MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 706, January 18, 2008 ]
MANDATING THE SECRETARY OF TOURISM TO EXERCISE THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL MANDATE OF THE PHILIPPINE TOURISM AUTHORITY OVER BORACAY ISLAND AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. (PD) 564 of October 2, 1974 charged and vested the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) with functions and powers of tourism zone administration and control;
WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 1801 of November 10, 1978 declared Boracay Island Aklan as a tourist zone under the administration and control of the PTA pursuant to PD 564;
WHEREAS, Letter of Instructions No. (LOI) 1298 of February 26, 1983 constituted the Chairman, PTA, the Chief of Constabulary (now Director General of the Philippine National Police), the Commissioner of Immigration and Deportation, the Commanding Officer (now Commandant), Philippine Coast Guard and the Provincial Health Officer into an Inter-Agency Committee with the PTA as lead agency, to coordinate in enforcing the pertinent laws and regulations and to take action within their respective jurisdiction to prevent the proliferation of all illicit activities which would degrade the ecosystem and destroy the natural attractions of Boracay Island;
WHEREAS, LOI 1298 instructed the Mayor of Malay to suspend issuance of building permits for any structure on Boracay Island pending the promulgation of a development plan for the Island by the PTA;
WHEREAS, Executive Order No. (EO) 6 of August 7, 1998 established the Aklan Provincial Tourism Special Development Task Force (Task Force) under the Office of the President which shall be responsible for the overall coordination and supervision of the implementation of the Aklan Provincial Tourism Master Plan;
WHEREAS, EO 6 mandated the Task Force to plan, conceptualize and draft the Aklan Province Tourism Master Plan in the context of ensuring the sustainable development of the Province of Aklan and the Island of Boracay;
WHEREAS, EO 377 of October 22, 2004 authorized an Eminent Persons Group to oversee the sustainable development of Boracay tourism;
WHEREAS, Memorandum Order No. 214 of April 18, 2006 mandated the PTA to exercise administration and control over Boracay Island;
WHEREAS, the Secretary of Tourism is the Chairman of PTA;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:
Section 1. Secretary of Tourism. - The Secretary of Tourism, as Chairman of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), shall exercise the functions of the PTA as mandated by PD 564, Proclamation No. 1801, Letter of Instructions No. 1298, Executive Order No. (EO) 6, 377 and Memorandum Order No. 214
Section 2. Suspension of Building Permits. - Consistent with LOI 1298, the Mayor of Malay shall suspend the issuance of building permits for any structure on Boracay Island unless approved by the Chairman of the PTA and the Governor of Aklan as Chairman of the Aklan Provincial Tourism Development Task Force.
Section 3. Inter-Agency Committee. - The Inter-Agency Committee constituted by LOI 1298 shall be reorganized as a full-time Task Force composed of responsible personnel from the member agencies and headed in behalf of the Chairman of the PTA by the Group Secretary of the Eminent Persons Group created by Executive Order No. 377.ℒαwρhi৷
Section 4. Group Secretary. - The Group Secretary shall have the rank and emoluments of Undersecretary of Tourism.
Section 5. All executive issuances, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby revoked or modified accordingly.
Section 6. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 18th day of January in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Eight.
(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
By the President:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary
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