EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 196 - MANDATING GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL SERVICE AGENCIES TO EXTEND FULL SUPPORT TO THE ENR-SECAL PROGRAM

WHEREAS, the country’s forest resources have been subjected to massive destruction brought about by socio-economic factors, such as increasing population pressure, poverty, and inappropriate forest policies;

WHEREAS, there is a need to address the adverse effects of forest destruction;

WHEREAS, the Government, in its efforts to preserve what remains of the biological diversity of the Philippines; to reestablish degraded forest resources wherever practicable and to introduce sustainable land use practices, entered into an agreement with the World Bank to implement the Environmental Sectoral Adjustment Loan (ENR-SECAL) Program;

WHEREAS, the ENR-SECAL program aims to pursue its objectives through concerted community action, institutional strengthening, preservation of integrated protected areas, regional community-based resource management projects and improvement of enforcement of logging rules and regulations;

WHEREAS, it is recognized that other government and national service agencies, aside from DENR, are involved in various aspects of the ENR-SECAL Program;

WHEREAS, to ensure the success of ENR-SECAL, there is a need to encourage more active participation of these agencies in program implementation and to strengthen collaboration among them through more functional and viable working arrangements at the central as well as the field level;  

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the following agencies to fully participate and assist in the implementation of the ENR-SECAL Program;

Section 1. Participating Agencies shall be as follows:

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

Department of Finance (DOF)

Department of Budget and Management (DBM)

Department of Agriculture (DA)

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)

Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS)

Department of National Defense (DND)

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)

Department of Justice (DOJ)

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)

National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Philippine Information Agency (PIA)

Sec. 2. The various agencies shall undertake, among others, the following functions and responsibilities:

A. The DENR, as the lead agency responsible for the proper management and implementation of the program, shall:

1. Coordinate program implementation activities among concerned agencies;

2. Provide technical, administrative and secretariat support for the conduct of meetings, workshops, conferences and other related activities.

1. Ensure financial support in the allocation of resources for the realization of the ENR-SECAL targets;

2. Ensure that the availment of the loan proceeds is properly utilized in accordance with set policies under the loan agreement.

1. Ensure the timely processing and release of the budgetary requirements of the program;

2. Provide advice and assistance in setting-up the appropriate financial management system in accordance with program design;

3. Help facilitate the procurement of transportation and other equipment/facilities required by the program.

1. Provide extension services within their jurisdictional authority to beneficiaries of the program;

2. Allocate resources to generate sustainable agro-forestry management and other livelihood opportunities for upland communities.  

1. Assist in the development, maintenance and improvement of infrastructure projects in the program sites;

2. Ensure that constructions of infrastructure projects will not adversely affect the natural resources and biodiversity in the area;

3. Allocate substantial support funds for the infrastructure requirements of the program in expansion sites.

1. Intensify ongoing efforts to instill the value of natural resources development and conservation among school children in the area;  

2. Assist in the campaign to promote awareness of the ENR-SECAL program, its components, and the benefits that will accrue to the community;

3. Extend the use of its facilities and other resources in advancing the IEC component of the program.

1. Assist in forest law enforcement operations and effective prosecution of forest law violators;

2. Ensure that the various task forces on law enforcement are adequately supported to enable them to carry out effective operation.

1. Assist in enhancing the capability of local governments to implement ENR-SECAL program components particularly those involving devolution of functions and responsibilities to LGUs;

2. Ensure that LGUs provide the necessary staff counter-parts and funding support for the maintenance of infrastructure facilities and sustain program implementation.

1. Ensure that program implementation is consistent with the National Development Plan and adequately supported by regular appropriations and foreign assistance;

2. Assist in monitoring evaluating and addressing problem areas related to implementation of Official Development Assistance (ODA) policies and programs.

Sec. 3. Other Technical and Administrative Support Requirements: Whenever it is deemed necessary, the DENR, through the DENR Secretary, may tap the assistance of other government agencies private/civic organizations, for the furtherance of the program’s mandate.  

Sec. 4. Effectivity. — This Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 16th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety four.
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Since 19.07.98.