EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 171 April 20, 1994
CREATING A LINGAYEN GULF COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
WHEREAS, the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan, 1993-1998 (MTPDP) as approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, shall be the basis for all government activities to be undertaken by the government during said plan period;
WHEREAS, an important component of the MTPDP is the Environment and Natural Resources Master Plan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources which adhered to the principles set forth in the Agenda 21 of the United Nations Councils for Environment and Development (UNCED) to emphasize the need for attaining economic growth and equity through sustainable of the Lingayen Gulf Plan;
WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 156 declared the Lingayen Gulf as an environmentally critical area primarily to facilitate the implementation of the Lingayen Gulf Plan;
WHEREAS, aside from developing the Lingayen Gulf, and its environs, there is a need to simultaneously address the developmental concerns of the surrounding coastal and non-coastal municipalities on matters of environmental protection, poverty alleviation, local autonomy, eco-tourism and sustainable growth; and
WHEREAS, to enable the government to undertake measures to conserve the natural resources and promote the accelerated socio-economic development of the area consistent with the concept of sustainable development, there is a need to create a body that shall formulate short- and long-term plans for the area covered herein as well as address certain policy, planning and implementation issues, and to effectively and efficiently implement the Plan as well as to coordinate and integrate all environment and natural resources management of related government and non-government activities in the Lingayen Gulf area.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:
Sec. 1. There is hereby created under the Office of the President a Presidential Commission to be called the Lingayen Gulf Coastal Area Management Commission (LG-CAMC), hereinafter referred to as the Commission, composed of the following:
Secretary of Department of Environment and Natural Resources — Chairman
Secretary of Agriculture — Vice-Chairman
Secretary of Department of Interior and Local Government — Member
Secretary of Department of Trade and Industry — Member
Secretary of Department of Tourism — Member
Director General of National Economic and Development Authority — Member
Secretary of National Defense — Member
Head, Presidential Management Staff — Member
CORD for Region 1 — Member
Chairman, Regional Development Council of Region 1 — Member
Governor of Pangasinan — Member
Governor of La Union — Member
Mayors of the concerned Local Government Units — Member
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall initially serve as Technical Secretariat of the Commission to be headed by an Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be appointed by the President.
Sec. 2. The Commission shall be an advisory body to the President and shall exercise the following functions and responsibilities:
a. Formulate a Ten-Year Lingayen Gulf Coastal Area Master Plan by June 30, 1994 and a Twenty-Year Integrated Master Plan for the whole area covering the Lingayen Gulf, its surrounding coastal municipalities by December 30, 1994, in consideration of the Plan endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC), Region I, based on the following guidelines:
(1) Protection of its ecological balance, enhancement of its environment and preservation of the area's natural beauty;
(2) Maximum enjoyment and easy access by ordinary people to public areas;
(3) Rationale land-use and zonation scheme considering that the Lingayen Gulf is a national treasure;
(4) Provision for improved and adequate service infrastructures such as power, water, communications, and waste treatment facilities especially in the coastal area;
(5) Overall greening and reforestation to reduce the threat of soil erosion and damage to scarce marine resources;
(6) Enhancement of agriculture productivity and local livelihood opportunities as an alternative to industrial employment;
(7) Provision of a design which shall establish and institutionalize within the Lingayen Gulf, the following:
a. an incentive system (based on the "polluter pays" principle) and the internatization of social externalities arising from pollution, which shall motivate; polluting firms to comply with environmental laws;
b. an integrated environmental permit and licensing system (covering the regulatory areas of pollution control, land use planning/zoning and environmental laws); and
c. a cost-effective environmental information.
(8) Provision of capability building geared towards common property management scheme;
(9) Provision for anti-illegal fishing plan;
(10) Provision for a viable peace and order plan; Both plans shall include a Comprehensive Investment Program, Capability-Building Program for affected local government units as well as the coordinated establishment of the following in the subject area:
i. a nature center
ii. a people's center
iii. a conference and meeting center
iv. a flea market destination (aquatic products/
livelihood); and
v. a tourist destination
Both Plans shall be submitted to the President for approval.
b. promulgate and prescribe policies, rules and regulations that will facilitate the effective and efficient management of the gulf through:
1. the control of water, air and land pollutions and the proper disposal of solid waste, as well as toxic and hazardous substance;
2. the conservation of the Gulf's renewable resources, biological diversity, and endangered species and habitants;
3. the establishment and management of an integrated Protected Areas System (PAS) for wildlife sanctuaries and refuge, marine parks, and biosphere reserves;
4. the preservation and enhancement of the natural aesthetic attraction of the gulf and its immediate environs; and
5. the conservation and management of uplands and other linked habitats to which the ecological state of the Lingayen Gulf is closely interlinked;
c. assist the local government units concerned in undertaking various planning activities to develop short-term and long-term strategies for environmental protection, tourism development, attracting business investment, social development, and institutional building, in line with the developmental guidelines stated above and to integrate all national and local plans relative to the development of the subject area;
d. to adopt a process of maximum consultation with the local government units concerned and all interest groups in the localities to ensure that the residents' needs, concerns and ideas are considered in the formulation and implementation of the said plans, development guidelines and municipal ordinances;
e. study and review policy measures that shall promote and address the concerns on environmental protection, poverty alleviation, local autonomy, eco-tourism, and sustainable development, of the subject area;
f. recommend (i) legislation to conserve the natural resources and promote the accelerated socio-economic development of the area; (ii) zoning ordinances to the local government units concerned in consonance with the Plans approved by the President, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.
g. coordinate with the various line agencies, LGUs, and other parties concerned regarding the implementation of demonstration projects such as livelihood and rehabilitation;
h. perform any other functions as may be assigned by the President.
Sec. 3. There shall be one representative from each of the following private sectors, namely: Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), religious, business, and agricultural shall serve as consultants to the Commission.
The private sectors mentioned are strongly enjoined to extend their support particularly to conservation activities in the Lingayen Gulf. they may:
a) Initiate and undertake socio-economic activities in the Gulf area consistent with the Plans formulated by the Commission; and
b) Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of government program implementation, service delivery and disposition of public funds.
Sec. 4. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 14, Book II of Executive Order No. 292 (1987), lands of the private domain of the Government located in the subject area, the use of which is not otherwise directed by law, are hereby reserved from lease, sale or other disposition. Such reserved lands shall be used for developmental purposes in accordance with the Plans approved by the President.
Sec. 5. The Commission may call upon any government agency, office or bureau for assistance in the discharge of, and from committees to facilitate the performance of, its functions and responsibilities.
Sec. 6. The Commission shall submit monthly reports of its activities to the Office of the President.
Sec. 7. The amount of Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00), to be drawn equally from the President's Contingent Fund and funds of the DENR, shall be released for the operations of the Commission and initial project implementation for 1994. Appropriations for the succeeding years shall be incorporated in the budget proposals under the Office of the President.
Sec. 8. All executive issuances, orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby revoked or modified accordingly.
Sec. 9. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.
DONE in the City of Manila this 20th day of April in the year of our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Four.
The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation
