The Minister, Ministry of Natural Resources/
        Director, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
        The Officer-in-Charge, Southern Philippines
        Development Authority
        The Chairman, Development Bank of the
        Philippines
        The Acting President, Mindanao State
        University
        All Heads of Ministries, Bureaus, or Agencies; Government Owned or Controlled Corporations;
        and Local Government Units

1.    In coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and other government agencies, the SPDA as lead agency, shall undertake the planning, development and management of the following income-producing, self-sustaining fisheries projects in Southern Philippines:

a.    Bagong Lipunan Fishpond Estate I (Vitali, Zamboanga City), which will convert 1200 hectares of public land into family-size fishponds to be distributed to dislocated families and rebel-returnees in Region IX, for the production of prawn, milkfish, crabs and other aquatic animals;

b.    Gintong Biyaya Fish Cage Culture Project (Lake Buluan, Sultan Kudarat), which will undertake production of tilapia, particularly red tilapia (Gintong Biyaya), in 1500 cages, to be distributed also to low-income family groups and rebel-returnees, as well as, implement related economic activities; 

c.    Basilan Prawn Farm Project (Panigayan, Isabela, Basilan), which will involve the development of a 112-hectare pilot project for the polyculture of prawn and milkfish 

d.    Bagong Lipunan Regional Prawn Hatchery Project (Naawan, Misamis Oriental), which will undertake commercial production of sugpo fry for distribution to fishpond operators engaged in prawn culture in Mindanao and maximize production of quality prawns for export;

e.    Liguasan March Freshwater Fisheries Project (Cotabato), which will undertake pilot projects in freshwater fish production in pens, cages and water impoundments, and related economic activities; and

f.    Lake Lanao Fish Cage Culture Project (Lanao del Sur), which will undertake production of carp, tilapia, catfish, snakehead (dalag), milkfish and other freshwater fish species in pens and cages.

2.    The Ministry of the Budget is hereby directed to effect the immediate release of Thirty Five Million Pesos (P35 M) out of the Special Activities Fund in the Office of the President as equity contribution to the SPDA to underwrite the pre-operating and planning costs and part of the initial development costs of the foregoing projects;

3.    The Development Bank of the Philippines(DBP) is hereby directed to extend such loans to the SPDA as may be needed to underwrite part of the development cost upon presentation of the appropriate detailed project feasibility and viability studies, in accordance with the policies and programs of that Bank;

4.    The SPDA is hereby directed to secure funding assistance from external sources to underwrite the remaining cost of the projects; 

5.    The management of the prawn hatchery and support facilities of the Mindanao State University at Naawan, Misamis Oriental, is hereby transferred to the SPDA which is hereby directed to utilize the said facilities for commercial production of sugpo fry for distribution to fishpond operators in Southern Philippines.

6.    All ministries, bureaus, offices, agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations and local government units are hereby directed to extend their assistance to expedite implementation of the foregoing projects as may be requested by the SPDA.

Since 19.07.98.