Designation of Bacuit-El Nido Bay as Water Quality Management Area (WQMA) and Creation of Its Governing Board

DENR Administrative Order No. 2021-44

Subject: Designation of Bacuit-El Nido Bay as Water Quality Management Area (WQMA) and Creation of Its Governing Board

Signed: December 23, 2021 . Published: The Manila Times, February 19, 2022 . Acknowledged: ONAR, U.P. Law Center, February 22, 2022.

Legal Basis

Section 5 of RA 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004), DAO 2005-10 (its IRR), and DENR MC 2009-15 (Procedural Manual for WQMA Designation). The bay is critical to the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area and El Nido's tourism economy.

Coverage

A total area of 776 square kilometers covering Bacuit Bay, the coastal waters of El Nido Bay, and all natural or man-made tributaries in El Nido draining into them, including the land within the hydrologic unit. Boundary coordinates and a map are provided in the Order and Annex A.

Jurisdiction

All four urban barangays (Maligaya, Buena Suerte, Masagana, Corong-Corong), fourteen rural barangays, and 36 islands and islets within Bacuit Bay, including Miniloc, Matinloc, Cadlao, Lagen, Pangulasian, and Entalula, all in the Municipality of El Nido.

Governing Board

Chaired by the EMB MIMAROPA Regional Director, with NWRB, the Palawan Governor, PCSD, the El Nido Mayor, MIMAROPA regional offices of DENR, DOT, DILG, DPWH, DOH, DTI, DOST, NEDA, BFAR, and DHSUD, and representatives of NGOs and POs, a water utility, business, academe, the Association of Barangay Captains, the ENTMRPA PAMB or PASu, and FARMCs. PPA, the Coast Guard, and the PNP may be invited.

Board Functions

• Adopt Governing Rules, elect officers, and form committees.
• Review and adopt the WQMA Action Plan drafted by EMB MIMAROPA and prepare an integrated compliance scheme.
• Help LGUs prepare Compliance Schemes and local legislation, then monitor compliance.
• Harmonize local and national rules under RA 9275 and address non-point source pollution.
• Publish regular Water Quality Status Reports and manage the Area Water Quality Management Fund.

The Board meets quarterly, with a Technical Working Group, a Technical Secretariat at EMB MIMAROPA, and a Multi-Sectoral Group for water quality monitoring and surveillance.

Effectivity

Takes effect 15 days after publication and ONAR acknowledgment.

Relevance: resorts, tourism facilities, and other dischargers in El Nido fall within a designated WQMA and should expect coordinated compliance scrutiny under the WQMA Action Plan. Signed by Secretary Roy A. Cimatu. Summary prepared by EnviSynergy from the official DENR issuance; refer to the full text for binding provisions.