Section 4
Section 4 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "SECTION 4. Special Powers and Functions. The Authority shall exercise and perform the following powers and functions: "(a) To make a comprehensive survey of the physical and natural resources and potentialities of the Laguna Lake region particularly its social and economic conditions, hydrologic characteristics, power potentials, scenic and tourist spots, regional problems, and on the basis thereof, to draft a comprehensive and detailed plan designed to conserve and utilize optimally the resources within the region particularly Laguna de Bay, to promote the region's rapid social and economic development and upon approval by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board of such plan, to implement the same including projects in line with said plan: Provided, That implementation of all fisheries plans and programs of the authority shall require prior consensus of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to ensure that such plans and programs are consistent with the national fisheries plans and programs. For the purpose of the said survey, public agencies shall submit and private entities shall provide necessary data except such data which under existing laws are demeed inviolable. "(d) To pass upon and approve or disapprove all plans, program and projects proposed by local government offices/agencies within the region, public corporations, and private persons or enterprises where such plans, programs and/or projects are related to those of the Authority for the development of the region as envisioned in this Act. The Authority shall issue the necessary clean for approved proposed plans, programs, and projects within thirty days from submission thereof unless the proposals are not consonance with those of the Authority or that those will contribute to the unmanageable pollution of the Laguna Lake waters or will bring about the ecological imbalance of the region: Provided, further That the Authority is hereby empowered to institute necessary legal proceeding against any person who shall commence to implement or continue implementation of any project, plan or program within the Laguna de Bay region without previous clearance from the Authority: Provided, furthermore, That any local government office, agency, public corporation, private person, or enterprise whose plans, programs and/or projects have been disapproved by the Authority may appeal the decision of the Authority to the NEDA within fifteen (15) days from receipt of such disapproval whose decision on the matter shall be final; reasonable processing fees as may be fixed by the Authority's Board of Directors shall be collected by the Authority for the processing of such plans, programs and/or projects: Provided, finally, That expansion plans shall be considered as new plans subject to review of the Authority and to payment of the processing fees. The Authority and national and local government offices, agencies and public corporations shall coordinate their plans, programs, projects and licensing procedures with respect to the Laguna Lake region for the purpose of drawing up a Laguna Lake development plan which shall be binding upon all parties concerned upon approval of the NEDA board. "(f) To plan, program finance and/or undertake infrastructure projects such as river, flood and tidal control works, waste water and sewerage works, water supply, roads, portworks, irrigation, housing and related works, when so required within the context of its development plans and programs including the readjustment, relocation, or resettlement of population within the region as may be deemed necessary and beneficial by the Authority: Provided, That should any project be financed wholly or in part by the Authority, it is hereby authorized to collect reasonable fees and tolls as may be fixed by its Board of Directors subject to the approval of the NEDA Board from users and/or beneficiaries thereof to recover costs of construction, operation and maintenance of the projects: Provided, further, That if the Authority should find it necessary to undertake such infrastructure projects which are classified, as social overhead capital projects as determined by the NEDA, the Authority shall be authorized to receive financial assistance from the government in such amount as may be necessary to carry out the said projects subject to such terms and conditions that may be imposed by the government, upon recommendation of the NEDA Board: Provided, finally, That such amount as may be necessary for the purpose is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of the funds of the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated." (i) To reclaim or cause to be reclaimed portions of the Lake or undertake reclamation projects and/or acquire such bodies of land from the lake which may be necessary to accomplish the aims and purposes of the Authority subject to the approval of the NEDA Board: Provided, That the land so reclaimed shall be the property of the Authority and title thereto shall be vested in the Authority: Provided, further, That the resulting lakeshore area shall continue to be owned by the national government."