“RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE ESTABLISHMENTOF THE TUBBATAHA REEF NATIONAL MARINE PARK IN THE PROVINCE OF PALAWAN AS A NATURAL PARK UNDER THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM (NIPAS) AND THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN FOR PALAWAN (SEP) FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROTECTING IT FROM DESTRUCTIVE HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND FURTHER ENHANCING ITS BIODIVERSITY” “

WHEREAS, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7611, otherwise known as the “Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act” declared that it is a policy of the state to protect, develop and conserve its natural resources;

WHEREAS, the SEP shall adopt the Environmental Critical Areas Network (ECAN) as its main strategy to ensure, among others, forest conservation and protection through the imposition of a total logging ban in all areas of maximum protection and in such other restricted use zones as the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) may provide;

WHEREAS, the technical description of the park, when measured on the ground, proved to be erroneous as parts of the coral reef are outside the established boundaries. This flaw has tremendous impacts on law enforcement;

WHEREAS, Jessie Beazley Reef, a 45 hectare coral reef located 13 nautical miles north of Tubbataha, now suffers the fate of unprotected reefs, losing its value to heavy pressures of indiscriminate fishers;

WHEREAS, the Presidential Proclamation corrects the technical description of the earlier issuance, sets forth the institutional mechanism to manage it effectively, and expands the area of the park to include Jessie Beazley Reef, thus expanding the park to 87,654.967 hectares and increase the viability of the park in delivering ecosystem goods and services that are sorely needed by our people,

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED as it is hereby RESOLVED that the Council declares its full support and is endorsing the Establishment of the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park in the Province of Palawan as a Natural Park under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) and the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan (SEP) for the purposes of protecting it from destructive human activities and further enhancing its biodiversity.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that a member from the Provincial Board of Palawan particularly the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations shall be included in the Membership of the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board (TPAMB).

RESOLVED FINALLY, that copies of this Resolution be furnished to Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and to all concerned agencies for their information and appropriate action.

Unanimously adopted this 21st day of April 2006 at Puerto Princesa City.

I hereby certify to the correctness and accuracy of the above-quoted resolution

ROMEO B. DORADO Acting Secretary

APPROVED FOR THE COUNCIL: HON.ABRAHAM KAHLIL B. MITRA Chairman

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