ADOPTING THE CORAL TRIANGLE INITIATIVE (CTI) NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION

WHEREAS, Article II, Section 16 of the Philippine Constitution
mandates the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a
balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of
nature;

WHEREAS, Article XII, Section 2 of the Philippine Constitution also
provides that the State shall protect the nation’s marine wealth in its
archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and
reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens;

WHEREAS, the Philippine Government is pursuing the Coral Triangle
Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) along
with the Governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon
Islands and Timor Leste;

WHEREAS, among the agreement during the 2nd Senior Officials Meeting
(SOM2) which was held in Manila, Philippines on 23 October 2007 is the
adoption of the Manila Draft of the CTI Regional Plan of Action as a
framework for the specific actions needed to conserve and sustainably
manage the coastal and marine resources in the Coral Triangle;

WHEREAS, the CTI National Plan of Action is complementary to the
Philippines’ commitments to international conventions such as the
Convention of Biological Diversity, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands,
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora;
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wildlife Animals,
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as the
Millennium Development Goals, among others;

WHEREAS, national policies and laws support the achievement of the
CTI goals, as outlined in the Regional Plan of Action and the National
Plan of Action. These national policies include Republic Act 7586 or the
National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, Republic Act
8550 or the Fisheries Code of the Philippines, Executive Order No. 533
adopting the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) as the National
Management Policy Framework to Promote the Sustainable Development of
the Country’s Coastal and Marine Environments and Resources;
Presidential Proclamation No. 1028 Declaring the Entire Sulu and Celebes
Seas as an Integrated Conservation and Development Zone; Executive
Order No. 578 or the National Policy on Biological Diversity, and
Prescribed its Implementation particularly in the Verde Island Passage
Marine Corridor, and in all Philippine territory within the Sulu
Sulawesi Marine Eco-region (SSME), among others;

WHEREAS, the Philippines builds on-going and planned national
projects and regional cooperative programs such as the Memorandum of
Understanding Adopting the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Eco-region Conservation
Plan in working towards supporting achievement of goals and targets laid
out in the CTI Regional Plan of Action;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 192, as amended, mandates the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as the primary government
agency responsible for the sustainable development of the country’s
environment and natural resources;

WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture (DA), by virtue of Republic
Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 is the agency mandated
to manage, develop, protect and conserve the country’s aquatic
resources;

WHEREAS, there is a need to rationalize the institutional
arrangements, plans and programs to ensure well-coordinated, consistent
decisions and actions concerning the management of the country’s coastal
and marine resources;

NOW THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the
Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the
Constitution, do hereby mandate the following:

SECTION 1. Adoption of the CTI National Plan of Action (NPOA). The NPOA is hereby adopted as attached to this Order. The NPOA
shall serve as the primary framework for the development and
implementation of all related plans and programs on marine and coastal
resources management in the country.

SECTION 2. Integration of the NPOA Priority Actions in the National Plans and Programs.
All agencies with coastal and marine concerns are hereby instructed to
integrate the NPOA priority actions into their corresponding national
plans and budgets and contribute to the effective implementation of the
NPOA.

SECTION 3. Integration of the NPOA Priority Actions into the Local Plans and Programs.
All local government units, especially those within coastal areas,
shall take into consideration the NPOA Priority Actions in the
preparation and implementation of local development plans and budgets
and contribute to the effective implementation of the NPOA.

SECTION 4. Coordination Between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture.
The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources and the Secretary
of Agriculture shall coordinate the implementation of the NPOA. They
shall jointly act as the national coordinating body for the NPOA
implementation and focal point of contact for the regional CTI
processes. They may call upon on other
agencies/organizations/institutions for advice and assistance, as
needed.

SECTION 5. Joint Secretariat.
The DENR-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau and DA-Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources shall establish a Joint NCCC Secretariat
with full-time representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs,
Department of Finance, National Economic and Development Authority, the
non-governmental organizations, the academic institutions and the
business sector.

SECTION 6. Financial Appropriation.
An initial allocation of FIVE MILLION PESOS (Php 5 MILLION) to
support the core operations of the Secretariat to leverage external
funds for the NPOA implementation shall be released by the Secretary of
Budget and Management from the budgets of the DENR and DA. The
disbursement of and allocation of additional funds shall be subject to
the submission and approval of the joint annual work and financial plans
of the Secretaries of DENR and DA.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. All proclamations
or executive orders, rules and regulations and other issuances or parts
thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby
revoked, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Separability. Any portion or provision of this
Executive Order that maybe declared unconstitutional shall not have the
effect of nullifying its other portions or provisions, as long as such
remaining portions call still be given effect.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect upon signing hereof.

Adopted: 06 May 2009

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

BY THE PRESIDENT:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary