WHEREAS, rapid industrialization, high population growth rates and widespread urban sprawl have spawned a variety of social and environmental problems not the least among which is the deterioration of the environmental quality in the Laguna de Bay Region;

     WHEREAS, as part of the overall effort to manage and conserve the land and water resources in the region, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) embarked on and has sustained a Program that would rehabilitate and protect the 21 major as well as the 68 minor tributary river systems flowing into Laguna de Bay;

     WHEREAS, the River Rehabilitation effort has entailed intensifying social mobilization to enhance multi-sector involvement in and support for river protection and conservation efforts;

     WHEREAS, to sustain the River Rehabilitation Program, the LLDA established River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils or Foundations in each sub-catchment of the Laguna de Bay Basin. LLDA Board Resolution No. 114, Series of 1999 institutionalized such councils and afforded to them official recognition and support as partners of the LLDA in managing and protecting the various river systems and sub-watersheds;

     WHEREAS, considering that these River Basin Councils operate across municipal or even provincial boundaries and jurisdictions, there is the need to coordinate the activities of the various River Basin Councils on a regional level to ensure that the Basin Approach to Resource Management is fully operationalized; and

     WHEREAS, the members of the various River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils or Foundations currently in place form the core of environmental stewards who will constitute the Federation of the River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils/Foundations;

     NOW, THEREFORE, foregoing premises considered, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby RESOLVED, to institutionalize the Federation of the River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils/Foundations and to afford to such federation official recognition and support;

Resolution No. 167

Series of 2001

Page 2

RESOLVED, FURTHER, that the LLDA develop the protocols for the operation of the Federation, allocate in its annual Corporate Operating Budget (COB) sufficient funds for the effective functioning of the CDD-LLDA as permanent secretariat of the Federation of River Basin Councils, and gradually incorporate the activities of the Federation into the regular operations of the LLDA;

RESOLVED, FINALLY, to approve the implementing guidelines for the institutionalization of the Federation of the River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils/Foundations hereto attached as Annex A.

APPROVED on September 27, 2001:

ATTESTED BY:

ATTY. MA. TERESA T. OLEDAN

Acting Board Secretary

ANNEX A OF LLDA

BOARD RESOLUTION NO. 167

Series of 2001

IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES FOR THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF THE FEDERATION OF RIVER REHABILITATION AND PROTECTION COUNCILS/FOUNDATIONS

ARTICLE 1. Title. These guidelines shall be known and cited as the “Implementing Guidelines for the Institutionalization of the Federation of the River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils/Foundations in the Laguna de Bay Region.

ARTICLE 2. Statement of Policy. It is the policy of the LLDA to promote public stewardship of the environment by actively involving various sectors in key planning events and by developing and putting into place the mechanisms for genuine consultation and partnership with stakeholders in the management of environmental resources in the Laguna de Bay Region.

ARTICLE 3. Scope and Coverage. These guidelines shall cover the Federation of the various River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils or Foundations currently involved in river protection and conservation activities in specific sub-catchments of the Laguna de Bay Basin.

ARTICLE 4. Definition of Terms. For purposes of these guidelines, wherever and whenever any of the following words, terms, phrases or abbreviations are used herein or in any amendment or supplement thereto which may be subsequently issued, the following meanings are ascribed or assigned:

1.     Authority or LLDA  refers to the Laguna Lake Development Authority.

2.     Federation of River Councils or River Basin Councils shall refer to the River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils or Foundations organized upon the initiative of the LLDA in each of the sub-catchments of the Laguna de Bay Basin as a private non-stock, non-profit entities whose primary objective is the promotion of multi-sector partnership in the protection, rehabilitation and management of the natural environment in the Laguna de Bay Basin specifically the tributary river systems that drain into the lake.

3.     Basin Approach refers to the framework for water resources management which uses hydrologically defined geographic areas rather than arbitrarily defined political jurisdictional areas as the focus of environmental planning and management.

4.     Watershed, Basin or Catchment are used synonymously and refer to an area of land within which water drains to bodies of water like rivers, lakes or streams.

Annex “A”

Page 2

5.     The Laguna de Bay Basin as defined in Section 2 of  E.O. 927 (1983) consists of the provinces of Rizal (13 towns) and Laguna (29 towns), the chartered cities of Pasay, Caloocan, San Pablo, Quezon, Manila, Tagaytay, Muntinlupa, Marikina and Pasig, the towns of Tanauan, Sto. Tomas and Malvar in Batangas; Silang and Carmona in Cavite; Lucban in Quezon; Taguig and Pateros in Metro Manila.

6.     Stakeholder refers to any person, group of people or entity whose interests are affected by the decisions or policies made in the management of various environmental resources.

7.     River Basin, Sub-basin or Sub-catchment refers to the subdivision of the Laguna de Bay watershed basin into smaller catchments  and drainage areas  or for purposes of better resource management and conservation.

ARTICLE 5. Organization of the Federation of the River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils/Foundations. The Federation shall be formed by the LLDA and shall be composed of representatives of all the River Basin Councils/Foundations. Each river council shall be consulted by the LLDA Secretariat on the proposed federation of the councils/foundations. In organizing the federation, identified representatives from all the existing river councils shall be gathered by the LLDA in a forum where the election of officers shall take place. River councils which have not yet been registered with the SEC as of the approval of this Resolution shall be entitled to representation in the federation. Representatives of non-SEC Registered River Basin Councils shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of regular members except the right to be elected as officers of the Federation until such time that the River Basin Councils they represent shall have been duly registered with the SEC.

ARTICLE 6. Membership. Membership to the Federation is voluntary and shall be determined by the various River Basin Councils. The incumbent president of each River Basin Council shall sit in the Federation automatically as an institutional member. In addition, each River Basin Council shall officially designate from among its members of good standing another representative who shall also sit in the federation as a regular member.

ARTICLE 7. Membership Fee. Each River Basin Council shall contribute a minimum amount approved by the Board of Trustees of the Federation to avail of the rights and privileges of a regular member.

ARTICLE 8. Terms of Office. The officers of the Federation shall hold office for a period of three (3) years, without prejudice to renewal, provided that the officers to the Federation shall have had  established a track record of dedication and commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development as a member of the river council.

Annex “A”

Page 3

ARTICLE 9. Duties and Functions. The Federation of the River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils/Foundations shall have the following duties and functions:

1.     The Federation shall serve as the convergence point for the review of sectoral policies and programs that impact on watershed resources.

2.     It shall act as an advisory body to the Board of Directors of the LLDA through the General Manager and shall provide advice on all plans, policies and key management decisions concerning the economic development and environmental activities in the region.

3.     Ensure that the planning and review processes are inclusive of and indeed incorporate the views of  major  the stakeholders.

4.     Develop the mechanism for the preparation of the Laguna de Bay Integrated Watershed Management Plan that will serve as the guiding document for future regional land uses and development activities in the Region.

5.     Provide over-all Leadership, Guidance and Direction for the activities of the various River Basin Councils/Foundations.

ARTICLE 10.  The Board of Trustees.  The policy making function of the Federation shall be vested in and exercised by a Board of Trustees which shall be composed of a maximum of 15 members.  All officials of the Executive Committee of the Federation including the chairpersons of the various  operational committees are automatically members of the Board of Trustees. The Incumbent General Manager of the LLDA shall sit in the Board as Ex-officio institutional member. The LLDA Board of Directors shall also designate from among its members or from among the ranks of the Division Chiefs of the LLDA a representative to the Board of Trustees of the Federation as Ex Officio member.  Other members of the various River Basin Councils deemed to be worthy and able to contribute toward the effective functioning of the Federation and chosen in a free and open election of officers during a general assembly of the Federation, can also serve on the Board of Trustees as regular members.

The Board of Trustees shall elect from among themselves the Chairperson who shall preside over all meetings of the Board of Trustees. A Vice-Chairperson shall also be elected from among the members and he/she shall perform the functions of the Chairperson in case of absence or temporary incapacity of the latter.

ARTICLE 11. Officers of the Federation. To oversee the planning and  implementation of all decisions, policies and guidelines arrived at and decided on by the Federation, there shall be created an Executive Committee  composed  of  a  President  who  shall act as the Chief Executive

Annex “A”

Page 4

Officer and Presiding Officer of the Federation; a Vice-President who shall assist the President in all the executive functions of the Federation, and who shall automatically be designated Officer-In-Charge of the Federation during the President’s  absence; a Secretary who shall be responsible mainly for recording of the minutes of the meetings of the Federation, documenting the activities of the organization and taking charge of all internal as well as external communications; an Assistant Secretary who shall assist the  Secretary and act on behalf of the Secretary during his absence,  a Treasurer who shall manage the funds of the organization in accordance with sound accounting and auditing principles and an Auditor who shall examine/verify the financial statements and the book of accounts of the Federation and shall check all financial transactions made by the Federation.

