Advisory role and core functions
- The Commission serves as an advisory body to the President and performs its stated responsibilities.
- The Commission must formulate two master plans, based on the Plan endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC), Region I:
- A Ten-Year Lingayen Gulf Coastal Area Master Plan by June 30, 1994.
- A Twenty-Year Integrated Master Plan for the whole area (covering the Lingayen Gulf and its surrounding coastal municipalities) by December 30, 1994.
- The Ten-Year and Twenty-Year Plans must follow specific guidelines:
- Protect ecological balance, enhance the environment, and preserve the area’s natural beauty.
- Ensure maximum enjoyment and easy access by ordinary people to public areas.
- Use a rational land-use and zonation scheme because the Lingayen Gulf is a national treasure.
- Provide improved and adequate service infrastructures (power, water, communications, and waste treatment facilities), especially in the coastal area.
- Undertake overall greening and reforestation to reduce soil erosion and damage to scarce marine resources.
- Enhance agriculture productivity and local livelihood opportunities as alternatives to industrial employment.
- Include a design that institutionalizes:
- An incentive system based on the “polluter pays” principle and the internalization of social externalities from pollution to motivate polluting firms to comply with environmental laws.
- An integrated environmental permit and licensing system covering pollution control, land use planning/zoning, and environmental laws.
- A cost-effective environmental information system.
- Provide capability building geared toward common property management schemes.
- Provide an anti-illegal fishing plan.
- Provide a viable peace and order plan.
- Each Plan must include a Comprehensive Investment program and a Capability-Building Program for affected local government units, and must coordinate establishment of:
- a nature center
- a people’s center
- a conference and meeting center
- a flea market destination (aquatic products/livelihood)
- a tourist destination
- The Commission must submit both Plans to the President for approval.
- The Commission must promulgate and prescribe policies, rules, and regulations to facilitate effective and efficient management of the gulf by:
- Controlling water, air, and land pollution and ensuring proper disposal of solid waste, and toxic and hazardous substances.
- Conserving the gulf’s renewable resources, biological diversity, and endangered species and habitats.
- Establishing and managing an integrated Protected Areas System (PAS) for wildlife sanctuaries and refuge, marine parks, and biosphere reserves.
- Preserving and enhancing the gulf’s and its immediate environs’ natural aesthetic attraction.
- Conserving and managing uplands and other linked habitats interlinked with the gulf’s ecological condition.
- The Commission must assist concerned local government units in planning activities to develop short-term and long-term strategies for:
- environmental protection
- tourism development
- attracting business investment
- social development
- institutional building
- consistent with the developmental guidelines stated for the Plans
- The Commission must integrate all national and local plans relative to development of the subject area.
- The Commission must adopt a process of maximum consultation with concerned local government units and all interest groups to ensure residents’ needs, concerns, and ideas are considered in formulation and implementation of the Plans, development guidelines, and municipal ordinances.
- The Commission must study and review policy measures promoting and addressing concerns on environmental protection, poverty alleviation, local autonomy, eco-tourism, and sustainable development.
- The Commission must recommend:
- legislation to conserve natural resources and promote accelerated socio-economic development of the area; and
- zoning ordinances for the concerned local government units in consonance with Plans approved by the President, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.
- The Commission must coordinate with line agencies, LGUs, and other parties regarding implementation of demonstration projects such as livelihood and rehabilitation.
- The Commission must perform any other functions assigned by the President.
Private sector consultants and participation
- The Commission includes one representative from each private sector consultant group: NGOs, religious, business, and agricultural.
- Private sector representatives are strongly enjoined to extend support, particularly to conservation activities in the Lingayen Gulf.
- Private sector consultants may initiate and undertake socio-economic activities in the gulf area consistent with the Plans formulated by the Commission.
- Private sector consultants may assist in monitoring and evaluation of government program implementation, service delivery, and disposition of public funds.
Land reservation for developmental use
- Pursuant to Section 14, Book II of Executive Order No. 292 (1987), lands of the government’s private domain located in the subject area whose use is not otherwise directed by law are reserved from lease, sale, or other disposition.
- Reserved lands must be used for developmental purposes in accordance with the Plans approved by the President.
Support, reporting, and budget
- The Commission may call upon any government agency, office, or bureau for assistance to discharge its functions and responsibilities.
- The Commission may also use committees to facilitate performance of its functions and responsibilities.
- The Commission must submit monthly reports of its activities to the Office of the President.
- The Commission receives funding for operations and initial project implementation for 1994:
- PHP 5,000,000.00, to be drawn equally from the President’s Contingent Fund and DENR funds.
- Appropriations for succeeding years must be incorporated in budget proposals under the Office of the President.
Implementation, revocation, and effectivity
- All executive issuances, orders, rules, and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with Executive Order No. 171 are revoked or modified accordingly.
- Executive Order No. 171 takes effect immediately upon issuance (April 20, 1994).