EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 328 June 5, 1988
RECONSTITUTING THE CABINET COMMITTEE ON THE LAW OF THE SEA
Whereas, Executive Order No. 738 dated 8 October 1981 created the Cabinet Committee on the Treaty on the Law of the Sea, "[w]hich shall be responsible for the implementation of the Treaty of the Law of the Sea with respect to political, economic, strategic, security and other implications, with the Ministry (now Department) of Foreign Affairs as the coordinating agency in all matters relating thereto";
WHEREAS, the Philippines signed the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on 10 December 1982 and ratified the same;
WHEREAS, the Secretariat of the Cabinet Committee was located in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Executive Order No. 738 and was transferred to the Secretary-General, Office of the Prime Minister, under Executive Order No. 1034 dated 25 June 1985;
WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 1034 transferred the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Committee on the Law of the Sea from the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Prime Minister;
WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 239 dated 24 July 1987, "Reorganizing the Department of Foreign Affairs And For Other Purposes" transferred the Law of the Sea Secretariat from the defunct Office of the Prime Minister to the Department of Foreign Affairs;
WHEREAS, there is an imperative need to reconstitute the Cabinet Committee on the law of the Sea with representation from the government agencies to undertake studies concerning the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the harmonization of domestic laws and regulations with the Convention, in preparation for its entry into force;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:
Sec. 1. The Cabinet Committee on the Law of the Sea, hereinafter referred to as the Cabinet Committee, is hereby reconstituted as follows:
Secretary of Foreign Affairs - Chairman
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources - Vice-Chairman
Secretary of Finance - Member
Secretary of Justice - Member
Secretary of Agriculture - Member
Secretary of National Defense - Member
Secretary of Trade and Industry - Member
Secretary of Transportation and Communications - Member
Director-General, National Economic and Development Authority - Member
Secretary of Budget and Management - Member
Executive Secretary - Member
Secretary of Science and Technology - Member
The President may designate such other officials as members of the Cabinet Committee.
Sec. 2. In order to ensure the efficient and effective discharge of its responsibilities, the Cabinet Committee may create sub-committees and or working groups as it may deem necessary.
Sec. 3. The Law of the Sea Secretariat shall have the following functions and responsibilities:
a. Act as the supportive and administrative body of the Cabinet Committee as it affects the Philippines;
b. Formulate the necessary administrative and other procedural rules and regulations for the internal management of the Cabinet Committee;
c. Prepare, in consultation and coordination with the other concerned agencies, the administrative, technical and other technological requirements necessary for the effective and efficient management of the 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and to issue and disseminate the same;
d. Prepare, in consultation and in coordination with the other concerned agencies, short, medium, and long-term plans for the effective and efficient development, conservation and protection of the 200-mile EEZ;
e. Monitor and coordinate agencies in the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;
f. Prepare the groundwork for any negotiation with other countries on matter concerning overlapping of boundaries, fisheries, energy, mineral and other agreements relating to the conservation, protection and exploitation, development, and management of the 200-mile EEZ;
g. Render a regular and periodic report on its activities; and
h. Perform such other duties as the Cabinet Committee may entrust to it.
Sec. 4. The Secretariat shall be headed by a Secretary- General who is the Director-General for the Office of United Nations and Other International Organizations of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Sec. 5. The Secretariat shall prepare and provide administrative support for the meetings of the Cabinet Committee and the sub-committees and/or working groups which may be created. It shall be the repository of all documents and records pertaining to the Convention.
Sec. 6. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 5th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-eight.
The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation
