EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 240
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 240 - CREATING
FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COUNCILS (FARMCs) IN
BARANGAYS, CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, THEIR COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS
WHEREAS, it is a declared policy of
state to ensure that management and control over fisheries and aquatic
resources shall be effected by the Government through the active and
extensive participation of people directly affected thereby;
WHEREAS, the subsistence fisherfolks have been seeking the enhancement
of their empowerment through meaningful participation in the
management, development and protection of fisheries and aquatic
resources for sustainable productivity;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by
virtue of the powers vested in me by the law do hereby order:
Section 1. Creation of FARMCs. — To institutionalize
the major role of the local fisherfolks and other resource users in the
community-based planning and implementation of policies and programs
for the management, conservation, development and protection of
fisheries and aquatic resources of the municipal waters as defined by
the Local Government Code there is hereby created FARMCs in all
barangays, municipalities and cities abutting municipal waters. In
bays, gulfs, lakes, rivers and dams bounded by two or more barangays or
municipalities/cities, Integrated FARMCs shall be created.
Sec. 2. Regular Members. — At least 3/4 of the
regular members of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management
Councils, hereinafter referred to as FARMCs, shall be representatives
of the local municipal fisherfolk.
Sec. 3. Functions. — The FARMCs shall have among
their primary functions the following:
a.
Prepare and recommend the fisheries and aquatic resources management
policies and plans for integration into the Local Development Plan.
Such policies and plans should be based on sound assessment and
bio-economic characteristics of the resources.
b. Recommend
to the local government units and special agencies referred to in
Sec. 7 guidelines on the development and implementation of projects,
and issuance of permits and licenses for the appropriate use of
fisheries and aquatic resources, and to ensure that resource use limits
and controls are imposed. Such guidelines may include the evaluation of
all projects and applications by FARMCs prior to the approval of
appropriate offices.
Sec. 4. Technical Assistance. — The Department of
Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department
of Justice (DOJ), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and other
government agencies are instructed to extend technical assistance to
FARMCs.
Sec. 5. Law Enforcement. — The PNP-Maricom, the
Philippine Coast Guard and/or other law enforcement agencies are hereby
instructed to take the lead in the enforcement of environmental laws in
collaboration and coordination with the FARMCs.
Sec. 6. Deputation of FARMC Members. — The members
of the FARMCs shall undergo training and be deputized as fish wardens,
and environment and natural resources officers. The appropriate
government units are hereby instructed to issue deputation papers to
the FARMC members and officers.
Sec. 7. Special Agencies. — Government agencies or
offices having jurisdiction over municipal waters by virtue of special
laws such as, but not limited to, the Laguna Lake Development Authority
shall integrate the plans formulated by the FARMCs into their
agency/corporate policies and plans of operation for implementation.
Sec. 8. Implementation. — The Department of
Agriculture, jointly with the Department of Interior and Local
Government, the special agencies referred to in Sec. 7, and
representatives of fisherfolk organizations are hereby directed to
prepare the implementing guidelines and ensure the implementation of
this Executive Order.
Sec. 9. Appropriations. — There is hereby
appropriated at least Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) from the
Fisheries Sector Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the
implementation of this Executive Order.
Sec. 10. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall
take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila,
this 28th day of April in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and
Ninety-Five.
chanrobles virtual law library
Back to Main
chan
robles virtual law library
Since 19.07.98.