Purposes:
a. Operationalize the powers and responsibilities of this local government unit in the delivery of general welfare services particularly in environment and natural resources management;
b. Provide guidance to the barangay government in the exercise of its powers and in optimizing the opportunities provided under RA 7160;
c. Establish the framework for a local government-driven, inter-agency, and multisectoral system of environment management in the municipality;
d. Regulate, control, and guide future growth and development of the municipality in the pursuit of its common vision of progress through agro-industrial and ecotourism development within the context of wise management and utilization of the natural, biophysical, geological, cultural and historical heritage of the Urbiztondonians;
e. Inform the citizens on the environment and natural resources management policies of the Municipal Government of Urbiztondo;
f. Establish the mechanism for implementing the provisions of this Environment Code.
Sec. 4. Operative Principles. This Code is based on the following underlying principles:
a. In its pursuit of human development, the Municipal Government of Urbiztondo upholds equity to ensure fair access to opportunities and resources for present and future generations, and to give due respect to the historical past. In this sense, equity has the following components:
i. Inter-class equity. This implies the reduction of mass poverty considering that one of the causes of environmental degradation is that people have to make a cruel choice between their own immediate survival and a better life for their descendants.
ii. Gender equity ensures women’s access to opportunities, resources and services to achieve a better life.
iii. Cross-generational equity means that the present generation is able to meet its own needs and attain its aspirations while preserving the integrity of its heritage and safeguarding the potentials and opportunities of future generations to meet their needs and aspirations.
iv. Rights-based approach. This implies integrating the norms, standards and principles of the international human rights system into the plans, policies and processes of development.
b. The Municipality recognizes the vital role of public participation in the decision-making process. A clean and healthy environment is for the good of all and should therefore be the concern of all. All development activities should always give importance to and respect for the indigenous culture and practices of Urbiztondonians. Gender and population concerns should be addressed in a manner reflecting ecological principles as well as the values and faith of the people. Institution- building for environmental management should arise from among the people, should provide the simplest solution to a felt need of the people, and the need should be felt strongly enough for the people to make most of the effort to organize themselves. If there is no definite felt need, no institution should be formed.
Sec. 5. Definition of Terms. As used in this Code, the following words and phrases shall be defined as follows:
