PROHIBITING THE EXPORTATION OF FRESH EUCHEUMA SEAWEEDS

Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4 and 7 of Presidential Decree No. 704, as amended,
the following regulations on the exportation of fresh Eucheuma seaweeds
are hereby promulgated for the information and guidance of all
concerned:

SECTION 1.       Definition. — For the purpose of this Order, the following terms shall be construed as follows:

a.      Euchema. — refers to a genus of tropical
seaweeds which grow on coral reefs, belonging to the group of red
algae, locally known as ” guso” in the Visayan dialect and represented
in the Philippines by seven (7) species, namely E. cotonii, E. striatum,
E. denticulatum. E. gelatinae , E. arnoldii , E. procrusteanum and E.
alvarezzi (now Kappaphycus alvarezzi ).

b.      Fresh Eucheuma seaweeds. — refers to
live seaweeds of the genus Eucheuma harvested or gathered directly from
seaweed farms or from the wild, and not dried or treated with
preservatives, usually for seedlings or renewal purposes.

SECTION 2.       Prohibition . — It shall be
unlawful for any person, association, partnership, or corporation to
export or cause to be exported from the Philippine fresh Echeuma
seaweeds.

SECTION 3.       Penalty . — Violation of this
Order shall subject the offender to the penalty of a fine of not less
than Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) but not more than Five Thousand Pesos
(P5,000.00) or imprisonment of six (6) months to four (4) years, or both
such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the Court: Provided,
That the Director of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is hereby empowered
to impose upon the offender an administrative fine of not more than
Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) including the confiscation of the fresh
Eucheuma seaweeds and containers thereof for proper disposition.

SECTION 4.       Repealing Clause . — All orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are hereby repealed.

SECTION 5.       Effectivity . — This Order shall
be effective for one (1) year only, beginning from August 1, 1990 to
July 30, 1991, and after its publication in the Official Gazette or in
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Adopted: 29 June 1990

(SGD.) SENEN C. BACANI
Secretary