WHEREAS, Section 33 of the Local Government Code encourages and provides the means for cooperative undertakings among Local Government Units;

WHEREAS, Sorsogon Bay is plagued by Red Tide;

WHEREAS, concerted action is needed to mitigate the effect of Red Tide not only by the local government units along the bay, but also by the national government agencies;

WHEREAS, to enable the government to translate into reality this thrust, the local government units (LGUs) of Magallanes, Casiguran, Juban, Sorsogon, Castilla and Pilar together with the communities must unify their efforts consistent with the principles of sustainable development and people empowerment;

WHEREAS, there is a need to create a body that shall provide the unity of efforts to formulate policies, mechanisms and strategies that will address the issues in Sorsogon Bay, while at the same time not usurping the implementation functions of the agencies and LGUs mandated by law to implement such policies, mechanisms and strategies;

WHEREAS, there is a need for strong collaboration between and among the concerned agencies and LGUS for the integrated management, protection, development and conservation of Sorsogon Bay,

WHEREAS, the Mayors of Sorsogon City, Castilla, Casiguran, Magallanes, Pilar, and Juban on 24 July 2008 endorsed to the Office of the President the creation of the Sorsogon Bay and Development Council;

NOW THEREFORE I, GLORIA M. ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. There is hereby created under the Department of Agriculture the Sorsogon Bay Rehabilitation and Development Policy Council, hereinafter referred to as the "Council," composed of the following:

A designated Undersecretary from the Department of Agriculture (DA) as Chairman, and designated Assistant Secretary from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as Vice-Chairman, the Presidential Assistant for Region V, The Region V Director of the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Governor of Sorsogon Province, the Mayors of the City of Sorsogon and the municipalities of Casiguran, Castilla, Juban Magallanes and Pilar, and three (3) representative from the private sector to be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Representatives of the First and Second Districts of Sorsogon and the Integrated FARMC.

The Secretaries of the DA and the DENR shall issue the corresponding designation and shall submit the same to the Region V Office of the DA which shall act as the Secretariat.

Section 2. The Council shall be an advisory and coordinating body to the Secretaries of the DA and the DENR and shall exercise the following functions:

1. Formulate a five-year Sorsogon Bay Rehabilitation and Development Master Plan for the Sorsogon Bay area covering the surrounding coastal areas of Sorsogon City and the municipalities of Casiguran, Castilla, Juban, Magallanes and Pilar.
   
2. Propose and coordinate projects and programs for the rehabilitation and enhancement of its ecological balance, protection and rational utilization and development of its coastal and marine resources, and for the empowerment and just sharing by the people of the localities of the fruits of development.
   
3. Where needed and appropriate, call on the National Government Agencies to extend and/or facilitate assistance to the LGUs concerned in the areas of training, technical and technological know-how, planning/management and supervision, feasibility studies/research, financial, funding sources, project development and evaluation, procurement and marketing for the speedy implementation of the identified plans and projects for the Bay area;
   
4. Coordinate with appropriate National Government agencies and LGUs to strictly enforce fisheries laws, rules and regulations and prevent illegal fishing activities as well as recommend national and local legislation to further the same;
   
5. Conduct public consultations as well as enhance public awareness on the protection, development and optimum utilization of coastal, marine and fisheries resources;
   
6. Encourage the active participation of the private sector in the planning and implementation of projects in the Bay area;
   
7. Promote investment opportunities and economic projects suitable for and consistent with the planned rehabilitation and development of the Bay area;
   
8. Assist the agencies and LGUs mandated to regulate business establishments which have direct environmental impact over Sorsogon Bay.
   
9. Perform any other functions as may be assigned by the President.

Section 3. The Council may call upon any government agency, office or bureau for assistance to facilitate the discharge of its functions.

Section 4. The amount of One Million Pesos to be drawn from the budget of the Department of Agriculture or its agencies shall be released for the operations of the Council and initial operation for 2008. Appropriations for the succeeding years shall be incorporated in the budget proposals under the Department of Agriculture.

Section 5. All executive issuances, orders, rules and regulations of parts thereof inconsistent with this Order are hereby revoked or modified accordingly.

Section 6. This Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in Manila this 8th day of September in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Eight.


By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary