EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 15 - CREATING A PHILIPPINE COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution mandates as a policy of the state, the protection and advancement of the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accordance with the rhythm and harmony of nature;

WHEREAS, a National Conservation Strategy, as spelled out in the Philippine Strategy for Sustainable Development (PSSD) which was adopted in 1989, takes a balanced and integrated approach to environment and development issues by incorporating sustainable development principles and concepts in the national priorities of government;

WHEREAS, the Philippines already adhering to the principle of sustainable development actively participated in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, and committed to the principles set forth in the Rio Declaration, the Agenda 21, the Conventions on Climate Change and Biodiversity;  

WHEREAS, the United Nations in UNCED, has adopted a resolution for the creation of a Sustainable Development Commission that will evaluate and monitor the compliance to the agreements and commitments made in Rio and in the course if its creation urged governments to also form similar bodies that will ensure that the activities at the national level are implemented and coordinated within global efforts;

WHEREAS, the agreements oblige the Philippines to translate the commitments to more concrete actions and ensure that all sectors of the society shall be involved in its operationalization;

WHEREAS, in order to achieve these ends, the creation of a national sustainable development council will provide the mechanism for attaining the principles of sustainable development and thus assure its integration in the Philippine national policies, plans and programs that will involve all sectors of the society.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby create a Philippine Council for Sustainable Development with membership and functions as provided in the following sections;

Section 1. Creation and Composition of the Council. —

1) There is hereby created a Philippine Council on Sustainable Development to be headed by the Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as Chairperson, and the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as Vice Chairperson.

2) The council will have as members committed environmentalists from the following departments of a position of Bureau Director or higher, duly deputized to represent their respective Secretaries;

Department of Foreign Affairs
Department of Science and Technology
Department of Finance
Department of Agriculture
Department of Public Works and Highways
Department of Education, Culture and Sports
Department of labor and Employment
Department of Health
Department of Trade and Industry
Department of the Interior and Local Government
Department of Social Welfare and Development
Department of Budget and Management
Department of National Defense
Office of the Energy Affairs  

3) As civil society counterpart, the non- government community shall also have seven (7) representatives in the Council. These representatives shall be selected by the non-government community considering commitment to environmental causes, gender balance, and sectoral representation through a process designed by them.

Sec. 2. Powers and Functions of the Council. — The Council shall have the following powers and functions:

1) To review and ensure the implementation of the commitments the Philippines made in the light of the UNCED conference;

2) To establish guidelines and mechanics that will expand, concretize and operationalize the sustainable development principles as embodied in the Rio Declaration, the UNCED Agenda 21, the National Conservation Strategy, and the Philippine Agenda 21, and incorporate them in the preparation of the Medium Term Development Plan both at the national and local levels with active participation from the non-government sector and people’s organizations;

3) To provide directions in the form of policy reforms, programs and new legislations that respond to the continuing and emerging issues and charting future actions related to environment and development;

4) To act as the coordinating mechanism in cooperation with DFA-Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations (UNIO) with the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and actively solicit assistance and cooperation towards the realization of our commitments made at the UNCED;

5) To require any and all government agencies for assistance in the form of personnel, facilities, and other resources which is essential for the performance of the duties of the Council;

6) To create sub-committees that it may deem fit in the performance of its duties; and  

7) To perform such other acts which are necessary to carry out its mandated functions and responsibilities.

Sec. 3. The Secretariat. — The Council shall be assisted by a Secretariat which shall be based at the National Economic and Development Authority whose composition will be determined by the Director-General.

Sec. 4. Transitory Provisions. — There shall immediately be convened an interim Technical Working Group of seven members composed of representatives from National Economic and development Authority (NEDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and three representatives from non-government sector, which shall work out the formulation of the operational guidelines for the Council. The working group shall be assisted by a composite secretariat from NEDA and DENR. These transitory groups shall cease its functions upon the Council’s meeting and adoption of the operating guidelines within sixty (60) days upon signing of this Order.

Sec. 5. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 1st day of September, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety-two. 
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Since 19.07.98.