RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Quezon City, Metro Manila.

TINE:
BY:

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

REGISTRATION UNIT
BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by Honorable REYNALDO V. UMALI

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Mindoro Island has all the potential for development and a lot of strengths and
assets that can fuel the progress of the country. It is endowed with natural and
human resources primarily from the sectors of agriculture and tourism that are
waiting to be fully harnessed to their highest potentials, The island, undoubtedly, is
the microcosm of the Philippines.

Meanwhile development initiatives for years have been confined within the
respective boundaries of the two provinces composing the Island of Mindoro. Oriental
Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro seem to be isolated and divided by geography,
economic constraints as well as political challenges. . Since it is an island and assets
and resources are more or less shared by the two provinces, it would be more
beneficial if development efforts would be approached and orchestrated at the island-
wide level. Thus, the Mindoro Island Sustainable Development Council (MISDC)
has been conceptualized.

‘The Mindoro Sustainable Development Councils shall stand as a body that will
strategically manage, implement and provide direction to the development goals of the
two provinces of Mindoro Island. It shall work to address the socio-economic concerns
and the geo-political challenges currently faced by the island. More importantly, the
Council shall promote the ideals of people-centric-development, inclusive growth and
green development particularly in the crafting the “Mindoro Island Strategic and
Integrated Development Plan’.

In view of the foregoing consideration, approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.

‘epresentative
Second District, Province of Oriental Mindoro

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill Nor 39

Introduced by Honorable REYNALDO V. UMALI

AN ACT FORMULATING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR
MINDORO ISLAND, CREATING THE ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY TO ITS
IMPLEMENTATION, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section I. Title - This Act shall be known as the "Sustainable Development Council
for Mindoro Island Act."

Section 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to free
the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services,
promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life.
Similarly, it is the policy of the State to protect, develop and conserve its natural
resources.

Section 3. Mindoro Island Sustainable Development Council (MISDC).- The
Mindoro Island Sustainable Development Council (MISDC), hereinafter referred to as
the Council, shall exercise the function of a governance, implementation and policy
direction body. The Council shall be under the Office of the President. It shall be
composed of the Governors of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Members of the House
of the Representatives representing the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro,
the Deputy Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority, the
Undersecretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Undersecretary of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Undersecretary of the
Department of Agriculture, Undersecretary of Tourism, the Presidents of the Mayor's
League of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, the Presidents of the Provincial Chapter of
the Liga ng mga Barangay, the Executive Director of the Mindoro Council for


Sustainable Development Staff, and such other members from the public or private
sectors as the majority of the council may deem necessary.

Chairman

‘The Council shall elect, from among its members, a Chairman and a Vii
and members of the Secretariat.

Section 4. Strategic and Integrated Development Plan.- A comprehensive
framework for the sustainable development of Mindoro Island shall be formulated by
the Council. It shall incorporate the principles of people-centric development, inclusive
growth, green development (human development through poverty alleviation, attaining
economic development through strengthening the sectors of agriculture, tourism and
such other sectors and protecting and enhancing the natural resources and
endangered environment of the island) of Mindoro. Such framework shall be known as
the Strategic and Integrated Development Plan for Mindoro, hereinafter referred to as
SIDP, and shall serve to guide the local government of the two provinces of Mindoro
and the national government agencies concerned in the formulation and
implementation of plans, programs and projects affecting said provinces. The Strategic
and Integrated Development Plan shall be completed within one year upon effectivity
of this Act. It shall therefore be incorporated in the Regional Development Plan of
Region IV-B as part of said plan.

Section 5. Quorum. - A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a
quorum for the conduct of business.

Section 6. Compensation. - The members of the council shall be entitled to per
diems and allowances in accordance with existing laws in the performance of their
duties and in carrying out of the business of the Council. The per diems shail be in the
amount of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) for every meeting: Provided, that the per
diems collected do not exceed the equivalent of per diems for four (4) meetings in a
month.

Section 7. Powers and Functions.- In order to successfully implement the
provisions of this Act, the Council 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) Coordinate with the local governments to ensure that the latter's plans, programs
and projects are aligned with the plans, programs and policies of the SIDP.

(3) Call on any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the
Government, and on private entities and organizations for cooperation and assistance
in the performance of its functions.



(4) Arrange, negotiate for, accept donations, grants, gifts, loans, and other funding
from domestic and foreign sources to carry out the activities and purposes of the SIEP.

(5) Recommend to the Congress of the Philippines such matters that may require
legislation in support of the objectives of the SIEP.

(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 acompensation 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 related functions which shall promote human development, attainment of
economic growth also the development, conservation, management, protection, and
utilization of the natural resources of Mindoro Island; and

(11) Perform such other powers and functions as may be necessary in carrying out its
functions, powers, and the provisions of this Act.

Section 8. Mindoro Strategic And Integrated Development Council Support Staff.
Within one (1) year, from the effectivity of this Act, the Mindoro Sustainable
Development Council shall identify its staff requirements or needs to efficiently carry
out the objectives of this Act.

Section 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act,

Section 10. Separability Clause. - If any of the provisions of this Act shall be
declared unconstitutional, the other provisions of this Act shall remain valid.

Section 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws; decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved.