DECLARING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WITHIN LAGUNA LAKE AS A PRESIDENTIAL PRIORITY

WHEREAS, the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTDP) of the
government includes infrastructure development and water resources
management, as well as the formulation of a comprehensive development
plan for the country’s water resources to promote economic growth and
environmental stability;

WHEREAS, the integration and harmonization of various government
mandates and resources in the provisions for safe and clean water supply
for the entire country is emphasized in the MTDP;

WHEREAS, the reforestation and watersheds, coupled with the
establishment of water quality, effective flood control and measures,
and the implementation of integrated water management scheme, are highly
recommended for the sustainable supply and allocation of safe and clean
water;

WHEREAS, Section 4 of Executive Order (EO) No. 192, series of 1987,
mandates that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
is the primary government agency responsible for the conservation,
management, and development of the country’s environment and natural
resources, as well as their proper use, and shall ensure the equitable
sharing of the benefits derived therefrom for the welfare of the present
and future generations of Filipinos;

WHEREAS, the President has the continuing authority to rationalize
and integrate various mandates of the Executive Branch pursuant to
Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code
of 1987.

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

SECTION 1. Declaration. The Environmental and
Economic Development Program for Laguna Lake is a Presidential Priority
Program that shall be developed and implemented immediately.

SECTION 2. Execution. The River Basin Control
Office (RBCO) under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) shall be the lead agency in the implementation of the Program.

SECTION 3. Implementation Arrangement. The RBCO
shall be supported by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), an
agency under the DENR. All other departments, government agencies and
entities concerned are hereby ordered to provide full cooperation for
the timely and smooth execution of the Program.

SECTION 4. Program Components. The components of the Program shall include:

a. The rehabilitation of the Laguna Lake system, specifically the
rehabilitation and dredging of Laguna Lake as well as lakeshore
reclamation and surface management, improvement of water quality and
managements systems, and management of resource use such as for fish
production, water supply and the like.

b. The development of transport systems, which may include
development of Laguna Lake ferry systems and Laguna Lake ports and
marinas development, which shall be in support of the Government’s
Nautical Highways Program.

c. Other related components that may be deemed important in the implementation of the foregoing components.

The RBCO, in coordination with concerned government agencies,
shall submit to the President the integrated plan within sixty (60) days
after the effectivity of this order.

SECTION 5. Budgetary Support. The RBCO shall have an
initial funding of Five Hundred Million Pesos (P500,000,000.00) to be
sourced from unprogrammed funds of the DENR, and/or as may be
recommended and/or approved by the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM). The initial funds shall be used for the planning, operations and
administration of RBCO to carry out the implementation of the program.
Starting budgetary year 2010, its operating budget shall be incorporated
in the budgetary allocation of the DENR and member-agencies.

SECTION 6. Inter-Agency Cooperation. The
departments, bureaus, offices, agencies or instrumentalities, including
government-owned or controlled corporations, are hereby directed to
extend such assistance and cooperation as the RBCO may need in the
discharge of its functions.

SECTION 7. Repeal. All 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. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take
effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in a national
newspaper of general circulation and fifteen (15) days after
registration with the Office of the National Administrative Register.

Adopted: 06 July 2009

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

BY THE PRESIDENT:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary