Policy, intent, and national coverage
- Section 1 declares it is the policy of the State to protect, conserve, and sustainably use biological diversity to ensure and secure the well-being of present and future generations of Filipinos.
- Section 1 extends the State policy to all components of biodiversity—ecosystems, species, and genes.
- Section 1 requires the DENR, DOT, DOST, DA, DOH, DOE, DOTC, DFA, DTI, DND, DILG, NEDA, and all concerned agencies and offices, and LGUs to integrate and mainstream biodiversity protection, conservation, and sustainable use into their policies, rules and regulations, programs, projects, and development planning processes.
- Section 1 requires all government agencies, including local government units, to formulate and submit to DENR their respective biological diversity programs for monitoring compliance.
- Section 1 directs DENR to provide technical assistance to all concerned agencies.
Private sector and civil society participation
- Section 2 recognizes biodiversity protection, conservation, and sustainable use as a shared responsibility among all sectors.
- Section 2 directs DENR and all concerned government agencies to actively engage and collaborate with the private sector, civil society, and local communities so biodiversity goals are incorporated into their programs and activities.
- Section 2 requires incorporation of biodiversity conservation into corporate activities by institutionalizing biodiversity conservation as a principal corporate environmental responsibility.
- Section 2 encourages public participation, especially at the local level, to maximize conservation and community benefits.
Critical habitats and key biodiversity areas
- Section 3 directs DENR to develop and promulgate rules and regulations for establishing critical habitats within key biodiversity areas.
- Section 3 limits coverage of the critical habitats framework to areas known to harbor habitats and ecosystems critical for the survival of threatened, restricted-range, and congregatory species.
- Section 3 requires public consultations as a condition for developing and promulgating the critical habitat and key biodiversity area rules and regulations.
- Section 3 mandates biodiversity impact assessment to be integrated into Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Risk Assessment processes, considering guidelines adopted under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
- Section 3 imposes a timeline: rules, regulations, and guidelines must be issued within 60 days from the Order’s effectivity.
Sulu Seas commission and Verde Island Passage
- Section 4 instructs DENR, as Chairman of the Presidential Commission for the Integrated Conservation and Development for the Sulu Celebes Seas created in 1997 by Proclamation No. 1028, to undertake specified actions immediately.
- Section 4 orders review and update of the SSME conservation plan.
- Section 4 orders creation and organization of an Ad Hoc Task Force on Verde Island Passage to ensure protection, conservation, and sustainable use of biological diversity in the Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor.
- Section 4 directs identification of other marine biodiversity corridors within the SSME requiring urgent attention and formulation of appropriate conservation and management strategies.
- Section 4 requires the Task Force—composed of DENR, DOT, DOST, DA, DOH, DOE, DOTC, DFA, DTI, DND, DILG, NEDA, and all local government units—to formulate the Verde Island Passage Management Plan in consultation with stakeholders, the private sector, civil society, and local communities, and submit it to the Commission for approval.
- Section 4 requires the plan’s preparation to take into account existing efforts to protect marine biodiversity, implementation of Integrated Coastal Management, and disaster risk assessment and management in the Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor.
- Section 4 requires the Commission to ensure the Plan is completed within 120 days from the Order’s effectivity.
Funding and inter-agency support obligations
- Section 5 requires that starting 2008 and thereafter, funding requirements be included in the General Appropriations Bill submitted to Congress.
- Section 5 obligates all member-departments of the PC-ICDSCS and the TF-VIP to fully support activities through appropriate agreements and sharing financial and technical resources, among others, to support implementation of the SSME Conservation Plan.
Repeal, separability, and constitutionality
- Section 6 revokes, amends, or modifies all executive orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances—or parts of them—that are inconsistent with Executive Order No. 578.
- Section 7 provides separability: any portion declared unconstitutional does not nullify the remaining portions if they can still be given effect.
Legal framework and cited statutes
- The Order anchors national biodiversity policy in constitutional and statutory mandates, including the 1987 Constitution, Article II, Section 16 on the State’s duty to protect and advance the right to a balanced and healthful ecology.
- The Order cites Republic Act No. 7586 (National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992), Republic Act No. 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act), Republic Act No. 9072 (National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act), and Republic Act No. 8550 (Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998) as mandates to protect and conserve biological diversity.
- The Order cites Executive Order No. 533 (issued in June 2006) adopting Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) as a national strategy for sustainable development of marine and coastal resources.