92 OG No. 21, 3229 (May 20, 1996) / (NAR) VOL. 7 NO. 2 / APRIL-JUNE 1996
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the government
to develop, conserve and manage the natural resources of the country on
sustainable basis and adopt a policy of maintaining a nationwide program
of environmental protection for the benefit and welfare of future
generations of Filipinos;
WHEREAS, the three
provinces of Samar have suffered and sustained extensive damages to life
and property caused by devastating flash floods and
landslides;
WHEREAS, the denudation caused by rampant
and unabated logging and other exploitative activities have been
pinpointed as the causal factor of the catastrophic calamities which
resulted in unwarranted loss of human lives and misery to thousand of
SamareƱos, burying their homes, villages and farmlands and destroying
roads, bridges and numerous infrastructure
projects;
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, promote environmental and socio-economic security and provide
sanctuary and refuge for many endangered flora and fauna such as the
Philippine Tarsier, the Philippine Eagle, the Rufus Hornbill, the
Bleeding Heart Pigeon and the Philippine
Cuckatoo;
NOW THEREFORE, upon recommendation of the
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources and by virtue of the
powers vested in me by law, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic
of the Philippines, do hereby proclaim the rain forest of the Provinces
of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Western Samar as forest reserve,
subject to existing recognized claims and private
rights.
The Samar Forest Reserve, covering an
aggregate area of 360,000 hectares, more or less, shall be subject to
immediate resource 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 WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be
affixed.
Adopted: 20 February
1996
(SGD.)
FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the
Philippines
By the
President:
(SGD.) RUBEN D.
TORRES
Executive Secretary