Declaring the Month of September as the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month

September 14, 2017

PROCLAMATION NO. 316

DECLARING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS THE MARITIME AND ARCHIPELAGIC NATION AWARENESS MONTH AND AMENDING PROCLAMATION NO. 176 (S. 1963) TO TRANSFER THE OBSERVANCE OF THE FISH CONSERVATION WEEK FROM THE THIRD WEEK OF OCTOBER TO THE THIRD WEEK OF SEPTEMBER OF EVERY YEAR

WHEREAS, Article XII, Section 2 of the Constitution provides that the State shall protect the nation's marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens;

WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 470 (s. 2003) declared the third Saturday of September of every year as the "International Coastal Clean-up Day" to remind and re-awaken the Filipino vigilance in support of the continuing crusade against the debris crisis all over the world;

WHEREAS, Proclamation 866 (s. 1996), as amended, declared the last Friday of September of every year as "National Maritime Day" for the purpose of focusing the public's attention on the vital role of the maritime industry in developments in global shipping;

WHEREAS, Proclamation 176 (s. 1963) declared the third week of October of every year as "Fish Conservation Week" to promote the importance of fish and other aquatic products to the people's well-being and the country's economy;

WHEREAS, there is a need to harmonize, integrate and synchronize programs and activities that will raise national consciousness on maritime and archipelagic issues and policies;

WHEREAS, a continuous partnership between the public and private sectors can help raise public awareness on such maritime and archipelagic concerns;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby declare the month of September of every year as the "Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month" (MANA Mo).

To synchronize the observance of the Fish Conservation Week with the International Coastal Clean-up Day and the National Maritime Day, both of which are celebrated in September, Proclamation No. 176 (s. 1963) is hereby amended to transfer the said celebration from the third week of October to the third week of September of every year, beginning 2018.

All agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and local government units, as well as the private sector, are hereby encouraged to implement programs and activities that seek to raise awareness and consciousness on maritime and archipelagic issues and concerns. CAIHTE

The National Coast Watch Council shall coordinate the programs and activities for the yearly observance and celebration of MANA Mo.

Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, nothing in this Proclamation shall alter the existing administrative arrangements for the planning and implementation of programs and activities relative to the observance of the International Coastal Clean-up Day, the National Maritime Day, and the Fish Conservation Week.

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 City of Manila, this 14th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seventeen.

 

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 113, No. 40, p. 7276 on October 2, 2017.