About
Apo Reef

Apo Reef Natural Park in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines, is the country’s largest coral reef system. It is home to vital wildlife that has supported generations of Filipinos and stands as a vast marine heritage carefully managed by the Apo Reef Natural Park Protected Area Management Office (ARNP-PAMO).

Legislation

The establishment and management of Apo Reef Natural Park are governed by several key pieces of legislation aimed at protecting its unique marine biodiversity and ensuring sustainable use of its resources. The primary laws include:

1980-1983

Presidential Proclamation No. 1801 and Sangguaniang Bayan Resolution No. 1108 in 1983

Presidential Proclamation No. 1801 in 1980

Designating Apo Reef as a Marine Park and giving authority to Philippine Tourism Authority to undertake the development and Management of the area

Sangguaniang Bayan Resolution No. 1108 in 1983

Declaration of ARNP as a tourist Zone and Marine Reserve

1992

Republic Act 7586- National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS)

Republic Act 7586- National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) in 1992

Tentative listing of Integrated Parks all over the country and the identification of ten (10) priority sites including the IPAS Reef Natural Park

1996

Presidential Proclamation No. 868

Presidential Proclamation No. 868, dated September 6, 1996

Apo Reef was proclaimed as Protected Area under the category of Natural Park and it Surrounding waters as buffer zone

2018

Republic Act 11038- Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 2018

Declaring Protected Areas and Providing for Their Management, Amending for This Purpose Republic Act No. 7586, Otherwise Known as the "National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992" and for Other Purposes