ESTABLISHING OIL POLLUTION OPERATIONS CENTER IN THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS.

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 602
• Sections: 6

Preamble

WHEREAS, environmental pollution and contamination are

increasing at an alarming rate;

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to prevent, mitigate or

eliminate the increasing damages to marine resources as a result of

pollution;

WHEREAS, the dangers of major oil spills are increasing with

the increase of the size and number of oil tankers traversing waters

close to the Philippines;

WHEREAS, the Philippines is not yet fully prepared to handle

major oil spills which are likely to happen in the future;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,

do hereby decree and order the establishment of a National Operations

Center for Oil Pollution in the Philippine Coast Guard Headquarter.

Section 1 Title.

SEC. 1. Title. — This Decree shall be known as the

National Oil Pollution Operations Center Decree.

Section 2 Assistance from other Agencies.

SEC. 2. Assistance from other Agencies. — The Center

may call upon any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality

of the government for such assistance as it may need in the form of

personnel, facilities and other resources.

Section 3 Direct Negotiation.

SEC. 3. Direct Negotiation. — The Philippine Coast

Guard may negotiate directly with local companies which have oil

containment and recovery facilities for the use of such equipment in

combating oil pollution.

Section 4 ASEAN Point of Contact.

SEC. 4. ASEAN Point of Contact. — The Center shall be

the point of contact with similar national operations centers of ASEAN

member countries and shall cause, when necessary, the immediate call for

assistance from such countries to help contain oil pollution. The

Center shall, similarly, respond to call for assistance by ASEAN member

countries.

Section 5 Effectivity.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. — This Decree shall take effect

immediately

Done in the City of Manila, this 9th day of December, in the year

of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

(Sgd.)

FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.)

ALEJANDRO MELCHOR

Executive Secretary