EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 224 February 10, 1995

TRANSFERRING THE MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATION AND MAINTENANCE OF BURNHAM PARK TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF BAGUIO

WHEREAS, the Burnham Park Reservation was reserved for park purposes by virtue of Proclamation No. 64, promulgated August 6, 1925;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1762 dated January 6, 1981, and Proclamation No. 2144 dated December 9, 1981, the Burnham Park Reservation was ceded and conveyed to the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) for tourism development purposes;

WHEREAS, in a move to centralize the planning, development, management and operation of all national parks around the country, the management, maintenance and administration of the Burnham Park Reservation was transferred and vested to the National Parks Development Committee for a period of Five (5) YEARS through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) dated March 10, 1989 between PTA and NPDC as modified by a MOA between said parties dated August 7, 1989;

WHEREAS, said MOA of March 10, 1989 expired last 1994, and there is a need to better and enhance the management, maintenance, and development approach for the Burnham Park Reservation;

WHEREAS, there is a strong clamor of the populace of Baguio City for the return of the Burnham Park Reservation is just in line with the government's devolution program as mandated by the Constitution;

NOW THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, hereby order:

Sec. 1. Transfer of Administration, Maintenance and Management. - The administration, management, maintenance, and operation of the whole Burnham Park Reservation as defined and delineated under Presidential Decree No. 1762 dated January 6, 1981, including all the activities, facilities and improvements thereon, is hereby transferred to the City Government of Baguio.

Sec. 2. Sunshine Park. - The Administration, management, maintenance, and operation of the present Sunshine Park including all the activities, facilities and improvements thereon, is likewise transferred and turned over to the City Government of Baguio.

Sec. 3. Excluded from the Transfer. - The area where the present Department of Tourism (DOT)-PTA Regional Office and the Secretary's Cottage are located, including all the activities, facilities, and improvements thereon, is excluded from the transfer and shall remain under the exclusive use, administration, maintenance and management of PTA and DOT.

Sec. 4. Control and Supervision. - The City Government of Baguio shall have full control, supervision and discretion in its management including the award and regulations of all activities and concessions in the Park.

Sec. 5. Alienation, Encumbrance and Use. - The City Government of Baguio cannot encumber, mortgage, or alienate any portion of the Park and use thereof shall be limited only to recreation and tourism-related activities.

Sec. 6. Promotion and Technical Assistance. - The DOT and PTA shall continue to provide promotional support and technical assistance for the operation and further development of the Park.

Sec. 7. Budget and Appropriations. - Annual appropriations for the development of the Park from the National Budget shall continue and remain in force. Whatever available funds from the duly approved PTA 1995 budget which have been appropriated for the Park shall be transferred to the City.

Sec. 8. Revenues. - All revenues and collections generated from the operation of the Park shall accrue to the treasury of the City Government of Baguio and shall be used solely for the management, maintenance, operation and development of the Park.

Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This executive order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 10th day of February, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety five.