WHEREAS, the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTDP) of the government includes infrastructure development and water resources management, as well as the formulation of a comprehensive development plan for the country鈥檚 water resources to promote economic growth and environmental stability;

WHEREAS, the integration and harmonization of various government mandates and resources in the provisions for safe and clean water supply for the entire country is emphasized in the MTDP;

WHEREAS, the reforestation and watersheds, coupled with the establishment of water quality, effective flood control and measures, and the implementation of integrated water management scheme, are highly recommended for the sustainable supply and allocation of safe and clean water;

WHEREAS, Section 4 of Executive Order (EO) No. 192, series of 1987, mandates that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, and development of the country鈥檚 environment and natural resources, as well as their proper use, and shall ensure the equitable sharing of the benefits derived therefrom for the welfare of the present and future generations of Filipinos;

WHEREAS, the President has the continuing authority to rationalize and integrate various mandates of the Executive Branch pursuant to Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1997.

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. Declaration. The Environmental and Economic Development Program for Laguna Lake is a Presidential Priority Program that shall be developed and implemented immediately.

SECTION 2. Execution. The River Basin Control Office (RBCO) under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall be the lead agency in the implementation of the Program.

SECTION 3. Implementation Arrangement. The RBCO shall be supported by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), an agency under the DENR. All other departments, government agencies and entities concerned are hereby ordered to provide full cooperation for the timely and smooth execution of the Program.

SECTION 4. Program Components. The components of the Program shall include:

1. The rehabilitation of the Laguna Lake system, specifically the rehabilitation and dredging of Laguna Lake as well as lakeshore reclamation and surface management, improvement of water quality and managements systems, and management of resource use such as for fish production, water supply and the like.
   
2. The development of transport systems, which may include development of Laguna Lake ferry systems and Laguna Lake ports and marinas development, which shall be in support of the Government鈥檚 Nautical Highways Program.
   
3. Other related components that may be deemed important in the implementation of the foregoing components.
   

The RBCO, in coordination with concerned government agencies, shall submit to the President the integrated plan within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this order.

SECTION 5. Budgetary Support. The RBCO shall have an initial funding of Five Hundred Million Pesos (P 500,000,000.00) to be sourced from unprogrammed funds of the DENR, and/or as may be recommended and/or approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). The initial funds shall be used for the planning, operations and administration of RBCO to carry out the implementation of the Program. Starting budgetary year 2010, its operating budget shall be incorporated in the budgetary allocation of the DENR and member-agencies.

SECTION 6. Inter-Agency Cooperation. The departments, bureaus, offices, agencies or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations, are hereby directed to extend such assistance and cooperation as the RBCO may need in the discharge of its functions.

SECTION 7. Repeal. All 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. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in a national newspaper of general circulation and fifteen (15) days after registration with the Office of the National Administrative Register.

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


By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary