Executive Order creating a Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (No. 15 of 1992)

OCTOBER 12, 1992 OFFICIAL GAZETTE 6523 MALACANANG MANILA EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 15 CREATING A PHILIPPINE COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution mandates as a policy of the state, the protection and advancement of the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord ance with the rhythm and harmony of na ture; WHEREAS, a National Conservation Stra tegy, as spelled out in the Philippine Strate gy for Sustainable Development (PSSD) which was adopted in 1989, takes a balanced and integrated approach to environment and development issues by incorporating sustain able development principles and concepts ill the national priorities of government: WHEREAS, the Philippines already adher ing to the principle of sustainable develop ment actively participated in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, and committed to the principles set forth in the Rio Declaration, the Agenda 21, the Conventions on Climate Change and Biodiversity; WHEREAS, the United Nations in UNCED, has adopted a resolution for the creation of a Sustainable Development Commission that will evaluate and monitor the compliance to the agreements and commitments made in Rio and in the course of it s creation urged governments to also form similar bodies that will ensure that the activities at the national level are implemented and coordinated with in global efforts; . . WHEREAS, the agreements oblige the Phil ippines to translate the commitments to more .concrete actions and ensure that all sectors of the society shall be involved in its operationalization; WHEREAS, in order to achieve these -ends, the creation of it national sustainable devel opment council will provide the mechanism for attaining the principles of sustainable development and thus assure its integration in the Philippine national policies, plans and programs that will involve all sectors of the society. Now, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, Presi dent of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby create a Philippine Council for Sustainable Development with membership and func tions as provided in the following sections: SECTION 1. Creation and Comoosition. of the Council. 1) There is hereby created a Philippine Council on Sustainable Development to be headed by the Director-General of the Na tional Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as Chairperson, and the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Na tural Resources as Vice Chairperson. 2) The Council will have as members com mitted environmentalists from the following' departments of a position of Bureau Di rector or higher, duly deputized to represent their respective Secretaries: Department of Foreign Affairs Department of Science and Technology Department of Finance Department of Agriculture Department of Public Works and High ways Department of Education, Culture and Sports Department of Labor and Employment Department of Health Department of Trade and Industry Department of the Interior and Local Government Denartment of Social Welfare and Development Department of Budget and Management Department of National Defense Office of Energy Affairs 3) As.civil society counterpart, the non government community shall also have seven (7) representatives in the Council, These 6524 OFFICIAL GAZETTE VOL. 88, No. 41 representatives shall be selected by the non government community considering commit ment to environmental causes, gender bal ance, and sectoral representation through a process designed by them. SEC. 2. Powers and Functions of the Council. The Council shall have the follow ing powers and functions: 1) To review and ensure the implemen tation of the commitments the Philippines made in the light of the UNCED conference; 2) To establish guidelines and mechan isms that will expand, concretize and opera tionalize the sustainable development prin ciples as embodied in the Rio Declaration, the UNCED Agenda 21, the National Con servation Strategy, and the Philippine Agenda 21, and incorporate them in the pre paration of the Medium Term Development Plan both at the national and local levels with active participation from the non-gov ernment sector and people's organizations; 3) To provide directions in the form of policy reforms, programs and new legisla tions that respond to the qontinuing and emerging issues and charting future actions related to invironment and development; 4) To act as the coordinating mechanism in cooperation with DFA-Office of the United Nations and Other International Organiza tions (UNIO) with the United Nations Com mission on Sustainable Development and ac tively solicit assistance and cooperation towards the realization of our commitments made at the UNCED; 5) To require any and all government agencies for assistance in the form of per sonnel, facilities, and other resources which is essential for the performance of the duties of the Council; 6) To create sub-committees that it may deem fit in the performance of its duties; and 7) To perforrrr such other acts which are necessary to carry out its mandated func tions and responsibilities. SEC. 3. The Secretariat. The Council shall be assisted by a Secretariat which shall be based at the National Economic and De velopment Authority whose composition will be determined by the Director-General. SEC. 4. T'ramsiioru Provisions. There shall immediately be convened an interim Technical Working Group of seven members composed of representatives from National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and three representatives from non-government sector, which shall work out the formulation of the operational guidelines for the Council. The working group shall be assisted by a composite secretariat from NEDA and DENR. These transitory groups shall cease its functions upon the Council's meeting and adoption of the operating guidelines within sixty (60) days upon signing of this Order. SEC. 5. Effectivity. This Executive Or der shall take effect immediately. DONE in the City of Manila, this 1st day of September, in the year of Our Lord, nine teen hundred and ninety-two. (Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS President of the Philippines By the President: (Sgd.) DIONISIO C. DE LA SERNA Senior Deputy Executive Secretary