REORGANIZING THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE

WHEREAS, climate change will have catastrophic effects if immediate
and sufficient action to curb industrial emissions and forest loss is
not taken;

WHEREAS, while our country’s remissions remain much lower in per
capita terms than those of industrialized nations, our country’s recent
growth and development have been accompanied by a rise in damaging
emissions from fossil fuels.

WHEREAS, we should try to help push the mind-set from the present
traditional paradigms to economics to the new mindset of conservation,
protection and restoration.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA M. ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Reorganization – (a) The Presidential Task
Force on Climate Change (PTFCC) is hereby reorganized. The President of
the Philippines shall serve as Chair. All sectors under the President
are hereby directed to cooperate with one another toward the fulfillment
of the vision and goals of sustainable development.

(b) The Cabinet members shall be members of the Task Force. Their
offices shall immediately practice proper solid waste management, the
most basic form of environmental responsibility, pursuant to the
Solid Waste Act. Every Friday of the week, the President or
Presidential Adviser on Climate Change (PACC) shall personally visit
government offices, to help in the implementation of the aforesaid
discipline. The weekly visits shall continue until it shall be
proclaimed that the mindsets have been converted into attitudes and
practices by the government offices of Conservation, Protection and
Restoration (CPR).

(c) The Presidential Management Staff Appointments Office shall
clear the President’s schedule on Fridays and devote five (5) hours to
concerns and initiatives for environmental security.

SECTION 2. Task Group on Solid Waste Management – (a)
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall lead a Task Group in the implementation of solid waste management. It shall
target the reduction of solid waste generation by fifty percent (50%)
within the next six months. All local governments are hereby enjoined to
fully implement the law on solid waste management. The President or the
PACC on Climate Change shall visit the regions, provinces, towns and
cities every week until it is proclaimed that the Filipino people shall
have fully integrated into the mainstream of their thought their
personal environmental responsibilities and thereby effectively
implement the Solid Waste Act.

(b)The DENR shall report to the President in person or through the
PACC every Friday during the weekly visits to offices and regions to
campaign for responsible solid waste management.

(c) With the Department of Health, the Metropolitan Waterworks and
Sewerage Systems shall enjoin the private sector, such as sludge
excavation contractors and water concessionaires, to undertake a methane
recovery program from human and animal waste and convert it into
cooking gas and other forms of energy.

SECTION 3. Protected Areas – After six months of such
campaign of solid waste management, the next stage and level of the
focused CPR campaign shall be to identify and regenerate the forest
lands and protected areas of the islands and seas of the Philippines.

SECTION 4. Task Group on Watershed Protection – (a)
Within the next six months, the DENR shall lead a Task Group to
undertake a survey and mapping for the protected areas of the country
and the needed areas for forest land. Pursuant to the Constitution,
these areas shall be clearly marked on the ground. Part of the Two
Billion Pesos (P2,000,000,000.00) allocated for reforestation shall be
provided for the delineation and boundary marking of the forest lands
within the respective Congressional districts; This preliminary activity
shall set the state for the massive restoration and regeneration of
said forest lands and protected areas.

(b) Water resources and watersheds shall be immediately identified
and protected and their water flow improved and their floral cover
regenerated. For this purpose, the fund set aside for the rehabilitation
of watersheds under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act shall be
made available by the National Power Corporation for forest delineation
and reforestation projects.

(c) The DENR, the state universities and colleges (SUCs),
particularly their Departments of Biology and Marine Sciences,
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and other scientific
institutions shall mobilize the youth to conduct and complete an
inventory of the flora and fauna in the terrestrial and marine
ecosystems of their respective localities within one hundred and
eighty (180) days from this issuance of this Order. Funds for this
purpose shall be allocated from the research budgets of the SUCS, the
DENR and the DOST

(d) The DENR and the Commission on Higher Education shall report to
the PACC the progress of this initiative every Friday of every week
until almost all of the flora and fauna have been identified.

SECTION 5. Clean Water Conservation – With due
consultation and proper relocation assistance, all riverbanks and
waterways must be cleared of informal structures and obstacles. All
waterways must be restored to waters suitable for fisheries and boating
within twenty-four (24) months from the issuance hereof.

SECTION 6. Task Group on Rainwater Conservation –
Rainwater collection systems shall be put in place. The DPWH shall lead a
Task Group in cooperation with the United Architects of the Philippines
to design and implement the efficient rainwater collection and aquifier
systems. Demonstration projects shall be in operations within ninety
(90) days from issuance of this Order. Plans for scaling them up
nationwide, especially in areas highly vulnerable to droughts, shall be
presented to the President through the PACC.

