[ LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 1261, July 28, 1982 ]

TO:
The Ministry of Natural Resources
The Ministry of Local Governments

In order to assist municipal fishermen to fully exploit as well as protect municipal fishing grounds of the country from over exploitation; and

In pursuit of the objectives of Presidential Decree No. 704 to keep the fishery resources of the country in optimum productive condition and within easy reach of sustenance fishermen, you are hereby directed to undertake the following:
  1. Cause the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to prepare and submit a report without delay on the location, extent and overall assessment of fishing grounds outside municipal waters but within the economical and safe range of municipal fishermen or are traditionally being exploited by such group of fishermen.     The report shall be the basis for the designation by Fisheries administrative order, fishing grounds for the exclusive use of sustenance fishermen.

  2. Mobilize the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for the identification of communal fishing grounds throughout the Philippines especially those within depressed regions.  This shall be done as soon as possible to serve as basis for the immediate designation by fisheries administrative orders of such grounds as provided for in Section 31 of Presidential Decree No. 704.

  3. Initiate thru the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, the formulation and pilot testing of a vocal and open scheme of fish auction aimed at the gradual phase out of the "Bulungan" scheme of fish auction throughout the country.
The municipality or local government shall have jurisdiction and responsibility in the management of the municipal waters.

Existing appropriations of agencies invilved in the implementation of this project could be utilized subject to Section 40 of Presidential Decree No. 1177.

Done in the City of Manila, this 28th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-two.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines