[ Memorandum Circular No. 128, July 20, 1995 ]
WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 306 dated 11 August 1989, declared the Tubbataha reefs and surrounding waters of the public domain in Central Sulu Sea, Province of Palawan, as a national marine park otherwise known as the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park;
Section 1. CREATION OF THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON TUBBATAHA NATIONAL MARINE PARK. The Presidential Task Force on Tubbataha National Marine Park is hereby created to serve as the policy and program coordinating mechanism for the area.
Section 2. COMPOSITION. The Presidential Task Force on Tubbataha National Marine Park shall have the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Chairman of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) as its Chairman and Co-Chairman, respectively, with the following as members:
Secretary, Department of Tourism
Secretary, Department of Budget and Management
Commander, Naval District IV, Philippine Navy
Governor of Palawan
Mayor of Cagayancillo
The DENR and PCSD shall also jointly identify NGO representatives to the Task Force based on the involvement of said organizations in the existing government initiatives for the Park. Provided, however, that private sector representatives in the Task Force, at any given time, shall not exceed more than one-third of its total membership.
Section 3. FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. The following shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
a. Formulate and recommend to the President all policies pertinent to the management, development, and preservation of the Park;
b. Review all existing policies, programs and projects, researches and studies as well as other initiatives on the Park and formulate the Master Plan which shall integrate the same to ensure the coordinated and sustained development and preservation of the area;
c. Formulate and implement the appropriate Action Plan to address the immediate issues and concerns on the Park including:
◦ rehabilitation and expansion of the existing Park station, lighthouse, research house and pertinent infrastructure towards strengthening the management and protection of the area;
◦ establishment of a sustainable system to ensure round-the-clock monitoring and protection of the marine and wildlife resources of the Park;
◦ formulation of a system to accredit divers and their activities in the area;
◦ adoption of mechanisms to regulate activities in the areas through the permit system and collection of fees;
◦ formulation of funding programs and schemes to finance the timely implementation of the Master Plan, Action Plan and government initiatives in the Park;
d. Coordinate and facilitate resolution of issues and concerns affecting the Park subject to the approved Action Plan;
e. Submit quarterly reports to the President on its activities and developments in the area; and
f. Perform such functions as may be assigned by the President.
Section 4. TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The Presidential Council for Sustainable Development shall provide technical and secretariat support to the Task Force. Whenever necessary to efficiently discharge its functions, the Task Force may tap the support and assistance of concerned local government units, government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).
Section 5. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS. The Task Force shall meet at least every two months to assess the progress of government initiatives affecting the Park, particularly the implementation of the Master Plan and Action Plan for the area.1aшphi1
Section 6. TIMEFRAME. The Task Force shall submit to the Office of the President, for approval, the framework for the development and preservation of the Park not later than 30 August 1995. Based on the approved framework, the above Master Plan shall be completed and operational by the end of December 1995. The Action Plan to address the immediate concerns on the area shall be in place within thirty (30) days from the date of this Order.
Section 7. FUNDING. The operational cost of the Task Force shall be sourced from available program funds of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, including the budgetary outlay of One Million Pesos (P1.0 M) for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Park’s station, lighthouse and research house.
Section 8. EFFECTIVITY. This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.
