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EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 223 July 16, 1987

VESTING ON THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL OIL COMPANY (PNOC) THE JURISDICTION, CONTROL, MANAGEMENT, PROTECTION, DEVELOPMENT AND REHABILITATION OVER THE WATERSHED AREAS OF GEOTHERMAL RESERVATIONS WHERE PNOC HAS GEOTHERMAL PROJECTS, PLANTS, AND PROPERTIES

WHEREAS, indigenous geothermal resource is an energy alternative that can provide a principal energy supply to boost the country's economy;

WHEREAS, the Government has declared some geothermal rich areas of the country as geothermal reservations under the jurisdiction and control of the Office of Energy Affairs (OEA) through the National Power Corporation (NPC) pursuant to Presidential Decree 1515 and 1749;

WHEREAS, PNOC has substantially invested in the development of the Tongonan, Palinpinon and Bacon- Manito geothermal fields and presently supplies geothermal steam to the geothermal power plants in Tongonan and Palinpinon;

WHEREAS, being a major developer of this vital energy alternatives, it is the inherent responsibility of PNOC to protect and manage the watershed areas surrounding the geothermal resource to ensure the sustained steam supply to government power plants;

WHEREAS, PNOC was deputized by OEA under MOE Order 83-06-15 in conjunction with P.D. 1749 to undertake the management, protection, development and rehabilitation of the watershed areas of Tongonan, Palinpinon, and Bacon-Manito Geothermal Reservations;

WHEREAS, PNOC has in place an efficient logistics network and an established and qualified watershed management body currently undertaking the protection, rehabilitation, and development of these reservations;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, do hereby direct:

Sec. 1. PNOC shall have jurisdiction, control and management, and shall be responsible for the protection, development and rehabilitation of the watershed areas surrounding the following geothermal reservations:

(a) Tongonan Geothermal Reservation pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 112;

(b) Palinpinon Geothermal Reservation pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1413;

(c) Bacon-Manito Geothermal Reservation pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 2036-A; and

(d) Other Geothermal Reservations as may be discovered, identified, determined, and to be developed by PNOC, and proclaimed by the President of the Philippines.

Sec. 2. To effectively accomplish this mandate, PNOC shall exercise jurisdiction and control over the aforesaid watershed areas including but not limited to the performance of the following acts:

(a) Enforcement of forestry laws, rules and regulations within said watershed areas;

(b) Identification of areas which require immediate rehabilitation and development;

(c) Preparation of plans and programs for the maximum utilization of watershed resources;

(d) Formulation and/or implementation of measures to prevent denudation of watershed cover;

(e) Public education and information drive to create awareness among the populace of the importance of forests and uses of watershed areas;

(f) Promotion of the development and conservation of existing vegetative cover;

(g) Formulation of plans and development programs for resettlement and relocation;

(h) Coordination with other government agencies/instrumentalities religious and civic groups in undertaking forest conservation measures in watershed areas;

(i) Afforestation, reforestation and physical rehabilitation measures in critically denuded watershed areas.

Sec. 3. The provisions of existing laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations as are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 4. This Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 16th day of July, in the year of Our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-seven.

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

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