Thru Presidential Proclamation No. 57, the month of May was declared as the “Month of the Ocean” by former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada in 1999. This proclamation promotes sustainable development of coastal and marine resources to ensure that the marine environment is protected from all forms of degradation.
Section 2 of this proclamation states that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), in collaboration with relevant government agencies, all local governments, state colleges and universities, government-owned or controlled corporations whose operations are directly or indirectly relevant to the development and management of our ocean resources, non-governmental organizations, people’s organizations, and the private sector, shall spearhead the observance of “The Month of the Ocean” of each year through the conduct of activities that highlight the conservation, protection and sustainable management of Philippine coastal and ocean resources.