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REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7611 - AN ACT
ADOPTING THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN FOR PALAWAN, CREATING THE
ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION, CONVERTING THE PALAWAN
INTEGRATED AREA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICE TO ITS SUPPORT STAFF,
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFORE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
CHAPTER I SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act." Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby
declared the policy of the State to protect, develop and conserve its
natural resources. Towards this end, it shall assist and support the
implementation of plans, programs and projects formulated to preserve
and enhance the environment, and at the same time pursue the
socioeconomic development goals of the country. Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this
Act, the following terms are defined as follows: CHAPTER II Sec. 4. Strategic Environmental Plan. — A comprehensive framework for the sustainable development of Palawan compatible with protecting and enhancing the natural resources and endangered environment of the province is hereby adopted. Such framework shall be known as the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan, hereinafter referred to as SEP, and shall serve to guide the local government of Palawan and the government agencies concerned in the formulation and implementation of plans, programs and projects affecting said province. Sec. 5. Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP)
Philosophy. — The SEP shall have, as its general philosophy, the
sustainable development of Palawan, which is the improvement in the
quality of life of its people in the present and future generations
through the use of complementary activities of development and
conservation that protect life-support ecosystems and rehabilitate
exploited areas to allow upcoming generations to sustain development
growth. It shall have the following features: Sec. 6. Legal Effects. — The SEP shall serve as the framework to guide the government agencies concerned in the formulation and implementation of plans, programs, and projects affecting the environment and natural resources of Palawan. It shall thereforee be incorporated in the Regional Development Plan of Region IV as part of said plan. All local governments in Palawan and the concerned national and regional government agencies operating therein shall coordinate and align their projects and the corresponding budgets with the projects, programs and policies of the SEP, as administered and implemented by an administrative machinery hereinafter created. Sec. 7. Environmentally Critical Areas Network
(ECAN). — The SEP shall establish a graded system of protection and
development control over the whole of Palawan, including its tribal
lands, forests, mines, agricultural areas, settlement areas, small
islands, mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds and the surrounding sea.
This shall be known as the Environmentally Critical Areas Network,
hereinafter referred to as ECAN, and shall serve as the main strategy
of the SEP. Sec. 8. Main Components. — The areas covered by
the ECAN shall be classified into three (3) main components: Sec. 9. Terrestrial Component: Management Scheme
and Zonation. — The terrestrial component may be further subdivided
into smaller management components for a more efficient supervision.
These management components, in turn, shall each be further subdivided
into the following zones: CHAPTER III SECTION 12. Management of Resources Outside of the Ecologically Critical Areas. — The SEP shall provide for the management of resources outside of the ECAN and shall include coastal resources, resources of the catchment areas, timber and mines, development in the lowlands, and settlement areas. It shall also provide for tourism planning. CHAPTER IV SECTION 13. Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation System (EMES). — In order to monitor achievement of its goals, the SEP shall establish an Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation System (EMES) which shall ensure a systematic and reliable means of data generation for the various concerns of the SEP. It shall measure changes in environmental status, identify adverse environmental trends and crisis areas, recommend solutions, assess the implementation of the SEP, and suggest measures to make the SEP more responsible to the changing needs. SECTION 14. Environmental Research. — The SEP shall provide for a system of research so that additional information for accurate planning as well as data to solve new problems in the implementation of the SEP shall be supplied. As such, the SEP's researches shall not be confined to the physical and biological features of the environment, achieved through surveys, monitoring, resources assessments and research into processes, but shall also extend to policies and socioeconomic questions. SECTION 15. Environmental Education and Extension. — The SEP shall design an environmental information and education designed to gradually wean the people away from destructive practices and shall recommend practical ways as an alternative. Training programs for the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), business sector representatives, and community leaders shall be organized. This may establish linkages between the NGO's, community leaders, sector representatives and the staff of line agencies' development communication or public information section and, at the same time, be used to plan out a comprehensive public information drive. Simultaneously, community organizing shall be enhanced to reinforce non-formal approaches, complementing regular environment/science courses in the school. CHAPTER V SECTION 16. Palawan Council for Sustainable Development. — The governance, implementation and policy direction of the Strategic Environmental Plan shall be exercised by the herein created Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), hereinafter referred to as the Council, which shall be under the Office of the President. It shall be composed of the Members of the House of Representatives representing the Province of Palawan, the Deputy Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority, the Undersecretary of Environment and Natural Resources, the Undersecretary for Special Concerns of the Department of Agriculture, the Governor of Palawan, the Mayor of Puerto Princesa City, the President of the Mayor's League of Palawan, the President of the Provincial Chapter of the Liga ng mga Barangay, the Executive Director of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff as provided in Sec. 20 of this Act, and such other members from the public or private sectors as the majority of the Council may deem necessary. The Council shall elect, from among its members, a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman. SECTION 17. Quorum. — A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business. SECTION 18. Compensation. — The members of the Council shall be entitled to per diems and allowances in accordance with existing laws in the performance of their duties and in carrying out the business of the Council. The per diems shall be in the amount of Five hundred pesos (P500) for every meeting: provided, that the per diems collected do not exceed the equivalent of per diems for four (4) meetings in a month. SECTION 19. Powers and Functions. — In order to successfully implement the provisions of this Act, the Council is hereby vested with the following powers and functions: (1) Formulate plans and policies as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act; (2) Coordinate with the local governments to ensure that the latter's plans, programs and projects are aligned with the plans, programs and policies of the SEP; (3) Call on any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the Government, and on private entities and organizations for cooperation and assistance in the performance of its functions; (4) Arrange, negotiate for, and accept donations, grants, gifts, loans, and other fundings from domestic and foreign sources to carry out the activities and purposes of the SEP; (5) Recommend to the Congress of the Philippines such matters that may require legislation in support of the objectives of the SEP; (6) Delegate any or all of its powers and functions to its support staffs, as hereinafter provided, except those which by provisions of law cannot be delegated; (7) Establish policies and guidelines for employment on the basis of merit, technical competence and moral character and prescribe a compensation and staffing pattern; (8) Adopt, amend and rescind such rules and regulations and impose penalties therefore for the effective implementation of the SEP and the other provisions of this Act; (9) Enforce the provisions of this Act and other existing laws, rules and regulations similar to or complementary with this Act; (10) Perform related functions which shall promote the development, conservation, management, protection, and utilization of the natural resources of Palawan; and (11) Perform such other powers and functions as may be necessary in carrying out its functions, powers, and the provisions of this Act. Sec. 20. Conversion of Palawan Integrated Area
Development Project Office (PIADPO) to the Palawan Council for
Sustainable Development Staff . — The Palawan Integrated Area
Development Project Office, hereinafter referred to as PIADPO, is
hereby converted to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
Staff which shall serve as the regular professional support staff of
the Council and shall provide the machinery to coordinate the policy
and functions, implement programs, and organize such services as may be
required by the Council in the exercise of its functions. It shall be
independent of any other department or agency of the Government other
than the herein provided Council. All the applicable powers, functions,
personnel, complement, staff, appropriations, records, equipment,
property, funds, and other assets of the PIADPO, as well as all its
obligations and liabilities, are hereby transferred to the Palawan
Council for Sustainable Development Staff. CHAPTER VI Sec. 21. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be charged to the current fiscal year appropriations of the PIADPO. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. Sec. 22. Separability Clause. — If any of the provisions of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional, the other provisions of this Act shall remain valid. Sec. 23. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Sec. 24. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take
effect upon its approval. Approved: June 19, 1992 |
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