WHEREAS , one of the ten points in the legacy agenda of the Arroyo Administration is to provide sustained and sustainable water to the entire country;

WHEREAS , the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan of the Arroyo Administration includes a comprehensive development plan for the country ™s water resources;

WHEREAS , this plan includes provisions for the supply of clean water for the entire country and for flood control;

WHEREAS , global warming has recently resulted in weather patterns that requires priority attention to flood control;

WHEREAS , for the sustainable supply of clean water and flood control, the reforestation of watershed sites is required;

WHEREAS , there are existing and planned river basin projects that should be rationalized into a master plan for flood control;

WHEREAS , there are areas in the country which have no major river basins but which have nevertheless been vulnerable to major flooding and landslides, and therefore need to be included in a master plan for flood control;

WHEREAS , under Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987, the President has the continuing authority to reorganize the Executive Branch.

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

SECTION 1. Creation under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to be headed by an Undersecretary.

SEC. 2. Power and Functions of the River Basin Control Office. - The River Basin Control Office shall have the following powers and functions:

a. Together with the Department of Public Works and Highways, rationalize the various existing river basin projects such as but not limited to the following: Mt. Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation, Iloilo Flood Control, Lower Agusan Flood Control, Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management, Agno River and Allied Rivers Flood Control, KAMANAVA Flood Control, and the Pasig River Rehabilitation;
b. Together with the Department Public Works and Highways and the National Disaster Coordinating Council, develop a national master plan for flood control by integrating the various existing river basin projects and developing additional plan components as needed;
c. Rationalize and prioritize reforestation in watersheds such as but not limited to the watersheds of the Pampanga River and the Bicol River;
d. Perform such other functions as the President of the Philippines or the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources may direct.

SEC. 3. Staff and Budgetary Support . - The Undersecretary for River Basin Control shall be assisted by an Executive Director of appropriate rank for each river basin project. The Secretary of Budget and Management shall release an initial amount of P500M for the planning, implementation and management of the river basing projects. The budget for river flood control infrastructure shall be charged to the Department of Public Works and Highways, which shall implement the projects, and the Calamity Fund. The budget for reforestation, as well as the over-all river basin control management, shall be charged to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

SEC. 4. Agency Assistance. - The departments, bureaus, offices, agencies or instrumentalities, including government owned or controlled corporations, are hereby directed to extend such assistance and cooperation as the River Basin Control Office may need in the discharge of its functions.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All other orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon approval.

DONE in the City of Manila, this March, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary