Creation of Pasig River Development Council

The Government adopts a policy to protect and transform the human environment to support accelerated socio-economic development and improve the quality of life.
Development planning must consider efficient management and optimum utilization of natural ecosystems, including bodies of water traversing the country.
The Pasig River must be safeguarded for the benefit of present and future generations through careful planning and management.
The decree recognizes adverse impacts on the Pasig River from harmful discharges, release of heat, lack of control over water-way use, and continued obstructions.
The decree requires an integrated and coordinated approach to Pasig River development planning and implementation involving both government and private sectors.

Presidential Decree No. 281 is issued by the President under authority vested as Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The decree is issued pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, as amended.
The Council provides continuing direction for integrated development planning and for sustained implementation of incentives and police powers promulgated in Presidential Decree 274.
The Council also supports projects approved in connection with beautification, improvement, and gainful utilization of Pasig River facilities as promulgated in Presidential Decree 274.

Presidential Decree No. 281 creates the Pasig River Development Council.
The decree assigns overall coordination to the Executive Secretary, who is personally entrusted with integrating and overseeing both:
- the government sector, represented by the Council, and
- a private sector counterpart Council to be formed.
The Council is designated to provide continuing direction for:
- integrated development planning of the Pasig River, and
- sustained, coordinated implementation of incentives and police powers under Presidential Decree 274.
The Council’s role includes enabling projects connected with the beautification, improvement, and gainful utilization of Pasig River facilities under Presidential Decree 274.

The Council is composed of government officials representing the government sector.
The Secretary, Department of Public Works, Transportation & Communications serves as Chairman.
The Secretary, Department of Tourism serves as Vice-Chairman.
The decree includes these members:
- Director, Bureau of Public Works
- Commissioner, Bureau of Public Highways
- Director, Bureau of Lands
- Flag Officer-in-Command, Philippine Navy
- Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard
- Commissioner, National Water & Air Pollution Control Commission
- Officer in Charge, Presidential Assistant on Housing & Resettlement Agency
- Director, Bureau of Cooperatives
- Governor, Rizal Province
- Mayor, City of Manila

The Executive Secretary oversees integration and oversight of government and private efforts by coordinating with a private sector counterpart Council.
The decree provides that the private sector counterpart Council shall be formed similarly to represent the private sector.
The Council must work in close association and coordination with the Chairman of the Environmental Center of the Philippines.
Coordination ensures the proper ordinal ranking of priorities in undertaking integrated development of the Pasig River.

The Council administers the Trust Fund Account created by the President and embodied in Presidential Decree 274.
The Trust Fund Account is deposited in the National Treasury.
The Trust Fund Account finances the Pasig River Development Program.
Administration by the Council is directed to support the program for the development of the Pasig River.

The Council must establish a technical staff to assist it in performing its functions.
The Council must avail of services, including personnel and other necessary resources, from all:
- departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities, and
- government-owned and controlled corporations,
  that it may need to perform its functions.