| 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 legislation 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
Original Signed
DIONISIO C. DE LA SERNA
Senior Deputy Executive Secretary |
