Declaring a Portion of the Philippine Rise as Marine Resource Reserve to be Known as the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve

May 15, 2018

PROCLAMATION NO. 489

DECLARING A PORTION OF THE PHILIPPINE RISE SITUATED WITHIN THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA, NORTH EASTERN COAST OF LUZON ISLAND AS MARINE RESOURCE RESERVE PURSUANT TO REPUBLIC ACT (RA) NO. 7586, OR THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM ACT OF 1992, TO BE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE RISE MARINE RESOURCE RESERVE

Upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and pursuant to the powers vested in me by law, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Philippines, do hereby set aside and declare a portion of the Philippine Rise situated within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippine Sea, north eastern coast of Luzon Island, as protected area under the category of ResourceReserve as defined under RA No. 7586, to be known as the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve (PRMRR), more specifically described in Map No. PP-MPA-PR-01 within the following geographic coordinates:

BOUNDARY CORNER	LATITUDE	LONGITUDE
01	15º 32' 12" N	123º 58' 56" E
02	15º 32' 12" N	124º 33' 03" E
03	16º 02' 47" N	124º 33' 03" E
04	16º 02' 47" N	123º 58' 56" E

under the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84), containing an area of THREE HUNDRED FIFTY TWO THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED NINETY (352,390.00) hectares, subject to actual ground survey and delineation.

Within the PRMRR, a Strict Protection Zone as defined under the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA No. 7586, shall be established within the following geographical coordinates:

BOUNDARY CORNER	LATITUDE	LONGITUDE
01	15º 42' 07" N	124º 09' 10" E
02	15º 42' 07" N	124º 22' 49" E
03	15º 52' 47" N	124º 22' 49" E
04	15º 52' 47" N	124º 09' 10" E

under the WGS84, containing an area of FORTY NINE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY FOUR (49,684.00) hectares, subject to actual ground survey and delineation. The remaining areas within the PRMRR are collectively designated as a Special Fisheries Management Area as defined under RA No. 8550 as amended by RA No. 10654, or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, as amended, and its IRR, for the sustainable development and regulated utilization of the resources thereat pursuant to relevant laws, rules and regulations, and to address the social, equitable and economic needs of the Filipino people without causing adverse impact on the environment. ATICcS

The above areas shall be under the administrative jurisdiction and control of the DENR in accordance with the provisions of RA No. 7586 and its IRR. The DENR shall conduct assessment of the area and develop the management plan, including its research framework, in consultation and coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, and other concerned agencies.

The destruction or disturbance of the marine ecosystems, including but not limited to its mesophotic coral reefs, wildlife, or any other marine life, are hereby prohibited and shall be punished in accordance with the penalties prescribed under RA No. 7586, RA No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, RA No. 8550, as amended, and other applicable laws, rules and regulations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the Municipality of Casiguran, Aurora this 15th day of May, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Eighteen.

 

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 114, No. 22, p. 3824 on May 28, 2018.