WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 350 was issued on 25 March 1994 declaring the Sta. Lucia Sub-Colony of the Iwahig Penal Colony as an industrial-commercial site and vesting upon the Government of Puerto Princesa City the full authority and responsibility to manage, develop, and dispose of the same;

WHEREAS, the segregated area of 1,072 hectares declared by Proclamation No. 350 is unusually endowed with estuarine and coastal resources that might be endangered by industrial-commercial activities;

WHEREAS, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development and the Iwahig Penal Colony Inter Agency Committee jointly endorses the establishment of an environmental/eco-development estate in the said area;

WHEREAS, the City of Puerto Princesa has emerged as prime mover in ecological preservation and sustainable economic development and is being developed as a world class, park-like city, preserved and promoted as a pristine sanctuary for nature and as gateway for eco-tourism in Asia;

WHEREAS, the City of Puerto Princesa intends to develop the 1,072 hectares as a model of an environmental estate, by which estate locators will be chosen for their direct involvement in eco-tourism and for their demonstrated commercial enterprises that achieve sustainable development in the utilization of nature's bounty; and

WHEREAS, the environmental estate will include educational facilities and programs by which young Filipinos will become trained and inspired ambassadors of environmentalism in other parts of the Philippines and in the world.

NOW THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law and the sovereign will of the Filipino people, do hereby order the amendment of Proclamation No. 350 which declared the 1,072 hectares of the Sta. Lucia Sub-colony as an industrial-commercial site by declaring it, instead, as an Environmental Estate.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Puerto Princesa City Government shall jointly submit an action plan to ensure the smooth turn-over of the Sta. Lucia Sub-Colony including all equipment and properties in the area not later than thirty (30) days upon effectivity of this Proclamation.

The City Government of Puerto Princesa shall undertake conversion of the area into an environmental estate which shall serve as a model of conservation and a center of tourism and instruction, while providing sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The cutting/gathering and utilization of all natural resources shall still be subject to existing DENR rules and regulations.

Any and all private rights, if there be any, shall be respected.

This Proclamation shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 23 Jan. 1996