Executive Order No. 84, April 24, 1993

CREATING A PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION TO FORMULATE SHORT AND LONG-TERM PLANS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TAGAYTAY CITY AND ITS ADJACENT MUNICIPALITIES, AND THE TAAL VOLCANO ISLAND AND ITS SURROUNDING COASTAL MUNICIPALITIES

WHEREAS, the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan, 1993-1998 (MTPDP) as approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, shall be the basis for all development activities to the undertaken by the government during said Plan period;

WHEREAS, an important component of the MTPDP is the National Tourism Master Plan of the Department of Tourism (DOT) which identifies the area covering Tagaytay City and its adjacent municipalities as a major destination for tourism in the Philippines, and its development, a key factor in the regions over-all development program;

WHEREAS, under Republic Act No. 7623, the Taal Volcano Island in Batangas and its surrounding coastal municipalities was declared a tourist zone under the joint jurisdiction of the DOT; Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Municipalities of Laurel, Balete, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, and Talisay, Province of Batangas, and, as such , shall be accorded priority development by the said government agencies and local government units;

WHEREAS, aside from developing Tagaytay City and its environs and Taal Volcano Island as tourist destination, there is a need to simultaneously address the developmental concerns of the surrounding coastal and non-coastal municipalities on matters of environmental protection, poverty alleviation, local autonomy, eco-tourism and sustainable growth; and

WHEREAS, to enable the Government to undertake measures to conserve the natural resources and promote the accelerated socio-economic development of the area consistent with the concept of sustainable development, there is a need to create a body that shall formulate short- and long-term plans for the area covered herein as well as address certain policy, planning and implementation issues.

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

Section 1. There is hereby created under the Office of the President a Presidential Commission to be called the Tagaytay-Taal Commission for the development of Tagaytay City, its adjacent municipalities, and the Taal Volcano Island and its surrounding coastal municipalities, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, composed of the following:

Secretary of Tourism		Chairman
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources		Vice-Chairman
Secretary of Transportation and Communications		Member
Secretary of Public Works and Highways		Member
Secretary of the Interior and Local Governments	–	Member
Secretary of Trade and Industry		Member
Secretary of Agrarian Reform		Member
Secretary of Science and Technology		Member
Head, Presidential Management Staff	–	Member
Governor of Batangas		Member
Governor of Cavite		Member
Mayors of the concerned Local Government Units		Members
The President, Development Academy of the Philippines		Member
The Administrator, Local Water Utilities Administration		Member

A representative each from the business, religious, land developers and agricultural sectors and from Non-Governmental Organization shall serve as Consultants to the Commission.

The Development Academy of the Philippines shall initially serve as the Technical Secretariat of the Commission to be headed by an Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be appointed by the President.

Section 2. The Commission shall be an advisory body to the President and shall exercise the following the functions and responsibilities:

a. Formulate a Ten-Year Tagaytay-Taal Master Plan by November 10, 1993 and a Twenty-Year Integrated Master Plan for the whole area covering Tagaytay City and its adjacent non-coastal municipalities, and the Taal Volcano Island and its surrounding coastal municipalities by January 1, 1994, based on the following guidelines:

(1) Preservation of the areas natural beauty, protection of its ecological balance and enhancement of its environment;

Maximum enjoyment and easy access by ordinary people to public areas;

Rational land-use and zoning plan considering that Tagaytay City and Taal Volcano Island, in particular, are national assets, being tourist destinations of Filipinos from all parts of the country as well as foreign visitors;

Prohibition/control of unusually tall and unstable and obstructive structures obscuring public view of the natural beauty of the surrounding in accordance with the zoning ordinances of the local government units concerned and subject to the pertinent laws, rules and regulations on the matter;

Provision for improved and adequate service infrastructures such as power, water, communications and waste treatment facilities, especially in the coastal and highland parts of the subject area;

Overall greening and reforestation to reduce the threat of soil erosion and damage to scarce marine resources;

Enhancement of agricultural productivity and local livelihood opportunities as an alternative to industrial employment; and

Provision for a viable peace and order plan

Both Plans shall include a Comprehensive Investment Programs, Capability-Building Program for the affected local government units as well as the coordinated establishment of the following in the subject area:

i. a nature center;

ii. a people's center;

iii. a conference and meeting center;

iv. a flea market destination (vegetable/livelihood); and

v. a tourist destination.

Both Plans shall be submitted to the President for approval.

b. Assist the local government units concerned in undertaking various planning activities to develop short-term and long-term strategies for tourism development, environmental protection, attracting business, investment, social development, and institutional building, in line with the developmental guidelines stated above and to integrate all national and local plans relative to the development of the subject area;

c. Adopt a process of maximum consultation with the local government units concerned and all interest groups in the localities to ensure that the residents needs, concerns and ideas are considered in the formulation and implementation of the said plans, development guidelines and municipal ordinances;

d. Study and review policy measures that shall promote and address the concerns on environmental protection, poverty alleviation, local autonomy, eco-tourism, and sustainable development of the subject area;

e. Recommend (i) legislation to conserve the natural resources and promote the accelerated socio-economic development of the area; (ii) zoning ordinances to the Sangguniang Panlungsod concerned in consonance with the Plans approved by the President, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations; (iii) the establishment of fire limits or zones, particularly in populous centers; and (iv) the regulation of the construction, repair or modification of buildings within said fire limits or zones in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Code; and

f. Recommend to the Sangguniang Panlungsod concerned such other ordinances and measures as may be necessary to attain the objectives of the Plans approved by the President.

Section 3. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 14, Book II of Executive Order No. 292 (1987), lands of the private domain of the Government located in the subject area, the use of which is not otherwise directed by law, are hereby reserved from lease, sale or other disposition. Such reserved lands shall be used for developmental purposes in accordance with the Plans approved by the President.

Section 4. The heads of the local government units concerned are hereby directed to strictly enforce their respective zoning ordinances, particularly those prescribing height limitations, in the construction of buildings in the area covered herein.

Section 5. The Commission may call upon any government agency, office or bureau for assistance in the discharge of, and form committees, to facilitate the performance of, its functions and responsibilities.

Section 6. The Commission shall submit monthly reports of its activities to the Office of the President.

Section 7. The amount of Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000), to be drawn equally from the Presidents Contingent Fund and funds of the DOT, shall be released for the operations of the Commission for 1993. Appropriations for the succeeding years shall be incorporated in the budget proposals under the Office of the President.

Section 8. All executive issuances, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby revoked or modified accordingly.

Section 9. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 24th day of April in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Three.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS

President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) ANTONIO T. CARPIO

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel