E REPRESS

f° E- Filed
Republic of the Philippines KS ‘
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |/O RECEIVED
Quezon City = DATE July 7, 2022

* TIME _ 1

‘4 BY Bei

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1537

Introduced by H¢ bert Ace S. Barbers

EXPLANATORY NOTE

AN ACT CREATING THE LAKE MAINIT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,
PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES, AND
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF

This bill proposes to create the Lake Mainit Development Authority, which shall
lead in the management and development of Lake Mainit and its immediate environs.

Lake Mainit, straddling between the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Surigao
del Norte, is endowed by nature with rich natural resources that remain to be untapped
up to now. Being a sanctuary for fishes, crustaceans, and other marine life, Lake Mainit
has become a major host of aquaculture and other livelihood activities for the locals living
near its shores. Currently, a hydropower plant is also being constructed using the lake’s
outflow current as a testament that Lake Mainit can become a major source of power in
Mindanao.

The scenic beauty of the lake also suggests of its potential to become a prime lake
resort destination that can rival other well-known tourist spots. Its strategic location along
the Pan-Philippine Friendship Highway furthermore makes tourism development even
more feasible.

With the creation of the Authority, it is envisioned that Lake Mainit will become a
major economic engine in Caraga Region and the whole of Mindanagg|t shall be a model
for sustainable lake development that is anchored on socjA
environmental protection.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1537

Introduced by Hon. Robert Ace S. Barbers

AN ACT CREATING THE LAKE MAINIT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,
PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES, AND
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Lake Mainit
Development Authority Act.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — \t shall be the policy of the State to promote the
sustainable development of Lake Mainit, its sub watersheds, and surrounding areas; with
adequate provisions in the protection of the environment, ecological systems, quality of
human life, and socio-economic viability.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
hereby defined:

a. Act — the enabling Act creating the Lake Mainit Development Authority;

a

Authority — shall mean the Lake Mainit Development Authority (LMDA);

2

. Board — shall refer to the Board of Trustees of the LMDA;

a

Municipal Corporation — a corporation organized for political purposes with
political powers exercised for public good and public interest, subject to legislative
control and with the officers of the government as its members to administer or
discharge public duties;

®

Government Corporation — a corporation engaged in performing functions
impressed with public interest;

f. Investor — shall include public and private investors, whether foreign or local, or
private individuals or juridical persons;


g. Region — shall refer to the Lake Mainit Watershed, its sub watersheds, and
surrounding areas;

h. Subsidiary Corporation — a corporation that is organized or a corporation already
in existence wherein at least fifty-one percent (51%) of its share of stock is owned
or controlled by the organizing or subscribing Authority, in this case, The Lake
Mainit Development Authority, to carry out or accomplish its purposes;

i. Watershed — an extent or area of land where water from rains drains into Lake
Mainit and into the sea.

SEC. 4. Creation of the Lake Mainit Development Authority. — A corporate body is
hereby created, to be known as the Lake Mainit Development Authority (LMDA), which
shall be organized within one hundred twenty (120) days after the approval of this Act.

The Authority shall execute the powers and functions herein vested and conferred
upon in order to carry out the aims and purposes set forth in this Act.

SEC. 5. Location of Principal Office. - The Authority shall have the following
purposes:

a. To make a comprehensive survey on the region, particularly its social and
economic conditions, hydrologic characteristics, water, and aquatic resources,
power potentials, scenic and tourist spots, and other concerns; and on the basis
thereof, draft a comprehensive and detailed plan designed to promote the
region's rapid social and economic development and sound environmental
management, and to implement such plan.

Provided that such plan is in accordance with national guidelines and existing
laws and is approved by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA);
For the purpose of this survey, public and private entities shall provide necessary
data except those that are deemed inviolable under existing laws;

b. To prepare a water quality management program and undertake regular projects
for the improvement and maintenance of the desirable water quality of the
watershed;

c. To regularly monitor the environmental condition of the region, especially its
biodiversity and level of pollution, and perform actions to address any concerns;

d. To provide the necessary planning, management and technical assistance to
prospective and existing investors in the region;

e. To pass upon and approve or disapprove all plans, programs, and projects within
the region proposed by local government units, public corporations, and private
enterprises.


The Authority shall issue necessary clearance for all proposed plans, programs,
and projects within 30 days from submission thereof, unless the proposal will
cause unmanageable pollution, ecological imbalance, or massive displacement
of livelihood and people.

Provided, the Authority is hereby empowered to institute necessary legal
proceeding against any person who shall implement any plan, program or project
without prior clearance from the Authority. Provided, further, that any local
government unit, public corporation, and private enterprise whose plan, program,
or project was disapproved by the Authority may appeal the decision to the
NEDA within fifteen (15) days from receipt of such notice, and its decision on the
matter shall be final. Reasonable fees as determined by the Board shall be
collected by the Authority for the processing of such plan, program, or project.
Provided, furthermore, expansion plans shall be considered as new plans
subject to the review of the Authority and payment of the processing fees.

The Authority, national and local government offices, and public corporations
shall coordinate their plans, programs, or projects and licensing procedures with
respect to the Lake Mainit region to craft a Lake Mainit Development Plan, which
shall be binding upon all parties concerned upon the approval of the NEDA
Board.

To exercise exclusive jurisdiction on the issuance of permits for the use of water
bodies of the watershed for any projects or activities affecting the same, including
but not limited to navigation, irrigation, potable water supply, recreation and
tourism, domestic and agricultural use, construction, and operation of fish
enclosures; and collect reasonable fees for the conduct of said activities;

. To develop water supply from ground or lake water for municipal, agricultural,
and industrial uses; and to enter into agreements with local government units,
government agencies and corporations, and private entities to supply, distribute,
and market such water resource;

|. To exercise water rights over public waters, whether ground or surface water,
within the watershed whenever necessary to carry out the purposes of the
Authority;

To engage in agriculture, industry, commerce, or other activities within the region
which may be necessary or directly contributory to the socio-economic
development of the region, and, for this purpose, whether by itself or in
cooperation with private persons or entities, to organize, finance, invest in, and
operate subsidiary corporations: Provided, that the Authority shall engage only,
unless public interest requires otherwise, in activities that are considered new
ventures or are clearly beyond the scope, capacity, or interest of private


enterprises due to considerations on geography, technical or capital
requirements, returns on investment, and risk;

To plan, program, finance, and undertake infrastructure projects such as river,
flood, and tidal control works, waste water and sewerage, water supply,
irrigation, housing, roads, and related works, when so required within the context
of its development plans and programs, including the readjustment, relocation,
or resettlement of people within the region as deemed necessary by the
Authority.

Provided, for any project to be financed wholly or in part by the Authority, it is
hereby authorized to collect reasonable fees and tolls, as determined by the
Board and subject to the approval of the NEDA Board, from users and
beneficiaries to recover costs of construction, maintenance, and operation of the
projects.

Provided, further, if the Authority should find it necessary to undertake such
infrastructure projects classified by the NEDA as social overhead capital, the
Authority shall be authorized to receive financial assistance from the government
in such amount as may be necessary to carry out the said project subject to the
terms and conditions that may be imposed by the government upon
recommendation of the NEDA Board. Provided, furthermore, such amount is
hereby authorized to be appropriated out of the funds of the National Treasury
not appropriated;

. To receive compensation for damages to the water and marine resources of
Lake Mainit and its sub-watersheds resulting from failure to meet established
water and effluent quality standards or from other act of omission of a person,
private or public, juridical or otherwise, punishable under the law; and shall be
earmarked for water quality control and management;

To make the recommendation to the proper agencies on the peso or dollar
financing, technical support, physical assistance and, generally, the level of
priority to be accorded to agricultural, industrial and commercial projects,
soliciting or requiring direct help from or through the government or any of its
instrumentalities;

. To lend or facilitate the extension of financial assistance or act as surety or
guarantor, or both, to worthwhile agricultural, industrial, and commercial
enterprises;

. To reclaim or undertake reclamation projects or acquire such body of lands from
the lake, or both, as may be necessary to accomplish the aims and purpose of
the Authority subject to the approval of the NEDA Board. Provided, the reclaimed
land shall be the property of the Authority; and


0. To make an annual report to the stockholders regarding the operation of the
Authority more particularly a statement of its financial conditions, activities
undertaken, progress of projects and programs and plans of action for the
incoming years; Provided, however, that a majority of the stockholders may
require the Authority to submit report or reports other than the annual report
herein required, which report must be submitted within a period of thirty (30) days
from notice thereof.

CHAPTER II
CORPORATE POWERS

SEC. 6. Powers of the Authority. - The Authority shall have the following powers
and functions:

a. To succeed on its corporate name;

b. To sue and be sued in such corporate name;
c. To adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal;

d. To adopt, amend, and repeal its by-laws;

e. To enter into contracts of any kind and description, to enable it to carry out its
purpose and functions under this Act;

f. To acquire, buy, purchase, hold or lease, such personal and real property as it
deems necessary or convenient in the transaction of its business or in relation
to carrying out of its purposes under this Act, or both; and to lease, mortgage,
sell, alienate, or otherwise encumber, utilize, exploit, or dispose any such
personal and real property held by it, subject to prior or existing individual or
communal right of private parties or the government;

g. To exercise the right of eminent domain whenever the Authority deems it
necessary to attain its objectives under this Act;

h. To raise, borrow or obtain funds, from any source, private or government,
foreign or domestic and to enter into any financial or credit arrangements in
order to support and carry out its objectives and purposes, subject to the
approval of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas upon the
recommendation of the Department of Finance and to other pertinent laws
governing public debt and expenditure;

i. To purchase, hold, alienate, mortgage, pledge, or otherwise dispose of the
shares of the capital stock of, or any bond, securities, or other indebtedness
created by any other corporation, co-parinership, or government agencies or


instrumentalities; and with the owner of said stock, to exercise all the rights of
ownership, including the right to vote therein;

