

"(2) to coordinate the preparation of position papers and background materials for discussion or approval during Council meetings;

"(3) to assist the Council in coordinating and monitoring small and medium enterprise policies and programs and activities of all government agencies with respect to small and medium enterprises;

"(4) to prepare, collate and integrate all inputs to the Council's yearly report on the status of small and medium enterprises in the country;

"(5) to submit periodic reports to the Council on the progress and accomplishment of its work programs; and

"(6) to perform ad hoc functions as authorized by the Council."