---

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 296 January 22, 1996

ORDERING THE DISMANTLING OF FISH CAGES, FISH PENS, FISH TRAPS AND OTHER AQUA-CULTURE STRUCTURES IN TAAL LAKE AND THE PANSIPIT RIVER

WHEREAS, Taal Lake has around 75 fish species, some of which are rare food delicacies, like Maliputo and Tawilis, which can be found only in this body of water and not in any other part of the world and, as such, should be given maximum protection in an environment that is conductive to their reproduction;

WHEREAS, the existence and proliferation of fish cages, fish pens, fish traps and other aqua-culture structures along Pansipit River and several areas in Taal Lake have:

a. Prevented small fish of such species from entering the said lake, through the Pansipit River, thus preventing the said marine species from propagating;

b. Polluted parts of the lake due to unconsumed feeds from fish cage culture and the indiscriminate disposal of empty plastic feeds bags in the lake;

c. Rendered the Pansipit River unnavigable, except by small bancas and;

d. Caused inundation of lakeshore areas during typhoons and continuous rains.

WHEREAS, non-residents who are financing fish cage enterprises benefit much more from said fish cage industry than the local residents who serve only as caretakers.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. All fish cages, fish pens, fish traps, and other aqua-culture structures in Taal Lake and the Pansipit River, without any exceptions whatsoever, small be dismantled and removed therefrom not later than 30 days from the promulgation of this Executive Order.

SEC. 2. A Task Force on the Dismantling of Fish Cages, Fish Pens, Fish Traps, and other Aqua-culture Structures in Taal Lake and the Pansipit River and Establishment of Permanent Fish Cage Zones in Taal Lake is hereby created as follows:

* Co-Chairs:	Executive Director
	Presidential Commission on Tagaytay-Taal
	and Governor of Batangas
* Members :	Regional Director, Region IV
	Department of Agriculture
	Regional Director, Region IV
	Department of Environment and Natural Resources
	Regional Director, Region IV
	Department of the Interior and Local Government
	Philippine National Police
	Philippine Maritime Command
	Mayors of the Municipalities around Taal Lake

SEC. 3. The Task Force shall have the following mandate, mission, tasks, and functions:

a. Zone Taal Lake and identify areas within the Lake wherein permanent fish cages may be allowed.

b. conduct a public information program about the official fish cage zones and the reasons why there is a need for such.

c. Cause the dismantling of fish cages, fish pens, fish traps, and other aqua-culture structures in Taal Lake and the Pansipit River not later than 30 days from the promulgation of this Proclamation.

d. Cause and assist in the establishment of locally-based Fish Cage Cooperatives that will henceforth own, manage, and benefit from the fish cage industry in Taal Lake.

e. Devise and cause the establishment of a regular mechanism manned by existing national and local governmental agencies/units for sustaining the efforts of regulating the fish cage industry in Taal Lake.

SEC. 4. Funds needed for the fulfillment of the above mission, mandate, tasks, and functions shall come from the existing budgets of the above mentioned government agencies and units.

SEC. 5. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and remain in force until the above stated tasks shall have been fulfilled.

Done in the City of Manila, this 22nd day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety six.

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

---