Provided, that the Authority shall not invest its funds in any highly risky debt
instruments issued without recourse to commercial banks or investment house
as well as in any speculative stocks; and,

j. For carrying on its business, or for the purpose of attaining or furthering any of
its objectives, to perform any acts which a corporation, co-partnership, or natural
person is authorized to perform under the laws now existing or which may be
enacted hereafter.

CHAPTER Ill
CAPITALIZATION AND FINANCING

SEC. 7. Capitalization and Financing. —- The Authority shall have an authorized
capital of One Hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00) of which the amount of Fifty-
One Million Pesos (P51,000,000.00) shall be subscribed by the National Government and
Forty-Nine Million Pesos (P49,000,000.00) shall be subscribed by provinces, cities, and
municipalities within the region; and government corporations and private investors:

Provided, that at least twenty five percent (25%) of the National Government's
subscription shall be fully paid: Provided, further, the authorized capital stock may be
increased upon the recommendation of NEDA.

The authorized capital stock of One Hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00) shall
be divided into One Million (1,000,000) shares of stock with a par value of one hundred
pesos (P100.00) per share.

The shares of stock of the Authority shall be divided into 700,000 common shares
(voting) and 300,000 preferred shares (non-voting), with such fixed shares of 700,000, a
minimum of 400,000 shares shall be subscribed by the National Government, and at least
sixty percent (60%) of the balance shall be subscribed by the Provinces of Agusan del
Norte and Surigao del Norte in such proportions as may be agreed upon by both provincial
governments. The remaining balance of the common shares shall be open for
subscription to municipalities and private investors.

Of the preferred shares of 300,000 a minimum of 110,000 shares shall be
subscribed by the National Government. The balance of the preferred shares shall be
available for subscription to local government units, government corporations, and private
investors. Provided, that preferred shares shall enjoy preference with respect to the
distribution of dividends and assets in case of dissolution.

SEC. 8. Powers of Municipal Corporations to Subscribe. — For purpose of attaining
the purposes of this Authority, provinces, cities and municipalities are hereby authorized
to subscribe, own, buy or hold shares of stock of this Authority.


SEC. 9. Operating Expenses. — For the operating expenses of the Authority, the
sum of Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated annually for five (5)
years from the date of the enactment of this Act.

The Board may appropriate out of the funds of the Authority such sums as may be
needed for operating expenses.

SEC. 10. Exemption from Tax. - The Authority shall be exempt from all taxes,
licenses, fees and duties incidental to its operations. The exemption shall extend to its
Period of Exemption of subsidiary corporations. Provided that its subsidiary corporations
shall be subject to all said taxes, licenses, fees and duties five (5) years after their
establishment under a graduated scale as follows: twenty per centum (20%) of all said
taxes during the sixth year, forty per centum (40%) of all said taxes during the seventh
year, sixty per centum (60%) of all said taxes during the eighth year, eighty per centum
(80%) of all said taxes during the ninth year, and one hundred per centum (100%) of all
said taxes during the tenth year after said establishment. Such exemption shall include
any tax of fee imposed by the government on the sale, purchase or transfer of foreign
exchange. All notes, bonds, debentures and other obligations issued by the Authority
shall be exempt from all taxes both as to principal and interest, except inheritance and
gift taxes.

SEC. 11. Sinking Fund. — a sinking fund shall be established in such manner that
the total annual contribution thereto accrued at such rate of interest as may be determined
b the Board as confirmed by the stockholders representing a majority of the subscribed
capital stock outstanding and entitled to vote, shall be sufficient to redeem at maturity the
bonds issued under this Act.

Such fund shall be under the custody of the treasurer of the Authority who shall
invest the same in such manner as the Board may direct, charge expenses of investment
to said sinking fund, and credit the same with the interest on investment and other income
belonging to it.

CHAPTER IV
MANAGEMENT AND PERSONNEL

SEC. 12. Incorporation. - the members of the First Board of Directors shall be
elected by the stockholders and the incorporation shall be held to have been effected
from the date of the first meeting of such Board.

