Proclamation No. 744, s. 1996

.Mt::AJ &/~ MALACANANG !\IANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES Proclamation No. *- DECLARING THE RAINFORESTS OF THE PROVINCES OF NORTHERN SAMAR, EASTERN SAMAR AND WESTERN SAMAR AS FOREST RESERVE WHEREAS. it is the poliry of the government to develop, conserve and manage the natural resources of the country on sll,tainable basis and adopt a policy of maintaining a nationwide program of environmental protection for the benefit and welfare of future generations ot- Filipinos; WHEREAS, the three provir'::) of Saillar have suffered and sustained extensive dalTlages to life and property caused by devat:1ting tlashtloods and landslides; WHEREAS, the denudation causL'd by rampant and unabated logging and other exploitativl' activities have been pinpointed as the causal factor of the catastrophic calamities which resulteo in unwarranted loss of human lives and misery to thousand of Samaretios, burying their homes, villages and farmlands an9 desroying roads, bridges and numerous infrastructure projects; :,-.j - WHEREAS, the people of the three provinces of Samar have petitioned the government to act expeditiously and with resolve in order to preserve, conserve and manage on a sustainable basis the remaining forest cover of Samar, to protect human lives and property, promot'.: envirorunental and socio-t.onomic security and provide sanctuary and refuge for many endangered tlora and faulla SuC!1 as the Philippine Tarsier, the Philippi lie Eagle, the Rufus Hornbill, the Bleeding Heart Pi:?con and the Philippine Cuckatoo; NOW THEREFORE, UPUI' recomml,dation of the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources and by virtue of tl". ; )owers vested in me by law, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Phili}1pines, do herby proclaim the rainforest of the Provinces o' Northern Samar, Eastern Samlr and Western Samar as forest reserve, subject to existin recognized claims and private rights. IN REPLYING. PLEASE CITE: PFVR Letter # L960332 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 The Samar Forest Reserve, covering an aggregate area of 360,000 hectares, more or less, shall be subjected to immediate reource and land use survey and delineation. Consistent with this Proclamation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall administer and manage the Samar Forest Reserve in coordination with concerned agencies of the government and other non-government organizations within the locality, and as an initial activity cause the above-mentioned resource and land use survey. It shall likewise initiate the preparation of a framework plan for the protection and management of the Reserve. IN WITNESS WHEREO", I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed. Done in the City of Manila this day of 2;t. in the year of our Lord Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Six. ) By the President: Executive Secretary EMS LlBRAR'i Received MAR 1 5 1996 Date P'--