Article 77p. 77

ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AND LAW OF PUBLIC OFFICERS TEXT AND RULES

(4) Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of forestry

and watershed development projects to ensure efficiency

and effectiveness;

(5) Undertake studies on the economics of forestry and

forest-based industries, including supply and demand

trends on the local, national and international levels,

identifying investment problems and opportunities in

various areas; and

(6) Perform such other functions as may be provided

by law or assigned by the Secretary.

SECTION 15. Lands Management Bureau . — The

Lands Management Bureau, to be headed by a Director

and assisted by an Assistant Director, shall absorb the

functions and powers of the Bureau of Lands abolished

by Executive Order No. 131, except those line functions

and powers thereof which are transferred to the regional

field offices.

It shall advise the Secretary on matters pertaining to

rational land management and disposition and shall have

the following functions:

(1) Recommend policies and programs for the efficient

and effective administration, surveys, management and

disposition of alienable and disposable lands of the public

domain and other lands outside the responsibilities of

other government agencies, such as reclaimed areas and

other areas not needed for or are not being utilized for

the purposes for which they have been established;

(2) Advise the Regional Offices on the efficient and

effective

implementation

of

policies,

programs

and

projects for more effective public lands management;

(3) Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of land

surveys, management and disposition of lands to ensure

efficiency and effectiveness thereof;

(4) Issue standards, guidelines, regulations and orders

to enforce policies for the maximization of land use and

development;

(5) Develop operating standards and procedures to

promote the Bureau's objectives and functions; and

(6) Perform such other functions as may be provided

by law or assigned by the Secretary.

SECTION 16. Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau . — The

Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau, to be headed by a

Director and assisted by an Assistant Director shall absorb

the functions of the Bureau of Mines and Geo-Sciences,

Mineral Reservations Development Board, and the Gold

Mining

Industry

Development

Board

which

were

abolished by Executive Order No. 131, except line functions

and powers thereof which are transferred to the regional

field offices.

It shall advise the Secretary on matters pertaining to

geology and mineral resources exploration, development,

utilization and conservation and shall:

(1)

Recommend

policies,

regulations

or

programs

pertaining

to

mineral

resources

development

and

geology;

(2) Advise the Secretary on the granting of mining

rights and contracts over areas containing metallic and

non-metallic mineral resources;

(3)

Advise

the

Regional

Offices

on

the

effective

implementation

of

mineral

development

and

conservation programs as well as geological surveys;

(4) Recommend policies, regulations and oversee the

development and exploitation of mineral resources of the

sea within the country's jurisdiction such as silica sand,

gold placer, magnetic and chromite sand, etc;

(5) Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of the

Bureau's programs and projects to ensure efficiency and

effectiveness thereof;

(6) Develop and promulgate standards and operating

procedures

on

mineral

resources

development

and

geology;

(7)

Supervise

and

control

the

development

and

packaging

of

nationally

applicable

technologies

on

geological survey, mineral resource assessment, mining

and metallurgy; the provision of geological, metallurgical,

chemical and rock mechanics laboratory services; the

conduct of marine geological and geophysical survey and

natural exploration drilling programs; and

(8) Perform such other functions as may be provided

by law or assigned by the Secretary.

SECTION 17. Environmental Management Bureau . —

The Environmental Management Bureau, to be headed

by a Director who shall be assisted by an Assistant

Director shall, subject to the provisions of this Code

relative to the Pollution Adjudication Board, absorb and

integrate

the

powers and functions of the National

Environmental Protection Council, the National Pollution

Control Commission, and the Environmental Center of

the Philippines which are hereby abolished.

It shall advise the Secretary on matters relating to

environmental management, conservation, and pollution

control, and shall:

(1)

Recommend

possible

legislation,

policies

and

programs for environmental management and pollution

control;

(2) Advise the Regional Offices in the efficient and

effective

implementation

of

policies,

programs,

and

projects for the effective and efficient environmental

management and pollution control;

(3) Formulate environmental quality standards such as

the quality standards for water, air, land, noise and

radiations;

(4)

Recommend

rules

and

regulations

for

environmental impact assessments and provide technical

assistance for their implementation and monitoring;

(5) Formulate rules and regulations for the proper

disposition

of

solid

wastes,

toxic

and

hazardous

substances;

(6)

Advise

the Secretary on the legal aspects of

environmental management and pollution control and

assist in the conduct of public hearings in pollution cases;

(7)

Provide

secretariat assistance to the Pollution

Adjudication Board;

(8) Coordinate the inter-agency committees that may

be

created

for the preparation of the State of the

Philippine

Environment

Report

and

the

National

Conservation Strategy;

(9) Provide assistance to the Regional Offices in the

formulation

and

dissemination

of

information

on

environmental

and pollution matters to the general

public;

(10) Assist the Secretary and the Regional Officers by

providing technical assistance in the implementation of

environmental and pollution laws; and

(11) Provide scientific assistance to the Regional Offices

in the conduct of environmental research programs.

SECTION 18. Ecosystems Research and Development

Bureau . — The Ecosystems Research and Development

Bureau, to be headed by a Director and assisted by an

Assistant Director, shall absorb the powers and functions

of

the

Forest

Research

Institute

and

the

National

Mangrove Committee, which are hereby abolished.

It shall:

(1) Formulate and recommend an integrated research

program relating to Philippine ecosystems and natural

resources such as minerals, lands, forests, as holistic and

interdisciplinary fields of inquiry;

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