Proclamation No. 306, s. 1988

MALACANANG MM S usrar:

Manila Bred

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES PROCLAMATION No. 306

DECLARING THE TUBZATAHA REEFS AND SURROUNDING WATLRS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN IN CENTRaL SULU SEA, PRO- VINCs Or PALAWAN, AS TUBBATAHA REEF NATIUNAL NARINE PARK.

Upon recommendation of the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, and pursuant to the powers vested in me by law, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of the Philippines and in order to protect the area from all destructive activities, do hereby reserve for park pur- poses the reefs, islets and surrounding weters of the public domain situated in the Central Sulu Sea, Province of Palawan, described in the Protected areas and Wild- life Sureau Nap HP-O1, and more particularly described as follows:

From Pt. 1 119°50' latitute 9°43! longitude to Pt. 2 113°43' latitude 3°43' longitude to Pt. 3 119947" latitude 3°05! longitude to Pt. 4 119947" latitude 3245! longitude to Ft. 5 120000" latitude 8°57'20" longitude to Ft. 6 120002" latitude 8957! longitude tO: Pts 7 120,04! latitude 8°56! longitude to Pt. 8 120°O4' latitude 3°54! longitude to Pt. 1 119°50' latitude 3°43! longitude

containing an anproximate area of 33,200 hectares.

The said area shall be known as "Tubbataha Reef National Merine Park" and shall remain under the admi- nistration of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The primary purpose for the establishment of this national marine park is to protect and preserve the coral reef atoll with its abundant and diverse reef assemblage, including the marine turtles and water birds found roost- ing in the area.

Any person who shall collect, gather coral reefs, wildlife or any marine life from the said marine park or in any manner disturb or destroy the habitat and wild- life therein shall be punished in accordance with the penalties prescribed in Section 71 of FD 1559.

DECLaRING THE TUBBATAHA REEF AND SURROUNDING WATERS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN IN CENTRAL SULU SEA, PROVINCE OF PALAWAN, AS TUBBATAHA RELF NATIONAL PARK

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 Vity of Manila, thisl1thday of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-

Ptagen fe

Ey the Presicent:

MACARAIG, dR. bxecutive Secretary