[EX-99.CERT]
Exhibit (b)(1)
SECTION 302 CERTIFICATIONS
I, Gary E. Wendlandt, Chairman of The MainStay Funds, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of The MainStay
Funds;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets,
and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement
of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the
Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made
known to us by others within those entities, particularly during
the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or
caused such internal control over financial reporting to be
designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
controls and procedures and presented in this report our
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing
date of this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's
second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the registrant's internal control over financial
reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed
to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board
of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the
design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's
ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial
information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
internal control over financial reporting.
By: /s/ Gary E. Wendlandt
---------------------
Gary E. Wendlandt
Chairman
Date: January 6, 2004
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SECTION 302 CERTIFICATIONS
I, Patrick J. Farrell, Treasurer and Chief Financial and Accounting
Officer of The MainStay Funds, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of The MainStay
Funds;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets,
and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement
of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the
Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made
known to us by others within those entities, particularly during
the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or
caused such internal control over financial reporting to be
designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
controls and procedures and presented in this report our
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing
date of this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's
second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the registrant's internal control over financial
reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed
to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board
of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the
design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's
ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial
information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
internal control over financial reporting.
By: /s/ Patrick J. Farrell
----------------------
Patrick J. Farrell
Treasurer and
Chief Financial and Accounting Officer
Date: January 6, 2004
14