[ PROCLAMATION NO. 1560, July 17, 2008 ]

AMENDING PROCLAMATION NO. 157 ENTITLED "AMENDING PROCLAMATION NO. 866; DECLARING SEPTEMBER 27, 1996 AND THE LAST FRIDAY OF SEPTEMBER OF EVERY YEAR, AS NATIONAL MARITIME DAY"



WHEREAS, National Maritime Day is being celebrated every last Friday of September of every year for the purpose of focusing the public's attention on seafarer's welfare and maritime concerns;

WHEREAS, there are various public and private agencies in the maritime industry which could help promote public awareness of such maritime concerns;

WHEREAS, these agencies should be given equal opportunities to plan and organize suitable ceremonies or programs in order to make National Maritime Day a truly memorable occasion;

WHEREAS, planning for the occasion would be more expedient if coordinated with concerned government agencies, considering their mandates and linkages with other agencies, together with other sectors of maritime industry;

WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 157, series of 1999, limits the planning for the activities related to National Maritime Day to the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA);

WHEREAS, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) are similarly government agencies and instrumentalities which are at the forefront of promoting, developing and implementing the national maritime policy and capability;

NOW, THEREFORE, I GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. The lead agency in planning and coordinating the annual celebration of the National Maritime Day shall henceforth be alternatively rotated among MARINA, PCG and PPA/CPA.

SECTION 2. All other government agencies and public and private institutions are enjoined to extend the necessary assistance to the said lead agencies and to give full support to the observance of this event.

SECTION 3. All previous proclamations or issuances inconsistent herewith, especially Presidential Proclamation No. 157, series of 1999, are hereby amended accordingly.

SECTION 4. This Proclamation shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 17th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Eight.

(Sgd.) GLORIA M. ARROYO

By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary