Adopting the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) National Plan of Action

May 6, 2009

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 797

ADOPTING THE CORAL TRIANGLE INITIATIVE (CTI) NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION

WHEREAS, Article II, Section 16 of the Philippine Constitution mandates the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature;

WHEREAS, Article XII, Section 2 of the Philippine Constitution also provides that the State shall protect the nation's marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens;

WHEREAS, the Philippine Government is pursuing the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) along with the Governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste;

WHEREAS, among the agreements during the 2nd Senior Officials Meeting (SOM2) which was held in Manila, Philippines on 23 October 2007 is the adoption of the Manila Draft of the CTI Regional Plan of Action as a framework for the specific actions needed to conserve and sustainably manage the coastal and marine resources in the Coral Triangle;

WHEREAS, the CTI National Plan of Action is complementary to the Philippines' commitments to international conventions such as the Convention of Biological Diversity, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wildlife Animals, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as the Millennium Development Goals, among others:

WHEREAS, national policies and laws support the achievement of the CTI goals, as outlined in the Regional Plan of Action and the National Plan of Action. These national policies include Republic Act 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, Republic Act 8550 or the Fisheries Code of the Philippines, Executive Order No. 533 adopting the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) as the National Management Policy Framework to Promote the Sustainable Development of the Country's Coastal and Marine Environments and Resources; Presidential Proclamation No. 1028 Declaring the Entire Sulu and Celebes Seas as an Integrated Conservation and Development Zone; Executive Order No. 578 or the National Policy on Biological Diversity, and Prescribed its Implementation particularly in the Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor, and in all Philippine territory within the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Eco-region (SSME), among others;

WHEREAS, the Philippines builds on-going and planned national projects and regional cooperative programs such as the Memorandum of Understanding Adopting the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Eco-region Conservation Plan in working towards supporting achievement of goals and targets laid out in the CTI Regional Plan of Action;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 192, as amended, mandates the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as the primary government agency responsible for the sustainable development of the country's environment and natural resources;

WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture (DA), by virtue of Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 is the agency mandated to manage, develop, protect and conserve the country's aquatic resources;

WHEREAS, there is a need to rationalize the institutional arrangements, plans and programs to ensure well-coordinated, consistent decisions and actions concerning the management of the country's coastal and marine resources;

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

SECTION 1. Adoption of the CTI National Plan of Action (NPOA). — The NPOA is hereby adopted as attached to this Order. The NPOA shall serve as the primary framework for the development and implementation of all related plans and programs on marine and coastal resources management in the country.

SECTION 2. Integration of the NPOA Priority Actions into the National Plans and Programs. — All agencies with coastal and marine concerns are hereby instructed to integrate the NPOA priority actions into their corresponding national plans and budgets and contribute to the effective implementation of the NPOA.

SECTION 3. Integration of the NPOA Priority Actions into the Local Plans and Programs. — All local government units, especially those within coastal areas, shall take into consideration the NPOA Priority Actions in the preparation and implementation of local development plans and budgets and contribute to the effective implementation of the NPOA.

SECTION 4. Coordination Between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture. — The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources and the Secretary of Agriculture shall coordinate the implementation of the NPOA. They shall jointly act as the national coordinating body for the NPOA implementation and focal point of contact for the regional CTI processes. They may call upon on other agencies/organizations/institutions for advice and assistance, as needed.

SECTION 5. Joint Secretariat. — The DENR-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau and DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources shall establish a Joint NCCC Secretariat with full-time representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Finance, National Economic and Development Authority, the non-governmental organizations, the academic institutions and the business sector.

SECTION 6. Financial Appropriation. — An initial allocation of FIVE MILLION PESOS (Php5 Million) to support the core operations of the Secretariat to leverage external funds for the NPOA implementation shall be released by the Secretary of Budget and Management from the budgets of the DENR and DA. The disbursement of and allocation of additional funds shall be subject to the submission and approval of the joint annual work and financial plans of the Secretaries of DENR and DA.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. — All proclamations or executive orders, rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby revoked, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Separability. — Any portion or provision of this Executive Order that may be declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying its other portions or provisions, as long as such remaining portions call still be given effect.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall take effect upon signing hereof.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 6th day of May, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.