ARTICLE 12. Operational Committees. In carrying out the activities of the Federation, the President shall be assisted by four (4) Operational Committees, as follows:

1.     Technical Committee shall take the lead of all the planning functions including the conceptualization of and development of project proposals and other studies requiring technical and other inputs.

2.     Ways and Means Committee shall be responsible for fund raising and logistical support for all the activities of the organization.

3.     Monitoring and Evaluation Committee shall take the lead in monitoring, assessing and evaluating the implementation of watershed management plan of the different river basin councils/foundations.

4.     Operations Committee shall be responsible for implementing plans, programs and projects approved by the Federation.

ARTICLE 13. Role of River Basin Councils/Foundations. The various River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils or Foundations organized upon the initiative of the LLDA in each sub-catchment of the Laguna de Bay Region constitute an emerging network of environmental non-profit organizations that have voluntarily agreed to undertake on the sub-catchment level, river protection and environmental enhancement activities.

These councils are valuable and important partners of the LLDA in the task of environmental resource management. As such, it is essential that this partnership is further strengthened and galvanized by affording to these councils semi-official status as extension arms of the LLDA  whose river conservation activities form part of regular LLDA operations. These councils shall have the following duties and functions:

Annex “A”

Page 5

1.     Act as the implementation arms and monitors of the Laguna Lake Integrated Watershed Management Plan which the Federation is tasked to develop and implement.

2.     Be responsible for watershed management planning, implementation and monitoring on the sub-catchment level.

3.     Facilitate the process of social mobilization, planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring of the different watershed management activities undertaken by different stakeholders.

4.     Cause the preparation of project proposals which will be submitted to the Federation for consideration among possible activities which will be funded using the ETF.

ARTICLE 14. Meetings. The Federation shall meet at least once every quarter or more frequently as the need arises and whenever called on by the General Manager or the LLDA Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 15. Secretariat.  To facilitate the smooth and effective functioning of the region-wide network of environmental stewards, the Community Development Division of the LLDA is officially designated as permanent Secretariat of the Federation of River Basin Councils in the Laguna de Bay Region to ensure that the policies , projects and programs of the Federation are consistent with those of the LLDA.

ARTICLE 16. Funding of the Federation.  The LLDA and the Federation of River Councils/Foundations will jointly initiate activities/projects  on a region-wide scale that are potentially revenue generating, i.e. Laguna de Bay Concert, Industrial Conference among others.  The LLDA will initially fund the potentially revenue generating projects afterwhich the expenses will be deducted from the actual revenue realized and the remaining balance shall accrue to the Federation as seed money or capital. The same will be deposited in an Environmental Trust Fund (ETF) to be used exclusively to support the river rehabilitation and conservation projects and activities of the various River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils or Foundations in the sub-catchment level.

     Upon the establishment of the envisioned Trust Fund, the Federation shall collectively act as administrator or decision-making body for the Environmental Trust Fund that will be set-up. The Federation shall also undertake measures to ensure that said fund is not exhausted and shall undertake  activities that will guarantee its replenishment and augmentation  including applying for and receiving grants, donation, etc.

     As ETF Administrator, the Federation shall develop and formulate the Protocols for the use of the said Fund and identify the criteria that will be used in assessing meritoriousness of project proposals that will be financed using the ETF.

Annex “A”

Page 6

ARTICLE 17. Technical Assistance and Official Recognition. The LLDA shall facilitate the registration of the Federation of the River Basin Councils in the Laguna de Bay Region with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-stock, non-profit private organization and afford such organization official recognition as partner of the LLDA in managing the Laguna de Bay Watershed. The LLDA shall also allocate funds as maybe necessary to ensure the effective functioning of the CDD-LLDA in its capacity as permanent Secretariat of the Federation.  The LLDA is committed to creating the conditions under which the Federation of River Basin Councils can effectively function as a region wide network of Environmental Stewards and partner of the LLDA in managing, protecting and conserving the various tributary river systems and sub watersheds of the Laguna de Bay Region.

ARTICLE 18. Final Provisions.

     Section 1. Quarterly Reports. The LLDA personnel serving as the Secretariat of the Council/Federation shall submit to the General Manager through the Community Development Division a quarterly report on all undertaking dealing with the various projects, activities and other accomplishments of the Federation.

     Section 2. Separability Clause. Any provision or portion of these Implementing Guidelines declared invalid or unconstitutional shall not affect its other provisions to which the declaration does not relate.

     Section 3. Repealing Clause. All LLDA orders, guidelines, circulars, rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

ARTICLE 19. Effectivity. These Implementing Guidelines shall take effect upon approval.