MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ PROCLAMATION NO. 489, May 15, 2018 ]

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 Resource Reserve 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:

BOUNDARYCORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE
1 15 32' 12" N 123 58' 56" E
2 15 32' 12" N 124 33' 03" E
3 16 02' 47" N 124 33' 03" E
4 16 02' 47" N 123 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
1 15 42' 07" N 124 09' 10 " E
2 15 42' 07" N 124 22' 49 " E
3 15 52' 47" N 124 22' 49 " E
4 15 52' 47" N 124 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.

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.ℒαwρhi৷ 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.

(SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

By the President:

(SGD.) MICHAEL P. ONG
Acting Executive Secretary


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