WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution mandates as a policy
of the state, the protection and advancement of the right of the people to a balanced and healthful
ecology in accordance with the rhythm and harmony of nature;
WHEREAS, a National Conservation Strategy, as spelled
out in the Philippine Strategy for Sustainable Development (PSSD) which was adopted in 1989, takes
a balanced and integrated approach to environment and development issues by incorporating sustainable
development principles and concepts in the national priorities of government;
WHEREAS, the Philippines already adhering to the
principle of sustainable development, actively participated in the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED) Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, and committed to the principles
set forth in the Rio Declaration, the Agenda 21, the Conventions on Climate Change and
Biodiversity;
WHEREAS, the United Nations in UNCED, has adopted a
resolution for the creation of a Sustainable Development Commission that will evaluate and monitor
the compliance to the agreements and commitments made in Rio and in the course of its creation
urged governments to also form similar bodies that will ensure that the activities at the national
level are implemented and coordinated within global efforts;
WHEREAS, the agreements oblige the Philippines to
translate the commitments to more concrete actions and ensure that all sectors of the society
shall be involved in its operationalization;
WHEREAS, in order to achieve these ends, the creation
of a national sustainable development council will provide the mechanism for attaining the principles
of sustainable development and thus assure its integration in the Philippine national policies, plans
and programs that will involve all sectors of the society;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby create a Philippine Council for
Sustainable Development with membership and functions as provided in the following sections:
SECTION l. Creation and Composition of the Council.
- There is hereby created a Philippine Council for Sustainable
Development to be headed by the Director-General of the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA) as Chairperson, and the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources as Vice-Chairperson.
- The Council will have as members committed environmentalists
from the following departments of a position of Bureau Director or higher, duly deputized to
represent their respective Secretaries:
Department of Foreign Affairs Department of Science and Technology Department of Finance Department of Agriculture Department of Public Works and Highways Department of Education, Culture and Sports Department of Labor and Employment Department of Health Department of Trade and Industry Department of the Interior and Local Government Department of Social Welfare and Development Department of Budget and Management Department of National Defense Office of Energy Affairs
- As civil society counterpart, the non-government community shall also
have seven (7) representatives in the Council. These representatives shall be selected by the non-government
community considering commitment to environmental causes, gender balance, and sectoral representation
through a process designed by them.
SECTION 2. Powers and Functions of the Council. The
Council shall have the following powers and functions:
- To review and ensure the implementation of the commitments the
Philippines made in the light of the UNCED conference;
- To establish guidelines and mechanisms that will expand, concretize
and operationalize the sustainable development principles as embodied in the Rio Declaration, the UNCED
Agenda 21, the National Conservation Strategy, and the Philippine Agenda 21, and incorporate them in
the preparation of the Medium Term Development Plan both at the national and local levels with active
participation from the non-government sector and people's organization;
- To provide directions in the form of policy reforms, programs and new
legislations that respond to the continuing and emerging issues and charting future actions in relation
to environment and development;
- To act as the coordinating mechanism in cooperation with DFA-Office of
the United Nations and Other International Organizations (UNIO) with the United Nations Commission on
Sustainable Development and actively solicit assistance and cooperation towards the realization of our
commitments made at the UNCED;
- To require any and all government agencies for assistance in the form
of personnel, facilities, and other resources which is essential for the performance of the duties of
the Council;
- To create sub-committees that it may deem fit in the performance
of its duties; and
- To perform such other acts which are necessary to carry out its mandated
functions and responsibilities.
SECTION 3. The Secretariat.
The Council shall be assisted by a Secretariat which shall be based at the National Economic and Development
Authority whose composition will be determined by the Director-General.
SECTION 4. Transitory Provisions.
There shall immediately be convened an interim Technical Working Group of seven members composed of
representatives from National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG), and three representatives from non-government sector, which shall work out the formulation
of the operational guidelines for the Council. The working group shall be assisted by a composite secretariat
from NEDA and DENR. These transitory groups shall cease its functions upon the Council's meeting and adoption
of the operating guidelines within sixty (60) days upon signing of this Order.
SECTION 5. Effectivity.
This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 1st day of September, in the year of Our
Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety-two.
By the President
DIONISIO C. DE LA SERNA
Senior Deputy Executive Secretary
Original Signed
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