105 OG No. 9, 1168 (March 2, 2009); Times, Jan. 9, 2009
WHEREAS, the Calauit
Island in the Province of Palawan was declared as Calauit Game Preserve
and Wildlife Sanctuary (CGPWS) by virtue of Presidential Proclamation
No. 1578 dated August 31,
1976;
WHEREAS, in 1979, the
Government established the Calauit Project to: a) propagate African
animals and Palawan endemic wildlife species, b) preserve the entire
sanctuary, including coastal and marine resources, c) develop Calauit
Island as an education and conservation center in Asia, and d) ultimate
development of Calauit Island into self-sustaining
operations;
WHEREAS, on December
29, 1994, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) executed a
Memorandum of Agreement transferring the operation and management of
the Calauit Project from the former to the latter effective January
1995;
WHEREAS, it is the policy
of the Government to strengthen the autonomy of the local government
units and to accelerate their economic and social growth and
development;
WHEREAS, considering
the resources, capital and vast experience of the Provincial Government
of Palawan to maintain a balanced ecological system all over Palawan
and in addressing its environmental concerns, it is appropriate that
the operations and management of CGPWS and the Calauit Project be
transferred to the Provincial Government of
Palawan.
NOW, THEREFORE, I GLORIA
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby
order:
SECTION 1.
Transfer of Administration, Control, Management and
Maintenance. - The administration, management, maintenance,
operation and control of the CGPWS as delineated under Presidential
Proclamation No. 1578 (1976), including equipments, structures,
activities, facilities and improvements thereon, as well as the Calauit
Project, are hereby transferred from the PCSD to the Provincial
Government of Palawan.
SECTION 2.
CGPWS Employees. - The Provincial Government of
Palawan may opt to absorb CGPWS employees whose services are necessary
for the continuance of CGPWS
operations.
SECTION 3.
Control and Supervision. - The Provincial Government
of Palawan shall have full control and supervision of the
administration, supervision, management including the award and
regulations of all activities and concessions, within Calauit
Island.
SECTION 4.
Ecological Preservation and Maintenance. - The
Provincial Government of Palawan shall ensure, in coordination and
cooperation with the PCSD and other government agencies concerned, the
ecological preservation, maintenance and/or rehabilitation of the
CGPWS, specifically protection and conservation of marine resources,
endemic and exotic wildlife species therein. It shall also promote the
same as recreation and ecotourism destination, amending for this
purpose Proclamation 1578 (1976). Henceforth, CGPWS shall be known as
Calauit Safari Park.
SECTION 5.
Role of PCSD. - Pursuant to the Strategic
Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act (RA 7611), the PCSD shall
continue to exercise its policy-making function in the ecological
preservation and maintenance of the park. The PCSD shall have
jurisdiction over wildlife species in the Province of Palawan as
provided for in RA 9147 otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources
Conservation and Protection Act.
SECTION
6. Preservation and Restoration of the
Area and Preparation of Integrated Master Development Plan. -
The Provincial Government of Palawan shall prepare and submit an
integrated master development plan to the Office of the President of
the Philippines.
SECTION 7.
Revenues. - All revenues and collections generated
from the operation of the Calauit Safari Park shall accrue to the
treasury of the Provincial Government of Palawan, and shall be used
solely for the management, maintenance, operation and development of
the Calauit Safari Park and the Calauit
Project.
SECTION 8.
Promotion and Technical Assistance. - The DOT, PTA
and DENR shall continue to provide promotional support and technical
assistance for the operation and further development of the Calauit
Safari Park.
SECTION 9.
Repealing Clause. - All other executive issuances,
rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.
SECTION 10.
Effectivity. - This Executive Order shall take
effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of
general circulation.
Done in the City of Manila,
this 12th of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and
Eight.
(Sgd.)
GLORIA M. ARROYO
By the
President:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO R.
ERMITAExecutive
Secretary