Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4 and 7 of Presidential Decree No. 704, as amended, the following regulations on the exportation of fresh Eucheuma seaweeds are hereby promulgated for the information and guidance of all concerned:

SECTION 1.       Definition. - For the purpose of this Order, the following terms shall be construed as follows:

a.      Euchema. - refers to a genus of tropical seaweeds which grow on coral reefs, belonging to the group of red algae, locally known as " guso" in the Visayan dialect and represented in the Philippines by seven (7) species, namely E. cotonii, E. striatum, E. denticulatum. E. gelatinae , E. arnoldii , E. procrusteanum and E. alvarezzi (now Kappaphycus alvarezzi ).

b.      Fresh Eucheuma seaweeds. - refers to live seaweeds of the genus Eucheuma harvested or gathered directly from seaweed farms or from the wild, and not dried or treated with preservatives, usually for seedlings or renewal purposes.

SECTION 2.       Prohibition . - It shall be unlawful for any person, association, partnership, or corporation to export or cause to be exported from the Philippine fresh Echeuma seaweeds.

SECTION 3.       Penalty . - Violation of this Order shall subject the offender to the penalty of a fine of not less than Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) but not more than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) or imprisonment of six (6) months to four (4) years, or both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the Court: Provided, That the Director of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is hereby empowered to impose upon the offender an administrative fine of not more than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) including the confiscation of the fresh Eucheuma seaweeds and containers thereof for proper disposition.

SECTION 4.       Repealing Clause . - All orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are hereby repealed.

SECTION 5.       Effectivity . - This Order shall be effective for one (1) year only, beginning from August 1, 1990 to July 30, 1991, and after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Adopted: 29 June 1990

(SGD.) SENEN C. BACANI
Secretary