MALACAÑANG

MANILA

PROCLAMATION NO. 518

DESIGNATING THE MARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE AT THE

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY AS

A NATIONAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN THE MARINE SCIENCES

WHEREAS

, Section 10, Article XIV of the Constitution provides: “Science and technology are essential for national development and progress. The state shall give priority to research and development, invention, innovation, and their utilization; and to science and technology education, training, and services. It shall support indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, and their application to the country’s productive systems and national life.”;

WHEREAS

, Executive Order No. 889 (23 March 1983) established a system of national centers of excellence in the basic sciences within the University of the Philippines (U.P.) System;

WHEREAS

, Section 1 of Executive Order No. 889 (23 March 1983) authorized the Board of Regents of U.P. to establish scientific institutes and laboratories in addition to those specifically established in said Executive Order;

WHEREAS

, pursuant to Section 1 of Executive Order No. 889 (23 March 1983), the Board of Regents of U.P., at its 976th meeting on 23 April 1983, created the Marine Science Institute out of the Marine Science Center at U.P., Diliman;

WHEREAS

, there is a need to strengthen and broaden the national capability in the marine sciences in view of the entry into force of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea;

WHEREAS

, there is a necessity to strengthen and broaden the national research and training capabilities in the marine sciences to address marine concerns throughout the Philippine archipelago; and

WHEREAS

, it is desirable to elevate the status of the Marine Science Institute and formally include it in the system of national centers of excellence in the basic sciences in order that it may better address the needs mentioned above.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS

, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City is hereby designated as a national center of excellence in the marine sciences.

Section 2. The Department of Budget and Management shall consider additional budgetary support for the programs and operations of the Marine Science Institute.

Section 3. The Department of Science and Technology is hereby directed to provide project-funding support to the Marine Science Institute’s priority research and training programs.

Section 4. The Department of Science and Technology and the National Economic and Development Authority are hereby directed to mobilize donations and external funding for the Marine Science Institute.

Section 5. The rights and privileges under Sections 5 and 6 of Executive Order No. 889 (23 March 1983) shall apply to the Marine Science Institute.

DONE

in the City of Manila this

15th

day of

December

in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Four.

(Sgd.)

FIDEL V. RAMOS

By the President:

(Sgd.) TEOFISTO T. GUINGONA, JR.