MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ Proclamation No. 758, January 11, 2005 ]
DECLARING THE SECOND WEEK OF JANUARY 2005 AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER AS “BEST DIVES PHILIPPINES WEEK”
WHEREAS, the Philippine marine resources is a source of livelihood and recreation for a large segment of the Filipino people as well as an attraction to tourists and investors;
WHEREAS, scuba diving and related activities as a special tourism interest had greatly contributed to the development and promotion of tourism;
WHEREAS, Letter of Instruction No. 745, s. 1978, encouraged the promotion and development of sports scuba diving in the country, and the formulation and implementation of programs on marine conservation and protection particularly in areas with high touristic value;
WHEREAS, it is of national interest to invigorate public awareness on scuba diving as a special tourism interest and a family lifestyle and an effective vehicle to generate socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders such as, but not limited to, the fisherfolks, boatmen, resort owners, local governments, and dive enthusiasts;
WHEREAS, scuba diving had been a catalyst in seascape countryside development and fostered environmental activism in protecting and conserving our rich underwater marine resources;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the second week of January 2005 and every year thereafter as “Best Dives Philippines Week”.
The Department of Tourism, through the Philippine Commission on the Promotion and Development of Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), is hereby directed to observe the said period with appropriate activities in major dive destinations in the country particularly in Subic Bay in Olongapo, Anilao in Batangas, Puerto Galera in Mindoro Oriental, Tubbataha Reef National Park and Busuanga in Palawan, Balicasag and Cabilao Island in Bohol, Boracay in Aklan, Apo Island in Negros Oriental, Moalboal and Malapascua in Cebu, and Davao Gulf, designed to promote sports scuba diving as a special tourist activity and family lifestyle and emphasizing on safety and the protection and conservation of our underwater marine resources.
All departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, government owned and controlled corporations, government financing institutions, local government units, the private sector, as well as the mass media and the entire citizenry are hereby enjoined to give their support and cooperation to the programs and activities to be carried out to effect this Proclamation in coordination with the Department of Tourism, Philippine Commission on the Promotion and Development of Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), and the private sector organizers in the dive industry.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.1aшphi1
DONE in the City of Manila, this 14th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Five.
(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
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