"November
15, 1979
"MNR ADMINISTRATIVE
ORDER
No. 12, Series of 1979
"SUBJECT:
Regulations for
the Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Philippines.
"1. In line with
the President's
desire for the conservation of marine turtles as enunciated in
Executive
Order No. 542, dated June 26, 1979, the following regulations are
hereby
promulgated for strict compliance of all concerned:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
"(a)
Except in Regions
9 and 12, no new permits for collecting, gathering, utilizing,
possessing,
transporting, removing and/or disposing of marine turtles, turtle eggs
and its by-products shall be issued from the date of effectivity of
this
order.
"(b) In Regions 9
and 12,
licenses or permits shall be issued by the Bureau of Forest Development
to collect, gather, utilize and dispose of marine turtles, turtle eggs
and its by-products, provided that the allowable quantity shall be
specified
in the permit by the Director of Forest Development and provided,
further,
that such harvest, except turtle eggs, shall be sold only to the BFD
and
BFAR and such other agencies to be authorized by the Minister of
Natural
Resources a prices duly prescribed.
"The Government
shall then
utilize and dispose of these harvests in support of the pawikan
conservation
program particularly to assure the immediate setting up of turtle
sanctuaries
and to maintain and increase the breeding population.
"(c) All existing
permits
shall be valid only up to December 1979, or if the permits are to
expire
earlier than December 1979, the same shall no longer be renewed or
extended
except as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) herein above.
"(d) Exports of
marine turtles,
turtle eggs and its by- products thereof of whatever kind or state are
hereby banned.
"(e) Any person
who shall
collect, gather, utilize, possess, transport, remove, export and/or
dispose
of marine turtles, turtle eggs or any of its by-products in violation
of
the provision of this Order shall be punished by a fine of not more
than
P600.00 or imprisonment of not more than six (6) months or both, in the
sound discretion of the courts. If the violator is a permittee his or
her
permit shall be automatically cancelled.
"2. Enforcement of the
provisions
of this Order shall be the responsibility of the BFD and BFAR. The
Minister
of Natural Resources may deputize other competent persons a may be
necessary
in the successful enforcement of this Order.
"3. This Order
shall include
not only marine turtles described by BFD Administrative Order No. 1
dated
July 10,1974, but also soft-shelled or fresh water turtles (Trionyx sp.)
"4. This Order
amends/modifies/supersedes
accordingly, previous order/issuances inconsistent herewith.
"5. This Order
shall take
effect sixty (60) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or
two newspaper of general circulation.
"J. ANTONIO AGUENZA
Officer-in-Charge
Ministry of Natural
Resources"
