WHEREAS, it is the declared policy of the Government to
protect and transform the human environment in order to bring about accelerated
socio-economic development as well as the opportunity to enhance the quality of
life of the greater number of Filipinos;
WHEREAS, the development plan takes into account the
efficient management and optimum utilization of all the natural ecosystems such
as the bodies of water that run through and across our lands;
WHEREAS, the Pasig River which is the major determinant of
the complex of human activities in the country must be safeguarded for the
benefit of the present and future generations of Filipinos through careful
planning and management;
WHEREAS, the discharge of harmful substances and the release
of heat into the river, the lack of control over the use of the water-ways and
the continued presence of obstructions have adversely affected the Pasig River
as a tool for development; and
WHEREAS, it has become imperative to adopt an integrated and
coordinated approach to the development planning and implementation of Pasig
River requiring the exertion of effort of everyone, government and private
sectors alike;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Commander-in-Chief of
all the Armed Forces of the Philippines and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081,
dated September 21, 1972, as amended, do hereby promulgate this Decree creating
a Pasig River Development Council, with the Executive Secretary as the overall
Coordinator, personally entrusted with the duty to integrate and oversee the
functions and activities of both the government sector, as represented by the
Council and the private sector who shall form a similar counterpart Council.
The above-mentioned Council shall be composed of the following officials to
represent the Government sector:
The Secretary, Department of Public Works,
Transportation &
Communications
Chairman
The Secretary, Department of Tourism
Vice-Chairman
The Director, Bureau of Public Works
Member
The Commissioner, Bureau of Public Highways
Member
The Director, Bureau of Lands
Member
The Flag Officer-in-Command, Philippine Navy
Member
The Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard
Member
The Commissioner, National Water & Air Pollution
Control
Commission
Member
The Officer in Charge, Presidential Assistant on
Housing
& Resettlement Agency
Member
The Director, Bureau of Cooperatives
Member
The Governor, Rizal Province
Member
The Mayor, City of Manila
Member
The Council will provide continuing direction for the integrated development
planning of the Pasig River, and for the sustained and coordinated
implementation of the incentives and police powers as promulgated in
Presidential Decree 274 and all projects that may be approved in connection with
the beautification, improvement and gainful utilization of its facilities as
promulgated in Presidential Decree 274.
The Council shall work in close association and coordination with the
Chairman of the Environmental Center of the Philippines in order to ensure the
proper ordinal ranking of priorities in undertaking the integrated development
of Pasig River.
Furthermore, the Council shall administer the Trust Fund Account created by
the President and embodied in the aforementioned Presidential Decree 274 and
deposited in the National Treasury to finance the Pasig River Development
Program.
The Council shall establish a technical staff to assist it in the performance
of its functions, and shall avail of the services, including personnel and other
necessary resources, of all departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and
instrumentalities and all government-owned and controlled corporations, that it
may need.
This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 28th day of August, in the year of Our Lord,
nineteen hundred and seventy-three.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Assistant Executive Secretary