Memorandum Order No. 359 (1991)

MALACAÑAN PALACE

MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ Memorandum Order No. 359, May 8, 1991 ]

In order to arrive at a just solution to the fishery disputes that have frequently arisen involving foreign fishing vessels and their crews – particularly those occurring in between the Bashi and Balintang channels and off of the Batanes Islands in the South China Sea, an Inter-Agency Committee to be known as the SOUTH CHINA SEA FISHERY DISPUTES COMMITTEE is hereby organized for such purpose as follows:

Chairman | – | Representative of the Office of the President Vice-Chairman | – | Representative of the Department of Justice Members | – | One Representative each from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of National Defense, the Department of Agriculture, the Office of the Press Secretary, the Philippine Navy, the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, and the Philippine Coast Guard.

The Committee shall try to effect, as much as possible, an amicable settlement of all fishery disputes that may arise in the above-described area – in accordance with Philippine laws, the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention and other international agreements to which the Philippines is a signatory, as well as the generally accepted principles of International Law.

This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately.

By authority of the President:

(Sgd.) MARIANO SARMIENTO II

Deputy Executive Secretary

Manila, May 8, 1991