QuestionsQuestions (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 672)
The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) (formerly PEA) approves all reclamation projects on behalf of the President, subject to compliance with existing laws and rules. The legal basis cited includes P.D. No. 1084 as amended by E.O. No. 525 and E.O. No. 543.
The Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) must be secured from DENR. No reclamation works may commence without the required ECC.
PRA must closely monitor and supervise implementation of the reclamation projects, while DENR must monitor and enforce strict compliance with the terms and conditions of the ECC.
PRA and DENR must undertake the survey of the completed reclaimed land in accordance with DENR rules and regulations.
Upon request and/or clearance from PRA, DENR must indorse to the President the issuance of a proclamation declaring some portions of reclaimed land as alienable or disposable and retaining some portions for public use and public service.
Immediately after issuance of the proclamation, DENR and/or the Land Registration Authority (LRA) shall issue a Special Patent and subsequently the Original Certificate of Title.
Portions devoted to public use and public service are titled in the name of the Republic of the Philippines.
Portions proclaimed as alienable and disposable are issued title originally in the name of PRA (P E A). PRA is authorized to transfer titles for a consideration or otherwise to qualified persons (natural or juridical) who may own reclaimed lands under the 1987 Constitution, subject to existing laws and rules.
The text states that prior to implementation, the ECC shall be secured from DENR and that no reclamation works shall commence without the required ECC. E.O. 672 separately provides that prior to approval, PRA must secure an area permit/site clearance from DENR. So, the ECC requirement is explicitly tied to implementation, not the approval stage.
The Order acknowledges that DENR AO No. 2007-20 may have caused confusion by giving applicants the impression that DENR is the regulatory agency for reclamation projects, because it required a permit to reclaim from DENR valid for only one (1) year.
It reiterates that, under P.D. No. 1084 as amended and in light of E.O. 543, the PRA (formerly PEA) shall approve all reclamation projects on behalf of the President, subject to existing laws and rules.
DENR has a continuing regulatory role: it issues the ECC before implementation and during implementation it monitors and enforces strict compliance with ECC terms and conditions.
It directs PRA, prior to approval, to coordinate and secure from DENR a permit authorizing/clearing the area to be the site of the proposed reclamation project (area permit/site clearance).
All executive orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with E.O. No. 672 are revoked, amended, or modified accordingly.
Section 8 provides that the Executive Order shall take effect immediately.