Memorandum Order No. 208




MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES [ Memorandum Order No. 208, May 12, 1994 ] DIRECTING VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT TO FACILITATE AND EXPEDITE IMPLEMENTATION OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4701, ESTABLISHING THE BULACAN FISHING RESERVATION (BFR), AND AUTHORIZING CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES IN BULACAN TO FORMALLY TAKE OVER THE POSSESSION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS IN SAID RESERVATION WHEREAS, Government recognizes the direct role and responsibility of Local Government Units in the management and utilization of their resource for the benefit and welfare of their constituents; WHEREAS, pursuant to Republic Act No. 4701 establishing the Bulacan Fishing Reservation (BFR) located in the Municipalities of Hagonoy, Paombong, Malolos and Bulacan, Province of Bulacan; the Bulacan Fishing Reservation should now be formally established and turned over to Local Government units concerned for administration and possession; WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture after a thorough investigation and evaluation has validated and affirmed the list of fishponds falling under the exempting clause of Proclamation No. 449, Republic Act No. 4701 and Republic Act No. 2050, and fishponds illegally constructed. NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the following: 1. The Municipalities of Paombong, Hagonoy, Bulacan and Malolos shall formally take over the possession and administration of their respective areas as defined in Republic Act No. 4702 and LOI 1313. 2. All those fishpond improvements declared illegal by the Department of Agriculture within the Reservation shall be forfeited in favor of the Government and the same are granted to the municipality where the said fishponds are located, for proprietary disposition and use; 3. The rights of persons declared as having legally constructed fishponds in the Reservation shall be protected and they shall be allowed to continue their occupancy under lease contracts pursuant to the provisions of PD 704 and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law: Provided, however, that only a one-term contract shall be issued and thereafter, the administration and possession of these fishponds shall be turned over to the municipality concerned, to finally complete the full turn-over of the Reservation Area.1aшphi1 4. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, and Interior and Local Government shall facilitate and expedite the immediate implementation of this Order and to render technical assistance to all those concerned in the management and wise utilization of the Bulacan Fishing Reservation. This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately. Done in the City of Manila, this 12th day of May in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety four. (Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS By the President (Sgd.) TEOFISTO T. GUINGONA, JR. Executive Secretary The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation