AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1515 VESTING THE JURISDICTION AND CONTROL OVER WATERSHED RESERVATIONS IN THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, under Presidential Decree No. 705, jurisdiction and
authority over all forest lands, grazing lands, and all forest reservations,
including watershed reservations presently administered by other government
agencies or instrumentalities is vested in the Ministry of Natural Resources
thru the Bureau of Forest Development;

WHEREAS, under Presidential Decree No. 1515, jurisdiction;
control and regulation over critical watershed areas and reservations proclaimed
and thereafter proclaimed as such by the President of the Philippines which are
essential to water-based power projects is vested in the Ministry of Energy;

WHEREAS, the Ministry of Energy under its mandate to
formulate and implement the government’s policies, plans and programs on the
development of indigenous energy resources should contribute to the desired
protection, development, management and rehabilitation of watershed and forest
reservations/areas;

WHEREAS, in the pursuance of the aforecited functions for
implementing national objectives, only watershed areas and reservations
supporting operational water-based power projects over which jurisdiction,
control and regulation shall be vested in the Ministry of Energy;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby
order and decree the following:

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1515 is
hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 1. Any Provision of existing law to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Ministry of Energy shall have jurisdiction, control and
regulation over the following watershed areas and reservations:

1. Tiwi Geothermal Reservation as covered by Presidential Proclamation No. 739;
2. Tongonan Geothermal Area as covered by Presidential Proclamation No. 1112;
3. Palimpinon Geothermal Area as covered by Presidential Proclamation No. 1413:

Provided, That when public interest so requires, jurisdiction over
other watershed areas and reservations which may in the future support
water-based energy projects, shall be transferred by the President of the
Philippines to the appropriate agency of the government when such projects
become operational; Provided further, That such watershed areas and reservations
shall include only the immediate watershed areas supporting existing
hydroelectric dams and projects, the boundaries of which are to be jointly
determined on the ground by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the
appropriate agency of the government within ninety (90) days from the date
hereof, and using as main criterion the effects on the reservoir.

SEC. 2. Section 2 of Presidential Decree No. 1515 is hereby
amended to read as follows:

“Section 2. In relation to Sec. 1, the Ministry of Energy
through the National Power Corporation shall be responsible for the management,
protection, development and rehabilitation of the aforementioned watershed
areas, including but not limited to the following:

1. Enforcement of forestry laws, rules and regulations within said watershed
   areas;
2. Identification of areas which require immediate rehabilitation and
   development;
3. Preparation of plans and programs for the maximum utilization of watershed
   resources;
4. Formulation and/or implementation of measures to prevent denudation of
   watershed cover;
5. Public education and information drive to create awareness among the
   populace of the importance of forests and uses of watershed areas;
6. Promotion of the development and conservation of existing vegetative cover;
7. Formulation of plans and development programs for resettlement and
   relocation;
8. Coordination with other government agencies/instrumentalities, religious and
   civic groups in undertaking forest conservation measures in watershed areas;
9. Afforestation, reforestation and physical rehabilitation measures in
   critically denuded watershed areas:

Provided, That said areas, pursuant to Letter of Instructions No.
917, shall not be the subject of exploitation of whatever nature. Provided
finally, That on-going foreign assisted projects within the immediate area of
said watersheds shall be pursued by agencies currently implementing such
projects, except as otherwise mutually agreed upon by the Ministry of Natural
Resources and the other agencies concerned.

SEC. 3. The National Power Corporation shall, in relation to
Sec. 2 hereof, submit to the Office of the President such plans and programs
within ninety (90) days after the establishment of the boundaries pursuant to
Sec. 1.

SEC. 4. The provisions of existing laws, decrees, orders,
rules and regulations as are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, amended
or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila this 10th day of December, in the year of Our
Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty.

			(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS President of the Philippines
	By the President:
	(Sgd.) JOAQUIN T. VENUS, JR.
		Presidential Assistant