Declared policy and coordination objective
- The order recognizes geological sciences as having a prominent role in the country’s urgent search for energy and mineral resources.
- The order ties geological sciences work to environmental protection and conservation.
- The order acknowledges that local geological sciences efforts are handled by several government agencies and institutions.
- The order directs the creation of a coordinating body to enable unified planning and action for Philippine participation in international geological activities.
- The order mandates coordination to eliminate undue duplication of efforts and expenditures, facilitate data exchange and monitoring, and provide advisory support to government policy makers.
Meaning of “Geological Sciences”
- “Geological Sciences” are defined as disciplines in the natural sciences dealing with the earth, including its composition, physics, structure, and evolution.
- The definition includes disciplines such as Geochemistry, Petrology, Mineralogy, Geophysics, Geodynamics, Structural Geology, Tectonics, Geomorphology, Volcanology, Seismology, Stratigraphy, Paleontology, Historical Geology, and Economic Geology.
- The definition includes interdisciplinary subjects such as Marine Geology, Hydrogeology, Engineering Geology, Petroleum Geology, Environmental Geology, Mineral Economics, Mining Geology, Geomathematics, Geostatistics, Geobarometry, Geochronology, Nuclear Geology, Geothermometry, Astrogeology, Remote Sensing in Geology, and other related interdisciplinary subjects.
Coverage: government agencies and international activities
- The Committee is established to ensure unified action by all government agencies in international activities related to geological sciences.
- The Committee serves as an advisory body to the government.
- The Committee serves as a coordinating body of all government agencies involved in geological-sciences-related activities.
- Coordination is conducted without prejudice to the internal affairs of the individual agencies concerned.
Committee composition and lead agency
- The Committee is composed of member agencies through their official representatives.
- Included agencies are: Bureau of Mines and Geo-Sciences (Ministry of Natural Resources); Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey (Ministry of National Defense); Commission on Volcanology (National Science Development Board); Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Ministry of National Defense); Department of Geology and Geography (University of the Philippines); National Research Council of the Philippines (National Science Development Board); Natural Resources Management Center (Ministry of Natural Resources); Mines Research Division (Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research); and National Economic and Development Authority; Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Other concerned agencies may join the Committee.
- The Bureau of Mines and Geo-Sciences serves as the lead agency.
Powers, functions, and program responsibilities
- The Committee advises the President of the Philippines and other government and private entities on development in geological sciences, particularly on matters related to:
- environmental protection;
- development/conservation of energy and mineral resources; and
- participation in international geological programs.
- The Committee coordinates, promotes, and monitors national programs and Philippine participation in regional and international programs on geological sciences.
- The Committee facilitates effective Philippine representation in international geological organizations through properly selected/organized adhering bodies and representatives.
- The Committee facilitates compilation, storage, retrieval, analysis, and dissemination of geological-sciences information.
- The Committee may solicit and accept donations and monetary contributions from local and foreign sources to implement or finance its programs.
- The Committee formulates and implements rules and regulations necessary to administer the order’s provisions.
Officers, secretariat, and terms
- Committee members elect a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman among themselves.
- The Chairman and Vice-Chairman serve a term of two years.
- The Committee is assisted by a secretariat headed by a permanent Executive Secretary.
- The Executive Secretary comes from the Bureau of Mines and Geo-Sciences, as designated by the Director of Mines and Geo-Sciences.
- The Secretariat holds permanent office in the Bureau of Mines and Geo-Sciences.
Funding and budget authorization
- The Director of Mines and Geo-Sciences, as head of the lead agency, is authorized to allocate and disburse funds necessary for the Committee’s operation and maintenance.
- Initial funding is sourced from savings out of the 1980 and 1981 budget allocation for the Bureau of Mines and Geo-Sciences.
- Thereafter, the Committee’s budget is included in the budgetary requirements of the Bureau of Mines and Geo-Sciences.
Effectivity and implementation timeline
- The order takes effect immediately.
- The order is signed on October 08, 1980 in Manila, and the President certifies the issuance through the Presidential Assistant.