[ LETTER OF INSTRUCTION NO. 422, July 06, 1976 ]

TO: The Department of Natural Resources
The Department of Agriculture
The Department of Health
  The Department of Local Governments and Community
    Development
  The Department of Public Highways
The Department of Public Works, Transportation and
    Communications
  The Department of Education and Culture
The National Economic and Development Authority
The Energy Development Board
The National Pollution Control Commission
The Philippine Atomic Energy Commission
The Human Settlements Commission
The Lacuna Lake Development Authority
The Philippine Council for Agricultural and resources
    Research
  The National Housing Authority
The National Irrigation Administration
The U. P. Natural Science Research Center
The Philippine Coast Guard
The PAGASA

Pursuant to our desire to prevent the deterioration of environmental quality which induces stress on biological systems and destructions of natural ecosystems with accompanying impoverishment of flora and fauna, and considering that the most serious environmental problems in the country today is the destruction of our natural resources resulting in ecological backlashes, I hereby issue the following orders:
  1. The Department of Natural Resources is hereby directed to initiate the creation of an  Inter-Agency Committee which shall be charged with the formulation, implementation and monitoring of policies and programs relevant to environmental protection.  The Secretary of Natural Resources shall oversee and coordinate the activities of all participating government   agencies and instrumentalities.
  2. Agencies concerned with environmental protection shall report to the Inter-Agency Committee, within fifteen (15) days from the date of the creation of the Inter-Agency Committee, what they have done and are doing to implement the laws, rules and regulations on   environmental protection.
  3. The Committee shall prepare and submit within one (1) month from its organization the  following:

    (a) An assessment of the accomplishments and present activities of each concerned agency along the line of environmental protection;
    (b) Capsule proposals of such agencies for further programs on environmental protection;
    (c) Suggestions regarding amendments to existing laws or regulations relevant to the protection of the environment; and
    (d) Monitor to agencies concerned existing laws or regulations on environmental protection.

  4. Agencies concerned shall each immediately prepare and submit to the Committee its own  short-range program relevant to environmental protection and identify the portions thereof which may be immediately implemented.  They shall also study, prepare and submit to the  Committee their respective long-range programs on environmental protection.
  5. All other agencies which are directly or indirectly involved in environmental protection are hereby directed to extend assistance to the Committee herein created.
All concerned are hereby enjoined to act accordingly. This Letter of Instruction shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 6th day of July in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-six.

     
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
     
President
     
Republic of the Philippines
       
       
  By the President:    
       
  (Sgd.) J. C. TUVERA    
    Presidential Assistant