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WHEREAS, Book IV, Title XIV, Chapter 1, Section 4(8) of the Administrative Code of 1987 (Executive Order No. 292, s. 1987) conferred upon the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) the following functions:

“(8) Issue licenses and permits for activities related to the use and development of aquatic resources, treasure-hunting, salvaging of sunken vessels and other similar activities”;

WHEREAS, treasure-hunting permits over lands of the public domain and lands belonging to the National Government and government-owned and controlled corporations and to local governments, before the effectivity of the Administrative Code of 1987 on November 23, 1989, were being issued by the Office of the President pursuant to the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1726-A;

WHEREAS, the function of issuing treasure-hunting permits or licenses was not properly vested in the DENR because “hidden treasures” are not “natural resources”;

WHEREAS, the President of the Philippines is authorized under Book III, Title III, Chapter 10, Section 31(2), of the Administrative Code of 1987 to transfer functions from the office of the President to any executive department and vice-versa;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order;

SECTION 1. All treasure-hunting licenses or permits, including those for treasure-hunting within the territorial waters of the Philippines, shall forthwith be issued by the Office of the President.

SEC. 2. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 31st day of July, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety.


By the President:

CATALINO MACARAIG, JR.
Executive Secretary