SEC. 13. Board of Directors. - The Authority shall be governed by a Board of
Directors composed of seven (7) ex-officio members and twelve (12) appointive
members, as follows:

Ex-officio members:
a. Secretary of Environment and Natural resources or a representative;


b. Secretary of Agriculture or a representative;

. Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
or a representative;

d. Secretary of Public Works and Highways or a representative;

e. Secretary of Energy or a representative;

f.

g

°

Secretary of Trade and Industry or a representative;
|. Secretary of Tourism or a representative;

Appointive members:

a. A representative of the Province of Agusan del Norte;
b. A representative of the Province of Surigao del Norte;
c. A representative from the indigenous people; and,

d. A representative from the private sector.

The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall serve as Chairperson of
the Board. The Board shall elect from among the appointive members the General
Manager of the Authority who shall serve as the Vice-Chairperson. The selection,
appointment, and term of office of the appointive members shall be in accordance with
the pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 10149, or otherwise known as the GOCC
Governance Act of 2011.

SEC. 14. Powers and Functions of the Board of Directors. —

a. To formulate, prescribe, a mend and repeal rules and regulations to govern the
conduct of business of the Authority;

b. To appoint and fix the compensation of all officials from division heads and
above, and others of comparable rank including the Assistant General Manager
upon the recommendation of the General manager;

c. By a majority vote of all members of the Board, to suspend, remove or otherwise
discipline for just cause all officials appointed by the Board.

d, To approve the annual or supplemental budgets of the Authority; and,

e. To perform such other acts and functions as may be necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act.

SEC. 15. Meetings of the Board. - The Board shall meet at least once a month.

SEC. 16. Per Diems. - The members of the Board shall receive per diem for every
board meeting: Provided, that these shall be determined by the GCG using as reference,
among others, Executive Order No. 24 dated February 10, 2011. Provided, further, that
the Directors shall not be entitled to retirement benefits as such directors.


SEC. 17. Powers of the General Manager. - The General Manager shall be the
Chief Executive of the Authority. As such, he shall have the following powers and duties:

a. To prepare the agenda for the meeting of the Board and to submit for
consideration thereof the policies and measures which he believes to be
necessary to carry out the purposes and provisions of this Act;

b. To execute and administer the policies, plans, programs, and projects approved
by the Board;

c. Todirect and supervise the operation and internal administration of the Authority.
The General Manager may delegate certain administrative responsibilities to
other officers of the Authority subject to the rules and regulations of the Board;

d. To appoint officials and employees below the rank of division heads to positions
in the approved budget upon written recommendation of the division head
concerned using as guide the standard set forth in the Authority's merit system;

e. To submit quarterly reports to the Board on personal selection, placement, and
training;

f. To submit to the NEDA an annual report and such other reports as may be
required, including the details of the annual and supplemental budgets of the
Authority; and,

g. To perform other functions as may be provided by law.

SEC. 18. Qualifications of the General Manager. — no person shall be appointed
General manager unless he is a natural-born citizen, resident of the Philippines, has
unquestioned integrity and demonstrated executive competence and experience in any
of the fields of public administration, economic planning, environmental and natural
resource management, or in the establishment and management of large agricultural,
commercial or industrial enterprises.

SEC. 19. Tenure of Office of the General Manager. - The General Manager shall
be elected by the Board annually from among the appointive members appointed by the
President of the Philippines.

SEC. 20. Compensation of the Authority; Key Officials. - The activities of the
Authority shall be carried out under the supervision of the General Manager through the
following administrative officials who will be responsible directly to him:

a. An Assistant General manager who shall have such powers, duties and functions
that may be delegated to him by the General Manager, and shall act as the
general Manager in the absence of the former during his temporary incapacity
or until such time as a new General Manager is duly appointed, or both.


b. A division chief for operations;

. Adivision chief for planning, programming and research;

d. A division chief for administration;

e. A corporate counsel, with the rank of division head, to advise and represent the
Authority on legal matters, procedures and actions;

f. A corporate treasurer, with a rank of division head, who shall have custody of
the funds and properties of the Authority.

SEC. 21. Auditor. - The Chairman of the Commission on Audit (COA) shall be ex-
officio Auditor of the Authority. For this purpose, he may appoint a representative who
shall be the Auditor of the Authority and the necessary personnel to assist said
representative in the performance of his/her duties.

SEC. 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The implementing rules and
regulations to effectively carry out the provisions of this Act shall be promulgated and
adopted by the Board of Directors of the Authority within ninety (90) days after the
approval of this Act which shall be published in at least one (1) national newspaper of
general circulation.

SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
rules and regulations, parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 24. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected hereby shall remain valid and
subsisting.

SEC. 25. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.