EXECUTIVE ORDER NO.

192 June 10, 1987

PROVIDING FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES; RENAMING IT AS THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 131, dated January 30, 1987, was suspended;

WHEREAS, a policy having been reached on energy, the reorganization of the

Department of Natural Resources can now be effected;

WHEREAS, the environment will be effected by the use, development, management,

renewal and conservation of the country's natural resources;

WHEREAS, there is a need to protect and enhance the quality of the country's
environment;

WHEREAS, to attain this objective, environmental concerns and natural resources

concern should be given equal attention by the Department;

WHEREAS, under Article XVIII, Section 6, of the 1987 Constitution, the President shall
continue to exercise legislative powers until the First Congress is convened;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue

of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order:

(Section 1 to 32)

Sec. 3. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

APPROVED in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 10th day of June, in the year of Our
Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-seven.
 MALACAÑANG
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 192

PROVIDING FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, RENAMING IT AS THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 131, dated January 30, 1987, was suspended;

WHEREAS, a policy having been reached on energy, the reorganization of the

Department of Natural Resources can now be effected;

WHEREAS, the environment will be affected by the use, development, management,

renewal and conservation of the country’s natural resources;

WHEREAS, there is a need to protect and enhance the quality of the country’s
environment;

WHEREAS, to attain this objective, environmental concerns and natural resources

concern should be given equal attention by the Department;

WHEREAS, under Article XVIII, Section 6, of the 1987 Constitution, the President shall
continue to exercise legislative powers until the First Congress is convened;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue

of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Title. This Executive Order shall otherwise be known as the

Reorganization Act of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

SECTION 2. Reorganization. The Department of Environment, Energy and Natural

Resources is hereby reorganized structurally and functionally and renamed as the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, hereinafter referred to as
Department, in accordance with the provisions of this Executive Order.

SECTION 3. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure
the sustainable use, development, management, renewal, and conservation of the
country’s forest, mineral, land, off-shore areas and other natural resources, including
the protection and enhancement of the quality of the environment, and equitable access
of the different segments of the population to the development and use of the country’s
natural resources, not only for the present generation but for future generations as well.
It is also the policy of the state to recognize and apply a true value system including
social and environmental cost implications relative to their utilization, development and
conservation of our natural resources.

SECTION 4. Mandate. The Department shall be the primary government agency

responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the
country’s environment and natural resources, specifically forest and grazing lands,
mineral resources, including those in reservation and watershed areas, and lands of the
public domain, as well as the licensing and regulation of all natural resources as may be
provided for by law in order to ensure equitable sharing of the benefits derived
therefrom for the welfare of the present and future generations of Filipinos.

To accomplish its mandate, the Department shall be guided by the following objectives
that will serve as basis for policy formulation:

(a) Assure the availability and sustainability of the country’s natural resources through
judicious use and systematic restoration or replacement, whenever possible;

(b) Increase the productivity of natural resources in order to meet the demands for
forest, mineral, and land resources of a growing population;

(c) Enhance the contribution of natural resources for achieving national economic and
social development;

(d) Promote equitable access to natural resources by the different sectors of the
population;

(e) Conserve specific terrestrial and marine areas representative of the Philippine
natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations.

SECTION 5. Powers and Functions. To accomplish its mandate, the Department shall
have the following powers and functions:

(a) Advise the President on the enactment of laws relative to the development, use,
regulation, and conservation of the country’s natural resources and the control of
pollution;

(b) Formulate, implement, and supervise the government’s policies, plans and programs
pertaining to the management, conservation, development, use and replenishment of
the country’s natural resources;

(c) Promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with law governing the exploration,
development, conservation, extraction, disposition, use and such other commercial
activities tending to cause the depletion and degradation of our natural resources;
(d) Exercise supervision and control over forest lands, alienable and disposable lands,
and mineral resources and in the process of exercising such control the Department
shall impose appropriate payments, fees, charges, rentals and any such form of levy
and collect such revenues for the exploration, development, utilization or gathering of
such resources;

(e) Undertake exploration, assessment, classification and inventory of the country’s

natural resources using ground surveys, remote sensing and complementary
technologies;

(f) Promote proper and mutual consultation with the private sector involving natural
resources development, use and conservation;

(g) Undertake geological surveys of the whole country including its territorial waters;

(h) Establish policies and implement programs for the:

(1) Accelerated inventory, surveys and classification of lands, forest, and mineral
resources using appropriate technology, to be able to come up with a more accurate
assessment of resource quality and quantity;

(2) Equitable distribution of natural resources through the judicious administration,

regulation, utilization, development and conservation of public lands, forest, and mineral
resources (including mineral reservation areas), that would benefit a greater number of
Filipinos;

(3) Promotion, development and expansion of natural resource-based industries;

(4) Preservation of cultural and natural heritage through wildlife conservation and
segregation of national parks and other protected areas;

(5) Maintenance of a wholesome natural environment by enforcing environmental

protection laws; and

(6) Encouragement of greater people participation and private initiative in natural

resource management.

