WHEREAS, the Calauit Island in the Province of Palawan was declared as Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary (CGPWS) by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1578 dated August 31, 1976;

WHEREAS, in 1979, the Government established the Calauit Project to: a) propagate African animals and Palawan endemic wildlife species, b) preserve the entire sanctuary, including coastal and marine resources, c) develop Calauit Island as an education and conservation center in Asia, and d) ultimate development of Calauit Island into self-sustaining operations;

WHEREAS, on December 29, 1994, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) executed a Memorandum of Agreement transferring the operation and management of the Calauit Project from the former to the latter effective January 1995;

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Government to strengthen the autonomy of the local government units and to accelerate their economic and social growth and development;

WHEREAS, considering the resources, capital and vast experience of the Provincial Government of Palawan to maintain a balanced ecological system all over Palawan and in addressing its environmental concerns, it is appropriate that the operations and management of CGPWS and the Calauit Project be transferred to the Provincial Government of Palawan.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Transfer of Administration, Control, Management and Maintenance - The administration, management, maintenance, operation and control of the CGPWS as delineated under Presidential Proclamation No. 1578 (1976), including equipments, structures, activities, facilities and improvements thereon, as well as the Calauit Project, are hereby transferred from the PCSD to the Provincial Government of Palawan.

SECTION 2. CGPWS Employees - The Provincial Government of Palawan may opt to absorb CGPWS employees whose services are necessary for the continuance of CGPWS operations.

SECTION 3. Control and Supervision - The Provincial Government of Palawan shall have full control and supervision of the administration, supervision, management including the award and regulations of all activities and concessions, within Calauit Island.

SECTION 4. Ecological Preservation and Maintenance - The Provincial Government of Palawan shall ensure, in coordination and cooperation with the PCSD and other government agencies concerned, the ecological preservation, maintenance and/or rehabilitation of the CGPWS, specifically protection and conservation of marine resources, endemic and exotic wildlife species therein. It shall also promote the same as recreation and ecotourism destination, amending for this purpose Proclamation 1578 (1976). Henceforth, CGPWS shall be known as Calauit Safari Park.

SECTION 5. Role of PCSD - Pursuant to the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP ) for Palawan Act (RA 76 11), the PCSD shall continue to exercise its policy-making function in the ecological preservation and maintenance of the park. The PCSD shall have jurisdiction over wildlife species in the Province of Palawan as provided for in RA 9147 otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

SECTION 6. Preservation and Restoration of the Area and Preparation of Integrated Master Development Plan - The Provincial Government of Palawan shall prepare and submit an integrated master development plan to the Office of the President of the Philippines.

SECTION 7. Revenues - All revenues and collections generated from the operation of the Calauit Safari Park shall accrue to the treasury of the Provincial Government of Palawan, and shall be used solely for the management, maintenance, operation and development of the Calauit Safari Park and the Calauit Project.

SECTION 8. Promotion and Technical Assistance - The DOT, PTA and DENR shall continue to provide promotional support and technical assistance for the operation and further development of the Calauit Safari Park.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause - All other executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity - This Executive Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Adopted: 12 Dec. 2008

(SGD.) GLORIA M. ARROYO
President of the Philippines   

BY THE PRESIDENT:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
          Executive Secretary