Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 2680 
Introduced by Honorable ALFONSO V. UMALI JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This measure seeks to create the Mindoro Island Sustainable 
Development Council. The council will serve as a unified body to 
coordinate environmental protection, inclusive economic 
development, indigenous peoples’ rights, and climate resilience 
initiatives. Given Mindoro’s ecological richness, cultural diversity, 
and strategic location, a consolidated approach is urgently needed 
to ensure long-term, equitable, and sustainable growth for all its 
inhabitants.  
Let it be known that Mindoro is one of the country’s most 
ecologically and culturally significant islands. It is home to critical 
biodiversity and diverse marine ecosystems. It is home to the 
Mangyan indigenous communities whose ancestral lands span in 
both provinces. It is likewise home to very abundant natural 
resources.  
However, despite these assets, Mindoro faces fragmented 
development plans, environmental degradation, disaster 
vulnerability, and marginalization of indigenous peoples. Short to 
say, the absence of a centralised mechanism for sustainable 
development impedes the island’s full potential. 
July 30, 2025
4:04 pm


Therefore, the undersigned hopes for the immediate passage of 
this bill to ensure a shared vision and roadmap for the island’s 
future - one that honors its people, protects its environment, and 
promotes prosperity for generations to come. 
 ALFONSO V. UMALI, JR. 
        Representative 
 Second District, Oriental Mindoro 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 2680 
Introduced by Honorable ALFONSO V. UMALI JR. 
AN ACT  
CREATING THE MINDORO ISLAND SUSTAINABLE 
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL,  
PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS,  
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “Mindoro 
Island Sustainable Development Act.”  
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared as policy 
of the State to free the people from poverty through policies that 
provide adequate social services, promote full employment and 
improve standard of living and quality of life. 
Similarly, it is also hereby declared as a policy of the State to 
protect and conserve the integrity of its natural resources and 
implement sustainable development in the communities. 
Section 3. Mindoro Island Sustainable Development Council 
(MISDC). - There is hereby created the Mindoro Island Sustainable 
Development Council (MISDC) which shall act as a special 
governing, implementing and policy formulating body serving under 
the Office of the President. It shall be composed of the Provincial 
Governor of Oriental Mindoro, Provincial Governor of Occidental 
Mindoro, the Members of the House of Representatives representing 


the legislative districts in Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro, 
the Deputy Director General of the National Economic and 
Development Authority, the Undersecretary for Planning of the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the 
Undersecretary for Planning of the Department of Social Welfare 
and Development, Undersecretary for Planning of the Department of 
Agriculture, Undersecretary for Planning of the Department of 
Tourism, President of the League of Mayors of both Oriental 
Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro, respective Presidents of the 
provinces’ Liga ng mga Barangay, the Executive Director of the 
Mindoro Council for Sustainable Development, and such other 
members from public or private sectors as the majority of the 
Council may deem necessary. 
The Council shall elect from among its members a Chairperson, 
Vice-Chairperson and a Secretary. 
Section 4. Powers and Functions of the MISDC. - The MISDC is 
hereby vested with the following powers and functions: 
1.Formulate plans and policies as may be necessary to carry 
out the provisions of this Act; 
2.Promote human development, attainment of economic 
growth, as well as the development, conservation, 
management, protection and utilization of the natural 
resources of the Mindoro Island; 
3.Coordinate with the National and Local Governments to 
ensure that the latter’s plans, programs and projects are 
aligned with that of the MISDC; 
4.Call on any department, bureau, office, agency or 
instrumentality, and coordinate with private entities and 
organizations for cooperation and assistance in the 
performance of its functions; 
5.Arrange, negotiate for, accept donations, grants, gifts, loans, 
or other fundings from domestic and foreign sources to 
carry out the purposes of the Strategic and Integrated 


Development Plan (SIDP); 
6.Delegate any or all of its powers and functions to its support 
staff, as hereinafter provided, except those which, by 
provisions of law, cannot be delegated; 
7.Establish policies and guidelines for employment on the 
basis of merit, technical competence and moral character 
and prescribe compensation and staffing pattern; 
8.Adopt, amend and rescind such rules and regulations and 
impose penalties therefore for the effective implementation 
of the SIDP and the other provisions of this Act; 
9.Enforce the provisions of this Act and other existing laws, 
rules and regulations similar to or complementary with this 
Act; 
10.Perform such other functions as may be necessary in 
carrying out its functions, powers and the provisions of this 
Act. 
Section 5. Compensation. -The members of the MISDC shall be 
entitled to per diems and allowances in accordance with existing 
laws in the performance of their duties and in carrying out the 
business of the Council. The per diems shall be in the amount of 
Two Thousand Pesos (Php 2,000.00) for every meeting; Provided, 
that the per diems collected by any member in one (1) month shall 
not exceed the equivalent of per diems of four (4) meetings. 
Section 6. Strategic and Integrated Development Plan. -A 
comprehensive framework  for the sustainable development of 
Mindoro Island shall be formulated by the MISDC to be known as 
the Strategic and Integrated Development Plan (SIDP) for Mindoro. 
It shall incorporate the principles of people-centric development, 
inclusive growth, human development through poverty alleviation, 
economic development through strengthening of the sectors of 
agriculture and tourism, and enhancing the natural resources and 
endangered environment of the Island of Mindoro. It shall also serve 
as a guide to the local governments of the two provinces in the 


Island of Mindoro as well as the national government agencies 
concerned in the formation and implementation of their respective 
development plans, programs and projects. The SIDP shall be 
formulated within the period of one (1) year from the time of the 
first formal convening of the Council. 
The Regional Development Council of the MIMAROPA Region 
(Region IV-B) shall ensure that the SIDP is incorporated in the 
Regional Development Plan of Region IV-B. 
Section 7. MISDC Support Staff. -Within the period of one (1) year 
from the effectivity of this Act, the MISDC shall identify the staffing 
and other requirements in order for it to carry out the provisions 
and objectives of this Act. 
Section 8. Appropriations. -The amount necessary to carry out 
the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General 
Appropriations Act. 
Section 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions, not 
affected thereby, shall remain valid and subsisting. 
Section 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, 
executive orders, proclamations and/or administrative regulations, 
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
amended, modified, superseded or repealed accordingly.  
Section 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen 
(15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a 
newspaper of general circulation.  
Approved,