(i) Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to:

(1) Accelerate cadastral and emancipation patent surveys, land use planning and public
land titling;

(2) Harness forest resources in a sustainable manner, to assist rural development,

support forest-based industries, and provide raw materials to meet increasing demands,
at the same time keeping adequate reserves for environmental stability; and
(3) Expedite mineral resources surveys, promote the production of metallic and non-
metallic minerals and encourage mineral marketing.

(j) Regulate the development, disposition, extraction, exploration and use of the
country’s forest, land and mineral resources;

(k) Assume responsibility for the assessment, development, protection, conservation,

licensing and regulation as provided for by law, where applicable, of all natural
resources; the regulation and monitoring of service contractors, licensees, lessees, and
permittees for the extraction, exploration, development and utilization of natural
resource products; the implementation of programs and measures with the end in view
of promoting close collaboration between the government and the private sector; the
effective and efficient classification and sub-classification of lands of the public domain;
and the enforcement of natural resources laws, rules and regulations;

(l) Promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines on the issuance of co-production, joint
venture or production sharing agreements, licenses, permits, concessions, leases and
such other privileges and arrangement concerning the development, exploration and
utilization of the country’s natural resources and shall continue to oversee, supervise
and police our natural resources; to cancel or cause to cancel such privileges and
arrangements upon failure, non-compliance or violations of any regulations, orders, and
for all other causes which are in furtherance of the conservation of natural resources
and supportive of the national interests;

(m) Exercise exclusive jurisdiction on the management and disposition of all lands of the
public domain and shall continue to be the sole agency responsible for classification,
sub-classification, surveying and titling of lands in consultation with appropriate
agencies.

(n) Implement measures for the regulation and supervision of the processing of forest
products, grading and inspection of lumber and other forest products and monitoring of
the movement of timber and other forest products;

(o) Promulgate rules and regulations for the control of water, air and land pollution;

(p) Promulgate ambient and effluent standards for water and air quality including the
allowable levels of other pollutants and radiations;

(q) Promulgate policies, rules and regulations for the conservation of the country’s
genetic resources and biological diversity, and endangered habitats;

(r) Formulate an integrated, multi-sectoral, and multi-disciplinary National Conservation

Strategy, which will be presented to the Cabinet for the President’s approval;

(s) Exercise other powers and functions and perform such other acts as may be
necessary, proper or incidental to the attainment of its mandates and objectives.
SECTION 6. Structural Organization. The Department shall consist of the Department
Proper, the staff offices, the staff bureaus and the regional/provincial/community natural
resources offices.

The Department Proper shall consist of the following:

(a) Office of the Secretary

(b) Offices of Undersecretaries

(c) Offices of Assistant Secretaries

(d) Public Affairs Office

(e) Special Concerns Office

(f) Pollution Adjudication Board

The staff sectoral bureaus on the other hand, shall be composed of:

(a) Forest Management Bureau

(b) Lands Management Bureau

(c) Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau

(d) Environmental Management Bureau

(e) Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau

(f) Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau

The field offices shall consist of all the department regional offices, the provincial offices
and the community offices.

SECTION 7. Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources. The authority and

responsibility for the exercise of the mandate of the Department, the accomplishment of
its objectives and the discharge of its powers and functions shall be vested in the
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, hereinafter referred to as Secretary,
who shall supervise the Department and shall be appointed by the President. For such
purposes, the Secretary shall have the following functions:

(a) Advise the President on the promulgation of rules, regulations and other issuances
relative to the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country’s
natural resources;
(b) Establish policies and standards for the efficient and effective operations of the
Department in accordance with the programs of the government;

(c) Promulgate rules, regulations and other issuances necessary in carrying out the
Department’s mandate, objectives, policies, plans, programs and projects;

(d) Exercise supervision over all functions and activities of the Department;

(e) Delegate authority for the performance of any administrative or substantive function
to subordinate officials of the Department;

(f) Perform other functions as may be provided by law or assigned appropriately by the
President.

SECTION 8. Office of the Secretary. The Office of the Secretary shall consist of the
Secretary and his immediate staff.

SECTION 9. Undersecretary. The Secretary shall be assisted by five (5)

Undersecretaries who shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of
the Secretary. The Secretary is hereby authorized to delineate, assign and/or reassign
the respective functional areas of responsibility of the Undersecretary, provided, that
such responsibility shall be with respect to the mandate and objectives of the
Department; and provided, further, that no Undersecretary shall be assigned primarily
administrative responsibilities. Within his functional area of responsibility, an
Undersecretary shall have the following functions:

(a) Advise the Secretary in the promulgation of Department orders, administrative

orders and other issuances, with respect to his area of responsibility;

(b) Exercise supervision over the offices, services, operating units and officers and
employees under his responsibility;

(c) Promulgate rules and regulations, consistent with Department policies, that will
efficiently and effectively govern the activities of units under his responsibility;

(d) Coordinate the functions and activities of the units under his responsibility with those
of other units under the responsibility of other Undersecretaries;

(e) Exercise authority on substantive and administrative matters related to the functions
and activities of units under his responsibility as may be delegated by the Secretary;

(f) Perform other functions as may be provided by law or assigned appropriately by the
Secretary.

SECTION 10. Assistant Secretary. The Secretary and the Undersecretaries shall be
assisted by seven (7) Assistant Secretaries in the formulation, management and
implementation of natural resources laws, policies, plans, and programs and projects.
They shall oversee the day-to-day operations, administration and supervision of the
constituents of the Department. The seven (7) Assistant Secretaries shall be
responsible for the following:

(a) Policy and Planning Studies

(b) Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects

(c) Field Operations in Luzon

(d) Field Operations in Visayas

(e) Field Operations in Mindanao

(f) Legal Affairs

(g) Management Services

SECTION 11. Public Affairs Office. There is hereby created a Public Affairs Office,
under the Office of the Secretary, to be headed by a Director and assisted by an
Assistant Director, which shall serve as the public information arm of the Department. It
shall be responsible for disseminating information on natural resources development
policies, plans, programs and projects; and respond to public queries related to the
development and conservation of natural resources.

The Public Affairs Offices of all bureaus are hereby abolished and their functions are
transferred to the Public Affairs Office in accordance with Section 24 (b) hereof.

SECTION 12. Special Concerns Office. There is hereby created a special Concerns
Office under the Office of the Secretary, to be headed by a Director and assisted by an
Assistant Director, which shall be responsible for handling priority areas/subjects
identified by the Secretary which necessitates special and immediate attention.

SECTION 13. Forest Management Bureau. There is hereby created a Forest

Management Bureau which shall integrate and absorb the powers and functions of the
Bureau of Forest Development (BFD) and the Wood Industry Development Authority
(WIDA), in accordance with Section 24 (e) hereof except those line functions and
powers which are transferred to the regional field office. The Forest Management
Bureau, to be headed by a Director and assisted by an Assistant Director shall advise
the Secretary on matters pertaining to forest development and conservation and shall
have the following functions, but not limited to:

(a) Recommend policies and/or programs for the effective protection, development,
occupancy, management and conservation of forest lands and watersheds, including
grazing and mangrove areas, reforestation and rehabilitation of critically
denuded/degraded forest reservations, improvement of water resource use and
development, ancestral lands, wilderness areas and other natural preserves,
development of forest plantations including rattan, bamboo, and other valuable non-
timber forest resources, rationalization of the wood-based industries, regulation of the
utilization and exploitation of forest resources including wildlife, to ensure continued
supply of forest goods and services.

(b) Advise the regional offices in the implementation of the above policies and/or
programs.

(c) Develop plans, programs, operating standards and administrative measures to

promote the Bureau’s objectives and functions.

(d) Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of forestry and watershed development
projects to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

(e) Undertake studies on the economics of forestry and forest-based industries,

including supply and demand trends on the local, national and international levels,
identifying investment problems and opportunities, in various areas.

(f) Perform other functions as may be assigned by the Secretary and/or provided by law.

SECTION 14. Lands Management Bureau. There is hereby created the Lands
Management Bureau which shall absorb functions and powers of the Bureau of Lands
except those line functions and powers which are transferred to the regional field office.
The Lands Management Bureau to be headed by a Director and assisted by an
Assistant Director shall advise the Secretary on matters pertaining to rational land
classification management and disposition and shall have the following functions, but
not limited to:

(a) Recommend policies and programs for the efficient and effective administration,
surveys, management and disposition of alienable and disposable lands of the public
domain and other lands outside the responsibilities of other government agencies; such
as reclaimed areas and other areas not needed for or are not being utilized for the
purposes for which they have been established;

(b) Advise the Regional Offices on the efficient and effective implementation of policies,
programs and projects for more effective public lands management;

(c) Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of land surveys, management and disposition
of lands to ensure efficiency and effectiveness thereof;

(d) Issue standards, guidelines, regulations and orders to enforce policies for the
maximization of land use and development;
(e) Develop operating standards and procedures to enhance the Bureau’s objectives
and functions;

(f) Assist the Secretary as Executive Officer charged with carrying out the provisions of
the Public Land Act (C.A. 141, as amended), who shall have direct executive control of
the survey, classification, lease, sale or any other forms of concessions or disposition
and management of the lands of the public domain;

(g) Perform other functions as may be assigned by the Secretary and/or provided by
law.

SECTION 15. Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau. There is hereby created the Mines and
Geo-Sciences Bureau which shall absorb the functions of the Bureau of Mines and
Geo-Sciences (BMGS), Mineral Reservations Development Board (MRDB) and the
Gold Mining Industry Development Board (GMIDB) all of which are hereby merged in
accordance with Section 24 hereof except those line functions and powers which are
transferred to the regional field office. The Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau, to be
headed by a Director and assisted by an Assistant Director shall advise the Secretary
on matters pertaining to geology and mineral resources exploration, development and
conservation and shall have the following functions, but not limited to:

(a) Recommend policies, regulations and programs pertaining to mineral resources

development and geology;

(b) Recommend policies, regulations and oversee the development and exploitation of
mineral resources of the sea within the country’s jurisdiction such as silica sand, gold
placer, magnetite and chromite sand, etc.

(c) Advise the Secretary on the granting of mining rights and contracts over areas
containing metallic and non-metallic mineral resources;

(d) Advise the Regional Offices on the effective implementation of mineral development
and conservation programs as well as geological surveys;

(e) Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of the Bureau’s programs and projects to
ensure efficiency and effectiveness thereof;

(f) Develop and promulgate standards and operating procedures on mineral resources
development and geology;

(g) Supervise and control the development and packaging of nationally applicable
technologies on geological survey, mineral resource assessment, mining and
metallurgy; the provision of geological, metallurgical, chemical and rock mechanics
laboratory services; the conduct of marine geological and geophysical survey and
natural exploration drilling programs;
(h) Perform other functions as may be assigned by the Secretary and/or provided by
law.

SECTION 16. Environmental Management Bureau. There is hereby created an

Environmental Management Bureau. The National Environmental Protection Council
(NEPC), the National Pollution Control Commission (NPCC) and the Environmental
Center of the Philippines (ECP), are hereby abolished and their powers and functions
are hereby integrated into the Environmental Management Bureau in accordance with
Section 24 (c) hereof, subject to Section 19 hereof. The Environmental Management
Bureau shall be headed by a Director and assisted by an Assistant Director who shall
advise the Secretary on matters relating to environmental management, conservation,
and pollution control. The Environmental Management Bureau shall have the following
functions:

(a) Recommend possible legislations, policies and programs for environmental

management and pollution control;

(b) Advise the Regional Offices in the efficient and effective implementation of policies,
programs, and projects for the effective and efficient environmental management and
pollution control;

(c) Formulate environmental quality standards such as the quality standards for water,
air, land, noise and radiations;

(d) Recommend rules and regulations for environmental impact assessments and
provide technical assistance for their implementation and monitoring;

(e) Formulate rules and regulations for the proper disposition of solid wastes, toxic and
hazardous substances;

(f) Advise the Secretary on the legal aspects of environmental management and
pollution control and assist in the conduct of public hearings in pollution cases;

(g) Provide secretariat assistance to the Pollution Adjudication Board, created under
Section 19 hereof;

(h) Coordinate the inter-agency committees that may be created for the preparation of
the State of the Philippine Environment Report and the National Conservation Strategy;

(i) Provide assistance to the Regional Offices in the formulation and dissemination of
information on environmental and pollution matters to the general public;

(j) Assist the Secretary and the Regional Officers by providing technical assistance in
the implementation of environmental and pollution laws;
(k) Provide scientific assistance to the Regional Offices in the conduct of environmental
research programs.

SECTION 17. Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau. The Forest Research
Institute and the National Mangrove Committee are hereby abolished and integrated
into the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau in accordance with Section 24
(e) hereof. The Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau shall be headed by a
Director and assisted by an Assistant Director. The Bureau shall have the following
functions:

(a) Formulate and recommend an integrated research program relating to Philippine

ecosystems and natural resources such as minerals, lands, forests, as holistic and
interdisciplinary fields of inquiry;

(b) Assist the Secretary in determining a system of priorities for the allocation of
resources to various technological research programs of the department;

(c) Provide technical assistance in the implementation and monitoring of the

aforementioned research programs;

(d) Generate technologies and provide scientific assistance in the research and
development of technologies relevant to the sustainable uses of Philippine ecosystems
and natural resources;

(e) Assist the Secretary in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the implementation of
the integrated research program.

The Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau shall directly manage and
administer the FORI Research Offices, laboratories, and forest experiment stations
located at UP Los Baños and such other field laboratories as the Secretary may assign
to its direct supervision. The Bureau shall coordinate all technological researches
undertaken by the field offices, assess and translate all recommendable findings and
disseminate such findings for all possible users and clientele.

SECTION 18. Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. There is hereby created a
Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau which shall absorb the Division of Parks and
Wildlife and the Marine Parks Program of the Bureau of Forest Development as well as:
Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, Presidential Committee on the
Conservation of Tamaraw, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (formerly Parks and
Wildlife Nature Center), shares in Kabuhayan Program and Agro Forestry State Projects
of the KKK Processing Authority, all national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and game
preserves previously managed and administered by the Ministry of Human Settlements
including National Parks Reservation situated in the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal,
Laguna and Quezon formerly declared as Bagong Lipunan Sites of said Ministry, Magat
Forest Reservation and Mt. Arayat National Park, formerly with the Ministry of Tourism
in accordance with Section 24 (c) hereof. The Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau shall
be headed by a Director and assisted by an Assistant Director. The Bureaus shall have
the following functions:

(a) Formulate and recommend policies, guidelines, rules and regulations for the
establishment and management of an Integrated Protected Areas Systems such as
national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and refuge, marine parks, and biospheric reserves;

(b) Formulate and recommend policies, guidelines, rules and regulations for the
preservation of biological diversity, genetic resources, the endangered Philippine flora
and fauna;

(c) Prepare an up-to-date listing of endangered Philippine flora and fauna and
recommend a program of conservation and propagation of the same;

(d) Assist the Secretary in the monitoring and assessment of the management of the
Integrated Protected Areas System and provide technical assistance to the regional
Offices in the implementation of programs for these areas;

(e) Perform other functions as may be assigned by the Secretary and/or provided by
law.

SECTION 19. Pollution Adjudication Board. There is hereby created a Pollution

Adjudication Board under the Office of the Secretary. The Board shall be composed of
the Secretary as Chairman, two (2) Undersecretaries as may be designated by the
Secretary, the Director of Environmental Management, and three (3) others to be
designated by the Secretary as members. The Board shall assume the powers and
functions of the Commission/Commissioners of the National Pollution Control
Commission with respect to the adjudication of pollution cases under Republic Act 3931
and Presidential Decree 984, particularly with respect to Section 6 letters e, f, g, j, k,
and p of P.D. 984. The Environmental Management Bureau shall serve as the
Secretariat of the Board. These powers and functions may be delegated to the regional
officers of the Department in accordance with rules and regulations to be promulgated
by the Board.

SECTION 20. Field Offices of the Department. The field offices of the Department are
the Environment and Natural Resources Regional Offices in the thirteen (13)
administrative regions of the country, the Environment and Natural Resources
Provincial Office in every province and the Community Office in municipalities wherever
deemed necessary. The regional offices of the Bureau of Forest Development, Bureau
of Mines & Geo-Sciences and Bureau of Lands in each of the thirteen (13)
administrative regions and the research centers of the Forest Research Institute are
hereby integrated into the Department-wide Regional Environment and Natural
Resources Office of the Department, in accordance with Section 24 (e) hereof. A
Regional Office shall be headed by a Regional Executive Director (with the Rank of
Regional Director) and shall be assisted by five (5) Regional Technical Directors (with
the Rank of Assistant Regional Director) each for Forestry, Land Management, Mines
and Geo-Sciences, Environmental Management and Ecosystems Research. The
Regional Executive Directors and Regional Technical Directors shall be Career
Executive Service Officers.

SECTION 21. Functions of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office.

Environment and Natural Resources Regional Offices shall be located in the identified
regional capitals and shall have the following functions, but not limited to:

(a) Implement laws, policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and regulations of the
Department to promote the sustainability and productivity of natural resources, social
equity in natural resource utilization and environmental protection.

(b) Provide efficient and effective delivery of services to the people;

(c) Coordinate with regional offices of other departments, offices, agencies in the region
and local government units in the enforcement of natural resource conservation laws
and regulations, and in the formulation/implementation of natural resources programs
and projects;

(e) Recommend and, upon approval, implement programs and projects on forestry,
minerals, and land management and disposition;

(f) Conduct comprehensive inventory of natural resources in the region and formulate
regional short and long-term development plans for the conservation, utilization and
replacement of natural resources;

(g) Evolve respective regional budget in conformity with the priorities established by the
Regional Development Councils;

(h) Supervise the processing of natural resources products, grade and inspect minerals,
lumber and other wood processed products, and monitor the movement of these
products;

(i) Conduct field researches for appropriate technologies recommended for various
projects;

(j) Perform other functions as may be assigned by the Secretary and/or provided by law.

The natural resources provincial and community offices shall absorb, respectively, the
functions of the district offices of the bureaus, which are hereby abolished in
accordance with Section 24 (b) hereof. The provincial and community natural resource
office shall be headed by a provincial natural resource officer and community natural
resource officer, respectively.

SECTION 22. Attached Agencies and Corporations. The following agencies and
corporations are attached to the Department:
(a) National Mapping and Resource Information Authority. There is hereby created the
National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) which shall integrate
the functions and powers of the Natural Resources Management Center (NRMC),
National Cartography Authority (NCA), the Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey
(BCGS), and the Land Classification Teams based at the then Bureau of Forest
Development, in accordance with Section 24 (e) hereof, which shall provide the
Department and the government with map-making services. The authority shall act as
the central mapping agency which will serve the needs of the line services of the
Department and other government offices with regard to information and researches,
and shall expand its capability in the production and maintenance of maps, charts and
similar photogrammetry and cartography materials.

The Authority shall be responsible for conducting research on remote sensing

technologies such as satellite imagery analysis, airborne multi-spectral scanning
systems, and side-looking airborne radar; provide remote sensing services and vital
data on the environment, water resources, agriculture, and other information needed by
other government agencies and the private sector; integrate all techniques of producing
maps from the ground surveys to various combinations of remote sensing techniques in
a cost effective and acceptable manner; and the integration of geographic and related
information to facilitate access to and analysis of data and its transformation into useful
information for resource policy formulation, planning and management. It shall be the
central depository and distribution facility for natural resources data in the form of maps,
statistics, text, charts, etc. store on paper, film or computer compatible media and shall
operate information services and networks to facilitate transfer, sharing, access and
dissemination of natural resource information in all regions and provinces of the country;
establishment of a nationwide geodetic network of control points that serves as a
common reference system for all surveys in the country  and conduct hydrographic and
coastal surveys to produce the hydrographic and nautical charts vital to sea and water
travel as well as the exploitation of our marine resources; formulate and implement
nationwide development program on aerial photography, cartography and remote
sensing mapping activities; establish and implement technical standards and quality
specifications on map production and its reproduction; and provide photogrammetry,
cartographic and remote sensing mapping services in order to accelerate the
development of a comprehensive data bank and information systems on base maps
and charts.

The NAMRIA shall be provided with policy directions by a five (5) member Board of
Governors consisting of key officers with no less than the rank of undersecretaries as
follows:

Department of Environment & Natural – chairman

Resources
Department of Agriculture – member
Department of Public Works & Highways – member
Department of National Defense – member
Department of Transportation & – member
Communications

The operations and management of NAMRIA shall be vested in an Administrator who

shall be assisted by three (3) Deputy Administrators. The Administrator shall sit in the
Board as its secretary.

(b) Natural Resources Development Corporation. The existing Natural Resources

Development Corporation (NRDC), shall be reorganized under the direct supervision of
the Secretary. It shall be responsible primarily for promoting natural resource
development and conservation through:

(1) Direct involvement in pioneering but potentially viable production, use, and
marketing ventures or projects using new/innovative technologies, systems, and
strategies such as but not limited to stumpage sales system, industrial forest plantations
or logging operations, rattan tissue culture; provided, however, that activities which
compete with the private sector shall be avoided except in specific cases where the
revenue of NRDC are earmarked for a specific local developmental or social service.

(2) Financing natural resource development projects undertaken by the private sector
such as establishing industrial tree plantations, agro-forestry, small scale mining and
retooling of the natural resource-based processing industries to improve their efficiency
and competitiveness; to discharge these functions effectively, it is hereby authorized to
generate funds through debt instruments from various sources, and innovative income-
generating strategies.

The NRDC shall promote the enhancement of forest renewal rate through intensified
Industrial Tree Plantation promotion including the provision of incidental services such
as extension of assistance on equity/capital, credit line/facilities, marketing and
management.

(c) The National Electrification Administration. The National Electrification

Administration (NEA) which is also attached to the Department shall be reorganized in
order that it can effectively and efficiently act and operate as the principal implementing
arm of the Department in matters of energy farming and aspects and components of
energy policies, programs and plans which can not be carried out by the private sector.
The plans and programs of NEA shall be carried out in conformity with policies defined
by appropriate energy authorities.

SECTION 23. Detachment and Transfers. The following offices and corporation
attached to the Department of Environment, Energy and Natural Resources by E.O. 131
are hereby detached and/or transferred as follows:

(a) Manila Seedling Bank Foundation, Inc. is administratively detached from the
Department.

(b) Bureau of Energy Utilization, and

(c) Bureau of Energy Development are transferred to the appropriate energy governing
body pursuant to the Executive Order pertaining to it.

SECTION 24. Transitory Provisions. In accomplishing the acts of reorganization herein

prescribed, the following transitory provisions shall be complied with, unless otherwise
provided elsewhere in this Executive Order:

(a) The transfer of a government unit shall include the functions, appropriations, funds,
records, equipment, facilities, chosen in action, rights, other assets, and liabilities, if any,
of the transferred unit as well as the personnel thereof, as may be necessary, who shall,
in a hold-over capacity, continue to perform their respective duties and responsibilities
and receive the corresponding salaries and benefits. Those personnel from the
transferred unit whose positions are not included in the Department’s new position
structure and staffing pattern approved and prescribed by the Secretary or who are not
reappointed shall be deemed separated from the service and shall be entitled to the
benefits provided in the second paragraph of Section 25 hereof.

(b) The transfer of functions which results in the abolition of the government unit that
exercised them shall include the appropriations, funds, records, equipment, facilities,
chosen in action, rights, other assets and personnel as may be necessary to the proper
discharge of the transferred functions. The abolished unit’s remaining appropriations
and funds, if any, shall revert to the General Fund and its remaining assets, if any, shall
be allocated to such appropriate units as the Secretary shall determine or shall
otherwise be disposed in accordance with the Government Auditing Code and other
pertinent laws, rules and regulations. Its liabilities, if any, shall likewise be treated in
accordance with the Government Auditing Code and other pertinent laws, rules and
regulations. Its personnel shall, in a hold-over capacity, continue to perform their duties
and responsibilities and receive the corresponding salaries and benefits. Its personnel
whose positions are not included in the Department’s structure and staffing pattern
approved and prescribed by the Secretary under Section 25 hereof or who is not
reappointed, shall be deemed separated from the service and shall be entitled to the
benefits provided in the second paragraph of the same Section 25.

(c) Any transfer of functions which does not result in the abolition of the government unit
that has exercised them shall include the appropriations, funds, records, equipment,
facilities, chosen in action, rights, and assets and personnel as may be necessary to the
proper discharge of the transferred functions. The liabilities, if any, that may have been
incurred in connection with the discharge of the transferred functions, shall be treated in
accordance with the Government Auditing Code and other pertinent laws, rules and
regulations. Such personnel shall, in a hold-over capacity, continue to perform their
duties and responsibilities and receive the corresponding salaries and benefits unless in
the meantime they are separated from the service. Any personnel, whose positions are
not included in the Department’s new position structure and staffing pattern approved
and prescribed by the Secretary under Section 25 hereof or who is not reappointed,
shall be deemed separated from the service and shall be entitled to the benefits
provided in the second paragraph of the same Section 25.
(d) In case of the abolition of the government unit which does not result in the transfer of
its functions to another unit, the appropriations and funds of the abolished entity shall
revert to the General Fund, while the records, equipment, facilities, chosen in action,
rights, and other assets thereof shall be allocated to such appropriate entities as the
Secretary shall determine or shall otherwise be disposed in accordance with the
Government Auditing Code and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations. The
liabilities of the abolished units shall be treated in accordance with the Government
Auditing Code and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations, while the personnel
thereof, whose position, is not included in the Department’s new position structure and
staffing pattern approved and prescribed by the Secretary under Section 25 hereof or
who has not been reappointed, shall be deemed separated from the service and shall
be entitled to the benefits provided in the second paragraph of the same Section 25.

(e) In case of merger or consolidation of government units, the new or surviving unit
shall exercise the functions (subject to the reorganization herein prescribed and the
laws, rules and regulations pertinent to the exercise of such functions) and shall acquire
the appropriations, funds, records, equipment, facilities, chosen in action, rights, other
assets, liabilities, if any, and personnel, as may be necessary, of the units that compose
the merged unit shall, in a hold-over capacity, continue to perform their respective
duties and responsibilities and receive the corresponding salaries and benefits unless in
the meantime they are separated from the service. Any such personnel, whose
positions are not included in the Department’s new position structure and staffing
pattern approved and prescribed by the Secretary under Section 25 hereof or who are
not reappointed, shall be deemed separated from the service and shall be entitled to the
benefits provided in the second paragraph of the same Section 25.

(f) In case of termination of a function which does not result in the abolition of the
government unit which performed such function, the appropriations and funds intended
to finance the discharge of such function shall revert to the General Fund while the
records, equipment, facilities, chosen in action, rights and other assets used in
connection with the discharged of such function shall be allocated to the appropriate
units as the Department shall determine or shall otherwise be disposed in accordance
with the Government Auditing Code and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations. The
liabilities, if any, that may have been incurred in connection with the discharge of such
function shall likewise be treated in accordance with the Government Auditing Code and
other pertinent laws, rules and regulations. The personnel who have performed such
function, whose positions are not included in the Department’s new position structure
and staffing pattern approved and prescribed by the Secretary under Section 25 hereof
or who have not been reappointed, shall be deemed separated from the service and
shall be entitled to the benefits provided in the second paragraph of the same Section
25 hereof.

SECTION 25. New Structure and Pattern. Upon approval of this Executive Order, the
officers and employees of the Department shall, in a hold-over capacity, continue to
perform their respective duties and responsibilities and receive the corresponding
salaries and benefits unless in the meantime they are separated from government
service.

The new position structure and staffing pattern of the Department shall be approved and
prescribed by the Secretary within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Executive
Order and the authorized positions created thereunder shall be filled with regular
appointments by him or by the President as the case may be. Those incumbents whose
positions are not included therein or who are not reappointed shall be deemed
separated from the service. Those separated from the service shall receive the
retirement benefits to which they may be entitled under existing laws, rules and
regulations. Otherwise, they shall be paid the equivalent of one (1) month basic salary
for every year of service in the government, or a fraction thereof, computed on the basis
of the highest salary received, but in no case such shall payment exceed the equivalent
of twelve (12) months salary.

SECTION 26. Periodic Performance Evaluation. The Department of Environment and

Natural Resources is hereby required to formulate and enforce a system of measuring
and evaluating periodically and objectively the performance of the Department and
submit the same annually to the President.

SECTION 27. Notice or Consent Requirement. If any reorganizational change herein

authorized is of such substance or materiality as to prejudice third persons with rights
recognized by law or contract such that notice to or consent of creditors is required to
be made or obtained pursuant to any agreement entered into with any of such creditors,
such notice or consent requirement shall be complied with prior to the implementation of
such reorganizational change.

SECTION 28. Prohibition Against Structural Changes. No change in the reorganization

herein prescribed shall be valid except upon prior approval of the President for the
purpose of promoting efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of public services.

SECTION 29. Funding. Funds needed to carry out the provisions of this Executive
Order shall be taken from funds available in the Department.

SECTION 30. Implementing Authority of the Secretary. The Secretary shall issue such
orders, rules and regulations and other issuances as may be necessary to ensure the
effective implementation of the provisions of this Executive Order.

SECTION 31. Separability. Any portion or provision of this Executive Order that may be
declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or
provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions can still subsist and
be given effect in their entirety.

SECTION 32. Repealing Clause. All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and other
issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order, are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.
SECTION 33. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

APPROVED in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 10th day of June, in the year of Our
Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Seven.

(Sgd.) CORAZON C. AQUINO
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) JOKER P. ARROYO

Executive Secretary

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 83, No. 26, Page 3020, on June 29, 1987.

Source: Presidential Management Staff

Office of the President of the Philippines. (1987). [Executive Order Nos. : 171 – 390].
Manila : Presidential Management Staff.