SECTION 7. Task Group on Water Recycling – Water
recycling – the prevention, recovery and treatment of used water – shall
be placed at the highest priority of survival. For the purpose, the
National Water Resources Office, shall lead a Task Group in cooperation
with the Local Water Utilities Administration and the water districts,
the DTI and manufacturers of irrigation implements and toilet facilities
to efficiently use, recover and reuse water. With due consultation and
proper relocation assistance, all riverbanks and waterways must be
cleared of in formal structures and obstacles. All waterways must be
restored to waters suitable for fisheries and boating within twenty-four
(24) months from the issuance hereof.

SECTION 8. Task Group on Atmospheric Activities – The
DOST shall lead a Task Group to transform the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (PAGASA) into a world-class
atmospheric and meteorological facility. For this purpose, a Filipino
Scientist Program on Atmospheric Sciences shall be immediately
incorporated into the DOST Research and Development Program to attract
the best Filipino minds, both your and more senior, both in the
Philippines and abroad, to develop the Filipino capability for weather
sciences.

SECTION 9. Task Group on Fossil Fuels – (a) To reduce the
consumption of fossil fuels, the Department of Transportation and
Communications (DOTC) shall lead a Task Group to reform the
transportation sector. The new paradigm in the movement of men and
things must follow a simple principle: “Those who have less in wheels
must have more in road.” For this purpose, the system shall favor
non-motorized locomotion and collective transportation system (walking,
bicycling, and the man-powered mini-train).

(b) The DOTC and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
shall immediately transform roads using aforesaid principle.

(c) Malacañang Palace and all Cabinet offices are hereby directed to
bring down by fifty percent (50%) the consumption of fossils fuels
within two (2) years from the issuance of this order.

(d) The PACC shall consult with the biggest consumers and undertake
extensive mass media social marketing and mobilization campaigns to
reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.

(e) The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall
immediately make available funds from Road Users’ Tax for the purposes
stated in this Section.

(f) The Secretaries of the DOTC, DBM and DPWH shall personally
report to the President through the PACC every 48 hours on the progress
of the initiatives stated in this Section.

(g) The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall
coordinate with local government units and guide them on the plan to
transform the locomotion and transportation system to favor parties who
have no motorized vehicles.

SECTION 10. Task Group on Information – (a) The
Philippine Information Agency shall lead a Task Group to mobilize the
government stations and channels and the private sector media to help
make the people understand the threats and risks that the country is
facing from climate change and to use the power of mass media and global
communications to mobilize the people into positive action.

(b) Other government agencies and the entire Filipino people
shall be made to understand and enjoined to fully cooperate and perform
their respective roles and responsibilities to face climate change. The
agencies shall send the PACC a one page weekly report on the advances
they have made on this initiative.

SECTION 11. Task Group on Fisheries – (a) The Department
of Agriculture (DA) shall lead a Task Group to conduct a compliance
audit of the strategic provisions of the Fisheries Code, particularly on
the determination of the maximum sustainable yield, the total catch
allowable, and the carrying capacity of our marine ecosystems.

(b) With the DILG, the DA shall conduct massive information,
education and communication campaigns with coastal local governments
to implement Section 81 of RA 8550, otherwise known as the Fisheries
Code, mandating that at least fifteen percent (15%) of their municipal
waters must be devoted to a fish sanctuary.

(c) The local governments of all coastal towns and cities are
enjoined to identify and declare their fish sanctuaries not later than
six (6) months from the issuance of this Order.

The PACC shall compile the list of complying local governments.
They shall be fully assisted in their implementation efforts, should
they so desire. Non-compliant local governments shall be sanctioned as
appropriate by the DILG.

(d) The DA and DILG Secretaries shall report to the President
personally or through the PACC every Friday on the progress of the
initiative provided in this Section. They shall act with a sense of
urgency.

SECTION 12. Task Group on Agriculture – (a) All
Agricultural lands shall be immediately identified and delineated with
clear boundary markers on the ground. Every effort shall be exerted to
cleanse the fields of chemical pollutants, and extend and persuade
owners and caretakers to produce nutritious food crops in a sustainable
manner.

(b) Public open places space along sidewalks and portions of roads
and parking lots, which shall be rendered irrelevant by the mind-shift
to non-motorized and collective transportation systems, shall be devoted
to productive use through sustainable urban farming. These spaces shall
be planted with, among others, nutritious fruit crops, vegetables,
spices and medicinal herbs. All persons who live in the city who wish to
care for a plot of arable land to plant their vegetables shall be
provided a stewardship agreement. This agreement shall bind the holder
to sustainably use the land plant it with food and other plants like
nutritious vegetables, fruits, flowers, spices, etc. and receive benefit
from its produce.

