DECEMBER 18, 2006 OFFICIAL GAZETTE 8245MALACANANG MANILAEXECUTIVE ORDER No. 578ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL POLICY ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, PRESCRIBING ITS IMPLEMENTATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY IN THE SULU SULAWESI MARINE ECOSYSTEM AND THE VERDE ISLAND PASSAGE MARINE CORRIDORWHEREAS, biological diversity, also referred to as biodiversity, is essential to sustain all life and is a foundation of a sound environment that is necessary for human well-being and sustainable development;WHEREAS, the Philippines, as one of eighteen (18) mega-biodiversity countries that collec tively make up two-thirds of the earths biological diversity, is immensely rich in both terrestrial and marine biodiversity;WHEREAS, the Philippines is also known as one of the biodiversity hotspots where biological diversity is under constant threat due to un sustainable resource use practices, over- exploitation, population pressure, poverty and other factors;WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution provides in Section ...