Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 2263)
The RBCO is mandated as the oversight agency for all government efforts and initiatives within the country's river basins, including rationalizing and integrating national plans, projects, and programs related to river basin management.
The RBCO operates under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The RBCO is tasked to rationalize and integrate river basin projects, harmonize policies, serve as a policy coordination office for local governments and NGOs, implement and monitor DENR programs, manage budget appropriations for river basins, and maintain a central river basin database.
The Constitution mandates the State to protect and promote the conservation and wise use of the country's natural resources to achieve social development, economic progress, and ecological stability.
The RBCO is given an initial fund of Two Hundred Forty Million Pesos (P240,000,000.00) sourced from unprogrammed funds of the DENR and/or as recommended or approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
All government agencies and corporations with river basin initiatives must coordinate their planned and ongoing projects with the RBCO, which reviews, endorses for approval, and funding from the national budget.
The RBCO harmonizes all relevant national river basin policies and formulates new policies to create an enabling environment for the effective and efficient management and governance of the country's river basins.
The RBCO serves as the national policy coordination office for local government units and NGOs in the development and sustainability of river and catchment basins, recommending approval and funding support from national government agencies.
All departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, and government-owned or controlled corporations are directed to extend assistance and cooperation to the RBCO in the discharge of its functions.
The Executive Order took 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.