SECTION 13. Task Group on Education – The Department of
Education shall lead a Task Group to develop the climate change
component and incorporate it into the Science curriculum of the schools
immediately upon completing. By the opening of the next school year,
environmental education must have been incorporated in all levels of the
school Science curriculum.

SECTION 14. Task Group on Foreign Affairs – The
Department of Foreign Affairs shall lead a Task Group with the
Department of Justice to cooperate with other island nations in
exploring legal and meta-legal approaches on how to hold highly carbon
dioxide-emitting countries accountable and liable for the climate change
damages that are happening and will be happening in this generation and
for sustainable development of future generations. Said agencies shall
tap the talent of law professors and top-caliber litigation and
environmental lawyers in the Philippines, in Asia and in the rest of the
world.

SECTION 15. Task Group on Renewable Energy – The Department of Energy shall lead a Task Group to implement the Renewable Energy Law with dispatch.

SECTION 16. Task Group on CPR Economics – (a) The
National Economic and Development Authority shall lead a Task Group in
cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to promote
CPR Economics as paradigm of economic development. It shall prepare a
ten, twenty, thirty (10-20-30) year CPR Economic Action Plan in the
line the Principle of Seven Generations, which states that in
deliberations today, especially in decisions to use the sources of Life
of Land, Air and Water, the impact of decisions of to a horizon of
Seven Generations – of the grandchildren of our grandchildren – must be
considered.

(b) The Board of Investments and the Department of Finance shall
immediately implement a simplified and beneficial Investment Priorities
Plan to shift the thrust of the economy from a consumerist economy of
wasteful practices to an economy that is based on the sustainable use
and conservation of the physical sources and resources of Life.

(c) Responsible eco-tourism shall be a cornerstone of economic
activities. As guests and as visitors to our lovely island home,
tourists shall be expected to behave properly and obey our laws and be
sensitive to our culture and customs.

(d) The Department of Tourism shall develop a program on
restorative eco-tourism. It shall seek not only to engage the people to
restore the damaged land, forests, rivers and seas of our country but
more importantly it shall seek to restore the connection between man and
Nature.

(e) The DOT shall pursue such CPR eco-tourism program focused on the Filipino people as its “target-market.”

(f) The Priority Development Assistance Funds of Congressional
representatives shall be given priority in facilitating release if the
same is aligned towards the pursuit of CPR economics.

SECTION 17. Traditional Medicine – Traditional and alternative medicine shall be promoted to address the health and wellness concerns of the Filipino people.

SECTION 18. Task Group on Outdoor and Rooftop Structures –
(a) The DPWH shall lead a Task Group to require all neon and
high-wattage lights on billboards and outdoor advertisements along roads
and highways to be shut off at 9:00 p.m. Should the owners desire to
turn them on after 9:00 p.m., they shall be charged a fee equivalent to
their carbon footprint computed according to their wattage consumption.
Where the structures are not in compliance with the laws and building
regulations, they shall be immediately removed from the rooftops.

(b) In their place, the DPWH shall provide incentive subsidies to the owners to convert said rooftops into urban gardens.

SECTION 19. Secretariat – (a) The PACC shall oversee
the execution and implementation of this Order. He shall report
directly to the President or to the Executive Secretary (ES) every week,
in coordination with the other heads of offices herein mentioned, on
the progress of the aforesaid initiatives.

(b) The PACC shall report to the President personally or through
the ES every seventy two (72) hours on the progress of these
initiatives.

(c) The office of the PACC and the PTFCC shall be located at the
Mabini Hall and shall have access to the Office of the President or the
Executive Secretary at all times practicable. The initial funds for
the PACC and to reorganize the PTFCC shall come from the Office of the
President. The DBM shall mainstream the PACC in the annual appropriations budget. All government agencies are likewise hereby directed
to provide and mainstream the cross-cutting environmental concerns in
their operations, budgets and reports to the President.

SECTION 20. If any section of this Order shall be declared
unconstitutional, the other sections or parts hereof shall not thereby
be affected.

SECTION 21. All orders, circulars, memoranda, rules, regulations
and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby
amended accordingly.

SECTION 22. This EO shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 26 Dec. 2008

(SGD.) GLORIA M. ARROYO
President of the Philippines   

BY THE PRESIDENT :

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary