WHEREAS, the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) of the Philippines is conducting specific studies on the effects of human activities on ecosystems of mountains, grasslands, forests, water bodies and coastal zones;

WHEREAS, the MAB has selected Puerto Galera and the surrounding mountains (Mts. Alinyaban, Malasimbo and Talipanan) in Oriental Mindoro bounded on the west by Camerong River as its pilot research project site for satisfying the following requirements: availability of suitable components of ecosystems affected by varying degrees of human disturbances, existence of governmental and academic research stations, and accessibility of the area to the MAB Task Forces;

WHEREAS, the MAB pilot research project requires an area without uncontrollable human activities, such as logging, fishing, unjudicious collection and destruction of corals and other biological resources, and docking;

WHEREAS, the main objective of the MAB program is to obtain information through inter-disciplinary research as rational basis for efficient utilization and management of our natural resources; and

WHEREAS, the University of the Philippines has endorsed the MAB projects above contemplated and for this purpose has requested and proposed the reservation of Puerto Galera Bay and vicinity for research and instruction purposes;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by law, do hereby set aside as civil reservation for research and instruction purposes of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) of the Philippines, Puerto Galera and the surrounding mountains of Alinyaban, Malasimbo and Talipanan, including Puerto Galera Bay and vicinity in the Province of Oriental Mindoro.

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 26th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-three.