EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 159 April 13, 1987

REVERTING TO THE PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY ITS CORPORATE AUTONOMY, ENSURING THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF PORTS OR THE PORT SYSTEM DIRECTLY UNDER IT, AND AUTHORIZING IT TO EXECUTE PORT PROJECTS UNDER ITS PORT PROGRAM

WHEREAS, the Philippine Ports Authority was created to coordinate, streamline, improve and optimize the planning, development, financing and operation of ports or port systems for the entire country;

WHEREAS, the Philippine Ports Authority has embarked on a ports construction and development program funded mainly from its own internally generated revenues as well as loans from foreign financial institutions.

WHEREAS, there is a need to ensure and hasten the continuing growth and development of the government ports directly administered and maintained by the Philippine Ports Authority in order to cater to the over-increasing needs of waterborne commerce and to effectively serve as vital links in the overall transport system in the country;

WHEREAS, certain laws issued by the past administration adversely affected the coordinated programming, operations, financing and budgetary requirements of ports or the port system under the Philippine Ports Authority and unduly jeopardized its corporate autonomy, all to the detriment of public service.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, do hereby order:

Sec. 1. Any provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding, all revenues of the Philippine Ports Authority generated from the administration of its port or port-oriented services and from whatever sources shall be utilized exclusively for the operations of the Philippine Ports Authority as well as for the maintenance, improvement and development of its port facilities, upon the approval of the Philippine Ports Authority Board of Directors of its budgetary requirements, as exemptions to Presidential Decree No. 1234 and the budgetary processes provided in Presidential Decree No. 1177, as amended.

Sec. 2. Letters of Instructions No. 734 dated September 1, 1978 is hereby repealed. Henceforth, the Philippine Ports Authority Board of Directors is hereby authorized to program and approve all capital investments and expenditures on all projects of the Philippine Ports Authority before the same are implemented.

Sec. 3. Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the Philippine Ports Authority shall be responsible for the planning, detailed engineering, construction, expansion, rehabilitation and capital dredging of all ports under its port system.

Sec. 4. All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 5. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 13th of April in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-seven.