QuestionsQuestions (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1456)
EO 131 is an Executive Order that serves as a reorganization act—reorganizing the Ministry of Natural Resources and renaming it as the Department/Ministry of Environment, Energy and Natural Resources, abolishing the Ministry of Energy, integrating related functions and agencies, and defining powers/functions.
It cited the 1986 Freedom Constitution’s provisions mandating reorganization (Article II, Section 1(a) and Article III).
The Ministry of Energy was abolished and all its pertinent functions, plus applicable appropriations, records, equipment, and personnel, were transferred to the reorganized and renamed Ministry of Environment, Energy and Natural Resources.
The State must ensure judicious use, development, management, renewal, conservation of natural resources, protection/enhancement of environmental quality, and equitable access to benefits for present and future generations.
Natural resources include forest/grazing lands, water (including marine waters), mineral resources (including reservation/watershed areas), and public domain lands. Energy resources include fossil fuels (petroleum, coal, natural gas, gas liquids), nuclear-fuel resources, geothermal, hydroelectric, and non-conventional energy forms.
They include ensuring availability/sustainability through judicious use and restoration; increasing productivity of natural resources; enhancing energy/natural resources’ contribution to national development; promoting equitable access across sectors; and conserving representative terrestrial and marine areas for heritage and future generations.
Examples include: advising the President on relevant laws; formulating and supervising policies/plans/programs; regulating business activities related to energy/natural resources with reasonable fees; promulgating rules on exploration/depletion; exercising supervision/control over forest lands/public lands/mineral/energy resources and imposing levies; undertaking surveys/inventory; issuing licenses/permits for aquatic resources and treasure hunting; regulating aquatic resources and canceling privileges for violations.
The Minister is vested with authority/responsibility for exercising the Ministry’s mandate—appointed by the President and having supervision/control over it—plus duties like promulgating issuances, establishing policies/standards, and delegating authority.
Five (5) Deputy Ministers: Energy and Environment; Natural Resources; Field Operations; Legal and Support Services; and Policy and Planning. Seven (7) Assistant Ministers: Planning and Project Management; Foreign Funded and Special Projects; Luzon field office; Visayas field office; Mindanao field office; Management Services; and Legal Services.
Ministry Proper consists of offices (e.g., Energy and Environment; Natural Resources; Field Operations; Legal and Support Services; Policy and Planning). Sectoral bureaus are specialized bureaus like Forest Management, Lands Management, Mines and Geo-Sciences, Environmental Protection, Energy Development, and Energy Utilization.
Notably, the Environmental Protection Bureau integrates/merges NEPC, NPCC, and ECP into one bureau for natural resources conservation and environmental protection; mapping-related entities were integrated into the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority; and certain energy-related bureaus were transferred to the new structure.
Public Affairs Offices of all bureaus are abolished and their functions are transferred to the Ministry’s Public Affairs Office (Section 14(b) reference).
Transferred or affected personnel continue in hold-over capacity performing duties and receiving salaries/benefits unless separated under EO No. 17 (1986) or the Freedom Constitution. Those whose positions are not included in the new staffing pattern or who are not reappointed are deemed separated and entitled to stated benefits.
They receive retirement benefits if applicable; otherwise, they get the equivalent of one (1) month basic salary for every year of service (or fraction), based on the highest salary received, but capped at the equivalent of twelve (12) months’ salary.
It prohibited any court or administrative body from issuing any writ or preliminary injunction or restraining order to enjoin separation/replacement effected under EO 131.
No change in the reorganization prescribed is valid unless it has prior Presidential approval for promoting efficiency/effectiveness in delivery of public services.
It took effect immediately upon approval. The Minister is empowered to issue necessary orders, rules, regulations, and other issuances to ensure effective implementation.