EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE CABINET COMMITTEE ON THE LAW OF THE SEA AND RENAMING IT AS THE CABINET COMMITTEE ON MARITIME AND OCEAN AFFAIRS

WHEREAS, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea seeks to
establish a legal order for the seas and oceans to promote their peaceful use,
equitable and efficient utilization of resources and protect and preserve the
marine environment;

WHEREAS, the Philippines signed the United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea on 10 December 1982 and ratified the same in November 1984;

WHEREAS, a Cabinet Committee on the Treaty on the Law of the Sea was
established pursuant to Executive Order No. 738 dated 3 October 1981, and
reconstituted with representation from government agencies, pursuant to
Executive Order No. 328 dated 5 June 1988, to implement the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea and harmonize domestic laws and regulations
with the Convention prior to its entry into force on 16 November 1994;

WHEREAS, there is an imperative need to further strengthen the Cabinet
Committee on the Law of the Sea to ensure a more comprehensive and pragmatic
approach in addressing marine and ocean-related concerns within the overall
context of Philippine national interest.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL
V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law and the Constitution,
do hereby order:

SEC. 1. The Cabinet Committee on the Law of the Sea is hereby renamed the
Cabinet Committee on Maritime and Ocean Affairs, (hereinafter referred to as
the Cabinet Committee) and its functions expanded to include the formulation of
practical and viable policies and addressing the various concerns which affect
the implementation of the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea and
other marine-related matters.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs shall continue to act as Chairman
of the Cabinet Committee on Maritime and Ocean Affairs, with the members as enumerated
in Executive Order No. 328 dated 5 June 1988.

The Cabinet Committee may create
sub-committees and/or working groups as it deems necessary to ensure the
efficient and effective discharge of its responsibilities.

SEC. 3. The Cabinet Committee shall encourage the participation of
government and private academic and research institutions involved with marine
and ocean-related concerns, through the development of a marine research
community.

SEC. 4. The Department of Foreign Affairs shall continue to provide
secretariat support to the Cabinet Committee. The Cabinet Committee may call on
any department, bureau, office and instrumentality of the Government for
appropriate assistance.

SEC. 5. The Cabinet Committee shall continue to source its funding pursuant
to Section 6 of Executive Order No. 738 dated 3 October 1981, which states that
” the Ministry (now Department) of the Budget is directed to release such
amount as may be necessary for the initial operation of the Cabinet Committee
to the Secretariat, through the Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on the Treaty
of the Law of the Sea which shall administer the same”.

SEC. 6. The Cabinet Committee shall formulate and present to the President
and the Cabinet, on 8 November 1994, a comprehensive action plan to implement
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and submit to the
President, a quarterly report of its activities thereafter.

SEC. 7. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 12th day of July in the year
of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Four.

(Sgd.) FIDEL
V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) TEOFISTO T. GUINGONA, JR.
Executive Secretary

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