WHEREAS, the destruction to life property caused by floods and typhoons is aggravated by our denuded forests;

WHEREAS, tree seedling propagation, planting and maintenance can be undertaken as disaster mitigating measure;

WHEREAS, such measures will also have a favorable impact on employment and agriculture and will promote the attainment of a balance economy;

NOW, THEREFORE, I FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Allocation of Calamity Fund. A portion of the national calamity fund is hereby set aside for tree seedling propagation, planting and maintenance.

SECTION 2. Determination of Disaster Vulnerable Area. The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), upon the recommendation of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), shall determine the high risk calamity areas which shall be given preference in the allocation of funds for this purpose.

SECTION 3. Priority Sectors. The following shall be given priority in the availment of the funds: 1) the veterans; 2) the senior citizens; 3) the marginalized upland farmers; 4) the indigenous cultural communities; and 5) the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of the Philippines.

SECTION 4. Procedure. The above-named priority sectors, or any of their duly accredited organization, shall submit their project proposal to their respective local government units (LGUs) for endorsement to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO-DENR), which shall in turn evaluate the project for submission to the NDCC Chairman.

SECTION 5. Monitoring. The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) shall monitor the progress and utilization of the fund and shall submit a quarterly report thereof to the NDCC.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules. The Chairman, NDCC shall be charged with the implementation of the rules that will effectively carry out this order.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 17th day of January in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Six.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) RUBEN D. TORRES
Executive Secretary