[ PROCLAMATION NO. 1126, August 23, 2006 ]

ESTABLISHING THE TUBBATAHA REEFS NATIONAL MARINE PARK IN THE PROVINCE OF PALAWAN AS A NATURAL PARK UNDER THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM (NIPAS) ACT (R.A. NO. 7586) AND THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN OF PALAWAN ACT (RA NO. 7611) AND SHALL BE KNOWN AS TUBBATAHA REEFS NATURAL PARK



Upon recommendation of the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, and pursuant to the powers vested upon me by law, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, do hereby withdraw from unauthorized entry, fishing, exploration, exploitation and other forms of utilization, and set aside and declare Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park as TUBBATAHA REEFS NATURAL PARK (TRNP) to protect, preserve and enhance the rare and threatened species of the flora and fauna and their associated ecosystem within its boundaries, more specifically described in DENR NIPAS Map No. R-48-9:

Latitude Longitude
From Pt. 1 9 04'52" N 119 46' 10" E
to Pt. 2 9 06'OS"N 119 48' 22" E
Pt. 3 8 58' 09" N 120 03' 12" E
Pt. 4 8 53' 29" N 120 03' 30" E
Pt. 5 8 41' 33" N 119 50' 41" E
Pt. 6 8 43' 09" N 119 45' 46" E to point 1, the


point of beginning, containing an area of NINETY-SIX THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT (96,828) HECTARES, more or less, which shall include the Tubbataha Reefs and the Jessie Beazley Reef in the Province of Palawan. The area and technical description of the TRNP shall be subject to actual survey and ground delineation.

As a component of the NIPAS under the DENR and the Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) under the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park shall be managed by the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board ITPAMB), which shall be the sole policy-making and permit-granting body of the TRNP.  It shall be composed of:
  1. The Regional Executive Director of the DENR Region IV-B as Chairperson;
  2. The Environment and Natural Resources Officer of the Provincial Government as member;
  3. A representative from the Department of Tourism as member;
  4. The Provincial Officer of the DA-BFAR as member;
  5. A representative from the academe as member;
  6. A representative from Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff as member;
  7. At least three (3) representatives from Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) involved in the conservation and management of the TRNMP, to be chosen from among themselves as members; and
  8. At least two (2) representatives from People's Organizations (POs) based in the Municipality of Cagayancillo, Palawan and concerned with the conservation and management of the TRNP, to be chosen from among themselves as members.
Every TPAMB member shall serve for a term of five (5) years: Provided, that, he/she remains connected with the sector he/she represents. Whenever a vacancy occurs during the term of a member who does not represent the government, a new member shall be chosen in the same manner as the original process to serve the remaining term of his/her predecessor.

The TPAMB shall consult the Governor of the Province of Palawan, the Mayor of the Municipality of Cagayancillo, the Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) - Western Command (WESCOM), the Commander of the Naval Forces West (NAVFORWEST), and the Commander of the Philippine Coast Guard District-Palawan in the laying down of policies, granting of permits, and the maintenance of security and physical well-being of the TRNP.

Any person who shall catch, collect and/or gather wildlife and other natural resources, cause pollution in the area, enter the area without permit, or otherwise violate RA No. 7586 (NIPAS Act), RA No. 7611 (Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Act), RA No. 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act), RA No. 8550 (The Philippine Fisheries Code), RA No. 9275 (Clean Water Act), Presidential Decree No. 979 (Marine Pollution Decree of 1976), and such other laws pertaining to the sound management and conservation of natural resources, shall be punished in accordance with the prescribed penalties under existing laws, rules and regulations.

The DENR, the DA-BFAR, the Department of Justice, the WESCOM, the NAVFORWEST, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the PCSD shall coordinate and cooperate with the TPAMB for the efficient and effective law enforcement and prosecution of violators in the TRNP.

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 23rd day of August, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.
(Sgd.) GLORIA M. ARROYO
 
By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary