Presidential Decree
No. 1515
VESTING
THE JURISDICTION AND CONTROL OVER WATERSHED RESERVATIONS IN THE
MINISTRY OF
ENERGY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS,
under Section 5 of Presidential Decree No. 705, the
Bureau of Forest Development is vested
with authority and jurisdiction over all forest lands including watershed
reservations;
WHEREAS,
watershed areas are critical and essential not only to the life-span of
hydroelectric dams and other water-oriented projects of the government but also
to its flood control and other environmental or ecological programs;
WHEREAS,
in view of the foregoing reasons and in order to curtail the continuing
destruction, denudation and appropriation of watershed areas by private
parties, it is imperative that their inalienable and non-disposable character
be better assured, and to this end, more stringent measures adopted for their
better protection, development, management and rehabilitation;
WHEREAS,
under
Presidential Decree No. 1206, the
Ministry of Energy has been mandated to
formulate and implement the government’s policies, plans and programs on the
development of energy resources of all kinds; and
WHEREAS,
in pursuance of its aforestated functions the
Ministry
of Energy will be in a better position to afford the desired protection,
development, management and rehabilitation of watershed areas.
NOW,
THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
SECTION
1. Any provision of existing law to the contrary
notwithstanding, the
Ministry of Energy
shall have jurisdiction, control and regulation over all watershed areas and
reservations proclaimed or hereafter proclaimed as such by the President of the
SEC.
2. The
Ministry of Energy
may exercise its powers, functions, and responsibilities over watershed areas
and reservations through the
National
Power Corporation (NPC) or such other government agencies or
instrumentalities as are attached to or otherwise placed under the
Ministry of Energy. The
NPC
or any other such designated government agency shall be responsible for the
management, protection, development and rehabilitation of watershed areas,
including but not limited to the following:
1. Identification
of watershed areas which require immediate rehabilitation and development;
2. Preparation
of plans and programs for the maximum utilization of watershed resources;
3. Formulation
and/or implementation of measures to prevent denudation of watershed cover;
4. Undertake
public education and information drive to create awareness among the populace
of the importance of forests and uses of watershed areas;
5. Promotion
of the development and conservation of existing vegetative cover;
6. Formulation
of plans and development programs for resettlement and relocation;
7. Coordination
with other government agencies/instrumentalities, religious and civic groups in
undertaking forest conservation measures in watershed areas;
8. Undertake
afforestation, reforestation and physical rehabilitation measures in critically
denuded watershed areas; and
9. Development,
maintenance and management of tree farms within adequately vegetated watersheds
for the production of transmission line poles.
SEC. 3. The
Ministry of Energy
is hereby empowered to call upon and enlist the assistance of any or all
government agencies in the exercise of its powers herein.
SEC. 4. The
Ministry of Energy
shall prescribe adopt and issue rules and regulations governing the
implementation of the herein granted functions, powers and responsibilities,
which rules and regulations shall come into force and effect when approved by
the President, and any person or persons who shall violate such rules and
regulations shall be punished with a fine ranging from Five Hundred Pesos (P
500) to Five Thousand Pesos (P 5,000) or with imprisonment from six (6) months
to five (5) years, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the
Court.
SEC.
5. To carry out the purposes of this Decree, there is hereby
appropriated out of any funds in the
National
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of THIRTY MILLION PESOS (P
30,000,000) for the operation of the
National
Power Corporation or any other designated implementing agency in addition
to whatever appropriation the other government agencies concerned may
contribute to this undertaking.
Thereafter, the necessary appropriation shall be included in the Annual
General Appropriation Act.
SEC.
6. The provisions of Presidential Decree No. 705 and other
laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations as are inconsistent herewith are
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC.
7. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
DONE
in the City of
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