Section 4. Mandate. —
The Ministry shall be the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country's energy and natural resources.
Natural resources specifically include but will not be limited to, forest and grazing lands, water, mineral resources, including those in reservation and watershed areas, and lands of the public domain.
Energy resources include but will not be limited to, those from fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal, natural gas and gas liquids, nuclear-fuel resources, geothermal resources, hydroelectric resources, and existing and potential forms of non-conventional energy resources.
The Ministry shall be responsible for the exploration, development, marketing, distribution, storage and efficient utilization as well as the licensing and regulation of all energy and natural resources as may be provided for by law in order to ensure equitable sharing of the benefits derived therefrom for the welfare of the present and future generations of Filipinos.
[Pursuant to Sec. 17, EO 172 (1987):]
Repealing Clause. —
Section 4, paragraph 4, and Section 5 (c) of Executive Order No. 131 are hereby repealed. x x x
To accomplish its mandate, the Ministry shall be guided by the following objectives that will serve as basis for policy formulation:
Assure the availability and sustainability of the country's energy and natural resources through judicious use and systematic restoration or replacement, whenever possible;
Increase the productivity of natural resources in order to meet the demands for forest, mineral, land and water resources of a growing population;
Enhance the contribution of energy and natural resources for achieving national economic and social development;
Promote equitable access to natural resources by the different sectors of the population;
Conserve specific terrestrial and marine areas representative of the Philippine natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations.